worksheet: useful exercises

___/___/___
Finish each of the incomplete sentences below in such a way that it has the same meaning as the sentence above
it.
EXAMPLE It would be wise for us to take raincoats.
We'd ____________________________________________________________
ANSWER We'd better take raincoats.

1. This suitcase is too small for all my things.

This suitcase is not ____________________________________________________________________________
2. Their house is so far away that we can't walk there.
It is such ____________________________________________________________________________________
3. “Can you guess who has just left?” he asked us.
He asked us if ________________________________________________________________________________
4. The architect worked on the plans for six months.
The architect spent ____________________________________________________________________________
5. On the day she agreed to marry him, he was happier than he had ever been in his life.
The day she agreed to marry him was _____________________________________________________________
6. I haven't seen so much rain for a long time.
It's _________________________________________________________________________________________
7. Malcolm was originally going to buy a car, but he bought a motor-cycle instead.
Instead______________________________________________________________________________________
8. Please explain this letter to me.
Please tell me ________________________________________________________________________________
9. You cannot go into that restaurant without a jacket and tie.
Unless ______________________________________________________________________________________
10. It is high time for us to go home.
It's time we __________________________________________________________________________________
11. I can study properly only if I sit at a desk.
Sitting at a desk is _____________________________________________________________________________
12. Jennifer regretted her foolish behaviour.
Jennifer wished _______________________________________________________________________________
I3. We took more clothes than we needed on holiday last summer.
We needn't __________________________________________________________________________________
14. Is it really necessary for me to arrive so early?
Do I ________________________________________________________________________________________
15. Someone has stolen the boss's car.
The boss has
_________________________________________________________________________________
16. Take an umbrella with you. It may rain this afternoon.
Take an umbrella in ___________________________________________________________________________
17. We worked on the garden the whole weekend.
We spent ____________________________________________________________________________________
18. Two new suits are being made for him.
He is _______________________________________________________________________________________
I9. Leonard felt sick because he was eating polluted shellfish.
If Leonard ___________________________________________________________________________________
20. The only thing I forgot to put in the picnic basket was the bottle-opener.
I remembered ________________________________________________________________________________

The word in capital letters at the end of each of these sentences can be changed in such a way that it forms a
word that fits suitably in the blank space. Fill each blank space in this way.
Example: The bloodstain on her dress was very __________
Notice
Answer: The bloodstain on her dress was very noticeable.

1. Nobody wanted to live in the _______ part of the town. Industry

2. The police asked him to give a_________ of the suitcase he had lost. Describe
3. He had no __________that he was being watched. Suspect

1
4. This is Alexandra, my personal __________ Assist
5. Although some of my work-mates quickly found new jobs after the factory closed down, my brother and I were
__________for several months. Employ
6. Although I was positive that the girl had stolen my ring, I could not find any _________ Prove
7. The doctor dealt with the hysterical patient with __________ Understand
8. There's a ___________ at the British Embassy tonight. Receive
9. The next-door neighbours are so __________that we have stopped trying to talk to them. Friend
10. Yes, I can speak a little Spanish because I spent some of my ________ in Spain. Boy
11. This jewel is not simply valuable, it is ___________ Value
12. Susan has two bad characteristics: jealousy and _________ Possess
13. After all he has done for us, it would be very _______ of us if we didn't do this for him now. Help
14. With the world's population increasing at the present rate, by the year 2000 it is feared there will be a terrible
food ______________. Short
15. Penelope has __________ failed her driving test again. Fortune
16. Fruit is always _________ in summer here. Plenty
17. The __________ of the money from the cash-box shows that somebody in this office is a thief. Appear
18. You must accept the _________of the committee. Decide
19. Vernon and Wanda arrived late at the opera and were refused ________ until the end of the first act. Admit
20. This coat is too short for today. Do you think you could _________ it a little for me? Long

Make all the changes and additions necessary to produce, from the following ten groups of words and phrases, a
complete letter from Anne to her Aunt Edwina.
Examine this example carefully to see what kind of changes and additions need to be made.

Norman / wish / he / be able / take / take / girlfriend / dinner / last night / as well / theatre / but not have / money /
both

Norman wished he had been able to take his girlfriend out to dinner last night as well as to the theatre but he did not have
enough money for both.

Dear Aunt Edwina,

Thank / very much / present / just / arrive
1. _________________________________________________________________________________________
What / lovely dress / suit me / wonderfully J be / most grateful
2. __________________________________________________________________________________________
Jack and I / go / Covent Garden / celebrate / this evening
3. __________________________________________________________________________________________
Placido Domingo / sing / Don Giovanni / von Karajan / conduct
4. __________________________________________________________________________________________
Afterwards / favourite restaurant / champagne / special occasion
5. __________________________________________________________________________________________
Twenty-first birthday / great day / life / come once
6. __________________________________________________________________________________________
Next great day / be / wedding / probably / Spring
7. __________________________________________________________________________________________
In spite / you / live / far / we both / hope much / you / come
8. __________________________________________________________________________________________
Easy / you / stay / with us / plenty / space / because / big house
9. __________________________________________________________________________________________
Tell / definite date / as soon / fixed
10. _________________________________________________________________________________________
With special love to you, Anne

2
 worksheet: useful exercises

12th form
___/____/____
Finish each of the incomplete sentences below in such a way that it has the same meaning as the sentence, which is printed
above it.

Example: It would be wise for us to take raincoats.

We'd ____________________
Answer: We'd better take raincoats.

1. It is said that he escaped to a neutral country.

He ____________________________________________________________________________
2. Oil was slowly covering the sand of the beach.
The sand of the beach ____________________________________________________________
3. In spite of all our efforts, we failed.
Although_______________________________________________________________________
4. We'd prefer you not to wear those slippers in the office, Miss Blake.
We'd rather ____________________________________________________________________
5. The storm blew the roof off the house.
The house ______________________________________________________________________
6. You really should be able to dress yourself by now, Elsie.
It's time you ____________________________________________________________________
7. This is the quickest way to get into the centre of the city.
There's ________________________________________________________________________
8. Only one person knew what had caused the fire.
The cause ______________________________________________________________________
9. I don't think this punch-bowl has enough brandy in it.
There is too ____________________________________________________________________
10. Provided your handwriting is legible, the examiners will accept your paper.
So long as the examiners __________________________________________________________
11. I'll take a mackintosh because it may rain this evening.
In case ________________________________________________________________________
12. There are a lot of people dependent on him.
He ____________________________________________________________________________
13. What I admire most about him is his absolute frankness.
His absolute frankness, more _______________________________________________________
14. How did you get the idea that they're rich?
What made ____________________________________________________________________?
15. We could have done more for them really.
We didn't ______________________________________________________________________
16. I won't keep you long. I know you're in a hurry.
I won't take up __________________________________________________________________
17. As one grows older one becomes more intolerant.
The older ______________________________________________________________________
18. The fourth time he asked her to marry him, she accepted.
Only on his fourth _______________________________________________________________
19. Immediately after his arrival home a water-heater exploded.
Hardly _________________________________________________________________________
20. Patricia loves Mozart, and above all his operas.
Patricia loves Mozart, but what _____________________________________________________

Rephrase each of these sentences in such a way that you can use the word that appears in capital letters. Do not alter this
word in any way.

