Bangkok Is Sinking

How much longer do we have?

Interesting Facts in Easy English

Pre-Listening Vocabulary

  • temple: a religious building where people gather to worship
  • metropolis: a large, heavily populated city
  • urban sprawl: the uncontrolled growth of a city
  • erosion: the gradual loss of ground surface
  • depletion: the using up or emptying of something
  • foundation: the structure below ground that supports a building

Bangkok Is Sinking

If you’ve always wanted to visit Bangkok and tour historic temples, now might be the time. The capital of Thailand is sinking twice as fast as it was a decade ago. Scientists fear the metropolis could be completely underwater within 20 years. Urban sprawl is for the surface erosion and depletion of groundwater. Thailand is also very sensitive to climate change. As the water rises and the ground erodes, one of the biggest problems will be . Many of the historic buildings are in danger already because they weren’t built with deep foundations. Other large cities that are of sinking in the are New York, New Orleans, Venice, Shanghai, and Mexico City.

Comprehension Questions

  1. What is happening to Bangkok?
  2. What do scientists fear could happen to the capital of Thailand in the next twenty years?
  3. Why does the report mention New York City?

Discussion Questions: Should the capital of Bangkok be moved to a safer place in Thailand, or will humans figure out how to solve this issue? Would it be possible to relocate a capital in the short span of 15-20 years?

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