Fill in the blanks with an appropriate tense form.
1Pakistan successfully ............... its nuclear-capable, radar-dodging cruise missile on July 26.
Wrong!
The definite past time "on July 26" makes "test-fired" the correct simple past form.
2Australia ............... 40% of the world's known uranium reserves.
Wrong!
A general fact about Australia takes the simple present form "holds".
3The Union Cabinet ............... the landmark civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with the USA in March.
Wrong!
The definite past time "in March" makes "approved" the correct simple past form.
4Since January, a group of students ............... an environmentally friendly Eco One race car.
Wrong!
Use the present perfect "have built" with "since" for a period that continues up to now.
5A powerful earthquake ............... Japan on July 16, killing and injuring several people.
Wrong!
The definite past time "on July 16" makes "hit" the correct simple past form.
6After analyzing thousands of skulls, British scientists have arrived at the conclusion that modern humans ............... from a single point in Africa.
Wrong!
The conclusion refers to a past origin, so "originated" is the natural tense here.
7Scientists think they ............... the energy source of the spectacular colour displays seen in the Northern Lights.
Wrong!
For recent scientific news, use the present perfect "have discovered".
8The world's oceans, which absorb about a third of the carbon dioxide emitted from burning fossil fuels, ............... more acidic.
Wrong!
An ongoing change happening now is expressed with "are becoming".
9Babylonians were the first to make New Year resolutions, and people all over the world ............... them ever since.
Wrong!
With "ever since", the continuing action is best expressed by "have been breaking".
10During his childhood days, he ............... barefoot deep into the forest to collect firewood.
Wrong!
A repeated habit in the past can be expressed with "would trudge".
11The world's oldest city ............... in the deserts of Peru, or so believes a group of archaeologists.
Wrong!
The archaeologists' belief about the ancient city is expressed with the past form "existed".
12The castle ............... on the hill for 500 years.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
For a situation continuing for 500 years, both "has stood" and "has been standing" are acceptable.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- Pakistan successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable, radar-dodging cruise missile on July 26.
- Australia holds 40% of the world’s known uranium reserves.
- The Union Cabinet approved the landmark civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with the USA in March.
- Since January, a group of students have built an environmentally friendly Eco One race car.
- A powerful earthquake hit Japan on July 16, killing and injuring several people.
- After analyzing thousands of skulls, British scientists have arrived at the conclusion that modern humans originated from a single point in Africa.
- Scientists think they have discovered the energy source of the spectacular colour displays seen in the Northern Lights.
- The world’s oceans, which absorb about a third of the carbon dioxide emitted from burning fossil fuels, are becoming more acidic.
- Babylonians were the first to make New Year resolutions, and people all over the world have been breaking them ever since.
- During his childhood days, he would trudge barefoot deep into the forest to collect firewood.
- The world’s oldest city existed in the deserts of Peru, or so believes a group of archaeologists.
- The castle has stood / has been standing on the hill for 500 years.