Exercise 42

Complete the conversation. Put the verbs into a suitable tense in the Passive.

A:

How much is recycled ?

Nick: Jenny, listen to this. Over 8 million tones of paper _____ (use) in Britain every year, but only some of it _____ (recycle). One tonne of rubbish _____ (throw away) every year by the average British family of four - like us!

Jenny: I know. Only a little waste glass _____ (recycle), but more bottle banks _____ (provide) in the future. Plastic _____ (not recycle) at all. And last year over 7 billion drink cans _____ (throw away).

Nick: What about sisters? How many sisters _____ (throw away)?

B:

Has the thief been found?

Tom: The newsagent’s _____ (break into). About £850 _____ (take).

Nick: _____ the thief _____ _____ (find)?

Tom: No, not yet. The theft _____ only _____ (discover) an hour ago. There’s a room at the back of the shop where the money _____ (keep) in a safe. This morning the cleaner noticed that the window _____ (break), so she told the owner. A few people _____ (question) by the police, but nobody knows much. An officer said that any information _____ (welcome).

Nick: Will there be a reward?

Keys:

A: B:

are used has been broken into

is recycled has been taken

is thrown away has been found

is recycled was discovered

will be provided is kept

is not recycled had been broken

were thrown away have been questioned

were thrown away will be welcomed

TEXT

Exercise 43

Below is a short article about computers. Put the verbs in brackets into the Passive Voice. Choose the correct tense, or use the modal verb if one is given.

Example:

* These machines (control) by computers nowadays.

* These machines are controlled by computers nowadays

* Programs (can / record) on cassette.

* Programs can be recorded on cassette.

Computers then and now.

(1)The world’s first electronic computer (build) at the University of Pennsylvania in 1946, although computer-like machines (build) in the 19^th century. Computers (sell) commercially for the first time in the 1950s, and a lot of progress (make) since then. Computers now are much smaller and more powerful and they (can / buy) much more cheaply.

(2)Computers (use) in many fields – in business, science, medicine and education, for example. They (can/ use) forecast the weather or to control robots which make cars. The computer’s memory is the place where information (keep) and calculations (do).

(3)A computer cannot think for itself – it (must / tell) exactly what to do. A lot of difficult calculations (can / do) very quickly on a computer.

(4)And computers don’t make mistakes. Stories (hear) sometimes about computers paying people too much money or sending them bills for things they didn’t buy. These mistakes (make) by the programmers – the people who give the computer its instructions. Some years ago, a computer-controlled rocket belonging to the USA went out of control and (have to / destroy). The accident (cause) by a small mistake in one line of the program. This mistake cost the USA $18 million.

(5)Criminals have found out that “computer crimes” are often a lot easier than robbing banks. Hundred of millions of dollars (steal) from American businesses every year by people changing the information in computers.

(6)Large numbers of home computers (sell) recently. People know more about computers than they used to, and computers are playing a part in our lives. Progress (make) all the time. Many people believe we can look forward to the day when even our household jobs like cleaning (do) by computer-controlled robots.

.Keys:

(1) was built (3) must be told

had been built/ were built can be done

has been made (4) are heard / have been heard

were sold are made

can be bought had to be destroyed

(2) are used / have been used was caused / had been caused

can be used (5) are stolen

is kept (6) have been sold

are done is being made

are done /will be done

Exercise 44

Write a short paragraph about any of these things. Use the Passive in some of your sentences.

* pocket calculator * the video recorder

* the cellular phone * the UFO (Unknown Flying Objects)

Exercise 45

Error analysis

Find and correct the errors in the following.

Example: I dressed my clothes

Correction: I got dressed.

1. I am interesting in his ideas.

2. How many peoples have you been invited to the party?

3. English are spoken in many countries.

4. We has this room decorated last year.

5. It will said that the company is in difficulties.

6. They sent a telegram to the winner.

7. The winner was sent to a telegram.

8. Breakfast will be bring to your room.

9. Must the bill be paying in cash?

10. The house is being paint today.

11. They was decided to appoint a new manager.

12. “Life on the Mississippi” was written with Mark Twain.