English Learning Content: Heatwaves in Europe and Asia

Dialogue

Current Situation

Heatwaves are periods of abnormally hot weather lasting several days. Recently, both Europe and Asia have been grappling with unprecedented and prolonged heatwaves. Record-breaking temperatures, often exceeding 40°C (104°F) and even reaching close to 50°C (122°F) in some regions, have been widely reported. Countries like Spain, Italy, Greece, China, and Japan have experienced severe impacts.

These extreme heat events lead to significant health risks, including heatstroke and dehydration, particularly among vulnerable populations. They also put immense strain on infrastructure, causing power outages as air conditioning systems work overtime. Agriculture suffers from drought and crop damage, while the risk of wildfires dramatically increases. Scientists link the increasing frequency and intensity of these heatwaves to climate change, highlighting the urgent need for adaptation and mitigation strategies globally.

Key Phrases

• Hit the headlines: To be an important news story, widely reported.
  Example: The heatwave has been hitting the headlines all week.
• Giant sauna: A humorous or exaggerated way to describe a very hot and humid place.
  Example: Stepping outside felt like walking into a giant sauna.
• Understatement: A statement that describes something as smaller or less important than it actually is, often used for ironic or humorous effect.
  Example: Calling the 50°C weather “warm” would be a huge understatement.
• Science experiment gone wrong: A humorous way to describe something that has become messy, melted, or otherwise deformed due to unusual or extreme conditions.
  Example: After sitting in the sun, my chocolate bar looked like a science experiment gone wrong.
• Running 24/7: Operating continuously, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
  Example: Our air conditioner has been running 24/7 to keep the house cool.
• Astronomical (bill/cost): Extremely large or high.
  Example: With the AC on all the time, my electricity bill is going to be astronomical.
• On a whole other level: Much more extreme, significant, or impressive than something else.
  Example: This summer’s heat is on a whole other level compared to previous years.

Grammar Points

1. Present Perfect Continuous (e.g., “have been grappling,” “has been running”)

This tense is used to talk about an action that started in the past and is still continuing in the present, or has recently stopped but has an ongoing effect. It emphasizes the duration or continuous nature of an action up to the present moment.

• Structure: Subject + has/have + been + verb-ing
• Examples from the dialogue/current situation:
  • “Europe and Asia have been grappling with unprecedented and prolonged heatwaves.” (The grappling started in the past and continues now.)
  • “Her air conditioning is running 24/7” (present continuous, but for extended periods or continuous action with ongoing effect) or more specifically, “My air conditioner has been running non-stop for days.”
• Usage: It’s perfect for describing situations like heatwaves that have been ongoing for some time and whose effects are still felt.

2. Figurative Language & Hyperbole

Friends often use figurative language and hyperbole to make their conversations more engaging, humorous, and relatable, especially when talking about extreme or frustrating situations like intense heat. It helps convey strong feelings and paint a more vivid picture.

• Figurative Language: Uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation.
  • Metaphor: Directly compares two unlike things without using “like” or “as.”
    Example from dialogue: “they’re basically giant saunas!” (Comparing hot regions to saunas.)
• Hyperbole: A figure of speech that involves an exaggerated statement or claim not meant to be taken literally, used for emphasis or humor.
  • Examples from dialogue:
    • “It’s like the whole world is melting!“
    • “I’m wondering if I should just pack a personal ice maker.”
    • “People are starting to cook eggs on the sidewalks.”
    • “Her electric bill is going to be astronomical.”
    • “Better safe than spontaneously combusting.”

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences using the key phrases from the list provided (hit the headlines, giant sauna, understatement, science experiment gone wrong, running 24/7, astronomical, on a whole other level).

1. The news about the new scientific breakthrough has been _________ all week.
2. Describing the desert in summer as “warm” is a huge _________.
3. My phone’s battery has been _________ because I use it so much for gaming.
4. After the toddlers finished playing, the living room looked like a _________.
5. The cost of flying first class during peak season is absolutely _________.
6. This new video game’s graphics are _________ compared to its predecessor.
7. Walking into the humid greenhouse felt like stepping into a _________.

Exercise 2: Identify the Hyperbole

Read the sentences and identify the example of hyperbole.

1. “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.”
2. “I’ve told you a million times to clean your room!”
3. “This backpack weighs a ton!”
4. “That test was so hard, my brain melted!”
5. “I waited for you for an eternity!”

Exercise 3: Sentence Transformation (Present Perfect Continuous)

Rewrite the following sentences using the Present Perfect Continuous tense.

1. They (study) English for two hours.
2. The company (develop) a new product since January.
3. I (wait) for you for ages.
4. She (work) on this project all morning.
5. It (rain) non-stop since yesterday.

Answers:

Exercise 1:

1. hitting the headlines
2. understatement
3. running 24/7
4. science experiment gone wrong
5. astronomical
6. on a whole other level
7. giant sauna

Exercise 2:

1. “eat a horse”
2. “a million times”
3. “weighs a ton”
4. “my brain melted”
5. “an eternity”

Exercise 3:

1. They have been studying English for two hours.
2. The company has been developing a new product since January.
3. I have been waiting for you for ages.
4. She has been working on this project all morning.
5. It has been raining non-stop since yesterday.