1. Comprehension. Answer the following questions:

1. How many fires were there in Petaluma?

2. When did the first fire begin?

3. Why did the fire spread so fast?

4. Why was it difficult to control the blaze?

5. What damage was done by the fire that started on Liberty Road? Were any people injured?

6. What was the cause of the fire?

7. When did the fire in Richmond start?

8. How many fighters worked to put out the fire?

9. When was the third fire reported? Where did it start?

10. How much land was burned?

11. Why did some residents have to evacuate? Were there injured people among them?

12. How many houses were damaged in Contra Costa?

II. Vocabulary. Choose the most appropriate explanation for the following words:

coincidentally

1. by mistake

2. by chance

3. on purpose

contain

1. to control

2. to carry

3. to contact

high (winds)

1. light

2. strong

3. quick

restored

1. returned to a good condition

2. controlled by force

3. limited in size

blaze

1. a high wind

2. a big dangerous fire

3. power lines

highway

1. a high ground

2. a large distance

3. a public road

civilian

1. a member of the armed forces

2. a person belonging to the ordinary population

3. a polite and reasonable person

fierce

1. rather bright

2. extremely difficult

3. very severe

cut down

1. to contain

2. to kill

3. to interrupt

scorch

1. to stick

2. to remove

3. to burn

III. Vocabulary. Find the words and expressions that mean:

1. the fire was difficult to keep in check

2. very quickly

3. overhead cables that carry electricity

4. in the place where it happened

5. to extinguish the flames

6. were given a fire alarm

7. they said people were not hurt

4. Vocabulary. Fill the spaces with the appropriate words from the vocabulary list:

   1. Someone _____ a garbage truck _____ fire and the _____ were _____ to the _____. They say the garbage truck couldn’t have _____ fire itself. The _____ of the fire is _____ investigation.

   2. After his father’s death George _____ control _____ the business. His brother warned him to be _____ the _____ _____ rivals. George wouldn’t listen to him. When competitively priced goods appeared on the market, George lost _____ _____ his firm and went bankrupt.

   3. The huge power cut which left up to 50 million people without electricity in North America probably started in Ohio. The _____ _____ were damaged and the city's lights went out. The engineers failed to _____ problems with three transmission lines in northern Ohio as the Alarm systems that might have _____ them _____ the failed lines were out _____ _____. Investigations _____ the case were focusing on why the faults were not brought _____ _____. Electricity supplies have been _____ in most areas, but officials are warning of the possibility of rolling blackouts in the area.