911 Operator Questions

Topic: Emergencies and (Un)Natural Disasters

Mode: Interpretive 

Level: Intermediate

Students will listen to people reporting accidents or emergencies to a 911 operator and decide what questions the 911 operator is most likely to ask.

Components of this activity: Scripts, a multiple choice exercise with answers in bold.

Instructions to the teacher

1. Record the scripts in the following exercise and save them as audio files. 
2. Play the audio files in class and ask students to select the right answer for each description. 

Script

1. I’m calling to report a fallen tree that’s blocking our street.
2. There’s a power line down and it’s on my car. It must have come down in the storm last night.
3. Our road still hasn’t been plowed yet.
4. I’m calling to report a power outage. None of my neighbors have power either.
5. There has been a car accident.
6. There’s a fire in my apartment building.

Instructions to students

Listen to a person reporting an accident or emergency to a 911 operator. What question will the 911 operator most likely ask?

Worksheet

1. 1. Is anyone in the building?
   2. Is any traffic able to get through?
   3. Seek shelter in the basement.

2. 1. Don’t touch any downed power lines!
   2. Is anyone in the building?
   3. Did you see the accident?

3. 1. Crews are working around the clock.
   2. Take shelter in the basement.
   3. Is anyone injured?

4. 1. Leave the building immediately!
   2. Is anyone injured?
   3. The outage has been reported.

5. 1. Has anyone been injured?
   2. Crews are working on it.
   3. Stay off the roads.

6. 1. Leave the building immediately!
   2. Don’t touch any downed power lines.   
   3. Can any cars get through?