Question 1
Oh, gosh! You _____ with a shark coming straight towards you.
Must have been + past participle expresses a confident deduction about the past: you were surely frightened. Terrified (-ed adjective) describes how a person feels. Not must have been terrifying, because the -ing adjective describes the thing that causes the fear (the shark), not you.
Question 2
The forest fire _____ an area of the Amazonian rain forest the size of France.
The fire did the destroying, so the verb must be active. The present perfect has destroyed reports a recent event whose result (the lost forest) matters now. Not was destroyed or had been destroyed: these are passive and would mean the fire itself was destroyed.
Question 3
Spiders _____ by many people, but most of them _____ to be harmless.
Both parts state general facts, so we use the present simple passive: are feared by many people and are known to be harmless. The pattern be known to be means 'people know that they are'. Not have been feared / knew: knew is active and would mean the spiders knew something.
Question 4
Although specifically directed against slavery, the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution _____ since _____ by the federal courts as applicable to all forms of enforced labour.
Since (meaning 'from then until now') calls for the present perfect, and the amendment is the thing being judged by the courts, so the verb is passive: has since been viewed. Note that since sits between the auxiliary and the participle. Not has / been viewing: that is active continuous and would mean the amendment was doing the viewing.
Question 5
My mother is quite old now and sometimes she _____ up and down steps.
Has to be helped is the passive of have to: someone needs to help her. Sometimes and now show a present habit. Not has helped: this is active and would mean she helps others.
Question 6
As none of us have been there before, we _____ how much time we _____ for the journey.
Can't decide expresses present inability, and should allow asks what the right amount of time would be. Not aren't decided: decide is something we do, so a passive form makes no sense here.
Question 7
As we _____ towards the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, thousands of people _____ in the opposite direction to protest about the increase in telephone rates.
The past simple walked gives the background action of 'us', while the past continuous were marching shows an action already in progress at that time. Not were walking / have been marching: the present perfect continuous does not fit a past narrative.
Question 8
After my father _____ me his old bicycle, I _____ to university, which was better for my health.
The past perfect had given shows the earlier past action, and the past simple cycled shows what happened after it. Not was given / had cycled: my father was given me is ungrammatical, and the order of the tenses would be reversed.
Question 9
When the meadow behind the farm _____, my brother’s hay fever _____.
The meadow is acted upon, so we need the past passive was mowed (also was mown in British English). The result followed in the past, so we use the past simple deteriorated. Not had been mowed / deteriorates: the present tense does not match the past time.
Question 10
The Irish people _____ to Christianity by Saint Patrick in the 5th century and Ireland had been a great centre of peace, culture and learning until it _____ by Vikings in the 9th century.
Both events are finished past events with a doer introduced by by, so we need the past simple passive: were converted by Saint Patrick and was invaded by Vikings. Not had converted / was being invaded: had converted is active, and the continuous form does not suit a single completed event.
Question 11
I _____ to see that the thing which _____ out of the bushes in front of me in the dark alley was only a cat.
Be relieved is a passive-form adjective describing a feeling: I was relieved to see…. The cat's single sudden action is in the past simple jumped, which is active. Not had relieved / was jumped: jump is intransitive here and cannot be passive.
Question 12
I wonder whether the hotel _____ us with towels or not.
The pattern is provide someone with something, and the hotel is the doer, so the verb is active. Will provide refers to the future stay. Not is provided: the passive would need the guests as the subject, e.g. whether we will be provided with towels.
Question 13
Fog over a city is usually more intense than over the surrounding countryside because the city _____ a greater amount of moisture into the atmosphere.
This is a general scientific fact (usually), so we use the active present simple discharges. The city is the doer, releasing moisture. Not is discharged: that would mean the city itself is released.
Question 14
While she _____ the documents, she _____ several new French words.
While introduces a longer background action in the past continuous (was translating), and the past simple (learnt) gives what happened during it. Not translated / is learning: the present tense does not match the past.
Question 15
It has been a wonderful party! I _____ myself so much in a long time.
In a long time covers the period up to now, so we use the present perfect: I haven't enjoyed myself so much in a long time. Not wasn't enjoying: the past continuous does not connect the past to the present.