Example: I suppose they are all away for the weekend. MUST
Answer: They must all be away for the weekend.

1. I'm not going to retire until I myself want to. FEEL

___________________________________________________________________________
That hotel is a bit too expensive for us, I'm afraid. REACH
3
___________________________________________________________________________
3. I don't personally care if they come or not. MATTER
___________________________________________________________________________
4. After two hours the bridegroom had still not arrived. SIGN
___________________________________________________________________________
5. We didn't go to the island that stormy weekend in case we couldn't get back. FEAR
___________________________________________________________________________
6. Rosalind found the heat and humidity quite intolerable. BEAR
___________________________________________________________________________
7. It's going to pour. I think you should take a mackintosh. HAD
___________________________________________________________________________
8. Many of the group had not been in a helicopter before. TIME
___________________________________________________________________________
9. Yes, it's a great pity my father was so absent-minded last night. WISH
___________________________________________________________________________
10. I don't think Geoffrey will be able to do that job. CAPABLE
___________________________________________________________________________
11. You shouldn't pay so much attention to their complaints. NOTICE
___________________________________________________________________________
12. We insist on knowing the truth about all this. DEMAND
___________________________________________________________________________
13. Everybody enjoyed the play except Raymond. ONLY
___________________________________________________________________________
14. It's such a large house that she doesn't like being alone in it. OWN
___________________________________________________________________________
15. Go and ask Winifred. I'm sure she'll know the answer. BOUND
___________________________________________________________________________
16. Who gave you my name and address? TOUCH
___________________________________________________________________________
17. All of a sudden, Alice thought of a solution to the problem. OCCURRED
___________________________________________________________________________
18. It is very interesting to talk to him. HE
___________________________________________________________________________
19. Your hair is much too long, dear. NEEDS
___________________________________________________________________________
20. This is the last time I ask you to help me. NEVER
__________________________________ _________________________________________
TMBC 

4
 worksheet: useful exercises

12th form
___/___/___
Imagine that you are listening to Mr. Blake talking on the telephone to a Mrs. Lewis. You cannot, of course, hear
what Mrs. Lewis says but you might be able to guess. Write your guesses in the empty spaces.

Mr. Blake: May I speak to Mr. Levis, please?

1. Mrs. Lewis: ________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Mr. Blake: Lewis? Oh, I'm sorry. I must have written it down wrongly. Well, good morning. Mrs. Lewis. Is your
husband at home?
2. Mrs. Lewis: ________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Mr. Blake: What time will he be getting up, please?
3. Mrs. Lewis: ________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Mr. Blake: Oh, do forgive me! I'm awfully sorry to hear that. I thought you said he was still in bed. The line isn't very
clear. Well, Mrs. Lewis, my name is Blake and I'm ringing from...
4. Mrs. Lewis: ________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Mr. Blake: No, I've never had the pleasure of meeting him.
5. Mrs. Lewis: ________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Mr. Blake: I don't know it, of course. It's just a way of speaking.
6. Mrs. Lewis: ________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Mr. Blake: I'll tell you what I want in just a moment, Mrs. Lewis. First, though, may I introduce myself? As I said,
my name is Blake and I'm ringing from...
7. Mrs. Lewis: ________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Mr. Blake: Nobody gave me your number.
8. Mrs. Lewis: ________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Mr. Blake: From the telephone book. Every day I take a dozen or so names from the telephone book and...
9. Mrs. Lewis: ________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Mr. Blake: I'll tell you in a second. But let me start at the beginning again. I'm ringing from the circulation
department of the Daily Echo to say ...
10. Mrs. Lewis:
_______________________________________________________________________________

5
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Mr. Blake: A newspaper, dear lady. A famous newspaper.
11. Mrs. Lewis:
_______________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

Mr. Blake: Oh, I beg your pardon. The circulation department. That's the one that looks after the sales of a
newspaper.
12. Mrs. Lewis:
_______________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Mr. Blake: Oh, it might well concern you, Mrs. Lewis. We can now deliver the Daily Echo to your house at 5 o'clock
every morning.
13. Mrs. Lewis:
_______________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Mr. Blake: You don't have to get up at 5 o'clock. We just deliver it at that time. We put it in your letter-box.
14. Mrs. Lewis:
_______________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Mr. Blake: Really? I thought everybody had one these days. In that case we can leave it on your doorstep.
15. Mrs. Lewis:
_______________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Mr. Blake: I don't think there's much danger of that, really. It's not as if it would be a bundle of pound notes on the
doorstep.
16. Mrs. Lewis:
_______________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Mr. Blake: Well, mainly perhaps to have the fullest possible picture of what is going on in the world.
17. Mrs. Lewis:
_______________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Mr. Blake: But it isn't really enough, is it? A newspaper is able to give so many more details than the TV news can.
18. Mrs. Lewis:
_______________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Mr. Blake: With respect, Mrs. Lewis, I think everybody ought to be interested in details these days. But anyway,
apart from that side of the matter, our newspaper offers many other things to interest its readers.
19. Mrs. Lewis:
_______________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

6
Mr. Blake: Articles, features, cooking recipes, cinema programmes – to name just a few.
20. Mrs. Lewis:
_______________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Mr. Blake: Nor do I, to tell you the truth. The films these days aren't as good as they used to be, but... Hello? Mrs.
Lewis? Are you there? Hello ? Good heavens, she's hung up! What a very unpleasant woman.

”Rush to your dreams, they are waiting you to become true” TMBC 

worksheet: useful exercises

12th form
___/___/___

Fill each of the blank spaces with one of these verbs, in an appropriate form:
ask speak talk say tell order

1. I don't know the hotel personally, but it is ___________ to be quite a good one.
2. Sit down and __________ me exactly what happened.
3. Let's ___________ the new neighbours to dinner next week.
4. We'd better ___________ the whole thing over again before we make a decision.
5. The Minister is going to __________ in Parliament tomorrow about unemployment.
6. The doctor took his temperature and then ____________ him straight to bed.
7. Some people ___________ that the imported cola is better than the local product but I can't ___________ the difference.
8. Daddy, Nigel has ___________ me to marry him!
9. And what have you got to ___________ for yourself, you wretched boy?
10. I have been ___________ them that they are making a great mistake.
11. Yes, I think I __________ German well enough to make myself understood at least.
I2. Waiter, we're ready to ___________ now.
13. We were ____________ to her last night and she didn't once ___________ a word about her illness.
14. Go and ____________ that man what he is doing here. He wasn't invited.
15. The miners here are ____________ about going on strike again.

