EXERCISES

Read this excerpt from a biography of Japanese poet Ma4suo`Basho.

Matsuo Basho wrote more than 1000 three-line poems called “haiku”. He chose topics from nature,
daily life, and human emotions. He became one of Japan’s most famous poets, and his work established
haiku as an important art form.

Matsuo Basho was born near Kyoto in 1644. He did not want to become a samurai (warrior) like his
father. Instead, he moved to Edo (present day Tokyo) and studied poetry. By 1681, he travelled on foot
and on horseback all over Japan. Sometimes his friends joined him and they wrote poetry together.
Travel was difficult in the seventeenth century, and Basho often got sick. He died in 1694, during a
journey to Osaka. At that time he had 2000 students.

Write questions for the following answers.

(1)__________________________________________________?

1000 three-line poems.

(2) _________________________________________________?

Nature, daily life, and human emotions?

(3) _________________________________________________?

Near Kyoto in 1644.

(4) _________________________________________________?

Because he did not want to become a samurai.

(5) ________________________________________________?

Travel on foot and on horseback all over Japan.

(6) _________________________________________________?

2000 students.

[Link]@[Link] Pá gina 1
Irregular Verbs

Complete the sentences by using the PAST SIMPLE of the given verbs. Use each verb only one time.
All of the verbs have irregular past forms.

begin, go, read, cut, hold, shake, drink, keep, shut, eat, lose, speak, find, meet, and spend

(1) Sue ____________ a cup of coffee before class this morning.

(2) We ____________ a delicious dinner at a Mexican restaurant last night.

(3) When it ____________ to rain yesterday afternoon I ____________all of the windows in the
apartment.

(4) Chris hurt his finger when he was fixing his dinner last night. He accidentally ____________ it with a
sharp knife.

(5) I don’t have any money in my pocket. I ____________ my last dime yesterday. I’m flat broke.

(6) Jessica didn’t throw her old shoes away. She ____________them because they were comfortable.

(7) I ____________ an interesting article in the newspaper yesterday.

(8) Jack ____________ his pocket knife at the park yesterday. This morning he ____________ back to
park to look for it. Finally he ____________ it in the grass. He was glad to have it back.

(9) I ____________ Jennifer’s parents when they visited her. She introduced me to them.

(10) Yesterday I called Jason on the phone. He wasn’t home, so I ____________to his sister.

(11) When I introduced Tom to Ryan, they ____________ hands and smiled at each other.

Complete the following dialogues. Use the words in parentheses. Give short answers where
necessary.

A: (you go) Did you go to class yesterday?

B: No, I didn’t, I (stay) stayed home because I (feel, not) didn’t feel good.

A: (you, sleep) _____________________ well last night?

B: Yes, __________________, I (sleep) _____________________very well.

A: (Tom’s plane, arrive) _____________________ on time yesterday?

[Link]@[Link] Pá gina 2
B: Yes, ___________________. It (get in) _____________________ at 6.05.

A: (you, stay) _____________________ home and (study) _____________________last night?

B: No, _________________. I (go) _____________________to a new movie.

A: (you, like) _____________________ it?

B: It was ok, I guess. But I don’t really like horror movies.

A: (Mary, study) _____________________last night?

B: No, _________]___________. She (watch) _____________________ TV.

A: (Mark Twain, write) _____________________ Tom Sawyer?

B: Yes, _____________________. He also (write) ___________________Huckleberry Finn.

A: (the children, go) to the zoo yesterday?

B: Yes, _____________________. And they (have) _____________________ a wonderful time.

A: (you, eat) _____________________ breakfast this morning?

B: Yes, _____________________. But I (have, not) _____________________ enough time. I was late
for class because my alarm clock (ring not) _____________________.

IRREGULAR VERBS

Complete the sentences by using the SIMPLE PAST of the given verbs. Use each verb only one time.
All the verbs have irregular past forms.

Bite, feel, leave, draw, forget, lend, drive, get, ride, fall, hear, steal, feed, hurt, take

(1) Mary walked to school yesterday. Rebecca _____________________her car. Alison

_____________________her bicycle. Sandy _____________________ the bus.

(2) When Alan slipped on the icy sidewalk yesterday he ________________ down and
_____________________his back. His back is very painful today.

[Link]@[Link] Pá gina 3
(3)I didn’t have any money yesterday, so my roommate ________________ me enough so I could pay
for lunch.

(4) The children had a good time at the park yesterday. They ____________ the ducks small pieces of
bread.

(5) Alice called the police yesterday because someone _________________ her bicycle while she was in
the library studying. She’s very angry.

(6) Dick _____________________his apartment in a hurry this morning because he was late for school.
That’s why he _____________________ to bring his books to class.

(7) The children _____________________pictures of themselves in art class yesterday.

(8) I have a cold. Yesterday I _____________________terrible, but I’m feeling better today.

(9) Last night I _____________________a strange noise in the house around 2:00 am, so I
_____________________to investigate.

(10) My dog isn’t very friendly. Yesterday she _____________________my neighbour’s leg. Luckily, my
dog is very old and doesn’t have sharp teeth, so she didn’t hurt my neighbour.

[Link]@[Link] Pá gina 4