Landmark: Niagara Falls. Grammar: Adjectives and Prepositions
VIDEO
TEXT
Ethan and Maya stood in front of Niagara Falls for the first time. The air was cool and wet. The sound was loud and powerful.
Maya was excited about their journey around the world. Ethan was a little afraid of the height near the edge, but he did not want to say it at first.
The waterfalls were famous for their beauty and power. Every year, millions of visitors come from different countries.
The sky was gray, and the air was full of mist. Their rain jackets were already wet. Ethan laughed. “I am not tired of this weather,” he said. “I am ready for adventure.”
They walked close to the railing and looked down at the water. Maya was amazed at the strong white waves below them. “I am always interested in nature,” she said. “But this is different from anything I have seen before.”
Ethan nodded. “Yes, it is very different from the waterfalls in our hometown. I am surprised at how loud it is.”
They took a boat ride near the falls. On the boat, Maya was worried about her camera because of the water. Ethan was good at keeping things dry, so he helped her cover it with plastic. She was happy with his help.
When the boat moved closer to the falling water, they were both afraid of getting too wet, but they were also excited about the experience. The guide told them the falls are on the border between the United States and Canada. The two countries are proud of this natural wonder.
After the ride, they sat on a bench. They were wet but smiling. Ethan said, “I am not bad at traveling in the rain.”
Maya laughed. “And I am not tired of beautiful places.”
They looked at the powerful water one more time. Ethan felt proud of their first step. Maya felt happy with their decision to start here.
NEW WORDS
TRANSCRIPT: Located, surface freshwater, awe-inspiring, displays, foaming, within arm’s reach, plunges, tumbling, crest, overwhelming, thunder, combined, peak hours, realize, Bridal Veil, Glide, vantage points, plummet, plume, miles, spray, board the boat, steamboat, cruise, curtain of water, embark, rush, squeezes, gorge, Whirlpool, Rapids, aboard, jet raft, aside from, entertainment, neon lights, themed attractions, arcades, Aquarium, serene, browse, boutique shops, shuttle bus, Scale, glorious, accessibility, splendor, most‑photographed, spectacles, capture, thrill, roar, witness, astonishing,
COMPREHENSION
HOVER TO REVEAL THE ANSWERS
Where are the falls located? The falls are located on the border between the United States and Canada.
What are the falls famous for? The waterfalls were famous for their beauty and power.
What was Ethan afraid of when they were walking near the edge? Ethan was a little afraid of the height near the edge
Why were Ethan’s and Maya’s jackets wet? Ethan’s and Emma’s jackets were wet because of the mist in the air.
What was Maya amazed at when she looked down at the water? Maya was amazed at the strong white waves below them when she looked down at the water.
What was Maya worried about on the boat? On the boat, Maya was worried about her camera because of the water.
What did Ethan do to help Maya with the camera? Ethan helped her cover it with plastic.
What were Ethan and Maya afraid of when the boat moved closer to the falling water? They were both afraid of getting too wet
GRAMMAR
| Adjective | Preposition | Example from the Story |
| afraid | of | Ethan was afraid of the height. |
| excited | about | Maya was excited about their journey. |
| famous | for | The falls are famous for their beauty. |
| full | of | The air was full of mist. |
| close | to | They walked close to the railing. |
| different | from | It is different from other waterfalls. |
| proud | of | The countries are proud of the falls. |
| interested | in | Maya is interested in nature. |
| tired | of | He was not tired of the weather. |
| ready | for | He was ready for adventure. |
| surprised | at | He was surprised at the noise. |
| worried | about | Maya was worried about her camera. |
| good | at | Ethan was good at keeping things dry. |
| happy | with | She was happy with his help. |
| amazed | at | They were amazed at the waves. |
GRAMMAR TEST
FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH THE CORRECT PREPOSITIONS
Ethan and Maya stood in front of Niagara Falls for the first time. The air was cool and wet. The sound was loud and powerful.
Maya was excited about their journey around the world. Ethan was a little afraid of the height near the edge, but he did not want to say it at first. The waterfalls were famous for their beauty and power. Every year, millions of visitors come from different countries.
The sky was gray, and the air was full of mist. Their rain jackets were already wet. Ethan laughed. “I am not tired of this weather,” he said. “I am ready for adventure.”
They walked close to the railing and looked down at the water. Maya was amazed at the strong white waves below them. “I am always interested in nature,” she said. “But this is different from anything I have seen before.”
Ethan nodded. “Yes, it is very different from the waterfalls in our hometown. I am surprised at how loud it is.”
They took a boat ride near the falls. On the boat, Maya was worried about her camera because of the water. Ethan was good at keeping things dry, so he helped her cover it with plastic. She was happy with his help.
When the boat moved closer to the falling water, they were both afraid of getting too wet, but they were also excited about the experience. The guide told them the falls are on the border between the United States and Canada. The two countries are proud of this natural wonder.
After the ride, they sat on a bench. They were wet but smiling. Ethan said, “I am not bad at traveling in the rain.”
Maya laughed. “And I am not tired of beautiful places.”
They looked at the powerful water one more time. Ethan felt proud of their first step. Maya felt happy with their decision to start here.
SPEAKING PRACTICE
• What does a nutritionist say when she describes the mineral content of a food? → Spinach is rich in iron.
• What do you say about a friend who struggles with directions? → He’s bad at navigation.
• What do you say when you see a passenger rushing at the airport? → He’s late for the flight.
