Fill in the blanks with an appropriate tense form.
1. Pakistan successfully ……………….. its nuclear capable radar dodging cruise missile on July 26.
When there is a definite past time reference, we use the simple past.
2. Australia …………….. 40% of the world’s known uranium reserves.
We use the simple present tense to talk about facts and general truths.
3. Union cabinet ………….. the landmark civilian nuclear co-operation agreement with the USA in March.
We use the simple past tense when there is a definite past time reference.
4. A group of students ................. an environmentally friendly Eco One race car.
The present perfect is the most common tense for giving news.
5. A powerful earthquake ........................... Japan on July 16 killing and injuring several people.
When there is a definite reference to the past, we use the simple past tense.
6. After analyzing thousands of skulls British scientists .......................... at the conclusion that modern humans ...................... from a single point in Africa.
7. Scientists think they .............................. the energy source of the spectacular colour displays seen in the Northern Lights.
We use the present perfect to give news.
8. The world’s oceans which ...................... about a third of the carbon dioxide emitted from burning fossil fuels ...................... more acidic.
The present continuous is used to talk about ongoing actions and situations.
9. Babylonians were the first to make New Year resolutions and people all over the world ......................... them ever since.
The present perfect and the present perfect continuous tenses are more common with the time expressions since and for.
10. During his childhood days, he .................... barefoot deep into the forest to collect firewood.
We use would + infinitive to talk about past habits.
11. The world’s oldest city ................... in the deserts of Peru, or so believes a group of archaeologists.
12. The castle ........................ on the hill for 500 years.
Please select 2 correct answers
The present perfect and the present perfect continuous tenses can both be used to talk about situations that started in the past and have continued up to the present.
Answers
1. Pakistan successfully test fired its nuclear capable radar dodging cruise missile on July 26.
2. Australia holds 40% of the world’s known uranium reserves.
3. Union cabinet approved the landmark civilian nuclear co-operation agreement with USA in March.
4. A group of students have built an environmentally friendly Eco One race car.
5. A powerful earthquake hit Japan on July 16 killing and injuring several people.
6. After analyzing thousands of skulls British scientists have arrived at the conclusion that modern humans originated from a single point in Africa.
7. Scientists think they have discovered the energy source of the spectacular colour displays seen in the Northern Lights.
8. The world’s oceans which absorb about a third of the carbon dioxide emitted from burning fossil fuels are becoming more acidic.
9. Babylonians were the first to make New Year resolutions and people all over the world have been breaking them ever since.
10. During his childhood days, he would trudge barefoot deep into the forest to collect firewood.
11. The world’s oldest city existed in the deserts of Peru, or so believes a group of archaeologists.
12. The castle has stood / has been standing on the hill for 500 years.
