The verb to be

7. Fill in the gaps with the proper form of the verb to be in the present.

Sacred mountains of the world

Mountains _______ (1) sacred for followers of many religions. Mountains _______ (2) worshipped all over the world and the sacred ones are associated with heavens, hells, gods, demons and divine sources of life. Let us journey to some of them.

The Himalayas _______ (3) sacred for followers of five Asian religions. The largest group in India, Hindus, think of the entire range as of the god Himalaya, who _______ (4) a father-in-law of Shiva.

Chinese people think that mountains _______ (5) cosmic creatures: rocks _______ (6) their bones, streams _______ (7) their blood, and trees and grass _______ (8) their hair, white clouds and mists wrapping the summits _______ (9) their magical breath.

In Japan mountains _______ (10) most intimately associated with gods. According to one authority, there _______ (11) 354 major sacred mountains, to say nothing of the minor ones. Mount Fuji _______ (12) world-famous. It _______ (13) a volcano that erupted many times.

The symbolism and religious significance of mountains _______ (14) endless. For many people mountains _______ (15) symbols of humanity’s highest ideals and spiritual goals.

8. Insert the verb to be in the proper places. All the sentences refer to the present.

Amazing but useless facts

1. ‘Almost’ the longest word in the English language in which all the letters in alphabetical order.

2. Human thigh bones stronger than concrete.

3. More people allergic to cow’s milk than any other food.

4. The Earth the only planet which not named after a god.

5. The six official languages of the United Nations: English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish.

6. It impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.

7. The longest recorded flight of a chicken 13 seconds.

8. Owls the only birds that can see the blue color.

9. An ostrich’s eye bigger than its brain.

10. The Bible, which the world’s best-selling book, also the world’s most shoplifted book.

11. “Canada” an Indian word meaning “Big Village”.

12. Hawaii the only coffee producing state.

13. Broccoli and cauliflower the only vegetables that flowers.

14. The venom of the Australian Brown Snake so powerful that only 1/14,000th of an ounce enough to kill a human.

15. People photocopying their buttocks the cause of 23% of all photocopier faults worldwide.

9. Fill in the gaps with the proper form of the verb to be in the Past Indefinite tense.

There was in Dr Audlin’s appearance nothing to attract attention. He _____ (1) tall and thin, with narrow shoulders; he _____ (2) a little bent; his hair _____ (3) thin and grey; his long pale face _____ (4) deeply lined. He _____ (5) not more than fifty, but he looked older. His eyes, pale blue and rather large, _____ (6) tired. They _____ (7) empty of any expression. His hands _____ (8) rather large, with long fingers; they _____ (9) soft, but firm. You could never have described what Dr Audlin wore unless you looked specifically. His clothes _____ (10) dark. His tie _____ (11) black. His dress made his pale face paler.

(after W.S.Maugham)

10. Insert the verb to be in the Past Indefinite tense in the proper places.