This volcanic eruption lasted for six ___.
C
Despite the eruption-
D
Black cinders fell that were the size of__
A
The island's volcano had been inactive for-
B
This liquid was coming from the –
B
The color of the hot liquid was-
D
The village is located on the island of-
C
When you have finished reading the meter, mark off-
A
Explanation:
The village of Vestmannaeyjar, in the far northern country of Iceland, is as bright and clean and up-
to-date as any American or Canadian suburb. It is located on the island of Heimaey, just off the
mainland. One January night in 1973, however, householders were shocked from their sleep. In
some backyards red-hot liquid was spurting from the ground. Flaming skyrockets shot up and over
the houses. The island's volcano, Helgafell, silent for seven thousand years, was violently erupting!
Luckily, the island's fishing fleet was in port, and within twenty-four hours almost everyone was
ferried to the mainland. But then the agony of the island began in earnest. As in a nightmare,
fountains of burning lava spurted three hundred feet high. Black, baseball-size cinders rained down.
An evil-smelling, eye-burning, throat-searing cloud of smoke and gas erupted into the air, and a river
of lava flowed down the mountain. The constant shriek of escaping steam was punctuated by ear-
splitting explosions. As time went on, the once pleasant village of Vestmannaeyjar took on a weird
aspect. Its street lamps still burning against the long Arctic night, the town lay under a thick blanket
of cinders. All that could be seen above the ten-foot black drifts were the tips of street signs. Some
houses had collapsed under the weight of cinders; others had burst into flames as the heat ignited
their oil storage tanks. Lighting the whole lurid scene, fire continued to shoot from the mouth of the
looming volcano. The eruption continued for six months. Scientists and reporters arrived from
around the world to observe the awesome natural event. But the town did not die that easily. In July,
when the eruption ceased, the people of Heimaey Island returned to assess the chances of
rebuilding their homes and lives. They found tons of ash covering the ground. The Icelanders are a
tough people, however, accustomed to the strange and violent nature of their Arctic land. They dug
out their homes. They even used the cinders to build new roads and airport runways. Now the new
homes of Heimaey are warmed from water pipes heated by molten lava.
As you read the first dial, record the figures
C
Always read the meter dials-
B