Placement test

I-Complete the text with the present simple or continuous form of the verb in brackets. If both forms are possible, write both.

Every year thousands of children (a) (go)…………………..to the doctor because of back pain, and in fact, this kind of problem (b) (rapidly become)…………………………….one of the most common childhood complaints. And what exactly (c) (cause)……………………………this outbreak of back strain and muscle fatigue? It (d) (seem)………………………………….that even quite young children (e) (take)…………………………………….more  and more to school – not just books, but also clothes and game players – and their backpacks (f) (simply weigh) …………………………………….too much. ‘Some kids (g) (carry) …………………………………………more than 25% of their bodyweight in a bag that has a nice cartoon character on the bag, but which (h) (actually give)……………………

Them serious backache,’ reported Dr Elaine Sachs, a GP in North London. ‘Most parents (i) (simply not realize) …………………………………….what (j) (happen)…………………………………….to their children.’

II-Complete the sentence with the present perfect simple or past simple for of the verb in brackets.

1.      Ian McEwan is a British writer who, according to many critics, (write) ………………………some of the best novels of recent years.

2.     Born in 1948, he (spend) …………………………….much of his childhood abroad ss his father was an army officer.

3.     He (study)…………………………………………English literature and creative writing at the universities of Sussex and East Anglia.

4.     He (write)……………………………………………..a number of successful collections of short stories and novels.

5.     His novel The Child in Time (win) ………………………………………..the Whitbread Novel Award in 1987.

6.     His later novels, including Amsterdam, Atonement and Saturday, (be)……………………………... very successful.

7.     Amsterdam (receive)…………………………………….the Booker Prize in 1998.

8.     Atonenment and Saturday (also win) ……………………………………….literary prizes.

III- Complete the sentence using a suitable form of the verb in brackets:

a.     ‘What exactly ………………………………………..when you saw the smoke?’ ‘I pressed the fire alarm.’ (do)

b.     By the time we get to the stadium, the match ……………………………………………….(start)

c.     ‘How long ………………………………………………………here for?’ ‘I don´t know. I haven´t decided yet.’ (stay)

d.     Jackson ……………………………………(the Nobel Prize, but says she is still hoping for recognition. (win)

e.     If you happen to see any one in the garden, don´t worry. It …………………………..the gardener (b)

f.     ‘I´m sorry to be late. I hope you ………………………….long. (wait)

g.     Ana didn´t understand why the mysterious stranger ………………………………….her such a letter. (send)

h.     Tom sends his apologies but he ………………………………………..a few minutes late (be)

i.      I don´t like this bed. It ………………………………….uncomfortable (feel)

j.      There …………………………………………..a strike this morning, but it has been cancelled. (be)