Reading. The Australian Bush Fires

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THE AUSTRALIAN BUSH FIRES

On Christmas Day 2001 a fire began in New South Wales, Australia. It began in an area of wild, uncultivated land, which Australians call "the bush". Soon, hundreds of bush fires were burning, causing damage to people's homes and the country's unique wildlife. We asked three young Australians how the fire affected them.

Shaun Ewing, aged 12

I'm twelve years old and I live in Sydney. Our home was just 15 kilometres from the closest fires. Every morning we woke up to thick smoke. When we went outside, we could smell it everywhere. The smoke made it harder to breathe and my eyes watered badly. Things seemed to get better as the day went on, but then the smoke returned at night. It was awful! Our balcony was covered in burnt leaves and black soot. My mum tried to wash away the soot but it returned almost immediately.

Charlene Lowery, aged 11

My dad and uncle are both volunteer fire-fighters. My dad works in an office and my uncle is a chef, but they work for the fire service in their free time. We were on holiday when the fire started, but my dad wanted to help his friends in the sevice. So we came home. Everyone said that the fire-fighters were fantasctic. But my dad thought that the Australian spirit was amazing, too. A friend of my parents lost his home and some of his animals. After the fire had passed, the friend just said,"My wife and children are safe. That's the most important thing!"

Michael Baldock, aged 13

I'm a nature lover, so I was very worried about what was happening to the animals in the bush. Although some animals were rescued and given medical treatment for burns and smoke inhalation, the fires killed tens of thousands of them, including deer, kangaroos, possums and koalas. They also destroyed 90% of the trees and plants that surround Sydney. I can't remember the bush fires of 1994. But my dad told me that after the fires, the bush soon grew back again. I'm looking forward to seeing lots of new plants. I'm sure they'll be very beautiful when they first appear on the burnt land.

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Who was not at home when the fire started?

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THE AUSTRALIAN BUSH FIRES

On Christmas Day 2001 a fire began in New South Wales, Australia. It began in an area of wild, uncultivated land, which Australians call "the bush". Soon, hundreds of bush fires were burning, causing damage to people's homes and the country's unique wildlife. We asked three young Australians how the fire affected them.

Shaun Ewing, aged 12

I'm twelve years old and I live in Sydney. Our home was just 15 kilometres from the closest fires. Every morning we woke up to thick smoke. When we went outside, we could smell it everywhere. The smoke made it harder to breathe and my eyes watered badly. Things seemed to get better as the day went on, but then the smoke returned at night. It was awful! Our balcony was covered in burnt leaves and black soot. My mum tried to wash away the soot but it returned almost immediately.

Charlene Lowery, aged 11

My dad and uncle are both volunteer fire-fighters. My dad works in an office and my uncle is a chef, but they work for the fire service in their free time. We were on holiday when the fire started, but my dad wanted to help his friends in the sevice. So we came home. Everyone said that the fire-fighters were fantasctic. But my dad thought that the Australian spirit was amazing, too. A friend of my parents lost his home and some of his animals. After the fire had passed, the friend just said,"My wife and children are safe. That's the most important thing!"

Michael Baldock, aged 13

I'm a nature lover, so I was very worried about what was happening to the animals in the bush. Although some animals were rescued and given medical treatment for burns and smoke inhalation, the fires killed tens of thousands of them, including deer, kangaroos, possums and koalas. They also destroyed 90% of the trees and plants that surround Sydney. I can't remember the bush fires of 1994. But my dad told me that after the fires, the bush soon grew back again. I'm looking forward to seeing lots of new plants. I'm sure they'll be very beautiful when they first appear on the burnt land.

Choose the correct variant.

Who had a health problem because of the fire?

Read the text.

THE AUSTRALIAN BUSH FIRES

On Christmas Day 2001 a fire began in New South Wales, Australia. It began in an area of wild, uncultivated land, which Australians call "the bush". Soon, hundreds of bush fires were burning, causing damage to people's homes and the country's unique wildlife. We asked three young Australians how the fire affected them.

Shaun Ewing, aged 12

I'm twelve years old and I live in Sydney. Our home was just 15 kilometres from the closest fires. Every morning we woke up to thick smoke. When we went outside, we could smell it everywhere. The smoke made it harder to breathe and my eyes watered badly. Things seemed to get better as the day went on, but then the smoke returned at night. It was awful! Our balcony was covered in burnt leaves and black soot. My mum tried to wash away the soot but it returned almost immediately.

Charlene Lowery, aged 11

My dad and uncle are both volunteer fire-fighters. My dad works in an office and my uncle is a chef, but they work for the fire service in their free time. We were on holiday when the fire started, but my dad wanted to help his friends in the sevice. So we came home. Everyone said that the fire-fighters were fantasctic. But my dad thought that the Australian spirit was amazing, too. A friend of my parents lost his home and some of his animals. After the fire had passed, the friend just said,"My wife and children are safe. That's the most important thing!"

Michael Baldock, aged 13

I'm a nature lover, so I was very worried about what was happening to the animals in the bush. Although some animals were rescued and given medical treatment for burns and smoke inhalation, the fires killed tens of thousands of them, including deer, kangaroos, possums and koalas. They also destroyed 90% of the trees and plants that surround Sydney. I can't remember the bush fires of 1994. But my dad told me that after the fires, the bush soon grew back again. I'm looking forward to seeing lots of new plants. I'm sure they'll be very beautiful when they first appear on the burnt land.

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The fire started in the countryside.