AIRMEN’S JOURNAL
PILOT’S TALK
← Level A lessonsNORTHEAST STORM · LEVEL A · UNIT 1

Storm News Now

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Practice note: Grammar examples and role-play details may be hypothetical. Questions explicitly about the article use the reported facts. This is a historical report, not current travel advice.

Words from the text: hit, strong, heavy, update a schedule, change a plan, storm, flight, cancelation, delay, airport, passenger, weather, waiver

A Use Present Simple for facts. A fact is true now, in general, or many times. We use Present Simple for numbers and general information about flights, airports and weather.

Boston Logan airport has many flight cancelations.

A waiver lets passengers change flights without a change fee.

The storm has strong winds and heavy rain.

There are many flight delays this week.

Present Simple используем для фактов, общей информации и чисел — то, что верно вообще, а не только в этот момент.

B Use Present Continuous (am/is/are + -ing) for an action happening now, at this moment.

A strong storm is hitting the northeast of the U.S.

Airlines are changing their plans because of the storm.

Delta is updating its schedule right now.

Passengers are waiting at the airport now.

Present Continuous используем для действия, которое происходит сейчас, в эту минуту.

C Look for time words to choose the right tense. Now, right now, at the moment go with Present Continuous. A fact, a number, or no time word often go with Present Simple.

Form / wordExample / meaning
Present SimplePresent Continuous
a fact or a numberan action now
every day / alwaysnow / right now / at the moment

The weather is the reason for the delays.

The storm is hitting Boston right now.

Cancelations happen every storm season.

Слова-сигналы помогают выбрать время: «сейчас» — Continuous, общий факт или число — Simple.

Exercises

Write your answers below, then open Answers. There is no automatic checking. Entries are not saved when you leave this page.

1.1 Choose the correct form of the verb.

Example: A storm ______ (hit) the northeast now. → is hitting

  1. Delta (help) passengers change their flights now.
  2. Boston Logan airport (have) many flight cancelations every storm season.
  3. The storm (hit) the airport right now.
  4. JetBlue (give) waivers to passengers this week.
  5. Airlines (update) their schedules at the moment.
  6. A waiver (let) passengers change flights without a change fee.
  7. Heavy rain (fall) now in Boston.
Answers

For open questions, these are model answers. Other answers may also be correct.

  1. is helping
  2. has
  3. is hitting
  4. is giving
  5. are updating
  6. lets
  7. is falling

1.2 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets.

Example: A storm ______ (hit) Boston now. → is hitting

  1. Airlines (change) their plans because of the storm.
  2. Boston Logan airport (have) many cancelations today.
  3. The weather (be) the reason for the delays.
  4. Delta (update) its schedule right now.
  5. A storm usually (bring) strong winds and heavy rain.
  6. Passengers (wait) at the airport at the moment.
  7. Cape Air (help) passengers with waivers this week.
Answers

For open questions, these are model answers. Other answers may also be correct.

  1. are changing
  2. has
  3. is
  4. is updating
  5. brings
  6. are waiting
  7. is helping

1.3 Complete the sentences with the correct form of a verb from the box: hit, update, change, have, cancel.

Example: A strong storm ______ the northeast right now. → is hitting

  1. Delta its schedule at the moment.
  2. Passengers often their plans before a big storm.
  3. Boston Logan airport many cancelations today.
  4. JetBlue some flights because of heavy rain now.
  5. A storm usually strong winds.
Answers

For open questions, these are model answers. Other answers may also be correct.

  1. is updating
  2. change
  3. has
  4. is canceling
  5. has

1.4 Write three sentences about the weather today in your city. Use Present Simple or Present Continuous.

Example: (storm / hit) → A storm is hitting the city today.

  1. (rain / be heavy)
  2. (wind / be strong)
  3. (airport / have delays)
Answers

For open questions, these are model answers. Other answers may also be correct.

  1. The rain is heavy today.
  2. The wind is strong right now.
  3. The airport has many delays today.