THE PAST CONTINUOUS

Semi-controlled 

Task 1

Complete these jokes using the Past Continuous.

1. A young man (stand) ________ on a bus. He (chew) ________ gum. An old man (sit) ________ opposite him. After five minutes the old man shouted at him, "It's no good talking to me. I'm deaf.”

Answer

Answer 

Answer 

2. A motorist was in court for speeding. He told the judge that on the day he (drive) ________   at ten miles an hour and not at sixty miles an hour.

“How can you be so sure that you (travel) ________   at ten miles an hour?” “Because I (go) ________ to the dentist at the time!”

Answer

Answer

3. Mr Goldsmith (shop) ________ in an expensive London store. He (talk) ________ to a young male shop assistant. "I want something unusual to give my beautiful eighteen-year-old daughter for her birthday." The young man thought for a second, then said, "Here's my phone number, sir!" 

Answe

Answer 

4. Two cannibals (walk) ________ along the road when they saw a long line of people at a bus stop. One said to the other, "Oh, look, do you fancy a barbeque?" 

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5. Two very drunk men (try) ________ to find their way home, but they were lost. They (stagger) ________ along a railway line. "This is a very long staircase," said the first one. "My legs are killing me!" The second drunk (hold) ________ his back. "And the handrail is so low my back is killing me!

Answer

• Read two passages and circle the correct words:

A.    Industrial farming methods are commonplace, but the philosophy of organic farming could be about to change the way many of us eat. Consumers have (1) dangerous / grave concerns about eating fruit and vegetables that have been grown with the use of pesticides and chemical (2) fertilizers / additives. The use of chemicals might make the crops immune to (3) epidemics / infestations, but consumers have started to worry about the (4) adverse / modified effects that such farming techniques might have. Organic farming could offer a solution to this problem. Farmers are able to cultivate (5) abundant / plenty crops using natural fertilizers. The same is true for farms involved in the meat and (6) dairy / milk product industries. Farmers can use organic feed for their (7) livestock / meat instead of giving them harmful processed foods. Organic farming might also avoid some of the (8) hygiene / wellbeing issues that are connected to industrial farming, as well as giving people better quality meat to choose from.

B.    A study in the late 1960s demonstrated how children can become more (9) principled / neurotic and self-disciplined if they resist temptation regularly. A single marshmallow was placed in front of a child to monitor how they would (10) exert / conduct themselves in tempting situations. They were told they could eat that marshmallow immediately or have two if they waited 15 minutes. Most children said they would wait, but they couldn't resist and polished off the sweet quickly. The only way some children could keep a cool (11) face / head and avoid eating the marshmallow was to look away or cover their eyes. Researchers kept track of the children as they aged, and the ones who couldn't wait were more (12) compatible / vulnerable to problems such as obesity and were also more (13) tempted / prone to suffering from drug addiction and severe behavioral (14) disorders/ dysfunctions in adulthood.