Learning English

Amazon water emergency 

Drought has left water levels in the Amazon Basin at their lowest since records began 121 years ago.

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(Images: Getty)

The story  

Water levels in the Amazon River are at their lowest levels since records began 121 years ago.

It’s because of a shortage of rain caused by the natural El Niño effect. But Brazilian scientists say climate change is also to blame.

A state of emergency has been declared in Manaus and 20 other cities.

Key words and phrases

drought
period of time with no rain

• Drought can cause dangerous wildfires to start.
• The country had to import food after a drought made crops fail.

overwhelm
cover something completely and quickly

• The city was overwhelmed by water after the river burst its banks.
• Tourists overwhelm city centres during the summer holiday.

taints
makes something good turn bad

• The lake was tainted by industrial waste.
• His reputation was tainted after he was caught stealing money from his company.

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