3. Open the brackets using the Past Simple or the Present Perfect.

1. Why do you look so upset? Anything (happen)?

2. I (know) Helen for 10 years. We (study) at university together. She was one of the best students.

3. He (be) interested in jazz ever since he (leave) school.

4. I (use) to like swimming but I don’t now.

5. Jane (recover) yet? – No, she is still in hospital.

6. I’m sorry I can’t accept your invitation. We already (make) our plans for the holiday.

7. My brother is an actor. He already (appear) in several films.

8. What your father (give) you for your last birthday?

9. You (see) Tom? – Yes, I (talk) with him an hour ago.

10. He (take) off his pullover, (lie) down on the sofa and (start) to read a magazine.

Reading comprehension

1. Read the text carefully.

I am now more than glad that I did not pass into the grammar school five years ago, although I was disappointed at the time. I was always good at English, but not so good at the other subjects. I am glad that I went to the secondary modern school, because it was only constructed the year before. Therefore, it was much more hygienic than the grammar school.

I am seventeen years of age, and left school two years ago. I had my A certificate for typing, so I got my first job in a solicitor’s office. Mum was pleased with this, and Dad said it was a first-class start, as it was an old-established firm. I must say that when I went for an interview, I was surprised at the windows, and the stairs up to the offices were also far from clean.

I was to start on the Monday, so along I went. They took me to the general office, where there were two senior typists and a clerk. You should have seen the mess! The box-files were falling to pieces and all the old papers inside them were crumpled. The worst shock of all was the tea-cups. It was my duty to make tea mornings and afternoons. Miss Bewlay showed me where everything was kept. It was kept in an old orange box, and the cups were all cracked. There were not enough saucers to go round, etc. After three days I told Mum and she was upset, most of all about the cracked cups. So Mum gave me my own cup to take to the office.

2. Mark the statements below as True or False.

Example: 1 – True;

1. If the girl had been good at all subjects she would have passed into the grammar school.

2. The building of the secondary modern school was much newer than that of the grammar school.

3. The girl was good at typing.

4. The girl’s parents thought she was lucky to get a job in a solicitor’s office.

5. The girl was surprised at the clean windows of the building.

6. The girl didn’t like the office because it was very untidy.

7. The girl’s mother was upset because her daughter’s duty was to make tea mornings and afternoons.

3. Write questions to these answers.

1. The secondary modern school was much hygienic than the grammar school (Which? ...)

2. Two years ago. (When? ...)

3. The girl’s father said her job was a first-class start. (Who? ...)

4. The solicitor’s office was an old-established firm. (Alternative)

5. It was the girl’s duty. (Whose? …)

6. No, it was very untidy. (General)

7. They were kept in an old-orange box. (Where? …)