Fill the blank spaces in these sentences with the word that correctly describes the document or piece of paper appropriate to the situation.
EXAMPLE Two months before he died, Jonathan made a new ___________ in which he left everything to me.
ANSWER: will

1. Peter didn't have enough cash to pay for his dinner so he made out a __________
2. You can't buy that medicine without a ____________ from a doctor.
3. I suppose he'll want to see the ___________ that will prove that I have really passed the examination.
4. Josephine wrote to her bank to ask for an up-to-date ___________ of her account.
5. I finished my book a few days ago. I'm sending the ____________ to the publisher tomorrow.
6. Our house is rather difficult to find. I'll draw you a little ____________ to show you the best way.

7. What a delicious pudding

7
8. room the nurse handed him the temperature __________ of the patient.

10. If you want the estate agent to sell the house for you, you'll have to let him see the ____________ that show you're the legal owner.

“It’s never too late to learn how to play the guitar.” TMBC 

Here are twenty sentences each with a blank space. Below each sentence are four words or phrases. Choose the one of these that most
suitably fills the blank space.

1. Be careful! Here's a wasps' nest. Don't _____________it.

Interfere - disturb - blast - thrill
2. No, it's no good. I've _____________ my time in trying to make it work.
spent - spoiled - consumed - wasted
3. Our car is a much older ____________ than yours.
model - pattern - manufacture - form
4. Because of the poor harvest, wheat prices have ___________ in the last six months.
grown up - gone up - jumped up - sprung up
5. We'd better hurry. There's a _____________ to Uncle Timothy's patience.
top - bottom - border - limit
6. You thought I did wrong but the results _____________ my action.
agree - prove - approve - justify
7. I was very ______________ of myself for forgetting Mother's birthday.
disgraced - ashamed - shy - shocked
8. It usually takes a little while to _____________ in a new flat.
settle up - settle on - settle down - settle through
9. Didn't it ever ______________ to them that they would be punished?
occur - happen - enter - strike
10. You're very quiet today. What have you got on your ___________ ?
attention - mind - spirit - mood
11. It's most unwise to ____________ in a quarrel between a man and his wife.
involve - poke - mix - interfere
I2. To make a good omelette, you must ______________ the eggs very well.
beat - knock - thrash - bang
I3. I can't see any easy ______________to this rather complicated problem.
result - solution - reason - release
I4. The civil servant ___________ his post because he disagreed with the Minister.
gave in - gave out - gave off - gave up
I5. Madeleine struggled for a long time before she finally _____________ to free herself.
managed - succeeded - achieved - enabled
16. I'll let you have it back next Monday without ______________
doubt- fail - miss - neglect
I7. I don't _____________ to get married because I like being a bachelor.
risk - persist - intend - insist
18. Everybody is very anxious about the _____________ of the negotiations.
Outbreak- outcome - output - outlook
I9. Do you really believe in the_______________ of the evil eye?
being - occurrence - existence - realism
20. That fellow has a dishonest _________________ in his character.
stripe - streak - stroke - strip

8
Fill each of the numbered blank spaces in this passage with one suitable word.

A light rain was _________ 1 over the city of Salzburg. The lights of the shops twinkled in the gathering dusk. A church clock
__________ 2 the hour of six.
A young man walked slowly __________ 3 the wet pavement. His raincoat collar was turned up _________ 4 his ears. His hands were
__________ 5 deep into his pockets. He came to a stop for a ___________ 6 moments in _________ 7 of each shop window and
___________ 8 its contents with a wholly false interest.
Two plain-clothes policemen, a hundred yards behind him strolled along the street __________ 9 making any pretence __________ 10
studying the shop windows. There was no need for pretence because they knew that the young man knew he was ___________ 11
followed. When he stopped at a shop window, they simply slowed __________ 12 their walk or came to a relaxed halt until he moved on.
The young man stopped a little longer outside the bookshop. The policemen came to a halt ___________ 13. One of them took a packet
of cigarettes from his pocket and offered it to his _________ 14. The young man watched them out of the __________ 15 of his eye. He
saw their heads _________ 16 as they lit their cigarettes under the rain. He turned and walked quickly into the Zipfer Bierhaus next door.
The policemen saw him __________ 17 as they straightened their heads. They threw down their cigarettes and began to run. They ran
lightly, swiftly, __________ 18 athletes. In almost no __________ 19 at all they reached the entrance of the bierhaus. 'It's all right,' said
the senior, stopping and looking up at the sign over the door. “What __________ 20 in has to come out. We'll just wait for him.”

In each of these groups, two words have the same pronunciation. Which are they?

1 peace 3 pose 5 saw 7 shoot 9 toe

peas pause sew suit too
piece paws sore chute two

2 place 4 race 6 says 8 stairs 10 way

plaice raise sees stares weigh
plays rays seize steers why

9
Change the verbs in these sentences into their passive equivalents, and make whatever other changes are necessary.
Some will need only the simple, basic change:
Example: They have given Bishop Tutu the Nobel Prize.
Answer: Bishop Tutu has been given the Nobel Prize.
or The Nobel Prize has been given to Bishop Tutu.

Others will need the more complicated construction that needs an infinitive:
Example: The police allege that Simpson robbed three banks last year.
Answer: Simpson is alleged (by the police) to have robbed three banks last year.
NOTE Avoid the impersonal construction with 'It' in this case: e.g. It is alleged (by the police) that Simpson robbed three banks last year.

1. Our postal service used to deliver parcels. Now we have to collect them.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. The company says that the production figures have fallen short of expectations.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. The police have given everyone two weeks to surrender any guns, which they may possess illegally.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Many people believe that UFOs exist, never mind what the authorities say.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. The Prime Minister is to visit the hospital tomorrow.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. My family believes that this painting is worth a lot of money.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. Didn't anyone tell you that we cannot allow people into the area unless they produce a certificate of inoculation?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
8. The inquiry found that the riot had been started by anarchists.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
9. Will they have to amputate his leg or will they save it?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10. The radio said last night that a volcano is erupting on the island of Xand.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
11. The authorities are going to isolate the factory because of the atomic leak.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
12. They say he was cleaning his pistol – and carelessness caused his death.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
13. We need to go into that matter very carefully.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
14. The newspaper reports that the survivors of the crash are on their way to hospital.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
15. In my absence someone had broken the lock of my car and stolen the luggage on the back seat.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
16. Please don't come to the station with me. I hate people saying goodbye to me through the window of a train.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
17. Someone will have to pick up this broken glass or we mustn't allow the children to come anywhere near this room.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
18. Evidence shows that Jackson was inside the house at the time of the murder.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
19. Are you really going to allow me to drive your lovely Rolls Royce?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
20. They say the Princess is staying incognito at the Hilton.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10
 worksheet: useful exercises

12th form
___/___/___

Four phrases are printed after each of these short dialogues. Choose the one which will suitably fill the blank space.

