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Historical Fiction - Black Blizzard and Passive Voice (Simple Present and Past Tense) Worksheet
Historical Fiction - Black Blizzard and Passive Voice (Simple Present and Past Tense) Worksheet
Historical Fiction - Black Blizzard and Passive Voice (Simple Present and Past Tense) Worksheet
Activity 1
Reading Comprehension
BLACK BLIZZARD
By Maurine V. Eleder (2015)
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“Fancifoot!” Betty called. Where was he? Again she heard a low whinny. She turned and
stepped forward. Now she thought she heard him to her right. She walked backward to keep the
grit from hitting her face.
Maybe the wind is playing tricks, she thought. Maybe I didn’t really see or hear him. But then
she smacked right into him. “Fancifoot,” she said with relief, “you’re OK.” She glided her hands
over his ears and neck. Quickly, she looped the slack of the clothes-line around his neck.
“We’ll never make the barn,” she said. “I’ve turned around so many times I can’t tell where it is.
You’re coming home with me.”
Hand over hand, Betty guided Fancifoot along the clothesline, back to the end she had fastened
to the porch. “Come on, Fancifoot. Up two steps and we’ll be safe. Come on, boy,” Betty coaxed
as she pulled him into the house. “All safe,” Betty gasped to a surprised Mary Ann.“We’ll put him
in the storeroom until the storm is over,” Betty said.
The storm continued to blow as Betty prepared supper. The storm had died down so she and
Mary Ann fell asleep.
Ai-ooga-ai-ooga! Betty sat up, wide awake. Then she heard it again. Ai-ooga!
“What is it?” Mary Ann asked. “Our car! They’re home!” Betty answered.
They raced to the front door. A hazy rising sun shone on drifts of dirt piled against the
house.“Are you all right?” Mommy and Daddy asked as they hugged and kissed the girls.
“We were passing Schuler’s farm when the storm hit and had to stay there overnight. We were
so worried.”
“Thank goodness you’re all right,” said Daddy. He looked uncertainly at Betty. “I noticed the
barn door was open. I’m afraid we may find that Fancifoot got out of the barn and — ”He
stopped as Mary Ann and Betty giggled. “He did get out of the barn, but he’s OK. He’s right
there,” Betty said, pointing to the storeroom where Fancifoot stood — munching Betty’s old
straw hat.
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5. What kind of animal is Fancifoot?
______________________________________________________________________
6. What is the best word to describe the situation in the story above when the storm came
and Fancifoot was out there in the barn by himself?
______________________________________________________________________
10. How do Betty and Mary Ann's emotions compare to their parents at the end of the story?
a. Betty and Mary Ann are just as worried to see that their parents are safe as their
parents are.
b. Betty and Mary Ann are light-hearted after surviving the storm, while their parents
are nervous to make sure everyone is ok.
c. Betty and Mary Ann are shaken after the storm, while their parents are calm, as
they knew everyone would be safe.
d. Betty and Mary Anne are proud of their actions during the storm, while their
parents are surprised that everyone is safe.
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a. _____________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________
c. _____________________________________________________________
d. _____________________________________________________________
e. _____________________________________________________________
1. Complete the sentences with the correct passive form of the verbs in brackets.
Use the Present Simple.
a. English ____________________ (speak) in many countries.
b. The post ______________________ (deliver) at about 7 o’clock every morning.
c. ______________________________ (the building/use) anymore?
d. How often ______________________________ (the Olympic Games(hold)?
e. How _______________________ (your name/spell)?
f. My salary _____________________ (pay) every month.
g. These cars _________________________ (not make) in Japan.
h. The name of the people who committed the crime _____________________ (not
know).
i. His travel expenses ________________________ (not pay) by his company.
2. Complete the sentences with the correct passive form of the verbs in brackets. Use the
Past Simple.
a. My car ______________________ (repair) last week.
b. This song ________________________ (not write) by John Lennon.
c. ________________________________ (the phone/answer) by a young girl?
d. The film ________________________ (make) ten years ago.
e. When ______________________________ (tennis/invent)?
f. The cars ________________________ (not damaged) in the accident.
g. The original buildings _________________________ (pull) down in 1965.
h. Where ______________________________ (this pot/make)?
i. When _______________________________ (this bridge/build)?