Question 16
Usually I _____ cash for things because I _____ using credit cards.
Usually signals a habit, so both verbs are in the active present simple: pay and don't like. Not am paid: the passive would mean someone pays you.
Question 17
I know that you _____ here in the bathroom, son, because I _____ the smoke at this very moment.
The present perfect continuous have been smoking explains a present result (the smell) of a recent activity. With senses we normally use can + verb for the present moment: I can smell. Not smoke / am smelling: smell in this sense is a stative verb and is not used in the continuous.
Question 18
This is the fifth time they _____ this record this morning. I wonder when they _____ tired of it.
After This is the first/second/fifth time… we use the present perfect: have played. The second gap is about the future, so will get (tired). Not play / are getting: the present simple is not used after This is the … time.
Question 19
Sugar-free chewing gums _____ in the 1950s, and by the 1980s several brands _____ on the market.
The gums were brought in by companies, so the first verb is past simple passive: were introduced. By the 1980s calls for the past perfect: had appeared, as the action was complete before that time. Not have been introduced: the present perfect cannot be used with a finished time such as in the 1950s.
Question 20
I really hate _____ waiting at the dentist.
Hate is followed by a gerund, and here the gerund is passive because someone else makes you wait: being kept waiting. Not to keep: that is active and would mean you keep other people waiting.
Question 21
Are you going to hold a party when you _____?
In a time clause after when, we use the present simple for the future, not will. The person receives the promotion, so the verb is passive: are promoted. Not will promote: will is not used after when with future meaning, and the active voice is wrong.
Question 22
The twins _____ after by a German nanny for the last three years, so they can both speak German quite fluently.
For the last three years signals the present perfect, and the twins receive the care, so we need the passive have been looked after. Not have been looking: that is active and would mean the twins were looking after someone.
Question 23
A: What have you done to your ankle? B: I _____ over while I _____ on Sunday.
The past simple tripped is a short action that interrupted a longer one in the past continuous: was hiking. Trip over is intransitive, so it cannot be passive. Not had tripped / hiked: the past perfect is not needed and the background action needs the continuous.
Question 24
Jeff _____ himself how to play the guitar during his years at university, and now he _____ the instrument like a professional.
During his years at university is a finished period, so we use the past simple taught; now shows a present ability or habit: plays. Not has taught / is played: the present perfect does not fit a finished period, and the passive would mean the instrument is played by someone else.
Question 25
I _____ able to understand a lot more Turkish since the principles of vowel harmony _____ to me.
Since + a past point needs the present perfect in the main clause: have been able. The since clause is a finished past event in the passive, because someone explained the principles: were explained. Not was / had explained: the main clause needs the present perfect, and had explained is active.
Question 26
By the end of the month, you _____ to lessons for two months, so you _____ to take your proficiency test.
By the end of the month + duration (for two months) calls for the future perfect continuous: will have been coming. The result is a future permission in the passive: will be allowed. Not have been coming / are allowed: these refer to now, not to a future point.
Question 27
You _____ your machine on the 13th of March, so, allowing seven days for delivery, it _____ on or before the 20th.
The order was a finished past action: ordered. The machine receives the delivery, so the future passive will be delivered is needed. Not are ordered / will be delivering: you placed the order, so the first verb must be active, and the machine cannot deliver itself.
Question 28
They _____ the brochures but they haven’t bound them yet, so they _____ them until Monday.
They (the printers) are the doers, so have printed is active, matching haven't bound in the same sentence. The logical result is present inability: can't deliver until Monday. Not have been printed: the passive is impossible with they as the doer and the brochures as the object.
Question 29
The teacher was certain that some of the students _____ by the new grammar, but they _____ any questions.
Be confused by describes how the students felt, a passive-form adjective: were confused by the new grammar. The students are the doers of the second action: didn't ask. Not had confused / weren't asked: had confused would mean the students confused someone, and weren't asked reverses the meaning.
Question 30
Saturated fats _____ _____ the level of cholesterol in the blood.
The pattern be known to + infinitive means 'people know that …': Saturated fats are known to raise cholesterol. It is a general scientific fact, so the present simple is used. Not were known / to be raised: the fats raise the level, so the infinitive must be active.