1. Sidney: Shall we stay at home or go for a walk?

Margot: Which _________________ do yourself?

A. do you rather C. would you rather

B. will you rather D. did you rather

2. Becky: I didn't really enjoy the party last night.

Adela: No, and _________________

A. neither we did C. we didn't too

B. we didn't either D. so didn't we

3. Cecilia: I feel another dizzy spell coming on.

Margery: I do wish ____________ get round to seeing a doctor.

A. you are going to C. you would

B. you will agree to D. you will

4. Mary: Would you give this note to Mr Tomlinson, please.

Ross: Sorry, I can't. He _____________________

A. doesn't any more work here B. any longer doesn't work here.
C. doesn't work any more here. D. doesn't work here any longer.

5. Barbara: It's curious that Roy can't ski better.

Leonora: I know. By the end of the month, he ________________ lessons for a full month.

A. will have C. has been having

B. will be having D. will have been having

6. Rex: It's already half-past six.

Hal: Good heavens, so it is! It's time we _________________

A. are gone C. were gone

B. are going D. shall go

7. Flora: You're awfully behind with the work, aren't you?

Daisy: I know. I _________________ to the cinema last night.

A. oughn't to go C. haven't had to go

B. had not to go D. shouldn't have gone

8. Roland: Have the children had supper yet?

Marion: No, and they're not used __________________ it so late.

A. to have C. to having
B. that they have D. of having

9. Hilda: Was the Minister's speech interesting?

Miles: Yes, at first, but was _______________ long.

A- so much C- far too

B. too far D. too much

10. Grace: I wish your parents would invite us for a holiday.

Monty: They can't. They have _________________ to accommodate us and the children too.
A. such a small house C. very small a house
B. a too small house D. too small a house

11. Hilary: I shan't be more than five or ten minutes now.

Alfred: All right. I'll wait over there until __________________ ready.

11
 A. you will be C. you were
B. you are D. you're going to be

12. Fay: The headmistress wants you in her study.

Ivy: She's here already. I didn't think she _______________ till tomorrow.

A. will be coming C. is coming

B. was coming D. is to come

13. Deborah: When are they going to buy that house?

Claudia: Didn't you know? They finally decided ______________

A. not to be C. not
B. not to D. no

14. Alistair: I'm in an awful mess here. Could you give me a hand?
Alexander: Certainly. What needs _______________

A. to be done C. to be doing
B. to do D. to have done

15. Irene: There were already five people in the car but they managed to squeeze me in.
Larry: It _________________ a very comfortable journey.

A. can't be C. couldn't have been

B. mustn't have been D. couldn't be

16. Stewart: Let's go and have lunch.

Herbert: I'll join you later. I mustn't stop _____________ on this another ten minutes.

A. to be working C. to have worked

B. to work D.. working

17. Joan: Could I have another spoonful of your delightful pudding?

Maud: Oh dear, there doesn't seem to be ________________

A. some left C. left any

B. any left D. leaving some

18. Lucian: I'm most grateful to you for getting the doctor in time.
Miriam: If I hadn't, I think you _________________

A. might have died C. would die

B. could die D. may have died

19. Freda: Do you know our city at all?

Barry: No, it's the first time ____________here.

A. I have been C. I had been

B. I was D. I am coming

20. Harvey: I think I'm well enough to get back to work.

Gladys: Not really. You _________________ stay at home for another day or so.

A. should better C. would better

B. had better D. can better

”There’s a law in life: when a door is closed for us, another one is opened.” André Gide
TMBC 

12
 Turn the following sentences into the reported speech.

1. We never know what’s going to happen to mankind.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. We suffer the consequences of a tecnological war but none of us is guilty.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Can you explain to us how this situation began?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. I am sorry for not having left the country some years ago.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. You should try to show the authorities that it’s up to you to choose.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. We ourselves are to be blamed because we follow different religions.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. People say the situation is going to change soon.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
8. I wish I had been born in the USA.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
9. What can we do but wait?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10. Our children live in constant conflict and danger.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 Turn the following sentences either in the passive or the active voice.

1. In the championship people represented various races, and talked different languages.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Children were separated from their parents and left alone to play with computers.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. People were dressed in different colours according to their ethnic background.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Computers will be the destruction of mankind.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Drugs are used by many teenagers.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. During secondary school I gave all my help to my younger sister.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. My friends didn’t respect the school rules.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
8. By the end of the Semester I had studied more than 10 different subjects.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
9. I can buy a kilo of apples with less then one euro.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10. Red roses were offered to Mary by me.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
11. Lots of hamburgers are eaten by teenagers all over the world.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
12. All the work was done by the computer.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
13. I was punished by my teacher because I hadn’t behaved well.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
14. I cheated! All my work was done by older brother.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
15. I was helped by my mother to clean the house.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
16. Some of these bills haven't been paid yet.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 Rewrite the following sentences beginning by the word given.

1. I passed all my examinations because I studied hard.

If I ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. I married Bob because I was in love with him.
If ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Ian lied about his age when he arrived to the concert, so he entered immediately.
If ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
13
4. A third world war may happen because people don’t know what a world war is like.
If ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Some Arab countries can very easily frighten the world with their biologic weapons.
But if _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. The USA can’t attack Iraq as that can be the beginning of the end of this planet.
But if _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. I go to London, so I can see the Tower of London.
If ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
8. I don’t have money on me, so I can’t buy that book.
But if I _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
9. I do lots of physical exercise. I am very strong.
If I ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10- I can’t go to the party. I don’t have a proper dress.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 Degrees of comparison.

