Speed Reading — Level 6 — 500 wpm 

Now do this put-the-text-back-together activity.

This is the text (if you need help).

The residents of a town cut off by last week's New Zealand earthquake have received a somewhat unusual but welcome air delivery – enough fast food to feed a small army. The mercy mission to the town of Kaikoura was organized by a plasterer from the town of Nelson 130 kilometres to the north. Robert Coombes, 49, spent three days gathering donations from people and bought as much fast food as he could with the cash. He filled a friend's light aircraft with 400 pieces of Kentucky Fried Chicken, 300 McDonald's burgers, 50 Domino's pizzas, and hundreds of candies. His cargo of tasty treats landed in Kaikoura in time for lunch on Friday. Kaikoura was the town worst hit by the magnitude 7.8 quake.

Mr Coombes explained to reporters that he wanted to "put a smile on people's faces, even if it's only for one day". He added: "There's necessities, but with kids, you need a bit more than bread and water. I just thought I'd fill the plane with junk food and bring a little bit of happiness to the place…. It's just being a good human being." Coombes said the manager of KFC and McDonald's supported his idea and their staff started work two hours earlier to prepare the goodies. Main roads and rail links to Kaikoura have been severed by massive landslides. There have been well over 2,000 aftershocks since Monday and the government is warning that there are likely to be more.

Comprehension questions
  1. What did the article say there was enough fast food to feed?
  2. What is the job of the man who organized the flight?
  3. How many pieces of chicken went on the aircraft?
  4. What did the flight land in time for?
  5. What is the name of the town that was worst hit by the earthquake?
  6. What did the man want to put on people's faces?
  7. Who did the man say needed more than bread and water?
  8. How many hours earlier did McDonald's staff work to help with the food?
  9. What cut the main roads and rail links to the town?
  10. How many aftershocks have hit the town?

Back to the junk food lesson.

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