Елена Музланова, Елена Кисунько Английский язык Экспрессрепетитор для подготовки к егэ Грамматика и лексика ведение
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7. COMPLEX OBJECT   Test 1. Use to where necessary. 1. I saw him _______ drop his bag. 2. We expected Tom _______ be late. 3. The officer made Ann _______ open her suitcase. 4. Ann was made _______ open her case. 5. Suddenly they heard the front door _______ open and then _______ close softly. 6. Let me _______ carry your bag for you. 7. Do you want me _______ come with you? 8. I like my Granny _______ tell us fairy-tales. 9. Have you ever seen her _______ dance? 10. Hot weather makes me _______ feel tired. 11. She doesn’t allow us _______ smoke in the house. 12. I want you _______ tell me the truth. 13. I noticed Henry _______ come up and _______ speak to the stranger. 14. Her parents won’t let her _______ go out alone. 15. Would you like me _______ go now? 16. I know him _______ be a great politician. 17. My father allowed me _______ use his car. 18. Let him _______ do what he wants. 19. I expected my parents _______ help me. 20. Mr Graves felt somebody’s hand _______ touch him. Test 2. V or V-ing? Choose the correct form of the verb. 1. Did you notice anyone (go/going) out? 2. When I woke up, I could hear the birds (sing/singing). 3. I suddenly felt someone (touch/touching) on my shoulder. 4. I didn’t hear you (come/coming) in. 5. John found Ann in his room (read/reading) his letters. 6. Did anybody see the accident (happen/happening)? 7. Listen! Can you hear a baby (cry/crying)? 8. I looked out of the window and saw Tim on his bike (cycle/cycling) along the road. 9. We noticed a group of people (dig/digging) something in the field. 10. ‘Why did you turn round suddenly?’ ‘I thought I heard somebody (call/calling) my name.’ 11. Can you smell something (burn/burning)? 12. If you found a lot of money (lie/lying) in the street, would you take it to the police station? 13. We watched the two men (run/running) across the garden, (open/opening) a window and (climb/climbing) through it into the house. 14. Everybody heard the bomb (explode/exploding). It was a tremendous noise. 15. Oh! I can feel something (crawl/crawling) up my leg! It must be an insect. 16. I heard somebody (slam/slamming) the door in the middle of the night. It woke me up. 17. We saw the robber (walk/walking) quickly along the street. 18. I saw her (walk/walking) across the room and (take/ taking) a gun out of the desk drawer. 19. When we got home, we found a cat (sleep/sleeping) on the kitchen table. 20. I could hear it (rain/raining). Test 3. Choose the correct form of the verb. 1. I want him _______ back soon. a) to come b) come c) coming 2. My mother always makes me _______ up. a) to wash b) wash c) washing 3. I felt Nick _______ his hand on my shoulder. a) to put b) put c) putting 4. The pupils were made _______ at school after classes. a) to stay b) stay c) staying 5. The teacher expected the children _______ this difficult question. a) to answer b) answer c) answering 6. If I saw a child _______, I would ask what was the matter. a) to cry b) cry c) crying 7. My parents didn’t let me _______ to the party. a) to go b) go c) going 8. Everyone likes her _______. a) to dance b) dance c) dancing 9. Would you like me _______ for you? a) to wait b) wait c) waiting 10. We were allowed to _______ bed later. a) to go b) go c) going 11. I smelled something _______ in the kitchen. a) to burn b) burn c) burning 12. My parents don’t want me _______ home late. a) to come b) come c) coming 13. Her present made me _______ happy. a) to feel b) feel c) feeling 14. John saw his friend _______ the door of the room and _______ in. a) to open, to come b) open, come c) opening, coming 15. This task is difficult! Let me _______ you! a) to help b) help c) helping 16. We don’t expect them _______ for us after classes. a) to wait b) wait c) waiting 17. The boy was made _______ the truth. a) to tell b) tell c) telling 18. Mother watched her little children _______ in the yard. a) to play b) play c) playing 19. He heard a distant voice _______. a) to shout b) shout c) shouting 20. I hate you _______ late. a) to be b) be c) being Test 4. Read the text and put the verbs in brackets into the correct form. Last night a terrible accident happened near my house. I was reading a book when I heard car breaks (1)(screech) and people (2)(shout) in the street. When I looked out of the window, I saw a crowd of about twenty people (3)(stand) around a young boy lying in the street. Next, I saw