Page 67 - Complete First B2 (third edition) Student Book

Chasing Huddled around a laptop, Jonathan and Simon, two of the world ’s most
renowned storm chasers, have just finished taking me through their detailed
plans for the upcoming chase. Despite the impending storm, I can’t help but
a storm observe the eerily relaxed atmosphere in the room. The calm before the
storm,’ Simon jokes. ‘Now, now,’ Jonathan replies, placing a hand softly on
Simon’s shoulder ‘we were all beginners once,’ before shooting me a look
that says ‘don’t worry, he’s always like this’.

Journalist Peter Both Jonathan and Simon are ‘extreme’ meteorologists. Their job is to track
Wright joins Jonathan or chase storms and collect data and footage, which is then sent back to
10 analysts at weather agencies who work to determine their severity in real
Timms and Simon time. This information plays a crucial role, not only in identifying the threat of
Walker as they chase a potential tornado, but also in alerting local residents, giving them time to
evacuate the affected areas. ‘We’re those people you see on news channels,
down a storm in the
reporting live from the storm,’ Simon explains. Suddenly, a weather alert
United States. 15 pings through on Jonathan’s phone. ‘Storm’s brewing. Time to go.’
Jonathan opens the garage and reveals what is no ordinary-looking car. Put
it this way, it wouldn’t look out of place in the 1960s superhero TV series,
Batman. ‘It costs a fortune to run but, trust me, you’ll be thankful for all
of this when you’re in the middle of a storm,’ Jonathan says. He points
20 towards the armour plating covering the entire chassis, along with reinforced
windows to protect us from flying debris, which they had shipped in from
Germany.‘It took over three months and a ton of rejection letters before
we found an insurance company willing to cover us,’ he explains. ‘I can see
why!’ I think, as we jump in.

25 It’s not long before we’re closing in on the RFD; or rear flank downdraft, PDF from sachtienganhhanoi.com
of the storm. This is a region of dry air, which is a key component in the
formation of a tornado. Then, that distinctive, funnel-shaped cloud appears
in front of our eyes, growing longer by the second. We've barely been on
the road ten minutes. Simon winds down his window to get a better shot.
30 An almighty roar - what sounds like ten jumbo jets preparing for take-
off - greets us. ‘Pull over by that post,’ Simon screams out over the noise.
‘Steady, steady... OK, here it comes!’
And there it is. No more than two hundred metres away, hurtling across the
open plain at great speed, is an EF4 tornado. Simon gets straight onto the
35 computer, mapping its direction. Jonathan contacts the weather agency
on the hands-free phone while navigating the car through what I can only
describe as some of the scariest conditions I’ve ever experienced. Within
seconds, they’re live on local news, reporting on the storm. Amazingly, in
amongst all the chaos, they still find time to warn others. Moments later,
40 Jonathan presses the accelerator and the car bursts into life again. ‘That’s
it!’ Simon shouts, ‘it’s breaking up.’ Never has eight minutes felt so long!
We emerge from the storm unscathed. ‘Who’s hungry?’ Jonathan asks. He
pulls out his lunch box, hands a sandwich to Simon and to myself.I politely
refuse, which prompts a wry smile from them both. The conversation quickly
45 turns back to the chase. Like true scientists, they pick it apart, bit by bit.
Jonathan thinks the car’s engine is due an upgrade. Simon thinks he needs
a new camera. Me? Let’s just say that I’ll never complain about the
weather again.

Good job! § 65