Past continuos

I-Choose the correct form of the verbs.

THOMAS EDISON (1) started/was starting work on the railway when he was twelve, selling newspapers and snacks. There were long periods with nothing for him to do so he (2) build/was building himself a little laboratory in the luggage van where he could carry out experiments when he (3) didn´t sell/wasn´t selling things to passengers. Another way that he (4) occupied/was occupying himself was by reading. He joined a library and (5) read/was reading every single book in it. One day, when he (6) waited/was waiting at a station he (7) noticed/was noticing a small boy who (8) played/was playing by the track, unaware that a train (9) approached/was approaching. Edison (10) ran/was running out and (11) grabbed/was grabbing the child just in time. The child´s father was so grateful that he (12) offered/was offering to teach Edison to be a telegraph operator. Edison accepted the offer and soon he (13) has/was having regular lessons. After a year, he was good enough to get a job in the telegraph office. He continued to read and experiment, whenever he (14) had/was having time. At twenty-one he (15) left/was leaving the telegraph office to devote all his time to being an inventor. He (16) went/was going on to invent the electric light bulb, the phonograph and the movie camera.

II- Compete the following paragraphs with suitable verbs. Use either the simple past or the past continuous.

A John Blake was born in London in 1969. He (1) went to work in France when he was nineteen. While he (2) ………………………………..in a restaurant in Paris, he (3)…………..

Luisa, an Italian student. He (4)…………………………………..her to marry him, but she wouldn´t. Heartbroken, he (5)……………………………to England. Three years later, John (6) ………………………………along a street in London when he (7)………………………………….Luisa.

She (8)……………………………………….London with a friend called Maria. When John and Maria (9)…………………………………., they fell in love at first sight, and got married the following year.

B I had a terrible time last Saturday. It was rather cold, but quite sunny, so after lunch I (1) walked into town. I (2)……………………..to buy a pullover. I (3)……………………

In the window of a clothes shop when someone (4) …………………………..my wallet. While I (5)…………………………………………home, it (6)………………………………..to rain and I arrived home cold and miserable. I (7)…………………………………………to have a hot bath. I (8)…………………………………ready to have my bath when the doorbell (9)……………………….

It was a salesman and it took me several minutes to get rid of him. Unfortunately, all the time he (10) he……………………………… to me the water (11)…...............................

You can imagine the state of the bathroom!