Reading test

1.What was the result of the blizzard in Britain? The country was covered in … .

• A) snow

• B) ice     

• C) water

• D) mud

Answer explanation

The heaviest April snowfall for twenty years blan keted much of Britain yesterday, bringing chaos to roads and trapping air travellers on grounded flights. The country braced itself for a grim week of hail, sleet and snow, with forecasters predicting blizzards and plummeting temperatures. From Scotland to the south coast, millions yesterday woke up to thick snow. Areas of southern England were under 8 centimetres of snow. Around 220 flights were cancelled and many more de layed. Coastguards rescued the crews of two boats lost in the Solent in a blizzard and a 32 foot yacht with six people on board suffered engine failure and was towed to Bembridge, Isle of Wight, after radioing for help. The Meteorological Office warned that freezing conditions in central England, Wales and Scotland overnight will cre ate dangerous driving conditions today, and motorists were warned not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

2.How did the snow affect people’s lives?

• A) Flights were on time

• B) Flights were cancelled

• C) The people enjoyed it

• D) People travelled

Answer explanation

The heaviest April snowfall for twenty years blan keted much of Britain yesterday, bringing chaos to roads and trapping air travellers on grounded flights. The country braced itself for a grim week of hail, sleet and snow, with forecasters predicting blizzards and plummeting temperatures. From Scotland to the south coast, millions yesterday woke up to thick snow. Areas of southern England were under 8 centimetres of snow. Around 220 flights were cancelled and many more de layed. Coastguards rescued the crews of two boats lost in the Solent in a blizzard and a 32 foot yacht with six people on board suffered engine failure and was towed to Bembridge, Isle of Wight, after radioing for help. The Meteorological Office warned that freezing conditions in central England, Wales and Scotland overnight will cre ate dangerous driving conditions today, and motorists were warned not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

3.What does “a grim week” mean?

• A) Cloudy     

• B) Gloomy    

• C) Fantastic

• D) Exciting

Answer explanation

The heaviest April snowfall for twenty years blan keted much of Britain yesterday, bringing chaos to roads and trapping air travellers on grounded flights. The country braced itself for a grim week of hail, sleet and snow, with forecasters predicting blizzards and plummeting temperatures. From Scotland to the south coast, millions yesterday woke up to thick snow. Areas of southern England were under 8 centimetres of snow. Around 220 flights were cancelled and many more de layed. Coastguards rescued the crews of two boats lost in the Solent in a blizzard and a 32 foot yacht with six people on board suffered engine failure and was towed to Bembridge, Isle of Wight, after radioing for help. The Meteorological Office warned that freezing conditions in central England, Wales and Scotland overnight will cre ate dangerous driving conditions today, and motorists were warned not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

4.What did the forecasters say about the weather? There would be … .

• A) rains

• B) mist

• C) a rainbow    

• D) a snow blast

Answer explanation

The heaviest April snowfall for twenty years blan keted much of Britain yesterday, bringing chaos to roads and trapping air travellers on grounded flights. The country braced itself for a grim week of hail, sleet and snow, with forecasters predicting blizzards and plummeting temperatures. From Scotland to the south coast, millions yesterday woke up to thick snow. Areas of southern England were under 8 centimetres of snow. Around 220 flights were cancelled and many more de layed. Coastguards rescued the crews of two boats lost in the Solent in a blizzard and a 32 foot yacht with six people on board suffered engine failure and was towed to Bembridge, Isle of Wight, after radioing for help. The Meteorological Office warned that freezing conditions in central England, Wales and Scotland overnight will cre ate dangerous driving conditions today, and motorists were warned not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

5.What happened to the yacht?

• A)    The passengers got sick

• B)    They lost their way

• c)    There were problems with the engine

• D)    The crew was inexperienced

Answer explanation

The heaviest April snowfall for twenty years blan keted much of Britain yesterday, bringing chaos to roads and trapping air travellers on grounded flights. The country braced itself for a grim week of hail, sleet and snow, with forecasters predicting blizzards and plummeting temperatures. From Scotland to the south coast, millions yesterday woke up to thick snow. Areas of southern England were under 8 centimetres of snow. Around 220 flights were cancelled and many more de layed. Coastguards rescued the crews of two boats lost in the Solent in a blizzard and a 32 foot yacht with six people on board suffered engine failure and was towed to Bembridge, Isle of Wight, after radioing for help. The Meteorological Office warned that freezing conditions in central England, Wales and Scotland overnight will cre ate dangerous driving conditions today, and motorists were warned not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

6.Who warned the public about dangerous driving conditions?

