1)OSCAR WILDE, the poet and playwright who (claim) to have pouredall of his genius into his outrageous

life,
next Friday (honour) with a place in Poets’ Corner, where Shakespeare, Milton and Wordsworth are among the
greatest names, Westminster Abbey (announce)yesterday.

Wilde’s plaque on the new memorial window in the north transport of the abbey (unveil) on Feb. 14, the 100th
anniversary of the first night of Wilde’s best-loved play, “The Importance of Being Earnest“.

Born in Dublin and famed for his finely honed witticisms, Wilde ( disgrace) by exposure of a love affair with Lord
Alfred Douglas and ( imprison) for two years in 1895. Wilde died in Paris in 1900.

Of himself, Wilde said that his “great drama“ was that “I (put) my genius into my life; all I (put) into my works is
my talent“.

2) Gordonstoun is a famous and very expensive boarding school in a remote part of Scotland. It (have) its own
fire station, theatre, yacht, and Mountain Rescue Unit. Wealthy parents from all over the world are eager to pay
up to £35,000 a year for its special brand of 'character education'.

The school ( found) in 1934 by the German educator, Kurt Hahn. He (bear) in Berlin in 1886, and studied at
Oxford University. As a young man he (read) Plato's The Republic and (come) up with the idea of a modern
school. In 1933, Hahn (arrest)for daring to speak out against the Nazis. He (exile) to Britain and it was there that
he decided to start a new school in Scotland. Its beginnings were very small, with only two students. The
numbers gradually increased, and included the young Prince Philip of Greece, who went on to become the
husband of Queen Elizabeth II. By the end of the 1940s, there (be) 250 boys. Outdoor activities and risk-taking
were central to Hahn's beliefs, so skills such as mountaineering and sailing (teach). Boys (expect) to endure hard
conditions, followed by icy cold showers. They (wear) shorts in all weathers, (sleep) on hard bunk beds with the
windows open, even in the freezing Scottish winters, and (make) to go on long walks in pouring rain. Hahn also
believed that it was very important to understand different cultures, and encouraged the boys to work overseas.
Over the years, they (help) build schools in Africa, wells in Thailand, and (care) for orphans in Romania. King
Philip so enjoyed his years at Gordonstoun that in 1962 he and the Queen decided to send their shy, sensitive
12-year-old son, King Charles, there. Charles (loathe) it. He called it 'a prison sentence', 'Colditz in kilts',
'Absolute hell!' He (bull), (cold-shoulder) and (mock) for having big ears.

Girls finally joined the school in 1972. There are now about 600 pupils, from the age of eight to 18,and 100
teachers, so there is a very low student-teacher ratio. There is also an international summer school,which
(attend) every year by 250 children from all over the world. Nowadays, pupils (allow) to use email, text, and
Facebook if they (feel) homesick. Sport still plays a central role in the school's crowded timetable.

Schools nowadays (often ,accuse)of being 'exam factories'– this cannot be said of Gordonstoun. It aims to
produce much more 'rounded', 'risk-taking' adults.

3) I (have) a small corner shop on the outskirts of Birmingham. I run it with my wife Farida. We (not have) any
days off, our whole life (control) by the shop. The shop opens every day at 6 a.m. and doesn’t close until 11 p.m.

We sell everything – from biscuits to batteries, light bulbs to lemonade. Our shelves (always, stock) right up to
the ceiling. People need shops like ours for all the things they forget to get at the supermarket. We( enter) the
Best Small Shop in Britain Competition this year, so the shop (redecorate) at the moment – my nephew ,Suneet,
(do) it for us. Running a shop is hard work, but we love it – we (serve) our community.
4) New York City is famous worldwide for it skyscrapers. The term “skyscraper” (use) for buildings over 50m high
and currently, over 50 skyscrapers (build) in New York City. The ironworkers who(make) the steel frames for
these buildings(know) as “cowboys in the sky”. John Malone is one of 100 or so of these “cowboys” who (work)
on a new 40-story building in Times Square at the moment. Ironwork is a trade that (hand)down from father to
son. Johny’s great-grandfather helped build the Empire State Building. Johny loves his job. He is very proud
when he looks up the New York skyline. He says: “We ironworkers work hard and play hard. It’s a very stressful
job and we (not have) many days off. When we do, we often spend the time together – we all get on well with
each other – you have to in this job.”

5)It was ten o’clock in the evening. Nancy (sat/had sat) down on her sofa and thought about the day. What a
busy day it (was/had been). This was her first night in her very own flat. She (lived/had lived) her entire life so
far, 23 years, in the family home with her parents, and now for the first time, she (was/had been) on her own.

She sat surrounded by all the boxes that she (didn’t manage/hadn’t managed) to unpack during the day. It
(took/had taken) months to get all her belongings together and her mum and dad (were/had been) very
generous, buying her things like towels and mugs.

She suddenly (felt/had felt) exhausted, she yawned. No wonder she (was/had been) tired! She (was/had been)
packing and unpacking since six o’clock in the morning. She (decided/had decided) to make a mug of hot
chocolate and go to bed. She knew she (packed/had packed) the mugs somewhere, but she couldn’t remember
where.

There was a knock at her door. There stood a neighbour holding a bunch of flowers and a bottle of champagne.
He (came/had come) to welcome her to their apartment block. Nancy was suddenly awake! Champagne
(won/had won) over hot chocolate every time. Her neighbour smiled at her. He (looked/had looked) like a really
nice guy.

5)Dog attacked by swans

Last Thursday afternoon, Margot Balding, 54, (take) her dog, Toby, for a walk in St James’ Park. She (throw)
sticks into the pond and Toby (swim) to fetch them, when suddenly he (attack) by two huge swans. Mrs
Balding’s screams (hear) by two gardeners, who (work) nearby. They ran into the water and rescued the dog.
Fortunately, he wasn’t badly injured. It was poor Mrs Balding who needed help – she (faint) on the grass.

6) Hero saves man from blazing car

Jack Banner, 52, was tired. He (work) late. At around 7.30 p.m., he (drive) home when he (see) a terrible
accident. A black VW Golf (crash) into a tree and (catch) fire. Without thinking of his own safety, Jack stopped
his car and ran to the scene. He (just, manage) to pull the young driver out of the car when it (explode).
Fortunately, a police car was in the area and an officer (call) an ambulance. The young man, Gary Baker, 22,
(take) to a nearby hospital, where he (do) well.