General review: continuous tenses

64. Find and correct 5 mistakes in each of the texts.

A. Old farmer John returning home from town with a fat hen under his arm. On his way home he dropped in at the local bar and got drunk. When he was coming home, his wife took one look at his crimson nose and bleary eyes and understands everything. “What you doing with that pig?” she snapped. “Are you mad, Hattie?” he exclaimed. “That’s not a pig.” “Hold your tongue, John,” she retorted. “I talked to the chicken!”

B. Two men were traveling in the same compartment. Suddenly an inspector comes to check their tickets. While the first passenger was showing his ticket to the inspector, the second one was putting his ticket into his mouth and began searching his pockets. He was getting more and more nervous. “Do you look for your ticket?” asked his fellow traveler. “Well, you are hold it in your teeth!” The inspector punched the ticket and left. After this the first man said, “What an absent-minded man are you.” “Oh, I am not absent-minded at all,” replied the other passenger. “I was chewing off last week’s date.”

65. Open the brackets using the verbs in the proper tense forms.

The man who could work miracles

Until he (be 1) thirty years old, Fotheringay (not believe 2) in miracles. In fact he (discover 3) his own unusual powers at the moment when he (claim 4) that miracles were quite impossible. He (have 5) a drink at his local inn, and Toddy Beamish (drive 6) him to the limits of his patience by disagreeing with everything he (say 7).

“So you say,” (answer 8) Beamish whenever Fotheringay (speak 9).

There (be 10) present, besides these two, a very dusty cyclist; the innkeeper, Cox; and fat Miss Maybridge, who (serve 11) behind the bar. She (stand 12) with her back to Mr. Fotheringay, washing glasses; the others (watch 13) him.

“Listen, Mr. Beamish,” (say 14) Fotheringay, annoyed by his opposition. “We (talk 15) about real miracles, aren’t we? And what (be 16) a miracle? It’s something that (happen 17) against the laws of nature. You (do 18) it by the power of Will. It never (happen 19) unless you (will 20) it.”

“So you say,” (say 21) Mr. Beamish.

The cyclist (agree 22) with Mr. Fotheringay, but the innkeeper (not express 23) an opinion.

“For example,” said Mr. Fotheringay, “look at this lamp. You (think 24) it still (burn 25) if we (put 26) it upside down?”

“No,” said Beamish at last. “No, it won’t. It is against the laws of Nature.”

“Very well,” said Mr. Fotheringay. “Imagine that here (come 27) someone, perhaps myself, and (stand 28) here, perhaps, and (say 29) to that lamp, as I might do, collecting all my will – “Turn upside down without breaking, and go on burning steadily,” and – Hullo!”

And at this very moment the impossible (happen 30). They (see 31) that the lamp (hang 31) upside down in the air. It (burn 32) quietly with its flame pointing down. It (be 32) as solid as ever a lamp was.

Mr. Fotheringay (stand 33) with a finger stretched out and the troubled face of one who (expect 34) a terrible crash. The cyclist, who (sit 35) next to the lamp, (jump 36) away. Miss Maybridge (turn 37) and (cry 38) out. For nearly three seconds the lamp (remain 39) as it was. A faint cry of pain (come 40) from Mr. Fotheringay, “I (lose 41) my strength. It (go 42) to fall down.” The lamp suddenly (fall 43), (break 44) on the floor, and (go 45) out.

(from The Man Who Could Work Miracles by H.G.Wells)

66. Translate the following text.