Life in Darwin (in the far north of Australia) had always been free and easy. From May to October, the weather was the best. Tourists arrived in large numbers from the south to (1) the winter cold. However, on 24 December 1974, the local television and radio stations warned (2) a cyclone, which the weathermen had (3) Tracy, moving rapidly nearer Darwin. At two minutes before midnight, the radio gave out a short message. There seemed (4) doubt that Cyclone Tracy was moving towards Darwin. Within minutes people were running screaming into the dark streets. Tall office buildings and hotels (5) to the ground. Cars parked in the streets were blown (6) and over until every bit of metal was bent. At Darwin’s railway (7) , trains were thrown into the air (8) if they were toys. The rails were torn up from the (9) and bent into different shapes. All the (10 ) the cyclone was moaning and roaring. When Cyclone Tracy finally (11) Darwin, there was a strange silence throughout the city. Everyone waited, (12) the storm to turn round and come back to make (13) that all the buildings were knocked to the ground. The city was so badly hit that it was decided to bring in bulldozers to knock (14) whatever was left standing. The only thing to do was start from the beginning and (15) the whole city.