A DOGGY STORY

Some of you may be surprised to know that the talent show Britain's Got Talent was won, this year, not by a singer or rock group but by a dog and his trainer. If you watch the video of the winning performance, however, I think you'll see why!

Here is an exercise based on the story told in that performance.  Complete the text with the words listed underneath it. You will find the answers at the bottom of the page:

A DOGGY STORY

One day, a dog ______ some ______ from a ______ shop.  A policewoman ______ him.  She ______  him and ______ him to the police station but the dog ______ .  Then the dog ______  with a traffic cone and hid* in a ______ .  The dog _____ the _______  to the policewoman and called his ______ , a dog with three ______ .  The sausages were a ______ for his friend!  Now the policewoman ______ the dog.

searched

loves 

sausages [x2] 

legs 

gave

friend 

butcher’s  

saw

bin** 

escaped 

gift

took

stole

played

* hid - past simple of hide = nascondersi

** bin = contenitore per rifiuti

Click the space below to see the answers:

stole, sausages, butcher's, saw, searched, escaped, played, bin, gave, sausages, friend, legs, gift, loves.

THE PRESENT PERFECT FOR GIVING NEWS

THE PRESENT PERFECT FOR GIVING NEWS

We often use the present perfect to give the first news of something:

Mary has arrived in Italy.

The Queen has appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

We sometimes continue in the past simple to give more details:

Mary has arrived in Italy.  She emailed me this morning.

The Queen has appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.  She waved to the crowd.

We do not normally use the present perfect with a specific time reference but it is possible if the period of time is not finished:

It rained heavily in several areas of Britain this morning. [It is not morning now and the person is speaking in the afternoon or evening.]

It has rained heavily in several areas of Britain this morning. [It is still morning and it is possible that it will rain again during the morning.]

Choose the correct verb forms in the following sentences:

1.  The Prime Minister and the President had / have had a meeting. They have decided / decided to hold an election.

2.  The Prime Minister and the President had / have had a meeting yesterday.

3.  John Taylor, the MP* for Milltown, died / has died.

4.  John Taylor, the MP for Milltown, died / has died on Saturday.

5.  [You are listening to the news at 7 pm.] It has snowed / snowed in Scotland this evening and several roads are blocked.

6.  It has snowed / snowed in Scotland last night and several roads were blocked.

7.  Wales won / has won the rugby match and the score was / has been 23 - 0.

8.  England lost / has lost the rugby match last week. 

9.  The Queen has opened / opened the new hospital.  A child presented / has presented her with a bouquet.

10. The Queen has opened / opened the new hospital on Tuesday afternoon. A child presented / has presented her with a bouquet.

*MP = Member of Parliament

Highlight the space below to see the answers:

1. have had; decided  2. had  3. has died  4. died  5. has snowed  6. snowed  7. has won; was  8. lost
9. has opened; presented  10. opened; presented.