(putupwith,average,casual,advocate,steady,mild,circumstance,electrical,flood,motor,widespread,catastrophe,keepon)

　　Itstartedasamildwinterthatyear.Nobodyrealizedhowserioustehcircumstancewouldbeortheflooditwouldcause.OnlyNormanandhisfamilyhadpredictedthepossibledangerouscatastropheandbuiltahouseboatinspiteoftheoppositionofhisneighbors.Atfirsttherainfellgentlybutsteadily.Acasualinspectionwouldhaveshownthatmorethanhalftheaveragerainfallforthattimeofyearhadfalleninoneday!Thateveningwaterbrokedownflooddefencesandtherewaswidespreadflooding.Theelectricalsupplywascutoffandnoescapewaspossibleasallmotorcarswereunderwater.Asthewaterlevelcontinuedtorise,theheadofthevillageadvocatedaskingNormantohelp.BythenNormanwhohadonceputupwithsomuchcriticismhadalreadysailedofftoasaferplacewithhisfamilyinhisboat.However,assoonashegotthemessage,hereturnedtorescuethepeoplewithhisboat.Hekeptonworkingtillallthevillagersweresaved.