Fill the gaps with the adjective in brackets in the correct form:

At the beginning of the 19th century life was __________ (difficult ) than it is today. There were ___________ (few) conveniences ,and the houses were not __________
(comfortable) as they are now. Even in the __________ (rich) house holds the bedrooms were __________ (small) and __________ (dark) than ours because they usually had no
windows; the living-rooms and dining-rooms were the __________ (large) rooms in a house because there were lots of parties with lots of guests from the neighbourhood.
The clothes too were __________ (practical). Those long dresses with lots of little buttons must have been a problem to put on and care for.
It's true that rich families had no problems at all in finding servants. The choice was much __________ (wide) and the quality much __________ (good) than it is today. However, a
servant's life was very hard. Her working day was much __________ (long) than the normal day of a modern daily help. Then the work was also __________ (heavy) because there
were no electrical machines to help. Everything had to be done by hand, which meant that they worked __________ (slowly) but the result was usually __________ (good) too.
The old traditional maids could cook, wash, iron and sew beautifully. And they could be trusted. Sometimes they even became their mistresses’ __________ (good) friends and
confidants who comforted them when they had any big family problem or were seriously ill.

 Complete the sentences using the verbs in brackets. Choose the appropriate verb form from the table. Make any necessary changes (word order ...).

1. The police __________ (patrol) our streets regularly.

2. The investigators __________ (investigate) currently the evidence.
3. I __________ (see) Mary face to face.
4. Tomorrow they __________ (fly) to New York.
5. We __________ (leave) next week on holiday.
6. If I __________ (see) her later, I __________ (give) her your note.
7. Tomorrow at six you will see that we __________ (collect) the necessary money.
8. Yesterday, all my troubles __________ (seem) so far away.
9. At 10 o'clock all work __________ (stop).
10. I __________ (write) to them once before.
11. They __________ (answer) always me in the past.
12. When we __________ (arrive), Peter __________ (prepare) already the meal.
13. They __________ (write) while she studied.
 When I spoke to Helen, she said that she __________ (do) her best.

14
 worksheet: useful exercises

___/___/___

Finish each of the incomplete sentences below in such a way that it has the same meaning as the sentence, which is printed above it.

1. Whoever did that must have been a very brave person.

Only _____________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Doris tiptoed up the stairs because she didn't want to wake anyone up.
For fear _________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Why didn't you invite us too?' she said reproachfully.
She said: “You might _______________________________________________________________________________
4. Nancy is proud of being a good cook.
Nancy prides ______________________________________________________________________________________
5. My protests were ignored by everybody.
Nobody ___________________________________________________________________________________________
6. I'm sure it was by mistake that he took your umbrella.
I'm sure he didn't __________________________________________________________________________________
7. We'll arrive soon - and then we'll all be able to have a beer
Once _____________________________________________________________________________________________
8. Katherine is the only real friend that Dolly has.
Except ___________________________________________________________________________________________
9. It's a great pity you wrote that letter.
I wish ____________________________________________________________________________________________
10. Ralph's passport was nowhere to be found.
Nobody ___________________________________________________________________________________________
11. The last time we were here was in 1980.
We ______________________________________________________________________________________________
12. Rita doesn't realise how serious her husband's operation is going to be.
Little ____________________________________________________________________________________________
13. He decided to repair the thing himself and not to take it back to the shop.
Rather ___________________________________________________________________________________________
14. Please don't drive so fast!' Kathleen begged her boyfriend.
Kathleen pleaded ___________________________________________________________________________________
15. Offering her more money wouldn't make any difference.
Even if ___________________________________________________________________________________________
16. But for Ivor's help we would have been in serious trouble.
If _______________________________________________________________________________________________
17. Driving at that speed is dangerous on this road, whether you are an experienced driver or not, Sir.
However _________________________________________________________________________________________
18. Your hair really needs cutting, doesn't it, Paddy?
Your hair really must ________________________________________________________________________________
19. It's such a wonderful opportunity that we mustn't miss it.
It's too ___________________________________________________________________________________________
20. Paul left the room without saying a word.
Paul didn't ________________________________________________________________________________________

15
 worksheet: useful exercises

___/___/___

Fill each of these blank spaces with a suitable word or phrase of your choice.

EXAMPLE Two convicts are reported from the prison last night.
ANSWER to have escaped or to have got away

1. It was not till _______________ dark glasses off that I realised she was a famous film star.
2. No sooner had the doctor gone to sleep than the telephone ______________
3. If we had known you would have liked to come to our party, we _________________ invitation.
4. ________________ you move your car at once, you'll get a ticket.
5. I don't believe a word of what he says. He ___________________ all up, I’m sure.
6. I saw a gun pointing at me. “Don’t make the slightest movement _____________ shoot.” said a voice softly.
7. The children were _______________ to their holiday.
8. Give ______________ tomorrow some time, will you? My number is 345-8899.
9. His mother went abroad last week, so it ______________ you saw at the theatre last night.
10. Richard would always prefer to drive himself __________________ by his wife.
11. lt.’s your fault if you drop your glasses. You _______________ in that small pocket.
12. It was fine yesterday but it _______________all day today, so I haven’t finished the gardening.
13. You're looking very troubled. ______________ mind?
14. Roger would like __________________ Oxford, but he couldn’t pass the entrance examination.
15. You say there aren’t many taxis at night in this little town. I’m not surprised. I wouldn’t have thought
______________ at all.
16. His wife has been examined by a dozen doctors but none of them ______________ her.
17. Don't forget to _____________ the lights before you come up to bed.
18. I asked in the shop if I could wash this material and they said it’s better ___________________.
19. If we hadn’t found that taxi , we _______________ train.
20. I don’t believe you are as strong as you say. _________________ see if you lift that box.

Fill each of the blank spaces in these sentences with ONE of the following particles.

DOWN FOR IN OFF OUT UP

1. I've lost a lot of weight recently. I'll have to have my clothes taken ____________.
2. If William doesn't mend his ways, he'll end______________ prison.
3. We don't often go to restaurants these days. It has become very expensive to eat ______________.
4. She got past the police at the gate by passing herself _______________ as a doctor.
5. Our charwoman has just owned _______________ that it was she who stole the jewel.
6. Another epidemic of cholera has just broken ___________ in Lenghis.
7. Children, go into the garden and work __________ some of your energy there, not here in the house!
8. We're making ___________ the village of Hayslope. Are we on the right road?
9. You have an awfully high temperature. I'm going to send ____________ the doctor.
10. After living for years in a big house, we found it difficult to settle ___________ in a flat.
11. Our car broke ___________ on a lonely country road and we had to walk to the nearest village to get help.
12. I didn't quite take ____________ what you said. Will you repeat it, please?
13. I'm ringing to ask if you could put me _____________ for the night. All the hotels are full up.
14. It was a dull speech. My father dropped _____________ in the middle of it, and we had to wake him when he
began snoring.
15. Don't come to the station to see me ________________. Let's say goodbye here.
16. I'm afraid you've missed your flight. It took _____________ ten minutes ago.
17. Peggy had a cold a few days ago but she's managed to throw it ___________ without having to go to bed.
18. I fell _____________ with the butcher today. He was very rude to me.
19. Randolph told me the whole lying story so convincingly that I was completely taken _______________ at least
at the beginning.
20. I picked ____________ the little I know of your language when I was here during the war.

