The past continuous tense

56. Fill in the gaps with the verbs from the box.

grew was making up was beginning listened

saw felt (twice) were happening were coming was pacing brought burst was finding were shaking were chattering

The founding of Narnia

The Lion _______ (1) to and fro about the empty land and singing his song. And as he walked and sang, the valley _______ (2) green with grass. What was rather alarming was that at each turn he came a little nearer. Polly _______ (3) the song more and more interesting because she thought she _______ (4) to see the connection between the music and the things that _______ (5). When a line of dark firs sprang up on a ridge about a hundred yards away she _______ (6) that they were connected with a series of long, prolonged notes which the Lion had sung a second before. And when he _______ (7) into a rapid series of lighter noises she was not surprised when she saw primroses appearing in every direction. Thus, with an unspeakable thrill, she _______ (8) quite certain that all the things _______ (9) (as she said) “out of the Lion’s head”. When you _______ (10) to his song you heard the things he ________ (11); when you looked around you, you _______ (12) them. This was so exciting that she had no time to be afraid. But Digory and the cabman could not help feeling a bit nervous as each turn of the Lion’s walk _______ (13) him nearer. As for Uncle Andrew, his teeth _______ (14), but his knees _______ (15) so that he could not run away.

(after The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S.Lewis)

57. Open the brackets using the verbs either in the Past Indefinite or in the Past Continuous tense.

It was one of the most disastrous days of Peter’s life. When he (go 1) to work in the morning he (get 2) in a traffic jam. While he (wait 3) for the jam to dissolve he (take 4) out his business papers and (begin 5) studying them. While he (read 6) the papers he (not notice 7) a thief who stole his case from the back seat. Peter (realize 8) that the papers were missing only when he (drive 9) up to his office. He immediately (decide 10) to go to the police station. While he (talk 11) to the officer a truck that (pass 12) by (crash 13) into his Mercedes. As soon as Peter (hear 14) the noise he (rush 15) out of the police station to see what (go 16) on. While he (run 17) to his ruined car he (fall 18) down and (lose 19) consciousness. When he (come 20) to he (lie 21) on the operating table and a doctor (examine 22) him. He (have 23) to stay in hospital for a week. His wife (rest 24) at the seaside at that time, so there was nobody to take care of him.

58. Fill in each of the gaps with one suitable word.

George Bernard Shaw was _______ (1) lunch in a small restaurant in London. _______ (2) he was trying to clear his plate a band _______ (3) playing, or should one say, making a dreadful noise. G.B. Shaw did ________ (4) like garish music, and he felt terrible. The noise was getting ________ (5) and worse. At last Shaw couldn’t put up with it _______ (6) longer. He was going _______ (7) ask for his bill when the band stopped ________ (8).

The conductor looked round the room, _______ (9) the great writer, recognized him, came up to him and said with _______ (10) smile, “Would you like the band to play _______ (11) special for you, Sir?” The answer _______ (12) instantly, “Of course! I’d like you to play chess!”

59. Open the brackets using each of the verbs in the proper tense form.

“ The chalk! The chalk! Look at the chalk! It (move 1) all on its own!”

So hysterical and shrill (be 2) Nigel’s scream that everyone in the place, including the Trunchbull, (look 3) up at the blackboard. And there, sure enough, a brand-new piece of chalk (hover 4) near the grey-black writing surface of the blackboard.

“It (write 5) something!” screamed Nigel. “The chalk (write 6) something!”

And indeed it (be 7).

“What the blazes is this?” (yell 8) the Trunchbull. She was shocked when she (see 9) that an invisible hand (write 10) her own name on the blackboard. She (drop 11) Wilfred on the floor. Then she (yell 12) at nobody in particular, “Who (do 13) this? Who (write 14) it?”

The chalk (continue 15) to write.

Everyone in the place (hear 16) the gasp that (come 17) from the Trunchbull’s throat. “No!” she (cry 18), “It can’t be! It can’t be Magnus!”

Miss Honey, at the side of the room (glance 19) swiftly at Matilda. The child (sit 20) very straight at her desk. Her eyes (glitter 21) like two stars.

For some reason everyone now (look 22) at the Trunchbull. The woman’s face was as white as snow and her mouth (open 23) and (shut 24) like a fish out of water and (give 25) out a series of strangled gasps.

The chalk (stop 26) writing. It (hover 27) for a few moments, then suddenly it (drop 28) to the floor with a tinkle and (break 29) in two.

Wilfred, who now (sit 30) in the front row, (scream 31), “Miss Trunchbull is on the floor!”

This (be 32) the most sensational bit of news of all and the entire class (jump 33) up out of their seats to have a really good look. And there she (be 34), the huge figure of the Headmistress, stretched full-length on her back across the floor, out for the count.

(after Matilda by Roald Dahl)

60. Find and correct ten mistakes in the following text.

A young Air Force just out of school invited his civilian friend for drink. They spent the whole night drinking. When the pilot finally regained consciousness, he was laying in a hospital bed completely swathed in bandages. His booze friend was sit by his bedside looking at him sadly.

“What was happening to me, Tom?” the flier asked.

“Well, we sitting there very peacefully when suddenly you jump to the ledge of a window on the tenth floor and cryed, “Now I fly like a bird over the city.”

“Why you not stop me?”

“Stop you?” was the reply. “I was thinking you could really do it.”

61. Translate the following.

A. Красавица

Однажды по дороге шла девушка. Она была красива, как фея. Вдруг она заметила, что следом за ней идёт мужчина. Она обернулась и спросила: « Зачем ты идёшь за мной?». Мужчина ответил: «О, повелительница моего сердца, ты настолько красива, что мне хочется следовать за тобой повсюду. Люди говорят, что я прекрасно играю на лютне, пишу хорошие стихи и знаю тайны любви. А тебе я хочу сказать, что люблю тебя и готов стать твоим рабом!»

Красавица молча смотрела некоторое время на него, а потом сказала: «Так ты говоришь, что любишь меня? У меня есть младшая сестра, которая гораздо красивее и привлекательнее меня. Она идёт за мной, посмотри на неё».

Мужчина остановился, потом обернулся, но увидел только безобразную старуху в лохмотьях, которая шла за ними. Тогда он догнал девушку и спросил ее: «Зачем ты мне солгала?» Девушка улыбнулась и ответила: «Но и ты, мой друг тоже не сказал мне правду, когда говорил, что любишь меня. Ты знаешь тайны любви и делаешь вид, что твое сердце пылает от любви ко мне. Зачем же ты тогда обернулся?»