Question 31
The results _____ by now, so let’s phone dad and see if he knows the score.
Must have been + past participle is a confident deduction about the past, and the results are broadcast by someone else, so it is passive: must have been broadcast. Not should have broadcast: it is active and expresses an obligation, not a deduction.
Question 32
We _____ some sleep when we get home because we _____ on a coach for sixteen hours.
Will need refers to a future time (when we get home). The future perfect continuous will have been travelling stresses the duration of an activity up to that future point. Not needed / have been travelling: the past tense does not fit a future event.
Question 33
The head chef _____ that only fresh vegetables _____ in the production of their soups.
The chef is the doer, so claims is active present simple. The vegetables are used by the kitchen staff, so the second verb is present simple passive: are used. Not is claimed: the chef makes the claim; he is not claimed.
Question 34
A monastery _____ on this site in the 11th century, but these remains are of a later structure, which _____ in the 13th century.
Both buildings were created by people at finished past times (in the 11th century, in the 13th century), so both verbs are past simple passive: was founded and was built. Not had been founded / has been built: the present perfect cannot be used with a finished time.
Question 35
Unfortunately, the student had confused the “present perfect” _____ the “past perfect” and therefore, he scored rather badly on his last examination.
The verb collocation is confuse A with B, which means to mistake one thing for another: He confused the present perfect with the past perfect. Not for: that preposition goes with mistake (mistake A for B).
Question 36
As long as I _____ at least three times a week, I’m sure I _____ any stage fright before the performance.
As long as is a conditional link, so it takes the present simple with future meaning: rehearse. The main clause uses will: won't experience. Not will rehearse: will is not used after as long as with future meaning.
Question 37
Hopefully, I _____ refreshed and invigorated by the time I _____ from holiday.
Will be feeling (future continuous) describes a state in progress at a future time. After the time conjunction by the time, we use the present simple: return. Not am going to feel / am returned: return in this sense is intransitive and cannot be passive.
Question 38
Why is it always regarded as so funny when someone _____ on a banana skin?
This is a general situation (always), so we use the present simple slips. Slip is intransitive and cannot be passive. Not slipped: the past tense does not match the general present meaning.
Question 39
I _____ her only when she _____ that she was wrong.
The main clause refers to the future: will forgive. After when (a time clause), we use the present simple for the future: admits. Not am going to forgive / admitted: the past tense admitted does not match the future meaning.
Question 40
Are you sure you _____ an umbrella? It looks as if it _____.
Won't need refers to the future walk, and is going to rain is a prediction based on present evidence (It looks as if…). Not don't need / had been raining: the past perfect does not fit present evidence for a future event.
Question 41
The party _____ only to employees. The employees’ families _____ as well.
Both verbs are present simple passive, because someone else organises the party: isn't limited to employees and families are invited as well. Not doesn't limit: the party cannot limit anything itself, so the active is wrong.
Question 42
The letters _____ in the drawer, in which Emily _____ all her personal keepsakes.
The letters were put there by someone, so we use the past simple passive were hidden. Emily is the doer of the second verb, so it is active past simple: kept. Not are hidden / was kept: the passive was kept is impossible with Emily as the doer.
Question 43
We _____ the evening until Frank _____ to an emergency.
The past continuous were enjoying describes an activity in progress, which was interrupted by a past simple event. Frank received the call, so it is passive: was called to an emergency. Not enjoyed / was calling: this would mean Frank was phoning the emergency.
Question 44
The parcel _____ back to the Post Office, because I was at work when they _____ to deliver it.
The parcel was moved by the delivery staff, so it is past simple passive: was taken. The couriers are the doers of the second action, so it is active past simple: tried to deliver it. Not took / were tried: the parcel took is active, and were tried is an incorrect passive.
Question 45
The nations of Central America _____ many cultural characteristics, and except in Belize, Spanish _____ in all of them as the official language.
Both parts state general facts, so they are in the present simple. The nations share (active) characteristics, while Spanish is spoken (passive) by people there. Not are shared / has been speaking: the nations do the sharing, and a language cannot speak.
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