7. Supply the correct form of the verbs given in brackets and perform the role play given below. Bush Fires Worst in Canberra’s History

As forest fires retreated leaving behind nearly 400 destroyed houses and four people dead, Australia’s capital (1) ______________ (to count) the cost of the worst firestorm in its history yesterday.

The Australian Capital Territory’s chief minister, Tom Stanhope, said the fires (2) _______________ (to be) the worst since Canberra (3) _______________ (to found) as Australia’s capital in 1913.

“We (4) _______________ (to face) yesterday with an event which would have happened perhaps every 100 or 200 years, the like of which never (5) _______________ (to see) in Canberra,” he said.

The territory’s fire service estimated that 368 houses (6) _______________ (to destroy) by last night, when most severe fires (7) _______________ (to bring) under control.

However, some people enjoyed miraculous escapes. Andrew Glady’s home was in the middle of a block of five houses which (8) _______________ (to survive) the inferno, while all buildings around them (9) _______________ (to destroy).

“The winds (10) _______________ (to pick) up early afternoon and (11) _______________ (to push) it very hard against the western edge of the city,” he said. “I didn’t know what (12) _______________ (to happen) until I went out the front and saw the fires.”

“I thought my house completely (13) _______________ (to destroy) until we (14) _______________ (to come) back this morning, and (15) _______________ (to find) that just these few houses (16) _______________ (to preserve). I (17) _______________ (to leave) the house when it (18) _______________ (to catch) fire. I couldn’t believe it.”

(From ‘The Guardian’, abridged)

Role play.

Role 1. You are George/Georgiana Wolfe, a TV correspondent. The fires in Canberra made headlines and now you are presenting a TV program about it. Introduce the problem and interview Tom Stanhope, Jason Smith, Patricia Hoffman and Andrew Glady (see roles 2, 3, 4, 5). Find out as many details about the fires as possible.

Role 2. You are Tom Stanhope, Australian Capital Territory’s chief minister. You have the following information: 400 houses – to destroy; the cost – still to estimate; when the fires – to report, the fire brigades and troops – to call in; local inhabitants – to assist the fire brigades; the fires – to bring under control this morning; many people – to injure; 50 people – to deliver to hospitals with severe burns.

Role 3. You are Jason Smith, a fire brigade chief. You have the following information: the cause of the fires – still to investigate + drought & strong winds; the fires (probably) – to cause by careless handling of fire; to explain to the public – to be careful; the firemen – to have difficulty – to contain the situation; 3 firemen – to receive severe burns; to announce – they – to award medals for bravery.

Role 4. You are Patricia Hoffman, an insurance agency head manager. Your information: the houses – to insure; funds – to raise; insurance sums – to pay out; already to explain to the public – government funds – to draw; to point out – all obligations of insurance companies – to meet.

Role 5. You are Andrew Glady. Describe your miraculous escape.