Narrative Tenses - Choose
Last Saturday, Noura _____ a model bridge and tested it carefully.
A. builds
B. built
C. was building
B — built (past simple for a completed action).
The palace dining room, with gold-covered walls and crystal chandeliers, looked _____.
A. opulent
B. tentative
C. unkempt
A — opulent: richly decorated or luxurious.
Rewrite the complete sentence correctly:
During the rehearsal, Maya was practise her lines when the director entered.
During the rehearsal, Maya was practising her lines when the director entered.
While the technicians _____ the projector, the lights suddenly _____.
A. tested / were going out
B. were testing / went out
C. had tested / go out
B — were testing / went out.
The jeweller recorded every tiny scratch before repairing the watch. Her inspection was _____.
A. cursory
B. meticulous
C. dour
B — meticulous: extremely careful and precise.
Rewrite the complete sentence correctly:
While the students was discussing the problem, the teacher listened.
While the students were discussing the problem, the teacher listened.
By the time the debate began, the judges _____ their score sheets.
A. prepared
B. were preparing
C. had prepared
C — had prepared (the earlier past action).
The manager praised the proposal in public but secretly worked against it. His behaviour showed _____.
A. fortitude
B. duplicity
C. intimation
B — duplicity: dishonest double-dealing.
Rewrite the complete sentence correctly:
Last Friday, the class has visited the science centre.
Last Friday, the class visited the science centre.
When the guests arrived, the cooks _____ dinner, so it was ready.
A. finished
B. were finishing
C. had finished
C — had finished.
Before approving the plan, the principal scrutinized every cost and safety detail. What does scrutinized mean?
Scrutinized means examined very closely.
Rewrite the complete sentence correctly:
The guide asked us waited near the entrance.
The guide asked us to wait near the entrance.
Choose the correct answers for both questions.
1. Before the coach entered, the players _____ their warm-up.
A. completed
B. had completed
C. were completing
2. While Dana _____ her notes, the projector suddenly _____.
A. reviewed / was stopping
B. had reviewed / stops
C. was reviewing / stopped
1. B — had completed
2. C — was reviewing / stopped
Answer both questions using the word bank.
Word bank: pliable • bereft • intimation • guise
1. The warm clay was _____ enough to bend into a new shape without breaking.
2. Her raised eyebrow was an _____ that she suspected something was wrong.
1. pliable — flexible or easily shaped
2. intimation — a subtle hint or suggestion
Repair both sentences.
1. The guide had gave us clear directions before the hike began.
2. By the time we reached the bus stop, the bus already left.
1. The guide had given us clear directions before the hike began.
2. By the time we reached the bus stop, the bus had already left.