Beacons
We have become (0) to the sight of an untidy collection of masts and antennas on just about
every high hill or mountaintop. They are all (1)........ the most of high vantage points to transmit and
receive things like television programmes and mobile phone calls. However, in the (2)........ of a national
emergency, they will provide vital help.
5
Modern telecommunications networks have (3) an ancient early-warning system where beacons, or
same vantage points we use
fires, were lit to form a chain of communication. In some cases, the (4).
today were once used for that purpose.
The first beacon would (S).... be lit at a high point on the coast if invading ships were spotted. When this
was seen from the next point some distance away, a second beacon was lit, followed by others (6).
along the chain. Each beacon would warn local communities, and the network could, within minutes,
(7) a whole country to the danger.
7
Of course, the message was not very sophisticated, but in most cases it was (8)
"We are under attack".
3
1 A actual
5
A exploiting
A event
A supplied
A typically
A distant
A alert
B A casually
B taking
B occasion
B replaced
B only
8 principally
B further
B alarm
B gladly
C making
C happening
C relegated
C extreme
C extensively
C forward
Carouse
C eagerly
D including
D occurrence
D transplanted
D very
D essentially
D remote
D arise
D readily
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understood to mean…