• What does a student say when he is working on a project and has no time for you? → I’m busy with my project.
• What does a colleague say when she shows a wedding photo of her friend and tells you what the husband does? → She’s married to a doctor.
• What do you say when a child opens birthday gifts and really likes them? → She’s excited about her present.
• What do you say when a teacher explains over and over again to a student who has trouble understanding the subject? → She’s known for her patience.
• What does a friend say when he tells you about the good marks he got for the exams? → I’m happy about the results.
• What does a parent say to his son after a graduation ceremony? → I’m proud of you.
• What does a traveler say when he compares life at the place he is visiting and at home? → Life here is different from home.
• What does a tennis player say after the coach made her repeat the same exercises endlessly? → I’m tired of practicing.
• What do you say when a shy student gives a great speech in front of the entire school? → I’m surprised at his confidence.
• What does a tourist write to his friends at home about the good food in the city he is visiting? → The city is famous for its food.
• What does a teacher say when she tells you about your daughter who asks many questions about the stars and planets? → She’s interested in astronomy.
• What does a confident president say when he tells people what he decided will be correct? → I’m sure of my decision.
• Visitors are coming to your home; tell your children how to behave when the guests are in the house → Be polite to visitors.
• The children in the backseat ask “Are we there yet?” The mother looks at the GPS and it says 3 more hours of driving; she says → We’re far from home.
• What does a runner say when he nears the finish line? → We’re close to the end.
• What does a parent say while waiting for a late teenager? → I’m worried about her.
• What do you say when a machine can lift heavy cars? → It’s capable of lifting cars.
• What does a team leader say to tell people she will accept different ideas? → I’m open to suggestions.
• What do you say when you arrive late at a meeting? → I’m sorry for being late.
• What does a student say when he thinks he may fail the exam? → He’s worried about the test.
• What do a group of workers say to a TV reporter about why they decided to go on strike after the company changed their work schedule? → We’re angry about the changes.
• What does a manager say when she explains the job duties of an employee? → She’s responsible for the budget.
• A mother is upset because her daughter did not study and failed an exam. What does she tell her? → I’m angry with you.
• What do you say to an employee when a draft of a contract still needs a lot of work? → This is far from perfect.
• You stay in a hotel right on the beach. A friend asks where your hotel is; you tell her → It’s close to the ocean.
• What do you say about a child who refuses to touch a dog because he thinks it may bite him? → He’s afraid of dogs.
• What do you say about a student who solves a complex task and you think she can handle even more difficult tasks? → She’s capable of doing more.
• What do you say when a patient no longer suffers any of the pains she had before? → She’s free from pain.
• What do you say when the soil is good for crops? → The soil is rich in nutrients.
• What does a friend say when he tells you about a saleswoman who handles customers patiently? → She’s good with people.
• What does a team say to a TV reporter after they won the game? → We’re happy about the victory.
• What does an English teacher say when she suggests to a student to read daily? → Reading is good for your English.
DISCOVER THIS LANDMARK
The Niagara Falls are located on the border of Ontario Province in Canada and New York State in the U.S.A. The water flows from the Great Lakes, the world’s largest surface freshwater system, all the way down to the Atlantic Ocean. See one of the world’s most awe‑inspiring displays of the power of nature from the sky, from the foaming river below, or even from within arm’s reach. The Niagara River connects Lake Erie with Lake Ontario, but before it gets there, the water plunges down almost 170 feet in a straight drop. The volume of water tumbling over the crest is overwhelming: almost 170,000 cubic meters—six million cubic feet—thunder over these combined falls each minute during peak hours.
Most people don’t realize this until they arrive, but there are actually three waterfalls. To the east are the American Falls and the narrow Bridal Veil Falls. Then comes Goat Island, and to the west is the impressive Canadian Horseshoe Falls, the widest and most powerful of them all. Glide over the river or explore the many other vantage points to see the water plummet into the depths below. The resulting plume of mist is visible from miles away. To feel its spray, board the Maid of the Mist. The first wooden steamboat took people to the falls as early as the mid‑1800s, and although the boats are now made of steel, the excitement of this half‑hour cruise has changed little since then.
For the closest possible view of the curtain of water, embark on a Journey Behind the Falls and see—and hear—the water rush past right in front of you. Below the falls, the foaming water squeezes through a narrow gorge, creating the Whirlpool Rapids, which you can reach aboard a jet raft.
Aside from nature, there is also plenty of family entertainment under neon lights. Take the kids to ride the Niagara SkyWheel and visit nearby themed attractions and arcades. Cross the Rainbow Bridge to the American side to see the Aquarium of Niagara in a serene environment, or stay on the Canadian side to enjoy the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens.
Niagara‑on‑the‑Lake is only a short drive away. Visit this pretty 19th‑century village to browse boutique shops, play golf, or have lunch before exploring Ontario’s wine country. A shuttle bus or taxi can bring you back to the falls quickly. Scale the Skylon Tower to admire the glorious landscape once more. Less than a two‑hour drive from Toronto and only a taxi ride from Buffalo Airport, getting to Niagara is easy. Their accessibility and splendor make the Niagara Falls one of the most‑photographed natural spectacles in the world. But no picture can capture the thrill you feel—and the roar you hear—when you witness Niagara’s astonishing power, an impression that will last a lifetime.
METHOD
Listen- Comprehension-Read (Vocabulary, pronunciation) -Grammar- Speaking