Class 8 English: The Tsunami

• Overview

  • Meaning of Tsunami: A very large and powerful sea wave caused by earthquakes under the sea.
  • Setting: Parts of India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
  • Theme: Bravery, survival, and animal instinct during natural disasters.

• Part 1: Andaman and Nicobar Islands

  • Ignatius (Manager, Katchall)
    • Felt earthquake, set television on ground to prevent damage.
    • Family swept away by giant waves; only he and some others survived.
  • Sanjeev (Police Officer)
    • Bravely rescued family from the first wave.
    • Jumped into the sea to save his cook's wife and was swept away.
  • Almas Javed (13 years old)
    • Father saw sea receding and woke family.
    • Hit by wooden log, fainted, woke up in a hospital in Kamorta.
    • Refuses to talk about the incident to anyone.
  • Mehmooda Banu
    • Mother of Almas, swept away along with the trees they held onto.

• Part 2: Thailand & Resort Story

  • Tilly Smith (English Schoolgirl in Phuket)
    • Recognised the danger signs (forming sub-marine earthquake visuals from a geography lesson).
    • Mother, Penny, and father, Colin, alerted others and cleared the beach.
    • Saved many lives at the hotel in Thailand.
  • Geography Teacher
    • Mr. Ben Smith (implied or teacher who taught the lesson that saved lives).

• Part 3: Animal Behavior & Survival

  • Observations
    • Animals possess a sixth sense to detect impending disasters.
    • Far fewer animals died compared to humans.
  • Examples
    • Elephants ran away from Yala National Park.
    • Dogs refused to go outdoors.
    • Flamingos abandoned low-lying breeding areas.
    • Goats and other animals shrieked and ran.

• Key Vocabulary & Concepts

  • Archipelago: A group of many islands and the surrounding sea.
  • Tremor: A slight earthquake.
  • Recede: To move back from a previous position.
  • Relief: Assistance given to people in distress.