Weather and Daily Life
FoundationIn heavy rain people take shelter and animals hide; in heat people fan and drink while dogs pant — weather shapes what people and animals do.
- Weather shapes what people and animals do.
- In rain people take shelter and animals hide in bushes and awnings.
- In heat people fan and drink; dogs pant to cool down.
文體小知識：說明文把知識講得清清楚楚。這一篇看看天氣怎樣影響人和動物的活動，大家怎樣靈活應變。
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1Weather is not just written in the sky; it shapes the life of every person and every animal. In heavy rain, people on the street raise umbrellas, put on raincoats and hurry under the shop awnings; ants carry food back to the nest early, while a snail slowly pokes its head out — it loves damp, cool weather best.
2Sparrows hide in thick bushes tidying their feathers; stray cats curl up under dry cars; the ducks in the pond are happiest, swimming and feeding as usual. Animals each have their own rain tricks: birds preen their feathers so water slides off; some animals' fur is waterproof — one shake and it is dry again.
3On scorching days people switch on fans and air-conditioning, drink cold drinks and swim in the pool; dogs cannot sweat all over like us, so they stick out their tongues and pant to cool down; elephants spray water on themselves and cats lie on cool tiles. Zookeepers even hand out watermelon and ice to help the animals chill.
4When bad weather comes, people prepare more: before a typhoon, store food and water and tape up the window glass; in rainstorms avoid low-lying places and keep away from slopes; on cold days the elderly need extra layers, and we should greet the grandpas and grandmas around us and remind them to keep warm.
5Weather shapes our plans: trips, hiking and barbecues on fine days; reading, board games and museum visits on rainy days. Farmers watch the sky to plant, fishermen to sail, and pilots to fly. Living with the weather makes life safer and more comfortable — a great wisdom for everyday life.
1Summary 重點摘要
In heavy rain people take shelter and animals hide; in heat people fan and drink while dogs pant — weather shapes what people and animals do.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Rain that falls hard and thick; take rain gear and mind slippery paths.
To move under cover away from the rain.
To change what you do as things change, like switching on a fan in heat.
Very hot weather; drink plenty and avoid long exposure to the sun.
To let body heat out, like a dog panting with its tongue out.
Water leaving the skin to cool the body in heat or exercise.
A storm with lightning and thunder; stay indoors away from metal and open ground.
To arrange ahead, like storing food and water before a typhoon.
Activities outside, such as hiking and barbecues.
Activities inside, such as reading and museum visits.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: Know that weather shapes human activitiesWeather is tied to everything we arrange: in heavy rain we take umbrellas and water shoes and may leave later; in scorching heat, exercise moves to early morning or evening to avoid heatstroke; when a typhoon nears, schools may close and everyone stays home. Farmers watch the sky to plant and harvest, fishermen to set out to sea, and construction workers stop in the rain. Weather is the great clock of daily life — those who read it get twice the result with half the effort.
- Step 2: How people cope with heavy rainWhen heavy rain comes, people respond quickly and together: umbrellas up, raincoats on, hurrying into malls or under awnings; those without umbrellas wait under cover for the rain to ease. Drivers switch on headlights, slow down and keep their distance; pedestrians keep away from the kerb to avoid slipping. When the Observatory hoists a red or black rainstorm warning, schools may close, and everyone stays indoors in a safe place until the warning is cancelled.
- Step 3: How animals shelter from rainAnimals have clever rain tricks: sparrows and turtledoves dive into thick bushes where the leaf layers act like umbrellas; stray cats and dogs shelter under awnings, cars or staircases; squirrels retreat to tree holes; ants carry food underground before the rain and may seal the nest entrance. Fun fact — some animals love the rain: frogs and toads hop out to hunt insects, earthworms surface in the damp soil to breathe, and snails stroll about slowly. One shower, and every animal responds in its own way.
- Step 4: How people beat the heatHong Kong summers are hot and humid, and people have many ways to cool off: fans and air-conditioning keep air moving and cool; drinking plenty of water replaces what sweat takes away; loose, light-coloured cotton clothes help heat escape; long outdoor activity is avoided at midday, and swimming is the best summer sport. Remember the elderly and babies get heatstroke easily — remind them to stay in the shade. Signs of heatstroke are dizziness, a red face and no sweat; rest at once in the shade and get help.
- Step 5: How animals cool downAnimals cool down in all sorts of ways: dogs stick out their tongues and pant fast, letting moisture evaporate and carry heat away — that is why dogs pant open-mouthed in summer; cats lie on cool tiles; elephants spray water on their backs with their trunks; water buffalo soak in muddy pools; birds fluff up their feathers or breathe quickly with open beaks. In heat, dogs and birds move less and rest in the shade. In summer never leave pets in the sun long, and always provide plenty of water.
- Step 6: Arrange flexibly and live with the weatherWise people plan with the weather: read the forecast before a trip and keep a backup plan for unsettled days; hike and barbecue in sunshine, visit museums, read and play chess in rain; before a typhoon, buy a few days of food and water and check doors and windows; when a cold wave comes, remind elders at home to dress warmly. Treat the weather as a friend, not an enemy: it brings rain to nourish the land and teaches us to be flexible. Learn to adapt, and life stays safe and wonderful whatever the sky does.
5Worked example Example
Example: a sudden downpour strikes on Sunday afternoon, followed by days of scorching heat. What changes among the animals in the park and among people's activities?
- In the rain: pedestrians raise umbrellas and wear raincoats, sheltering under awnings; those without umbrellas wait at the mall entrance.
- Animals shelter: sparrows dive into thick bushes, cats hide under dry cars or awnings; snails and frogs, instead, grow lively.
- In the heat: people switch on fans, drink more and swim; dogs pant with tongues out, birds rest in the shade and move less.
- Flexible plans: swap outdoor trips for museums, move exercise to dawn or dusk, and keep elders and small children out of the midday heat.
- Answer: In heavy rain people take cover with umbrellas and raincoats while animals hide in bushes and under awnings — snails and frogs grow lively instead. In heat, people fan themselves and drink more, dogs pant, and birds rest in shade and move less. Adapt flexibly to the weather and life stays safe and comfortable.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What do people use to keep off heavy rain?
Q2How do dogs cool down in hot weather?
Q3Do snails like to come out in the rain?
Q4What should be prepared before a typhoon?
Q5What activities suit a rainy day?
8Recap Recap
- Weather shapes what people and animals do.
- In rain people take shelter and animals hide in bushes and awnings.
- In heat people fan and drink; dogs pant to cool down.
- Prepare early before bad weather and stay safe.
- Plan around the weather and life is more comfortable.