16
Change the direct speech in these sentences into reported speech.

EXAMPLE 'Let's all go to the cinema tomorrow,' said my mother.

ANSWER My mother suggested that we should all go to the cinema the next day.

1. 'I'm sorry about it,' the policeman said to us, 'but I shall have to give you a ticket. You must surely have known
that parking is absolutely forbidden anywhere in this street.'

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
2. 'I feel rather faint,' said Aunt Bertha. 'I don't think I can go on. But you go on without me all of you. I'll just sit
here till, you come back. I'll be perfectly all right.'

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
3. 'Why don't you go and push a baby-carriage?' the taxi driver said to the other driver angrily. 'You're not fit to
drive a car.'

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
4. I heard the nurse say to him, 'Do lie still. You'll pull your stitches open if you keep moving about like that.'

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Jason said to his wife, 'Well, if you really do want to wear that awful skirt, I suppose I can't stop you. But it
makes you look like a sack of potatoes.'

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
6. The judge said to the man in the dock, 'Did you ask for, or receive, permission to use a company car that
night?'

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
7. Harry said to his wife, 'I'm going to see my mother this evening if I can get away from the office a little earlier.
Have you any messages for her?'

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
8. 'If you really think I said that about you,' said Charles, 'I'm not surprised that you're angry with me. But I assure
you I did not.'

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

17
9. Rosemary said to Stephen, 'What very old-fashioned ideas you have! We're not living in the eighteenth
century. You talk as though women should be seen and not heard. I'm glad you're not my husband, I must
say.'

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
10. 'Let me help you with that suit case,' Timothy said to the pretty girl at the station. 'It looks a lot too heavy for
you.'

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
11. 'Hold these wires carefully,' said the electrician to his assistant. 'We don't want to get a shock with this voltage!'

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
12. 'We'd better bring some warmer clothes with us next time we come here,' said my father. 'It gets a lot colder in
winter than I realised.'

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
13. 'There's no sense,' said my wife to me, with amusement in her eyes, 'in your getting all worn out chasing a bat
with a fly-swatter. They are much quicker than you are.'

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
14. 'You will really have to have your hair cut soon,' Polly said to Walter. 'You're beginning to look uncouth.'

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
15. Marilyn said, 'I'm terribly sorry I'm so late. I wish I could learn to look at the clock. Do please forgive me.'

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
16. 'What a beauty!' said Victor, gazing at the Rolls-Royce outside the hotel.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
17. Phyllis said severely to her husband, 'What have you been cutting with my scissors?'

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
18. 'Go away,' Sylvia said to the gypsy, who had his foot in the door. 'Otherwise I will scream - and the next-door
neighbour will come running.'
18
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
19. 'As it happens,' said Basil, with dignity. 'I came here to do you a favour, not to ask for one.'

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
20. 'Why were you wearing that medal?' said the police inspector. 'You have no right to it. You have never been in
any of the services.'

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

19
 worksheet: useful exercises – revision
Verb tenses
If clauses
___/___/___
 You have to put one of these verbs in each sentence:
hurt / teach / spend / sell / throw / fall / catch / buy / cost
Example: I was hungry, so l bought something to eat in the shop.

1. Tom's father _______________him how to drive when he was 17.

2. Don ______________ down the stairs this morning and ______________ his leg.
3. We needed some money so we ________________our car.
4. Ann ______________ a lot of money yesterday. She _______________ a dress which__________________ £50
5. Jim __________________ the ball to Sue who ___________________

 In this exercise you have to write questions. A friend has just come back from holiday and you are asking him about it.
Examples: where / go? Where did you go?
food / good? Was the food good?
1. how long / stay there? __________________________________________________________
2. stay in a hotel? _______________________________________________________________
3. go alone? ____________________________________________________________________
4. how / travel? _________________________________________________________________
5. the weather / fine? _____________________________________________________________
6. what / do in the evenings? _______________________________________________________
7. meet any interesting people? _____________________________________________________

 You are writing a letter to a friend and giving news about people you both know. Use the words given to make sentences
and put the verb into the correct form.
Example: Phil / find a new job. Phil has found a new job.

Dear Chris,
Lots of things have happened since I last wrote to you.
1. Charles / go / Brazil Charles _____________________________________________________
2. Jack and Jill / decide / to get married ______________________________________________
3. Suzanne / have / a baby ________________________________________________________
4. Monica / give up / smoking ______________________________________________________
5. George / pass / his driving-test ___________________________________________________

 In this exercise you have to read the situation and then write a suitable sentence. Use the verb given.
Example: Tom is looking for his key. He can't find it. (lose) He has lost his key.

1. Ann's hair was dirty. Now it is clean. (wash) She _____________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________
2. Tom was 80 kilograms. Now he weighs 70. (lose weight) _______________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. The car has just stopped because there isn't any more petrol in the tank. (run out of petrol)
______________________________________________________________________________
3. Yesterday Bill was playing football. Now he can't walk and his leg is in plaster. (break)
____________________________________________________________________________

 Fill the gaps with the correct verb tense.

1. Teetotalers are people who ____________ (not/drink) wine.
2. “What ____________ you (read)? The newspaper.”
3. Who is that young lady? I ____________ (never/see) her before.
4. ____________ you (see) any good films lately?
5. That woman ______________ (stand) outside for 2 hours.
6. At six o’clock this morning I ____________ (have) a wonderful dream, but then I _____________ (wake) up.
7. She ____________ (meet) him while he ____________ (give) a lecture at the University.
8. Nobody ____________ (come) to the meeting because Mary ____________ (forget) to tell people about it.
9. It was an actor I ____________ (never/see) before.
10. Last week we ____________ (not/have) classes, it ____________ (be) a nice time to recover strength.
20
 In this exercise you have to put the verb into the correct form.
1. Tom got to the station in time. If he ______________________ (miss) the train, he would have been late for his
interview.
2. It's good that Ann reminded me about Tom's birthday. I ______________________ (forget) if she hadn't reminded me.
3. We might not have stayed at this hotel if George __________________ (not/recommend) it to us.
4. I'd have sent you a postcard while I was on holiday if I _________________(have) your address.

