Grammar 1
Do you know the origin of the place name Alaska? The name Alaska comes from the Aleut word alaxsxaq, MEAN__________________ “object toward which the action of the sea is directed” – that is, the mainland. It is also known as Alyeska, the “great land”, an Aleut word FORM__________________ from the same root.
Its nicknames are the Land of the Midnight Sun and America’s Last Frontier. Its first nicknames were “Seward’s folly” and “Seward’s icebox” to laugh at the secretary of state who negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia, which CONSIDER__________________ foolish at the time.
meaning
formed
was considered
A hungry wolf was out searching for a meal. He
SEE__________________ a goat feeding on grass on top of a high cliff. The wolf wished to get the goat to climb down from the rock and into his grasp and he called out to her.
“Excuse me, dear Goat,” he said in a friendly voice, “It is very dangerous for you to be at such a height. Do come down before you injure yourself. Besides, the grass is much GREEN__________________ down here. Take my advice, and please come down from that high cliff.”
But the goat knew too well of the wolf’s intent. “You NOT CARE__________________ if I eat good grass or bad.
What you care about is EAT__________________ me.”
greener
do not care
eating
The Alhambra is a palace and fortress in Granada. It BUILD__________________ between 1238 and 1358 at the end of Muslim rule in Spain. Despite the development that followed the Christian conquest, it still looks like a medieval Moorish settlement.
Since the Middle Ages, the Alhambra SURVIVE_________________ as a remarkable example of a Spanish-Moorish town. As most fortresses of that time, it has a surrounding wall, but it looks fairly weak.
Later it NOT DEFEND__________________ the kings of Granada and was just supposed to offer nice views.
Today, the Alhambra CONSIDER__________________ to be one of the greatest examples of Islamic architecture.
was built
has survived
did not defend
is considered
Basketball is now a major sport in the USA. Basketball INVENT_________________ by Dr. James Naismith at Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1891. Basketball is a game played between two teams of five players, in which each team tries to win points by throwing a ball through a net.
Basketball is a very spectator-oriented sport. It is the THREE__________________ most popular game in the USA. People enjoy both watching and playing it.
There_ BE_________________ many basketball centers in cities and towns of every state. They do not often produce sportsmen or sportswomen who are successful in world basketball championships but they help young people to keep fit and look athletic.
Basketball PLAY__________________ by men and women at all levels, from the professional level to high schools and clubs.
was invented
third
are
is played
Have you seen the photos of the London Eye? The London Eye is a giant observation wheel LOCATE __________________ in the Jubilee Gardens on the South Bank of the river Thames.
The structure DESIGN__________________ by the architectural team of David Marks and Julia Barfield, husband and wife.
They submitted their idea for a large observation wheel as part of a competition to design a landmark for the new millennium. None of the entrants _WIN_________________the competition.
However, the couple pressed on and eventually got the backing of British Airways, who sponsored THEY__________________ project.
located
was designed
won
their
Everybody knows Walt Disney, a person who invented many cartoon characters such as Donald Duck and Pluto. But it’s Mickey Mouse which LOVE_________________ by children all over the world.
Millions of kids worldwide SEE__________________ this cartoon since it was made.
However, few people know about the following fact. The funny thing is that Walt Disney, its creator, had a strong phobia – he was very much afraid of MOUSE_________________!
is loved
have seen / have been seeing
mice
Do you know any kids' inventions? One of them is 13-year-old Bennie Benson from the USA, who designed the state flag of Alaska in 1926. His design CHOOSE_____________ in a flag-designing contest.
LATE_______________, in 1959, it became the official flag of Alaska. The blue background is for the sky and the forget-me-not, the state flower.
The flag also has the Big Dipper (a symbol of strength) and the North Star (also CALL___________ Polaris), which represents Alaska's northern location.
For a prize Bennie WIN_____________ a $1000 scholarship and a watch.
was chosen
later
called
won
For years my husband, Tom, and I had complained bitterly about the lack of sidewalks in our village. We didn’t have enough exercise but we NOT CAN______ jog because there were no sidewalks.
Tom had often told I______ , «If only we had sidewalks, we would jog or walk daily and become models of fitness».
So we were thrilled when a community sidewalk project was announced, and watched eagerly as paving neared completion. Then the BAD______ thing happened: wishful thinking and reality collided.
«Well, dear,» Tom said. «What’ll we use as an excuse for not walking now?» I said I THINK______ of some excuse.
me
worst
would think
In 1896, Said Khalid seized power in Zanzibar. A British fleet soon arrived at the port of Zanzibar and ordered him out of the royal palace. Khalid refused to leave. At 9:02 on the morning of August 27, British ships started a fire on the palace, a war between Britain and Zanzibar_BEGIN_________.
The palace DESTROY__________ very quickly. At 9:40 that morning, Said Khalid surrendered and the war ended.
This «war» was the SHORT_____________ in history. It lasted a total of 38 minutes!
The British LATE____________ requested money from the people of Zanzibar to pay for the shells the British warships had used to win the war.
began
was destroyed
shortest
later
Albert Einstein, the famous scientist, liked to play the violin very much. Once he found himself in the company with Hans Eisler, a composer and a pianist. They met for the ONE __________________ time.
