Ale U1

1. As I looked across the countryside, I saw that distinctive shape (sweeping) (across) the distant fields and then over the (surface) of the lake, which at that time of the year was of course full. There, it (picked) up huge quantities of water and then continued (overland) on its way. It could have gone in any direction, but I’d had a strange feeling that it was coming after me and (sure) enough it kept on (heading) my way, closer and closer. I’d been expecting it to make a really (deafening) sound but what (struck) me was the way it (twisted) (across) the open flat farmland in virtual silence, and somehow that made it even more (alarming).

2. It was when I reached a point (overlooking) the valley that I saw it (gradually) (moving) east far below me, consuming everything in its (path) as such intense ones always do. It was quite a (scary) (sight), though when I thought about it rationally it seemed (highly) unlikely it would suddenly alter course and put me in danger. But when it reached the (bushes) at the foot of the hill where I was standing, that was exactly what happened. Fuelled by the dry vegetation on the (steep) (slope), it began racing towards me and I (fled) back down the way I’d come to safety. Later I was told they tend to accelerate when they (spread) uphill, on other occasions reaching homes on higher ground with (tragic) results.

3. I suppose I should have been shocked when I saw for myself just how many (square) miles it covered, and how (dense) were the clouds of smoke where attempts were being made to (burn) it (off), but having previously studied satellite photos I knew pretty much what to expect. I still, though, felt deep sadness at the immense harm that (sticky) (mess) was causing to wildlife, both above and beneath the surface. That feeling wasn’t helped by my travelling companion reminding me of the (depressing) statistics in such cases, but what really (shook) me was the figure he (quoted) for the frequency of such disasters, the majority of which the media are either (unaware) (of) or choose to ignore. Apparently it runs into dozens, every month.

4. My friend Lauren and I were out walking in the hills on a hot, sunny day when we noticed a kind of (trembling) under our feet, rather like when you’re standing on a bridge and a (lorry) goes past. But there were no vehicles (in) (sight), no road or rail tunnels below us – and the nearest volcano was half a continent away. Then Lauren said she’d seen a local (press) report about an oil company (pumping) liquid underground to extract oil and gas, which caused huge sections of the rock to suddenly (shift) below that part of the countryside. So that was the explanation, as apparently even the really (major) ones can be pretty quiet. I was (speechless).

5. I’d heard warnings on the radio so I was half expecting something like this to happen here, but destruction on this kind of (scale) was not something I’d (envisaged). Trapped on the roof, I surveyed the (dreadful) scene around me. Local (landmarks) such as the flower gardens were unrecognisable, and when eventually they reappeared they would be covered in (thick) black mud. Much worse, though, would be the effect on people’s homes, where possessions would be (soaked) and ruined. Other houses were burning, no doubt because of electrical (appliances) left switched on. I did (spot) two firefighters (rowing) (along) a street, but their priority was to take the very young and the very old to (safety), not to try to put out fires.