Read each situation. Then choose the correct summary of the event.
1The swim meet began at 9:00 a.m., but Paul and Mary couldn't get there until 10:00. By the
time they arrived, their daughter had already won her race.
Paul and Mary arrived after their daughter swam her race.
Paul and Mary saw their daughter win a race at 10:00 a.m.
2Anne graduated from cooking school in May. As she began her job search, she heard about a
position opening up at the best restaurant in the city.
Anne heard about a possible job and then began her search.
Anne heard about a possible job at the same time when she began her search.
3I've been a fan of the Manchester United soccer team for years. I watched the team many
times on TV before I went to one of their games.
I started watching soccer on TV after going to a Manchester United game.
I watched Manchester United on TV and then went to see them play.
4While I was getting ready to start my first job after college, my sister was preparing to start law
school.
My sister and I were both making preparations at the same time.
After I started my job, my sister started law school.
5Donna had spent years on the road as a singer-songwriter before she got her big break.
Donna got a great opportunity that then led to years on the road.
Donna spent years on the road and then got a great opportunity.
6The tennis players had been practicing on clay for two weeks by the time they arrived at the
clay court championships.
The tennis players went to the tournament to practice on a court with a clay surface.
First they were practicing on clay, and then they went to the tournament.
7Paula didn't use to be interested in jazz, but then she met Roger and started listening to jazz.
Now she's as much of a jazz fan as he is.
By the time she met Roger, Paula was a jazz fan.
After she met Roger, Paula became a jazz fan.
8Joe hadn't finished college when he was drafted to play for a professional basketball team.
Joe had been working towards a college degree before he began playing professional basketball.
Before he was drafted to play for a professional basketball team, Joe graduated from college.
Complete each sentence with the verb in parentheses. Use the past perfect or
past perfect continuous.
Example:
By the time gymnast Simone Biles won her first World Championship at age 16,
had been doing
she gymnastics for 10 years. (do)
1
Simone Biles with coach Aimee Boorman for years by the time she started
winning international competitions. (work)
2
Before the Olympic Games, Biles full-time for a year. (train)
3
Prior to winning her first U.S. Championship, Biles trouble controlling her power
in competition. (have)
4
By the time she was 19, Biles perhaps the greatest gymnast of all time. (become)
5
Stephen Curry basketball for almost 20 years before he became a professional with
the Golden State Warriors. (play)
6
Before Curry joined his first basketball team, his father him. (coach)
7
For years, Curry to play college basketball for Virginia Tech, but then he was
rejected. (hope)
8
When the Warriors picked Curry, he and playing basketball at Davidson College in
North Carolina for three years. (study)
Vocabulary: Describing dreams and goals 2
Choose the correct word or phrase to answer each question.
1
Which activity requires making a decision?
fulfilling a dream setting a goal
2
Which activity requires working with a partner?
sharing responsibilities putting something off
3
Which word means the opposite of achievable?
ambitious unachievable
4
Which word can mean the opposite of modest?
achievable ambitious
5
Which of these two activities comes second?
setting a goal pursuing a goal
6
Which word has a similar meaning to unachievable?
realistic unrealistic
7
Which activity is often viewed negatively?
putting something off pursuing a goal
8
Which word can describe a goal that's easy to achieve?
modest ambitious
9
Which activity is an important event in someone's life that can take a long time to happen?
putting something off fulfilling a dream
10
Which word has a similar meaning to sensible or likely?
realistic unrealistic
