Almost a hundred thousand people were killed and half a million homes destroyed as a result of an earthquake in Tokyo in 1923. The earthquake began a minute before noon when the habitants of Tokyo (20)___________ their midday meals. Thousands of stoves were overturned as soon as the earth (21) ________ to shake. As a result, small fires (22) ___________ everywhere and quickly spread. The fire engines were prevented (23) ________ to help because many of the roads ( 24) _________ open. It was impossible to use fighting equipment as most of the water pipes had burst. Consequently, over ninety percent of the damage (25) __________ by fire rather than by the collapse of buildings 20/ A. cooked B. were cooking C. would cook D. had cooked 21/ A. began B. was beginning C. used to begin D. begin 22/ A. were breaking out B. would break out C. have broken out D. broke out 23/ A. from going B. to go C. for going D. he went 24/ A. had cracked B. cracking C. crack D. were cracking 25/ A. caused B. was causing C. causing D. was caused