Read the following passage and decide which answer (A, B, C, or D) best fits each gap. Write your answer in the numbered boxes. The Mysterious Isle In the early morning of 23 January, 2009, the most powerful storm for a decade hit western France. With wind speeds in (1) ________ of 120 miles per hour, it flattened forests, (2) ________ down power lines and caused massive destruction to buildings and roads. But it also left behind an extraordinary creation. Seven miles out to sea at the (3) ...

Read the following passage and decide which answer (A, B, C, or D) best fits each gap. Write your answer in the numbered boxes.

The Mysterious Isle In the early morning of 23 January, 2009, the most powerful storm for a decade hit western France. With wind speeds in (1) ________ of 120 miles per hour, it flattened forests, (2) ________ down power lines and caused massive destruction to buildings and roads. But it also left behind an extraordinary creation. Seven miles out to sea at the (3) ________ where the Atlantic Ocean meets the estuary of the River Gironde, a small island had (4) _________ out of water. Locals soon gave it the name The Mysterious Isle. What was so remarkable, (5) ________ its sudden apparition, was the fact that the island (6) _________ intact in what is often quite a hostile sea environment. It could well become a permanent feature. Scientists (7) ________ realised that the island's appearance (8) ________ a unique opportunity to study the creation and development of a new ecosystem. Within months, it had been colonised by seabirds, insects and vegetation. Unfortunately, however, they were not alone in (9) ________ the island attractive. It became increasingly difficult to (10) ________ the site from human visitors. In its first year, day trippers came in powered dinghies, a parachute club used it as a landing strip, a rave party was even held there one night.

With wind speeds in (1) ________ of 120 miles per hour, it flattened forests,