You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13, which are based on Reading Passage 1.

The Origins of Weather Forecasting

The world’s first public weather forecast appeared in The Times newspaper over 150 years ago: the beginning of a service that gives everyone something to comment on

The pioneering forecast on August 1, 1861, was introduced with a deceptively simple heading: ‘General weather probable during next two days.’ But those few words started an ongoing controversy that still continues today – after all, everyone remembers the forecasts that go wrong, but rarely the ones that are right.

The first forecast was the idea of Admiral Robert FitzRoy, head of the newly founded Meteorological Department, and one of Britain’s greatest but least-known heroes. It was a brave undertaking, because in those days predicting the weather had gained a reputation similar to astrology or fortune-telling. The few people who attempted it had become a national joke when their forecasts inevitably went wrong.

FitzRoy was different though. His background was faultless, most famously his captaining of the ship HMS Beagle on Charles Darwin’s voyage around the world, which eventually led to the publication of Darwin’s well-known book *On the Origin of Species*. When FitzRoy retired from active service as an admiral in Britain’s navy, he was looking for a new direction. He subsequently secured a job as chief statistician at the Meteorological Department, part of the Board of Trade. Parliament had voted to set up and fund the Meteorological Department on June 30, 1854, to chart the safest sailing routes across the Atlantic Ocean. However, the British Government was not impressed with the idea of collecting weather reports and establishing a weather forecast, and the suggestion by one Member of Parliament for this was met with laughter from the other MPs.

FitzRoy was given a staff of three clerks in a small office in London, but he soon grew bored with the tedium of transcribing thousands of ships’ reports. Instead, he focused on a much more pressing issue – the huge loss of life at sea from storms. This problem came to a head in 1859, when gale-force winds sank the ship named *Royal Charter*, with the loss of 430 lives, within sight of the shore. Even in those days when ships regularly sank in storms, the loss of the Royal Charter was considered a national tragedy. FitzRoy stirred up feelings even further when he wrote a letter to The Times newspaper explaining that the storm had been entirely predictable.

That same year, a total of 1,645 lives were lost off the British coast, and FitzRoy wrote repeatedly to The Times pushing for a storm-warning service for shipping. This was just the right moment for a national forecasting service. Knowledge of the weather was improving, barometer readings gave warning of approaching storms, and the invention of the electric telegraph and Morse code in 1844 gave instant communication for the first time.

Questions 1-5

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?

In boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet, write:

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

In Robert FitzRoy’s time, weather forecasting was a respected skill.
When FitzRoy retired from the navy, he had already had a successful career at sea.
FitzRoy faced competition from other applicants for the chief statistician’s job.
The British Parliament supported the idea of regular weather forecasts in 1854.
Progress in technology made it a good time for publicly available weather forecasting to begin.

Questions 6-13

Complete the notes below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 6-13 on your answer sheet.

Questions 1-5

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?

In boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet, write:

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this

In Robert FitzRoy’s time, weather forecasting was a respected skill.
When FitzRoy retired from the navy, he had already had a successful career at sea.
FitzRoy faced competition from other applicants for the chief statistician’s job.
The British Parliament supported the idea of regular weather forecasts in 1854.
Progress in technology made it a good time for publicly available weather forecasting to begin.

Questions 6-13

Complete the notes below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 6-13 on your answer sheet.

# The Development and Impact of FitzRoy’s Work

– Information for the 1861 forecasts was gathered from stations provided with reliable 6 ______.

– Forecast data was then transmitted to all 7 ______ along the coastline.

– Coastal areas would raise 8 ______ to ensure passing ships received the warnings.

– This was considered the most significant technical advance since the introduction of the 9 ______.

– FitzRoy’s work even influenced private lives; for example, Queen Victoria often consulted him before travelling to a particular 10 ______ she enjoyed visiting.

– Although these forecasts were popular with fishermen, fishing boat 11 ______ were dissatisfied because the warnings sometimes led to delays in their schedules.

– To commemorate FitzRoy’s contribution, his 12 ______ was used to name a specific area of water.

– Additionally, a 13 ______ he authored was highly regarded by the scientific community.