B4

Alaska is a land of clear sea and skies and great natural beauty. It is also a land of great wealth. It has four great industries: fishing, forests, tourism and oil.

Industry

B5

On the south coast of Alaska is the port of Valdez, and from here most of Alaska's oil is taken to other parts of the USA.

Take

B6

The sea off the coast of Alaska is always dangerous because it's full of small islands and rocks, some of which are under the water. In winter and spring there is another danger: ice.

Be

B7

The Exxon Valdez started its journey in the evening of 24th March 1989. At first, the captain was controlling the ship.

One

B8

Later he went to his cabin. At midnight, the Exxon Valdez hit a group of rocks. Fifty million litres  of oil started to flow into the sea.

Go

B9

The oil from the Valdez disaster poluted nearly 1,700 kilometres of Alaska's coast, and it covered 4,800 square kilometers of water.

Pollute

B10

It was the worst oil-spill in American history.

Bad

B11

The easiest way is to blame one person for the disaster.

Easy

B12

In fact, the disaster was the result of mistakes of many different people who said, "There has never been a disaster, so a disaster will never happen".

Never be