CLOZE: Powerful Quake Hits Indonesia , Manhole Blast, Six Hurt.

Straits Times, Oct 24, 2009
Powerful quake hits Indonesia
JAKARTA - A 1. ____________ earthquake 2. __________ deep under the sea in eastern Indonesia on Saturday, causing panic and sending residents running 3. ____________out of their homes, officials and witnesses said.
There were no immediate reports of damage or 4. ___________.
The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.0, but at a depth of 86 miles (138 kilometres) was too far below the earth's surface to cause a tsunami, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.
Saturday's 5. __________ came as Indonesia is still recovering from a 6. _____________ earthquake last month that killed 7. ___________ than 1,000 8. _____________ on western Sumatra.
The US Geological Survey says Saturday's quake - the second strong temblor in two days - was 8. _____________225 miles (365 kilometres) south-east of Ambon in the Maluku islands 9. __________ the Banda Sea.
The shaking was 10. __________ and people 11. ____________ to higher ground fearing a 12. __________, said Mr Ian Kotualubun, an official 13. ____________ Indonesia's Meteorology and Geophysics Agency 14. ___________ Saumlaki, the area closest to the epicentre, about 2,700 kilometres (1,700 miles) east 15. ____________ the capital, Jakarta. – AP
Answers
1. powerful 2. struck 3. out 4. injuries 5. quake 6. devastating 7. more
8. located 9. in 10. strong 11. ran 12. tsunami 13. with
14. in 15. of





Oct 22, 2009, Straits Times
Manhole blast, six hurt



The workers were there to seal several unused underground sewage pipes within the underground chamber by filling them up with cement. -- PHOTO: ZAOBAO
SIX workers who 1. _________________(be+just +climb) out of a manhole in MacPherson Road 2. ________________(be+bad+ burn) on Wednesday afternoon, after an underground explosion which 3. ____________(cause) the authorities to 4. _____________(closed) the road even past midnight.
Two of the workers are now unconscious and on ventilator support at Singapore General Hospital's intensive care unit. One of them suffered 30 per cent burns to his body, while the other 5. _________(has) 10 per cent burns.
The other four men 6. ___________(war) in the hospital's burns unit, with burns 7. _____________(range) from 5 per cent to 10 per cent. The burns 8. __________(mainly) mainly to their face and upper limbs.
All six were Thai nationals, aged between 27 and 50, who 9. ___________(start) work at the site - near the junction of MacPherson and Aljunied roads - at about 10am on Wednesday.
The workers 10. __________(be) there 11. ___________(seal) several unused underground sewage pipes within the underground chamber by filling them up with a cement compound.
The cause of the explosion is still being investigated by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and the Manpower Ministry (MOM), but it is understood that the pipes 12. _________________(damage) in the incident.


Answers
1. had just climbed 2. were badly burnt 3. caused 4. close 5. had
6. were warded 7. ranging 8. were mainly 9. started 10. were
11. to seal/ sealing 12. were not damaged