Spring Break in Florida

 
 
 

Vocabulary

CDC	spring (2)	break/broke/broken
crowd	wild (2)	Spring Break
threat	it’s up to	gone wild
sick	guideline	go/went/gone
granted	confusing	precaution
ghost	shut down	concerning
refuse	governor	ghost town
repeat	break (2)	generation
avoid	honestly	beachfront
group	epidemic	establishment
fear	order (3)	at the end of the day (2)
vote	reaction	closure (2)
delay	invincible	interview (2)
gather	warning	see/saw/seen
local	task force	corona (2)
risk	handle (2)	out in force
heed	issue (3)	protection
	got to be	know/knew/known

 
 
 
 
 

Video

 

 
 
 
 

Transcript

This morning, the Spring Break gone wild.

Female Revelers: “Welcome to Miami!”

In Miami Beach, crowds of young people out in force — despite the coronavirus threat.

Male Reveler, One: “If I get corona, I get corona. At the end of the day, I’m not going to let it stop me from partying.”

And in Clearwater, Florida . . .

Male Reveler, Two: “It’s going to take precautions, granted. But it’s Spring Break. Everyone’s going to be at the beach, regardless.”

Wanda White on vacation from Minnesota.

Wanda White, Vacationer from Minnesota: “It’s really confusing to me, and it’s really concerning, because our town is almost like a ghost town; everything’s shutdown. The only thing you can do is . . .

Journalist: “In Minnesota? And here?”

Wanda White, Vacationer from Minnesota: “Here, it’s like, honestly, nothing has changed.

Florida’s governor refusing to close beaches; instead repeating CDC (Center for Disease Control) guidelines: Avoid groups larger than ten.

Beachfront establishments also open.

Female Reveler, One: “It’s an epidemic, but living in fear is no way to live.“

Some beaches in Florida are shut down, by order of local governments.

Mayor George Cretekos, Clearwater, Florida: “Why aren’t we closing our beaches?”

And on Wednesday, Clearwater voted to close its beaches too.

Male Reveler, Three: “What’s my reaction? What’s Spring Break without a beach?”

But the closure, not in effect until next Monday.

Mayor George Cretekos, Clearwater, Florida: “If we delay this, how many of us will get sick?

How many may DIE?”

It’s not just Florida beaches packed with Spring Breakers — hot-spots like Port Aransas, Texas, and Gulf Shores Alabama, also busy.

President Trump, issuing this warning:

Donald Trump, US President: “We don’t want them gathering. I see they do gather, including on beaches and including in restaurants. Young people, they don’t realize, they are feeling invincible.”

Journalist: “The coronavirus task force says it’s up to your generation.”
Male Reveler, Four: “I mean if it’s up to us, then let us handle it how we want to.”

Meanwhile, just a short distance from the beach, those most at risk.

Journalist: “You like the idea that we’re doing the interview like this, with this protection?”
Shirly Ackers, 93: “Yes.”

Ninety-three year old Shirley Acker told me her generation would have heeded the warnings.

Journalist: “What’s the difference today?”

Shirley Acker, 93: “They think they know it all. And we just listened. That’s how I got to be ninety-three.”

*     *     *     *     *     *     *

 

Questions

1. In the video, people were studying and working very hard at their jobs. True or false?

2. Do the young people in Miami know about the coronavirus? Are they aware of covid-19?

3. People party and have fun like this all over the United States. Is this right or wrong?

4. Has the governor of Florida imposed a total lockdown? Has he given advice to people?

5. Which is more important for the vacationers, staying healthy or having fun?

6. President Donald Trump says that young people can behave and do however they please; young people should do whatever they want. Is this correct or incorrect?

7. Does Shirley Acker, 93, sympathize with the youngsters?

 

A. People in my city and country love going to the beach. Yes or no? What do they do there?

B. Have there been strict lockdowns in your city, region or country?

C. How do people feel about the coronavirus, lockdowns, quarantines and self-isolation? Does it differ among different age groups and social classes?

D. What can or should people and governments do?

E. What may happen in the future?