Put all the verbs in brac ts into simple passive. a stradivarius violin (sell) yesterday at christie's for £902,000, the highest price ever paid for a strad. the violin, owned by the mendelsohn family, (make) in 1720, and, because of its colour, it (know) as the 'red strad'. it (buy) by a professional musician. in its years in the mendelssohn family, it (play) very little, except by amateurs, but its beautiful tones (demonstrate) by a japanese violinist before the auction (vente aux enchères) yesterday. 'it (be) in a very good condition because it (keep) in a special case', (say) yoshito ito. 'it (look) after very well.' the violin (reach) such a high price because of its date of 1720 (the height of stradivari's golden age), when his finest instruments (make). strads (admire) all over the world for their purity and deep, clear sound.

A Stradivarius violin was sold yesterday at Christie's for £902,000, the highest price ever paid for a Strad. The violin, owned by the Mendelsohn family, was made in 1720, and, because of its colour, it was known as the 'Red Strad'. It was bought by a professional musician.
In its years in the Mendelssohn family, it was played very little, except by amateurs, but its beautiful tones were demonstrated by a Japanese violinist before the auction (vente aux enchères) yesterday.
'It is in a very good condition because it was kept in a special case', said Yoshito Ito. 'It was looked after very well.'
The violin was reached such a high price because of its date of 1720 (the height of Stradivari's Golden Age), when his finest instruments were made. Strads were admired all over the world for their purity and deep, clear sound.