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Kalle and the drought in Brandenburg

C1 · 22 words

Kalle and the drought in Brandenburg

For the third summer in a row hardly any rain has fallen, and the pine forests beyond Schmöckwitz are as dry as tinder. Learn to talk about drought - groundwater, forest fires, water shortage - and about what foresters and everyone else can do to prevent the worst.

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Dialogue

A short conversation with the words of this scenario. Tap "Translation" under a line to see what it means.

  1. Otti

    Kalle, hier knistert ja alles! Ist das normal für einen Kiefernwald?

    Translation

    Kalle, everything crackles here! Is that normal for a pine forest?

  2. Kalle

    Translation

    It isn't normal, it's the drought. Three summers with almost no rainfall - everything here is as dry as tinder.

  3. Forester

    Translation

    Sadly true. And what little rain there is seeps straight into the sand.

  4. Otti

    Und das Grundwasser? Ist das auch knapp?

    Translation

    And the groundwater? Is that scarce too?

  5. Forester

    Sehr, der Grundwasserspiegel ist um fast einen Meter gesunken. Der Wassermangel ist überall sichtbar: Junge Kiefern verdorren, kleine Waldseen trocknen aus.

    Translation

    Very, the water table has dropped by almost a metre. The water shortage is visible everywhere: young pines are withering and small forest lakes are drying up.

  6. Kalle

    Am meisten Sorgen macht mir aber das Feuer. Ein einziger Funke genügt für einen verheerenden Waldbrand.

    Translation

    But what worries me most is fire. A single spark is enough for a devastating forest fire.

  7. Otti

    Und was hilft zur Vorbeugung, außer Regen?

    Translation

    And what helps prevent it, apart from rain?

  8. Forester

    Wir pflanzen nach und nach Laubbäume, die Trockenheit besser vertragen. Aber auch Sie können Bränden vorbeugen.

    Translation

    We're gradually planting broadleaf trees that cope better with dry spells. But you can help prevent fires too.

  9. Kalle

    Nämlich: kein Grill, keine Zigarette, kein Lagerfeuer. Wer darüber lacht, spielt mit dem Feuer.

    Translation

    Namely: no barbecue, no cigarette, no campfire. Anyone who laughs at that is playing with fire.

  10. Forester

    So ist es. Leichtsinnig sind übrigens selten die Böswilligen, sondern meist die Ahnungslosen.

    Translation

    Exactly. And by the way, it's rarely the malicious who are reckless, but mostly the clueless.

  11. Otti

    Alles klar: Der Grill bleibt ab sofort zu Hause!

    Translation

    Got it: from now on the barbecue stays at home!

  12. Kalle

    Sehr vernünftig. Und jetzt hoffen wir alle auf Regen.

    Translation

    Very sensible. And now we all hope for rain.

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