 Now you have to read a situation and write a sentence with if.
1. The accident happened because the driver in front stopped so suddenly.
If the driver in front ______________________________________________________________
2. I didn't wake George because I didn't know he wanted to get up early.
If I ___________________________________________________________________________
3. I was able to buy the car because Jim lent me the money.
If ____________________________________________________________________________
4. She wasn't injured in the crash; because she was wearing a seat-belt.
If ____________________________________________________________________________
5. You're hungry now because you didn't have breakfast.
If ____________________________________________________________________________
6. She didn't buy the coat because she didn't have enough money on her.
If ____________________________________________________________________________

 In this exercise you have to put the verb into the correct form
1. I ________________ (give) you a cigarette if I had one but I'm afraid I haven't.
2. This soup would taste better if it __________________ (have) more salt in it.
3. If you _______________ (not/go) to bed so late every night, you wouldn't be so tired all the time.
4. I wouldn't mind living in England if the weather _________________ (be) better.
5. I'd help you if I ________________ (can) but I'm afraid I can't.
6. If I were you, I ________________ (not/marry) him.
7. We would happily buy that house if it _________________ (not/be) so small.

 This time you have to read a situation and write a sentence with if.
1. People don't understand him because he doesn't speak very clearly.
But if he __________________________________, people ______________________________

21
2. I'm not going to buy that book because it's too expensive.
But if that book _________________________________________________________________
3. She doesn't go out very often because she can't walk without help.
But if _________________________________________________________________________
4. He's fat because he doesn't take any exercise.
But ___________________________________________________________________________
5. We can't have lunch in the garden because it's raining.
______________________________________________________________________________
6. I can't meet you tomorrow evening because I have to work.
______________________________________________________________________________

 Now answer these questions, using if.

1. Is he going to take the examination? (he / fail it)
No. If he _______________________________, he ____________________________________
2. Are you going to invite Bill to the party? (I / have to invite Linda too)
No. If I ________________________________________________________________________
3. Are you going to bed now? (I / not / sleep)
No. ___________________________________________________________________________
4. Is she going to apply for the job? (she / not / get it)
No. ___________________________________________________________________________

 Put in the simple past or past perfect

1. I ____________ (be) sorry that I ____________ (not be) nicer to him.
2. Nobody ____________(come) to the meeting because Angela ____________ (forget) to tell people about it.
3. I ____________ (see) her before somewhere - I ____________ (know).
4. Because he ____________ (not check) the oil for so long, the car ____________ (break) down.
5. She couldn't find the book that I ____________ (lend) her.
6. All the people we ____________ (invite) turned up, and some that we _____________ (not invite).
7. They ____________ (never/find) where he ____________ (hide) the money.
8. It was a firm that I ____________ (never/hear) of.
9. When she ____________ (come) in, we all knew where she ____________ (be).
10. The lesson ____________ (already start) when I ____________ (arrive).

 Choose the right tenses (present perfect, past or past perfect; simple or progressive).
1. Reports are coming in that a train ____________ (crash) near Birmingham. According to eyewitnesses. it
____________ (hit) a concrete block which somebody ____________ (put) on the line.
2. Halfway to the office Paul ____________ (turn) round and (go) back home, because he ____________ (forget) to turn
the gas off.
3. I ____________ (do) housework all day today. I ____________ (clean) every room in the house.
4. I ____________ (lie) in bed thinking about getting up when the doorbell (ring).
5. It wasn't surprising that she ____________ (start) getting toothache. She ____________ (not go) to the dentist for two
years.
6. I ____________ (play) a lot of bridge recently.
7. When I ____________ (get) home everybody (watch) TV.
8. We ____________ (not see) your mother for ages.
9. How long ____________ (you learn) English?
10. London ____________ (change) a lot since we first ____________ (come) to live here

22
 worksheet: useful exercises – revision
Rephrasing

___/___/___
Rephrase each of the following sentences starting them as suggested below.
1. It was overreacting that caused his heart attack.
If ______________________________________________________________________________________
2. In the event of your failing your driving test, would you take it again?
Supposing that ___________________________________________________________________________
3. A successful interview means that you will be offered a job.
Provided _________________________________________________________________________________
4. We rarely see such a high standard of performance in an amateur production.
Rarely ___________________________________________________________________________________
5. People know that CFCs released from aerosols poke holes in the ozonelayer.
CFCs released from aerosols _________________________________________________________________
6. "Why don't you do some project work on Greenpeace?" said Jane to Alice. "I'll gather as much material as possible on their
various actions."
Jane suggested ___________________________________________________________________________
7. It is believed that he got seriously ill from bathing in sewage-polluted water.
He _____________________________________________________________________________________
8. "Will mankind ever realise how fragile planet earth really is?"
Some of us wonder ________________________________________________________________________
9. Only Stuart didn't understand.
Apart ___________________________________________________________________________________
10. They didn't let us in.
They prevented ___________________________________________________________________________
11. As far as I know, there's no reason why he should be late.
I'm not aware ____________________________________________________________________________
12. We finally managed to get through to the engineer.
We finally succeeded _______________________________________________________________________
13. There's a slight difference between the first design and the second one.
The first design differs ______________________________________________________________________
14. I must hurry or I won't get to work on time.
I must hurry or I'll be ______________________________________________________________________
15. I definitely won't pay extra money to use the swimming-pool.
I strongly object __________________________________________________________________________
16. He got very annoyed and demanded to see the manager.
He got very annoyed and insisted _____________________________________________________________
17. It's Collin's job to hire and fire staff.
Collin's responsible ________________________________________________________________________
18. Jane didn't get promoted, so she resigned.
If Jane __________________________________________________________________________________
19. I don't know many people in town.
I wish ___________________________________________________________________________________
20. You shouldn't have said that.
I'd rather ________________________________________________________________________________
21. Don't tell lies! It's very upsetting.
If only __________________________________________________________________________________
22. She's so shy.
If only ___________________________________________________________________________________
23. You feel very strongly that governments should stop spending money on arms and should concentrate on raising the standard of
living.
It's about time ____________________________________________________________________________
24. I shouldn't have turned up so early.
I wish ___________________________________________________________________________________
25. She doesn't go out very often because she can't walk without help.
But if ___________________________________________________________________________________
26. Norman knows absolutely nothing about economics; he keeps boasting about his knowledge, though.
Norman talks as if _________________________________________________________________________

23
 worksheet: useful exercises – revision
Rephrasing

___/___/___
Rephrase each of these sentences in such a way that you can include the word that appears in capital letters. Do not alter this
word in any way.

EXAMPLE Has she written to you lately? HEARD

ANSWER Have you heard from her lately?

