Training exercises

Ex.1. Fill in the blanks using either the Present Simple or the Present Continuous

1. Are you hungry? …Do you want… something to eat? (you/want)

2. Jill is interested in politics but she………………to a political party. (not/belong)

3. Don’t put the dictionary away. I…………….it. (use)

4. Don’t put the dictionary away. I…………….it. (need)

5. Who is that man? What…………………………? (he/want)

6. Who is that man? Why………………………….at us? (he/look)

7. George says he’s 80 years old but nobody……………….him. (believe)

8. She told me her name but I…………………………it now. (not/remember)

9. I……………………….of selling my car. (think) Would you be interested in buying it?

10. I……………………….you should sell your car. (think) You ……………… it very often. (not/use)

11. I used to drink a lot of coffee but these days I………………………tea. (prefer)

12. Air…………………………mainly of nitrogen and oxygen. (consist)

Ex.2. Fill in the blanks with the correct forms of the verbs given in brackets. Use either Present Simple or Present Continuous.

Leila Markham is an environmentalist. She is being interviewed on the radio by Tony Hunt, a journalist.

TONY:	So tell me, Leila why is it important to save the rainforests?
LEILA	There are a number of reasons. One is that many plants which could be useful in medicine (1)..grow..(grow) in the rainforest. We (2) . . . . . . . . . . . (not/know) all the plants yet – there are thousands and thousands of them. Researchers (3) … . . . . . . . .. (try) to discover their secrets before they are destroyed.
TONY:	I see. What other reasons are there?
LEILA	Well, I’m sure you’ve heard of global warming?
TONY:	You mean, the idea that the world (4)………………… (get) warmer?
LEILA	That’s right. The rainforests (5)…………………….. (have) an important effect on the earth’s climate. They (6) ………………….. (disappear) at a terrifying rate and soon they will be gone. People (7)……………………… (not/do) enough to save them.
TONY:	But is global warming really such a problem? I (8) ……………………… (enjoy) warm sunshine.
LEILA	Well, what (9) ……………………… (happen) when you (10) ……………………… (heat) ice?
TONY:	It (11) ……………………… (melt) of course.
LEILA	OK. The polar ice caps (12) ……………………… (consist) of millions of tons of ice. If they (13) ……………………… (melt), the level of the sea will rise and cause terrible floods. Many scientists (14) ……………………… (believe) that temperatures (15) ……………………… (already rise). We must do everything we can to prevent global warming, and that (16) ……………………… (include) preserving the rainforests!
TONY:	Thank you, Leila, and good luck in your campaign.
LEILA	Thank you.

Ex.3. Put the necessary Present forms (Simple or Continuous) into the blanks.

‘As you know, our company (grow)………….¹ rapidly at present. We (employ)…….² 10 percent more staff than we did last year, and we (recruit)……..³ more staff all the time. We also (produce)………….⁴ 150 machines per month – that’s an increase of 15 percent since last year. We (develop)…………⁵ a new model of the Turbomaster at the moment, which we think will be a big success. We (know)……..⁶ our markets well. Our customers (like)…………⁷ our existing products, and we feel confident that they will like the improvements we have made in the new design. We (launch) ………..⁸ the new model next May, in time for the Munich Trade Fair.

Ex.4. Choose the necessary present form

Dear Karen,

(1) I’m having / I have a great time here in England. My university term (2) isn’t starting / doesn’t start until the autumn, so (3) I’m taking / I take the opportunity to improve my English. (4) I’m staying / I stay with some English friends who (5) are owning / own a farm. On weekdays (6) I’m catching / I catch a bus into Torquay to go to language classes. (7) I’m making / I make good progress, I think. My friends (8) say / are saying my pronunciation is much better than when I arrive, and (9) I’m understanding / I understand almost everything now. At weekends (10) I’m helping / I help on the farm. At the moment (11) they’re harvesting / they harvest the corn and (12) they’re needing / they need all the help they can get. It’s quite hard work, but (13) I’m liking / I like it. And (14) I’m developing / I develop some strong muscles!

(15) Do you come / Are you coming to visit me at Christmas? (16) I’m spending / I spend the winter holiday here at the farm. My friends (17) are wanting / wants to meet you and there’s plenty of space. But you must bring your warmest clothes. (18) It’s getting / It gets very cold here in the winter.

Let me know as soon as (19) you’re deciding / you decide. And tell me what (20) you’re doing / you do these days.

Do you miss me?

Love,

Paul

Ex.5. Write a letter in analogy about you staying somewhere for some time. Use only Present Simple or Present Continuous

Note: Writing Personal Letters

Адрес пишущего

Sender

Saturday, March 1^st, 2005

или 1 March 2005

или 01.03.05

1. Обращение: Dear Ann (Aunt Polly, Mr.Brown or My darling.

2. Начало письма: a) Thanks for your previous letter

Many thanks for

How nice of you to ….

I was awfully glad to get your letter

b) I must apologize for not writing you so long.

I really should have written sooner.

3. Основная часть письма: раскрывается содержание.

4. Конец письма: I’ll write again soon.

Looking forward to seeing you.

Hope to hear from you soon.

5. Завершающая фраза (от неформальной к более формальным):

I love you so much, Kate.

Lots of love.

Much love.

Love.

Best wishes.

All the best.

Yours, Kate.