Part 3: Questions 76 – 85

Read the text and fill in one word which best fits each gap.

It was the day of my grandmother’s 80^th birthday when the sitting-room ceiling fell down. All the family were there, at my Uncle Philip’s house, (76) _{……………….……….} was a large, old building situated in a small, peaceful village north-west of Oxford. We had already finished lunch and, as it was (77) _{……………….……….} a beautiful afternoon, we were (78) _{……………….……….} outside in the garden, drinking coffee and catching up on all the family news. Grandmother, who was rather deaf, was (79) _{……………….……….} usual, telling stories about her childhood in Manchester, while in the sunshine, laughing children and barking dogs chased (80) _{……………….……….} other around.

Suddenly, (81) _{……………….……….} was a tremendous crash. We all looked round in astonishment, wondering what on (82) _{……………….……….} had happened. Uncle Philip and my father ran into the house, and then my sister and I followed there, the most extraordinary sight met our eyes. The sitting-room was in ruins and the air was thick (83) _{……………….……….} dust. Uncle Philip was standing in the middle of the room, holding Tabatha, his cat, who looked terrified. “It’s one of the problems of living in a house as (84) _{……………….……….} as this,” he explained calmly. Meanwhile, outside, Grandmother asked (85) _{……………….……….} more coffee and enquired when the cake might be cut.