1. We must have your answer tonight at the latest. INSIST

______________________________________________________________________________
2. My father is going to lend me his car tonight. BORROW
______________________________________________________________________________
3. We've decided to replace those plastic shower curtains with these rubber ones. SUBSTITUTE
______________________________________________________________________________
4. Somebody has stolen all Miranda's jewellery. ROBBED
______________________________________________________________________________
5. You don't mean to say you want a fifth ice-cream, do you? SURELY
______________________________________________________________________________
6. The bank now owns this block of flats. BELONGS
______________________________________________________________________________
7. He was speaking so quickly that I couldn't understand him. TOO
______________________________________________________________________________
8. The fridge is absolutely empty. LEFT
______________________________________________________________________________
9. He was not listening to what we were saying. PAYING
______________________________________________________________________________
10. Nothing ever frightens him. AFRAID
______________________________________________________________________________
11. It's not my habit to get up quite so early as this. USED
______________________________________________________________________________
12. Can you tell me the way to the Central Post Office? DIRECT
______________________________________________________________________________
13. Everything went well that morning. NOTHING
______________________________________________________________________________
14. Why did you do that? FOR
______________________________________________________________________________
15. Nanette talks about her illnesses all the time. NEVER
______________________________________________________________________________
16. Only the fact that 1 found a taxi quickly enabled me to catch the train. IF
______________________________________________________________________________
17. A portion of strawberries and cream costs a lot in the café. CHARGES
______________________________________________________________________________
18. How likely am 1 to pass the examination, do you think? CHANCE
______________________________________________________________________________
19. Humphrey doesn't like cocktail parties. It's a waste of time, asking him. POINT
______________________________________________________________________________
20. Please throw all these things away. RID

worksheet: useful exercises – revision

___/___/___

Choose the most appropriate word to complete the gaps.

24
1. Tom doesn’t like _____ in the city.
a) to live b) live c) living d) lives

2. He can’t stand travelling by car and _____ can I.

a) so b) either c) nor d) neither

3. Country life _____ to be healthier than city life.

a) seems b) seem c) seeming d) has seemed

4. “Where is Tom” - “At the moment he _____ a bath”.

a) have b) has c) had d) is having

5. Last Summer most of the city inhabitants _____ town.

a) leaves b) left c) leave d) have left

6. When I was a child I _____ to go to my grandmother’s cottage in Surry.

a) use b) went c) didn’t used d) used

7. When he arrived they _____ out.

a) is going b) went c) was going d) were going

8. He moved to the country _____ February.

a) on b) at c) in d) ago

9. He sent a letter to his girl friend _____ May 5th.

a) in b) at c) by d) on

10. I’d love to live in the coutry. _____ it’s difficult to find a house there.
a) since b) while c) as d) however

11. She hasn’t come here _____.

a) already b) always c) yet d) now

12 He took his cat for a walk,_____?

a) doesn’t he b) didn’t he c) wouldn’t he d) won’t he

13. Harold _____ in the country for two years.

a) lived b) lives c) has lived d) was living

14. As you can notice the weather _____ change.

a) will b) is going to c) is going d) will be

15. He thinks towns _____ be very crowded in a near future.

a) will b) is going to c) would d) are going to

16. He succeeded _____ changing people’s minds.

a) for b) in c) on d) at

17. An ecologist is someone _____ defends the environment.

a) whose b) whom c) who d) which

18. This is the village _____ he lives.

a) which b) whose c) that d) where
19. Harold left early _____ he could get there on time.
a) to b) so that c) so d) in order to

20. _____is black.

a) Harold’s cat b) Harolds cat c) the cat of Harold d) Harold cat’s

21. Last weekend, I saw Tim __________ had just come back from the USA.
a) whom b) whose c) who d) which

22. Miranne worked hard while she __________ .

a) sailed b) were sailing c) has sailed d) was sailing

23. Tim __________ in England since 1976.

a) living b) has lived c) lived d) had lived

25
24. If her parents had realised that Miranne was really serious in what she said, they __________ it over more carefully.
a) had thought b) would have thought c) will think d) would thought

25. Tim gave an interview __________ other students could know about his experience.
a) so that b) but c) because d) while

26. Tim gazed at the country that he __________ so far to seek.

a) has gone b) came c) had come d) comes

27. Miranne had a long __________ with her parents about her decision to take a “year off” between school and university.
a) discusion b) discussion c) discution d) discuss

28. On balance, both experiences were a great __________ .

a) sucess b) succes c) succees d) success

29. Tim ___________ go back to England after the six months in the USA.
a) must b) should c) had to d) will

30. Some school-leavers asked themselves what good further education __________ if they couldn’t get a job anyway.
a) will do b) would do c) would have done d) did

31. The Indian population __________ in the last 30 years.

A) tripled B) have tripled C) has tripled

32. Every year there __________ Powhow ceremonies.

A) were B) are C) is

33. Many tribes provide extensive tourism facilities. __________, there are areas where non-Indians are not welcome.
A) However B) Despite C) Though

34. In Powhow Ceremonies all Indians wear __________ clothes.

A) leather, beautiful, colourful B) beautiful, colourful, leather C) leather, colourful, beautiful

35. Even today most Indians dream __________ living the kind of life their ancestors did.
A) at B) off C) about

36. After centuries of martyrdom the Indians finally succeeded in __________ recognized as full right American citizens.
A) to be B) being C) be

37. There are Indian Ceremonies __________ can’t be viewed, photographed or taped by white people.
A) whom B) who C) which

38. The young Indians were put into boarding schools where they were forbidden to speak their native languages or practise their
customs. The white men __________ have done that.
A) wouldn’t B) shouldn’t C) may not

39. The living Indians refuse __________ their ancestry.

A) to forget B) forget C) forgetting

40. The Navaho, __________ is one of the most populous tribes in the USA, keep their traditions intact.

A) whose B) that C) who

Rewrite the following sentences beginning by the words given. Do not alter the meaning of the sentence printed before.

1. “A big change has come about in the perceptions of the Native American and his culture.”
The reporter said ____________________________________________________________________

2.The Mashantucket Pequot tribe built a vast casino on their territories.

A vast casino _______________________________________________________________________

3. The white people possessed powerful weapons. They exterminated many Indian tribes.
If the white people ___________________________________________________________________

4. “Has it helped with college?”, the reporter asks.

The reporter asked if___________________________________________________________________

5. Now Miranne either does her homework quickly or she leaves it immediately
Miranne’s homework ____________________________________________________________________

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6. Franklin Roosevelt promised a “New Deal” to overcome the Great Depression of the 1930’s .
A ”New Deal” _______________________________________________________________________

7. Franklin Roosevelt: “The financial crash is seriously affecting our lives in this decade.”
Franklin Roosevelt stated that __________________________________________________________

8. The Japanese refused to surrender. Allied scientists developed the atomic bomb to drop over the city of Hiroshima.
If the Japanese _____________________________________________________________________

9. The British Royal Air Force planned an air bombing over the German defence lines in 1940.
An air bombing _____________________________________________________________________

10. Winston Churchill: “Our task is not only to win the battle - but to win the War.”
Winston Churchill said that ____________________________________________________________

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