Read the humorous stories about the famous writers below, and underline the correct form of the verbs. there is an example at the the beginning (0) one day robert burns (1) was walking/walked near the sea. suddenly he (2) heard/had heard a cry for help. he (3) was running/ran towards the water. just then a sailor (4) was jumping off/jumped off a boat, and (5) had begun/began to swim towards the man who (6) were calling/was calling for help and saved him. the man who (7) saved/was saved was very rich. he (8) thanked/was thanking the brave sailor and gave him a shilling. by this time a lot of people (9) were standing/stood round them. they called the sailor a hero but the rich man (10) gave/had given him only a shilling. burns (11) stopped/was stopped them and said, “let him alone”. the gentleman (12) knows/has known better how much his life costs. the famous author of detective stories, arthur conan doyle, once (13) comes/came to paris. he took a cab at the railway station to go to the hotel. “what hotel would you like to go to, mr conan doyle? ” asked the cabman. the writer (14) is greatly surprised/was greatly surprised. “how (15) do you know/has you known my name? ” he asked. “well, it is simple. yesterday i (16) read/had read in the newspaper that you would visit paris. then i (17) noticed/was noticed that your suit (18) is made of/was made of english wool,” the cabman said. “wonderful! you (19) were/are a born detective! ” said conan doyle. “thank you, sir,” the cabman said. “but another fact also (20) had helped/helped me” “what is it? ” asked the writer. “you see, your name (21) is written/has been written on your luggage.”
