📖 Part 1: Reading Passage

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

The Great Storm of 1987

On the night of 15th October 1987, Britain experienced one of the most devastating storms in living memory. Weather forecaster Michael Fish famously reassured viewers earlier that day that there was no hurricane approaching, yet by morning, winds of up to 100 mph had swept across southern England and Wales.

The storm caused unprecedented damage. Approximately 15 million trees were uprooted, including six of the famous Seven Oaks in Sevenoaks, Kent. The London Fire Brigade received over 6,000 emergency calls in a single night—more than they would typically handle in an entire month. Power lines were severed, leaving 1.5 million homes without electricity for several days.

Despite the destruction, there were remarkable stories of human resilience. Communities came together to clear fallen trees from roads, neighbours shared generators and hot meals, and the cleanup operation became a symbol of British determination. The storm, whilst devastating at the time, led to significant improvements in weather forecasting technology and emergency response procedures.

Today, many of the areas affected have been replanted and rebuilt, though some ancient woodlands lost trees that had stood for centuries. The Great Storm of 1987 remains a defining moment in British weather history and a reminder of nature's awesome power.

🔍 Part 2: Literal Comprehension

1. On what date did the Great Storm occur?

2. What was the maximum wind speed recorded during the storm?

85 mph

100 mph

120 mph

95 mph

3. How many emergency calls did the London Fire Brigade receive that night?

4. How many homes were left without electricity?

🧠 Part 3: Inferential Comprehension

5. Why might Michael Fish's weather forecast be considered ironic?

6. What evidence from the text suggests that the storm was unusually severe?

7. The passage mentions "stories of human resilience." What does this phrase suggest about people's response to the disaster?

People panicked and fled the area

People showed strength and helped each other

People ignored the damage and carried on normally

People blamed the government for poor preparation

📝 Part 4: Language and Structure

8. Find and write down three powerful verbs used to describe the storm's impact:

a) _______________ b) _______________ c) _______________

9. What is the effect of the phrase "awesome power" in the final paragraph?

It makes the storm sound exciting and fun

It emphasises the impressive and frightening force of nature

It suggests the storm was not very serious

It shows that people enjoyed watching the storm

10. The writer uses statistics throughout the passage. What is the purpose of including specific numbers and figures?

💭 Part 5: Critical Analysis

11. The passage presents both negative and positive aspects of the storm's aftermath. Identify examples of each:

Negative impacts:

Positive outcomes:

12. Do you think the writer has a particular attitude towards the events described? Explain your answer with evidence from the text.

13. The passage ends by calling the storm "a defining moment in British weather history." What do you think this means, and do you agree? Give reasons for your answer.