3, Choose the correct form of the verbs in brackets in active or passive voice.
Fiat was started (started/was started) by a group of Italian businessmen in 1899. In 1903,
Fiat, 1_________________ (produced/was produced) 132 cars. Some of these cars
2_____________________ (exported/were exported) by the company to the United
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States and Britain. In 1920, Fiat 3_________________ (started/was started) making
cars at a new factory at Lingotto, near Turin. There was a track on the roof where the
cars 4____________________ (tested/were tested) by technicians. In 1936, Fiat
launched the Fiat 500. This car 5____________________ (called/was called) the
Topolino – the Italian name for Mickey Mouse. The company grew, and in 1963 Fiat
6_____________________ (exported/was exported) more than 300,000 vehicles.
Today, Fiat is based in Turin, and its cars 7_________________ (sold/are sold) all over
the world.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
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6 | © Venny English Course (+6281 228 596 040) ® 2021
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ANSWER KEY
6. What is the best word to describe the situation in the story above when the storm came
and Fancifoot was out there in the barn by himself?
Worried, troubled, distressed
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9. Which statement expresses the main theme of the short story?
a. Animals and children should be taken to safety first in an emergency.
b. The bond between humans and animals is unbreakable.
c. It's easier to respond to emergencies when you don't let fear control you.
d. Panicking during a life-threatening situation can lead to more problem.
10. How do Betty and Mary Ann's emotions compare to their parents at the end of the story?
a. Betty and Mary Ann are just as worried to see that their parents are safe as
their parents are.
b. Betty and Mary Ann are light-hearted after surviving the storm, while their parents
are nervous to make sure everyone is ok.
c. Betty and Mary Ann are shaken after the storm, while their parents are calm, as
they knew everyone would be safe.
d. Betty and Mary Anne are proud of their actions during the storm, while their
parents are surprised that everyone is safe.
1. Complete the sentences with the correct passive form of the verbs in brackets. Use the
Present Simple. (is / am / are + verb 3)
a. English is spoken (speak) in many countries.
b. The post is delivered (deliver) at about 7 o’clock every morning.
c. is the building used (the building/use) any more?
d. How often is the Olympic Games held (the Olympic Games(hold)?
e. How is your name spelled (your name/spell)?
f. My salary is paid (pay) every month.
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g. These cars are not made (not make) in Japan.
h. The name of the people who committed the crime is not known (not know).
i. His travel expenses are not paid (not pay) by his company.
2. Complete the sentences with the correct passive form of the verbs in brackets. Use the Past
Simple. (was / were + verb 3)
a. My car was repaired (repair) last week.
b. This song was not written (not write) by John Lennon.
c. Was the phone answered (the phone/answer) by a young girl?
d. The film was made (make) ten years ago.
e. When was tennis invented (tennis/invent)?
f. The cars were not damaged (not damaged) in the accident.
g. The original buildings were pulled (pull) down in 1965.
h. Where was this pot made (this pot/make)?
i. When was this bridge built (this bridge/build)?
Fiat was started (started/was started) by a group of Italian businessmen in 1899. In 1903,
Fiat, 1_________________ (produced/was produced) 132 cars. Some of these cars
2_____________________ (exported/were exported) by the company to the United
States and Britain. In 1920, Fiat 3_________________ (started/was started) making
cars at a new factory at Lingotto, near Turin. There was a track on the roof where the
cars 4____________________ (tested/were tested) by technicians. In 1936, Fiat
launched the Fiat 500. This car 5____________________ (called/was called) the
Topolino – the Italian name for Mickey Mouse. The company grew, and in 1963 Fiat
6_____________________ (exported/was exported) more than 300,000 vehicles.
Today, Fiat is based in Turin, and its cars 7_________________ (sold/are sold) all over
the world.
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c. police arrests robbers.
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