Everybody began asking THEY__________________ to play together, so they agreed.
Einstein tuned in his violin but every time Eisler started a musical piece, Einstein NOT CAN__________________ get it right.
first
them
could not
stood
This year we decided to go on a camping trip. It was our ONE_____________ experience.
We started PACK___________ a month before the trip.
When our neighbor saw the assortment of boxes, bins and gear strapped to our car's roof rack, she came rushing over. «Oh!» she exclaimed. «I NOT KNOW___________ you were leaving! I'm so glad I got to see you before you moved!»
first
to pack / packing
did not know
In the USA, Memorial Day is the last Monday in May. Memorial Day DECLARE______ a national holiday in 1971.
But the tradition of honoring those who died in defense of THEY______ country goes back to the Civil War. The tradition to hold memorial services, visit the cemeteries, decorate the graves with flowers and wreaths originated in Waterloo, New York, in 1866.
Since then, the tradition CHANGE______ . Nowadays, on Memorial Day Americans honor not only soldiers who perished in wars but those loved ones who have died.
their
has changed
was King Louis XIV of France who ordered a palace with 1,300 rooms in the 1600s. Louis wanted a bigger palace than any other king. In 1661, the French started BUILD____________ this new palace.
It was located at a place outside Paris, CALL______________ Versailles.
It had to be big — Louis's court had 20,000 people, and Versailles BECOME____________ the centre of court life.
to build / building
called
became
Just like a gigantic dragon, the Great Wall runs up and down deserts, mountains and grasslands for 6,700 kilometers from east to west of China. It is one of the GREAT______ wonders of the world with more than 2,000 years of history.
The Great Wall BUILD______ by several Chinese dynasties in order to protect the Chinese Empire from different aggressors.
The building of the Wall of stone and earth BEGIN______ in the 6th century BC and lasted until the 16th century AD.
It KNOW______ that from 2 to 3 million Chinese people died during its construction.
greatest
was built
began / was begun
is known
Everybody knows that Christopher Columbus discovered America. However, America NAME______ after Amerigo Vespucci who explored the eastern coast of South America.
Was he really the first to reach the continent? The great Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdal believed that ancient people BE______ able to build boats that could cross oceans.
To test his ideas, Heyerdal decided to build a copy of an ancient Egyptian boat. On May 25, 1969 the boat called Ra LEAVE______ a port in Morocco.
On May 17, 1970 Ra with two SEAMAN______ on board successfully crossed the Atlantic, proving that ancient civilizations had enough skill to reach America long before Columbus.
was named / is named
were
left
seamen
Not all new things are created by wise old scientists. Frank Epperson invented the popsicle, fruit ice cream without milk, in 1905 when he was only 11 years old. Frank LEAVE___________ his drink outside on the porch overnight with the stir stick in it.
That night the temperature dropped and froze things, INCLUDE__________ Frank's drink. That didn't stop him from tasting it.
18 years LATE______________ Frank started his business.
Just over 1 billion popsicles EAT__________ in the US each year. Out of the 30 flavors to choose from, orange has been the favorite for many years.
including
later
are eaten
Here are some interesting facts about Australia. Canberra CHOOSE __________________ as the capital because Sydney and Melbourne could not stop arguing which city should be the capital of Australia.
The sports capital of the world has 70 percent of IT__________________ total population participating at least once a week in a particular recreational activity or sport.
80 % of Australians believe Australia has a strong culture and identity characterised by honesty, sports and multiculturalism based on research ORGANISE__________________ by the Australia Day Council of NSW in 2008.
has been chosen / was chosen
its
was organised
One airline had a policy that required the first officer to stand at the door while the passengers exited. He smiled and thanked them for FLY__________________ the airline.
A pilot on this airline landed his plane into the runway really hard. He thought that passengers HAVE__________________ angry comments.
However, it seemed that all of THEY__________________ were too shocked to say anything. Finally, everyone got off except for a little old lady. She said, ‘Can I ask you a question?’ ‘Yes, Madam,’ said the pilot. ‘What was it?’ the lady asked, ‘Did we land or were we shot down?’
flying
would have
them
Labor Day is a holiday in honor of workers. On September 5, 188 8 the ONE______ Labor Day parade was held in New York.
20,000 workers marched up Broadway, CARRY______ banners “Labor creates all wealth”. After the parade, there were picnics all around the city.
The next year even MANY______ people took part in the celebration. In 1894, Congress made it a national holiday. Today most Americans consider Labor Day the end of the summer. They enjoy the last three-day weekend on the beaches and in the parks.
first
carrying
more
We are a family of four: my mom, my dad, my brother and I. One morning my dad started COOK___________ breakfast.
Ben, my YOUNG__________ brother, asked him: «Why are you making Mommy breakfast? Is she sick?»
"No, dear," replied her father, "it's Mother's Day." Immediately the boy had another question. "Oh," he said, "then BE__________ every other day Father's Day?"
to cook / cooking
younger
is