Grammar mixed exercises

Christmas

Christmas is a joyful religious holiday when Christians A____ the birth of Jesus Christ. To people all over the world, Christmas is a season of giving and receiving presents. In Scandinavian and other European countries, Father Christmas, or Saint Nicholas, B____ into houses in the night and leaves gifts for the children. Saint Nicholas is represented as a kindly man with a red cloak and long white beard. He visited houses and left gifts, bringing people happiness in C____ months of the year. Another character, the God Odin, rode on a magical flying horse across the sky in the winter to reward people with gifts. D____ different legends passed across the ages to make the present-day Santa Claus.

Although Santa Claus has origins in Norse and pre-Christian mythology, he took shape in the United States. Americans gave Santa Claus a white beard, dressed E____ in a red suit and made him a cheery old gentleman with red cheeks and a twinkle in his eye. American children believe that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole with his wife. All year he lists the names of children, both those who have been good and those who have been bad. He decides what presents to give to the good children. Santa Claus supposedly gets his list of toys from the millions of children who write to him at the North Pole.

A 1) celebrates 2) celebrate 3) celebrated 4) will celebrate

B 1) comes 2) come 3) came 4) will come

C 1) cold 2) colder 3) the most cold 4) the coldest

D 1) That 2) This 3) These 4) Those

E 1) he 2) his 3) himself 4) him

Unusual Actors

Becky is a kind of actor called a mime. A mime (1)___________ stories silently using just his or her body. Becky and her theater company, Black Box, act without using words. They wear white face paint and dress in black. Their plays are performed on an empty stage. But when the show begins, you can (2)___________ a forest, a sea or a dining room performed by the actors. Without changing her costume, Becky transforms from a lovely princess to a lion or even an apple tree. Though her hands are empty, she can drink hot tea, carry a (3)___________ bag or play with a pretty kitten. When you (4)___________ at her, you understand the story without any words. The mimes work (5)___________ to make their movements perfect, otherwise the audience will not understand them.

1)  Hard; 2)  Heavy; 3)  Look; 4)  See; 5)  Speaks; 6)  Strong; 7)  Tells.

Maid Marian

Maid Marian was the pretty young lady Robin A____ to marry. She lived in Nottingham with her family. Marian helped poor people too and often B____ to the forest to tell Robin about the wicked things the Sheriff did. The Sheriff sent C____ soldiers to arrest Maid Marian. “Do you know the outlaw called Robin Hood?” D____ the Sheriff. “No, I don’t,” said Marian. “I think you know him very well said the Sheriff. “Take her to the dungeon!” Robin received a secret message from Marian saying she was a prisoner in Nottingham Castle. “We must save her,” said the men. ’’Tomorrow is Nottingham Fair and the archery contest. Then tomorrow we E____ and save Maid Marian and win the contest!” “We can dress as jugglers and clowns,” said Little John. They wore unusual suits for clowns and jugglers. The men looked so funny that everybody laughed!

A 1) want 2) wants 3) wanted 4) has wanted

B 1) go 2) went 3) goes 4) will go

C 1) his 2) he 3) him 4) himself

D 1) ask 2) asks 3) is asking 4) asked

E 1) goes 2) will go 3) went 4) is going

A dream

It is easy to believe that rich and (A)____ people are happy, but if you do, think again. Both money and fame can cause serious problems. To start with, when

you are (B)____ you never know who your real friends are. Another problem is the lack of (C)____ . When you are famous, the public wants to know everything about your (D)____ life. Journalists are always after you, they try to take photos of you, and your life becomes a nightmare.

So next time you start dreaming of being a star, you should stop and be (E)____ that you’re an ordinary person after all.

1)  successful; 2)  are taking; 3)  famous; 4)  privacy; 5)  personal; 6)  is having; 7)  thankful.