Listen&Learn: Why Hurricanes Have Human Names

Posted by: Jaksyn Peacock

Find out why and how tropical storms are given their names.

Pre-listening vocabulary

hurricane: a type of tropical storm
meteorologist: a person who studies or reports the weather
identify: to make something recognizable by giving it a name
politician: a person who works in government
recycle: to use something again
retired: no longer used

Listening activity

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Gapfill exercise

In 1890, Australian meteorologist Clement Wragge became the first person to use human names to identify tropical storms. He didn’t choose names based on a ; he simply named storms after politicians he disliked. However, the practice of naming storms after people didn’t become until the 1940s, when American meteorologists began to name storms after their wives. Eventually, the World Meteorological Organization developed a system for naming storms. There are lists of hurricane names, assigned alphabetically. Originally, hurricanes were only given names, but since the 1970s, the name lists have included male names as well. The names are often recycled, but if a storm is especially , its name is never used again. Some of these retired names are Katrina, Sandy, and Matthew.

Comprehension questions

[wp_quiz id=”19965″]

Discussion/essay questions

Do you live in a place where hurricanes or other tropical storms happen often?
What do you think you would do to prepare for a hurricane?

Transcript

In 1890, Australian meteorologist Clement Wragge became the first person to use human names to identify tropical storms. He didn’t choose names based on a system; he simply named storms after politicians he disliked. However, the practice of naming storms after people didn’t become common until the 1940s, when American meteorologists began to name storms after their wives. Eventually, the World Meteorological Organization developed a system for naming storms. There are official lists of hurricane names, assigned alphabetically. Originally, hurricanes were only given female names, but since the 1970s, the name lists have included male names as well. The names are often recycled, but if a storm is especially destructive, its name is never used again. Some of these retired names are Katrina, Sandy, and Matthew.

Written and recorded by Jaksyn Peacock for EnglishClub

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30 comments

Silvia says:

it is a pleasure to learn news things
Tracy Xi YU says:

I really love learning !
Siti says:

Interesting and very practical for Toefl teachers and learners
Riakhairi says:

Thanks, this really helps me out
Caridadgomo says:

I have already known this information because I usually read about the wheather, although I know it another people don`t know about this theme.
Alice Ye says:

This is a quite interesting information. I didn’t know that before.
willer says:

I live in Medellin Colombia, in this part of country theren’t tropical storms, but san andres island if the people suffer too many
Tahina says:

A really interesting informations. I’m from an island and I always ask why hurricane have human name? Now I know the reason. Thanks.
Mari Carmen says:

Tropical storms are really dangerous both for nature and for people.
I think they’re the most destructive thing in the world.
Marija says:

very important topic, I liked
Herdman says:

Where else can we go without information. I was wondering why they are given human names.
Mohammed says:

It is absolutely wonderful article, I like it so much because it has added new pieces of information to the store of my mind. Thank you and I wish you all the best.
Mohammed says:

The article is absolutely wonderful, it has added new pieces of information to the store of my mind, so I appreciated it. Thank you and I wish you all the best
José Francisco Vega Garcés says:

I found a very nice reportage about huricans
Dickson oloruntuyi says:

I love this, very interesting am from Nigeria we don’t have any tropical storm here, I learnt a lot from this platform remain bless
Siomara de Cássia Miranda says:

I really appreciated this article! It is pretty interesting! Thanks for sharing.
Suzana says:

Great pieces of info
we don´t have hurricanes in my country so I´d like to know a little more about them
Ola says:

This is a very interesting and informative passage! Keep it up.
Azizah Maryam says:

I really love learning by this way
Francisco Arias says:

Great article, as usual. Thank you.
S. Jack Liu says:

Very interesting and informative with regards to naming the tropical storms. We thank you and wish you carrying on more!

– Jack Liu in Calgary, Canada
John Yancey says:

Great article!
Zaheer says:

Very comprehensive but brief information about how hurricanes are named
The King Of Love From IRAN says:

Thank you,
Victor Salazar says:

Thank you for your exercise! It’s been of great help, and overall, very comprehensive!
Christine PENNEC says:

great as usual!!
Zealous!! says:

I love and enjoy the information which you pick.
Also, it’s not boring and very simple to understand:)
Herman says:

The article is excellent.Thanks a lot!
Wander says:

Very interesting. Iam from Dominican Republic, here tropical storms happen often and i didn’t know this information. Thanks.
Wander says:

Very interesting. Iam fram Dominican Republic, here tropical storms happen often and i didn’t know this information. Thanks.