Self-Assessment Tests

Complete. One word only is missing from each space.

Once upon a time (1).................... rich man was sick. His doctor told him to go away to the mountains (2).................... a rest and a change of air. He went home and told his family what the doctor (3).................... said. He said that while he was away he was (4).................... to be sent letters or telegrams, or (5).................... which might worry him. And so he went to Switzerland and stayed there for about two months. He came back feeling very (6).................... better and looking (7).................... to seeing his family again. His secretary was waiting for him at the airport. (8).................... greeted her, saying,

Hallo, Mary. What's new?

Oh, there's nothing new, sir. Everything's just about as (9)................... always was.

You mean (10).................... has happened at all?

No, sir. Not really.

But what's happened to the family? Surely they have been up to (11).................... ?

No, sir. Nothing. It's been very quiet (12).................... your Great Dane died.

Oh, my dog's dead. How (13)...................... that happen?

He ate the burnt beef, sir.

(14).................... did he get the burnt beef from?

The farm burnt (15).................... and the cows in the barn were burnt, and the dog ate the burnt beef.

Oh, the farm's destroyed, then?

Yes, sir. It caught fire when the fire spread (16).................... the house.

The house is destroyed?

Yes, sir. It caught fire from all the candles (17).................... were burning.

(18).................... were the candles burning?

They were burning round the body, sir.

What body? (19)................... is dead?

Your mother-in-law, sir.

And how did she die?

It was the shock, sir. She couldn't believe (20).................... when your wife ran off with the gardener. But, apart from that, there's nothing new.