•        A) The coastguards

• B) The Meteorological Office

• C) The Airport Service

• D) The News Feed

Answer explanation

The heaviest April snowfall for twenty years blan keted much of Britain yesterday, bringing chaos to roads and trapping air travellers on grounded flights. The country braced itself for a grim week of hail, sleet and snow, with forecasters predicting blizzards and plummeting temperatures. From Scotland to the south coast, millions yesterday woke up to thick snow. Areas of southern England were under 8 centimetres of snow. Around 220 flights were cancelled and many more de layed. Coastguards rescued the crews of two boats lost in the Solent in a blizzard and a 32 foot yacht with six people on board suffered engine failure and was towed to Bembridge, Isle of Wight, after radioing for help. The Meteorological Office warned that freezing conditions in central England, Wales and Scotland overnight will cre ate dangerous driving conditions today, and motorists were warned not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

7.Who saved the boats and a yacht? The … .

• A) sailors

• B) firemen

•  C) coastguards

• D) policemen

8.Where did the coastguards pull the yacht to? To … .

• A) Solent

• B) Bembridge

• C) Dartmouth

• D) Liverpool

Answer explanation

The heaviest April snowfall for twenty years blan keted much of Britain yesterday, bringing chaos to roads and trapping air travellers on grounded flights. The country braced itself for a grim week of hail, sleet and snow, with forecasters predicting blizzards and plummeting temperatures. From Scotland to the south coast, millions yesterday woke up to thick snow. Areas of southern England were under 8 centimetres of snow. Around 220 flights were cancelled and many more de layed. Coastguards rescued the crews of two boats lost in the Solent in a blizzard and a 32 foot yacht with six people on board suffered engine failure and was towed to Bembridge, Isle of Wight, after radioing for help. The Meteorological Office warned that freezing conditions in central England, Wales and Scotland overnight will cre ate dangerous driving conditions today, and motorists were warned not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

9.Why did the coastguards tow the yacht? Because the people … .

• A) sent an SOS         

• B) were tired of sailing

• C) lost their way

• D) were seasick

Answer explanation

The heaviest April snowfall for twenty years blan keted much of Britain yesterday, bringing chaos to roads and trapping air travellers on grounded flights. The country braced itself for a grim week of hail, sleet and snow, with forecasters predicting blizzards and plummeting temperatures. From Scotland to the south coast, millions yesterday woke up to thick snow. Areas of southern England were under 8 centimetres of snow. Around 220 flights were cancelled and many more de layed. Coastguards rescued the crews of two boats lost in the Solent in a blizzard and a 32 foot yacht with six people on board suffered engine failure and was towed to Bembridge, Isle of Wight, after radioing for help. The Meteorological Office warned that freezing conditions in central England, Wales and Scotland overnight will cre ate dangerous driving conditions today, and motorists were warned not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

10.What did the forecasters advise drivers to do? To … .

• A) stay at home

• B) enjoy the weather

• C) travel a lot

• D) revise the rules

Answer explanation

The heaviest April snowfall for twenty years blan keted much of Britain yesterday, bringing chaos to roads and trapping air travellers on grounded flights. The country braced itself for a grim week of hail, sleet and snow, with forecasters predicting blizzards and plummeting temperatures. From Scotland to the south coast, millions yesterday woke up to thick snow. Areas of southern England were under 8 centimetres of snow. Around 220 flights were cancelled and many more de layed. Coastguards rescued the crews of two boats lost in the Solent in a blizzard and a 32 foot yacht with six people on board suffered engine failure and was towed to Bembridge, Isle of Wight, after radioing for help. The Meteorological Office warned that freezing conditions in central England, Wales and Scotland overnight will cre ate dangerous driving conditions today, and motorists were warned not to travel unless absolutely necessary.