Unit 06

Put the numbers into the written version.

1. 2nd April: ________.
2. In 1966: ________.
3. 10/11/1999: ________.
4. 2,000 members: ________.
5. 13th June 2012: ________.
6. The 7 kings of Rome: ________.
7. 23/02/2011: ________.

Read the passage and decide whether the statements say something true (T), false (F) or not mentioned (NM).

My name is Nick. I was born on a rainy day in July. It was surprisingly cold, my mother told me. That year my parents couldn't go on holiday because they expected me at the end of July, so they couldn't plan anything. But in the following years they took very peaceful and relaxing holidays both in summer and in winter. When I was three, they decided to do something exceptional: they decided to spend Christmas in Sweden, visiting Santa's village, and they took me with them. I was a little boy, but I was impressed. That was a memorable experience. I met Santa in person and I could see Santa's helpers: the elves, little creatures with pointed ears. They worked to make toys. I saw houses made entirely of ice. I couldn't imagine it was all fake. When my parents told me that Santa Claus didn't exist, it took me a long time to accept the fact. All my friends already knew that it was their dad and mum that bought presents for them and put them under the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. I simply refused to acknowledge the truth because I still kept the memory of that trip to Santa's land.

1. When Nick was born, the sun was shining.________
2. In the years after his birth, his parents went on holiday both in summer and in winter.________
3. They all went on holiday to Sweden when Nick was only four years old.________
4. In Sweden they visited Santa Claus's village.________
5. The holiday in Sweden impressed Nick, who believed that everything was real.________
6. Santa had a house made of ice.________
7. Growing up, Nick didn't want to accept the fact that Santa didn't exist.________
8. That holiday was a memorable experience for Nick.________

Turn each sentence into the interrogative form.

1. There was a long queue in front of the theatre yesterday.
________
2. You were late for the performance.
________
3. Sue was careful not to disturb her mum.
________
4. It was a beautiful and mild autumn day.
________
5. They were in time to catch the last train home.
________
6. He was moved after seeing the film.
________
7. Her teacher was open-minded.
________

Write the appropriate past form of the verb in brackets. Use the contracted negative forms.

1. The newspaper said it (be) ________ a mild day, but it (not be) ________ right. In fact, it (rain) ________ all day and it was cold.
2. Dan and Bob (be) ________ very good friends at school. They (play) ________ football together.
3. You couldn't get in and you (miss) ________ the concert. You were late as usual, (not be) ________ you?
4. We (like) ________ being at the Carnival parade but there were so many people that we (not see) ________ much.

Guess what celebration each description refers to.

1. On that day parents hide little chocolate eggs everywhere, in their gardens or in the house, and children go and hunt for them. They can keep all the chocolate eggs they find.
It is ________.
2. It is a day when children and young people dress up and pretend to be somebody else. In some towns there are also long and colourful parades.
It is ________.
3. You expect people you love to remember the date. They often send you a nice card or just give you a call if they live far away. Relatives and friends usually buy you a present. Blowing out candles on a cake is typical.
It is your ________.

You are going to listen to a journalist talking about Sir David Attenborough, the famous British face and voice of natural history programmes on the BBC, the man who taught the world about wildlife and particularly about Madagascar. After listening, look at the text and complete it with the missing verbs in the past simple. Listen again and check.

Fifty years ago, Sir David Attenborough ________ to film on the island for the early wildlife TV series Zoo Quest. He ________ several times to visit the country over the following years, as Madagascar ________ to capture both his and his audience's imagination for many years after. Some time ago, the BBC ________ a video clip collection which put together some of the memorable moments from those Madagascar films, captured over a time that ________ great changes both to the island itself and in wildlife film-making. On one occasion, he ________ the size of elephant birds, animals which ________ extremely heavy: that could weigh up to half a ton.

Complete the sentences with one of the verbs from the following pairs. There are two pairs you don't need.

didn't want / wanted – scared / didn't scare – was / were – dressed / made – could resist / couldn't resist – like / didn't like – came out / came in – made / didn't make – went / go – gone / didn't go

Steven ________ three years old and the Halloween pumpkin ________ him a lot. He ________ that day. His brothers told him it was the day when dead people ________ of their graves and appeared to everybody. How scary! Children ________ up as ghosts and witches and ________ from door to door asking for sweets or money and saying 'Trick or treat?'. He ________ to do that. He was ashamed. But his brothers obliged him to put out his little hand and ask for sweets because he was such a nice little boy that nobody ________.

Complete the sentences with the correct form of could. Use the contracted form in the negative.

1. I ________ play the piano quite well at the age of twelve. My parents are both musicians.
2. Martin ________ watch the match on TV yesterday because he arrived home too late.
3. His sister ________ go out on her own on Halloween because her parents didn't let her.
4. Glenda ________ swim properly. Her parents were glad there was a lifeguard on the beach, so they ________ relax.
5. The twins ________ play basketball quite well. They ________ play football as well, but they ________ play volleyball at all.

Choose the correct option.

Last year, Sue ________ a marvellous surprise party for her birthday. As she ________ in summer, the weather is always nice, and that year her mother ________ to invite some of Sue's friends to their house. She ________ lots of nice things to eat, and she ________ Sue away from home for a couple of hours with an excuse so that she ________ the tables and chairs in the garden. One of Sue's best friends, Carol, ________ to help, and the surprise ________ perfectly.

Complete the paragraph with one appropriate word in each gap.

It was the ________ of December 2012 and New Year's Eve.  I ________ at home spending the night with my parents. I was 16 ________ old and I ________ miserable. All my friends ________ to a party at Helen's house, but it was too far away and my parents ________ pick me up very late at night. So, they decided that it ________ better for me and for them if I ________ at home with them. After all, I was only 16, they said. They ________ imagine how unhappy I felt.