Explanation:

- The radio comes on automatically at 7 o'clock to wake me up. This suggests an action is triggered at a specific time.

- I looked at the clock. The sentence sets the scene by indicating a glance at the clock for the current time.

- It was already ten past seven.

- "It" is used to refer to time in a general context, as in "It is ten o'clock."

- I had to get up quickly. This implies urgency because the time is later than expected.

- I went into the shower. This describes the action taken after realizing the time.

- I could hear the news on the radio. The person could listen but not necessarily understand it well.

- I couldn't hear it very well. Suggests some difficulty in hearing the broadcast clearly.

- But there was a story about an elephant that had escaped from a local circus. Indicates the specific news item of interest.