Read the paragraphs below and answer the questions.
The story below describes something that happened over a hundred years ago, not long after aeroplanes were first invented. Mark and Christina are competing in a horse race, but the race is interrupted by an out-of-control aeroplane, flown by William.
Christina knew instantly that there was something wrong, and that William was obviously in serious trouble. Emma Four was heading straight across the valley for the hill the crowd was using for its vantage point; she was flying almost at stalling speed, and clearly, unless William managed something miraculous, she was not going to weather the summit. Her engine was making temperamental noises, opening up in raucous bursts as William tried desperately to gain height, then conking out in a series of coughs and splutters. Christina could see William in his flat oily cap and goggles, peering anxiously over the side; for a moment, the thought crossed her mind that he had timed his arrival at the run-in on purpose, for some diabolical reason of his own, but then she realised that he was a long way past doing anything for any other motive than that of saving his own skin.
1. What is 'Emma Four'?
2. Why does Christina briefly think William might have crashed on purpose?
His arrival created immediate havoc. The crowd's roar had changed to a frantic, amazed gabble. Christina watched, her eyes widening with a dreadful anticipation, as the harmless afternoon's entertainment suddenly took on an almost comic inevitability.
The crowd started to run. They ran in all directions, some aimlessly, still watching the stricken Emma Four, pointing and gesticulating, some in real, screaming panic. The aeroplane came down over the valley, very low, her wings rolling horribly, engine screaming. All the horses tied to the farm-carts started to plunge and whinny madly, some breaking away. Christina saw one gallop full tilt into the tea tent by one opening, and out with a frightful crashing noise in its wake through the other.
3. What does 'the harmless afternoon's entertainment suddenly took on an almost comic inevitability' mean?
4. What creates humour in this section despite the danger?
One horse, still between the shafts of a smart gig, bolted down the hill and got stuck in the stream. Firedance and Treasure, one moment galloping towards this monstrous, screaming apparition, were now bolting headlong back down the valley. Firedance ran himself to a standstill, and Peter was able to fling himself off and hold his head, but Treasure, mad with fright, would not stop for the hedge and stream at the bottom and went straight through the obstacle as if it did not exist. Mark was flung violently from the saddle by a blow from a low branch, and fell heavily down the bank below, leaving ribbons of yellow silk speared on the thorn hedge like breaking willow buds.
Christina watched the whole sequence from Woodpigeon's back with a sense of doom, utterly calm because there was nothing she could do. She winced for Mark, and turned to watch William make his forced landing so close to her now that she could see the tense look on his face, the stiff leg stuck out in its awkward fashion in front of him.
5. Why is the simile 'like breaking willow buds' powerful?
6. Why is Christina 'utterly calm' during the disaster?
7. Why does the writer call the aeroplane 'this monstrous, screaming apparition'?