Test on the sequence of tenses (12 points)

Choose the correct answer A, B, C, or D.

Dear Sir / Madam,

I am writing to complain about a television set which I bought in the sale last week. When I asked the assistant why 1___ the only set of that make and model on sale, he 2___ me that it 3___ used for the demonstration on the shop floor. I also asked him 4___ it was in good working order and he assured me that it 5___ perfectly. He also promised 6 ___ I could return the set within the fourteen days for any reason and receive a full refund.

Unfortunately, when I took the television home, I discovered that the sound and picture quality were poor. I called the shop and asked someone 7___ me through to the manager. The manager explained 8___ that I could not get a refund as a television was a sale item. She 9___ to have the television repaired but said that the repairs 10___ at my expense. I would also like to add that the assistant who sold me the television 11___ promising me a refund if there was a problem with the set. The manager suggested 12___ Head Office, which is why I am writing to you. I would like a full refund of the television as soon as possible.

Yours faithfully, ___

1. A was this; B it was; C this had been; D it had been.

2. A said; B says; C told; D told to.

3. A is; B is being; C has been; D had been.

4. A if; B why; C how; D that.

5. A works; B is working; C worked; D would be working.

6. A me that; B me if; C if; D to me.

7. A put; B to put; C putting; D that I put.

8. A to me; B me that; C that; D me how.

9. A said; B told; C informed; D offered.

10. A are; B were; C has been; D would be.

11. A denied; B refused; C informed; D decided.

12. A to contact; B me to contact; C that contacting; D that I should contact.

TEXT 1 (25 points)

A LETTER TO A FRIEND

Dear Peter,

You by any chance 1 (know) where Bob 2(be)? I 3 (like) 4 (find) it out because I just 5 (hear) of a job that exactly 6 (suit) him, but if he 7 (not apply) soon, of course, he 8 (not get) it.

I last 9 (see) him about a month ago, when he just 10 (leave) his job with the film company. He 11 (say) he 12 (go) to France for a holiday and 13 (promise) 14 (send) me a postcard with his French address as soon as he 15 (find) a place to stay. But I 16 (hear) nothing of him since then and 17 (not know) if he even 18 (go) to France or not.

I 19 (be) very grateful if you 20 (phone) me in case you 21 (know) his address. I 22 (try) 23 phone you several times but your phone 24 (not seem) to work.

Hope 25 (hear) from you soon.

Yours,

Jack.

TEXT 2 (30 points)

THE CHANGING CITY

When Nelly returned to her native city after four years at the University she 1 (understand) that many things 2 (change). The first night at home she 3 (go) for a walk in the company of her friend. The girls 4 (see) many people who 5 (walk) with their children. “6 (Look)!” Nelly suddenly 7 (cry). “A new bridge 8 (appear) here! When it 9 (build)?” Nelly’s friend 10 (not expect) her friend 11 (be) so excited. “You 12 (see),” she said, “It 13 (be) our MP’s policy. They 14 (build) a lot of new things at the moment. You 15 (remember) Mr. Johnson’s barn, which 16 (ruin) by a tornado? A new garage 17 (build) in its place. It 18 (not finish) yet, but I think when they 19 (finish) it, it 20 (be) the biggest garage in the city.” Nelly 21 (shake) her head in disbelief. “It always 22 (be) very difficult to make the City Council 23 (do) anything in the field of construction,” she said. She 24 (remember) how old-fashioned the city 25 (be) before and 26 (realize) she 27 (like) the changes she 28 (see). She hoped she 29 (see) more attractive things in the near future, and her home city 30 (be) more and more beautiful.