the driver of the car (4)(approach) the crowd and (5)(kneel) down by the boy. I wanted my wife (6)(phone) the emergency service but then I noticed some people in the street (7)(use) their mobiles to call an ambulance. Suddenly I saw a young woman (8)(run) towards the scene and (9)(push) her way through the crowd. I knew her (10)(be) the boy’s mother. A few minutes later I heard an ambulance siren (11)(scream) in the distance. Then I saw the ambulance (12)(stop) in front of my house. I watched the ambulance men (13)(get out) and (14)(run) to the injured boy. Minutes later I saw them (15)(run back) to the ambulance with the boy on a stretcher followed by his mother. Test 5. Translate the sentences using complex object. 1. Я хочу, чтобы вы прочли эту книгу. 2. Я видел, что Коля пришел. 3. Я видел, как Джордж шел по улице. 4. Вам бы хотелось, чтобы я рассказал вам эту историю? 5. Собака заставила кошку взобраться на дерево. 6. Мы не рассчитывали, что вы так много сделаете. 7. Он не любит, когда дети смеются. 8. Вы заметили, как он положил письмо на стол? 9. Мама хочет, чтобы я стала учительницей. 10. Папа, разреши Тому присоединиться к нам. 11. Он знал, что она знаменитая певица. 12. Вы когда-нибудь слышали, как она поет? 13. Хотите, я дам вам мой словарь? 14. Мне бы не хотелось, чтобы вы меня ждали. 15. Мы наблюдали, как студенты танцуют. 16. Я ненавижу, когда ты задаешь глупые вопросы. 17. Учитель заставил еe переписать упражнение. 18. Она не слышала, как я вошел в комнату. 19. Бабушка не любит, когда дети играют с собакой. 20. Я почувствовала, как кто-то смотрит на меня. 8. INFINITIVE/GERUND/PARTICIPLES   Test 1. Gerund or infinitive: choose the correct answer. 1. They denied (to steal/stealing) the money. 2. He gave up (to smoke/smoking). 3. I don’t want (to go/going) out tonight. I am too tired. 4. Try to avoid (to make/making) him angry. 5. Is there anything here worth (to buy/buying)? 6. I refuse (to answer/answering) any more questions. 7. He finished (to speak/speaking) and sat down. 8. Would you mind (to put/putting) your pet snake somewhere else? 9. I’ve enjoyed (to meet/meeting) you. I hope (to see/seeing) you again soon. 10. The boy’s father promised (to pay/paying) for the broken window. 11. He decided (to steal/stealing) her bag. 12. I don’t feel like (to work/working). What about (to go/ going) to a disco instead? 13. Would you like (to join/joining) us? 14. I hope (to see/seeing) you soon. 15. Please go on (to write/writing). I don’t mind (to wait/ waiting). 16. He keeps (to ask/asking) me the time and I keep (to tell/telling) him (to buy/buying) himself a watch. 17. I wish (to see/seeing) him as soon as possible. 18. I offered (to help/helping) him to translate the text. 19. Tom suggested (to go/going) to the cinema. 20. How old were you when you learnt (to drive/driving)? Test 2. Gerund or infinitive: choose the correct answer. 1. I remember (to meet/meeting) him last year. 2. I must remember (to meet/meeting) him at the station tomorrow. 3. Please, remember (to close/closing) the door when you go out. 4. I remember (to close/closing) the door, but I’m not sure that I locked it. 5. Don’t forget (to lock/locking) the door before (to go/ going) to bed. 6. He forgot (to bring/bringing) his passport. He left it on the table. 7. I’ll never forget (to go/going) out with my aunt in my childhood. 8. Try (to forget/forgetting) it; it isn’t worth (to worry/ worrying) about. 9. I rang the doorbell but there was no answer. Then I tried (to knock/knocking) on the door, but there was still no answer. 10. We tried (to put/putting) the fire out but we were unsuccessful. 11. Sue needed to borrow some money. She tried (to ask/ asking) Gerry but he was short of money, too. 12. Please, leave me alone. I’m trying (to concentrate/concentrating). 13. I need a change. I need (to go/going) away for a while. 14. The windows are dirty. They need (to clean/cleaning). 15. You don’t need (to ask/asking) his permission every time you want (to leave/leaving) the room. 16. Your hair needs (to cut/cutting). Would you like me (to do/doing) it for you? 17. We stopped there (to buy/buying) some biscuits. 18. Please, stop (to ask/asking) me questions. 19. ‘Did you start your diet?’ ‘Sure, but I can’t help (to eat/eating) sweets.’ 20. Can you help me (to get/getting) the dinner ready? Test 3. Gerund or infinitive: choose the correct answer. 1. I have finished (to decorate/decorating) the house. 2. I can’t stand (to work/working) in an office. 3. We hope (to arrive/arriving) by half past seven. 4. It was a wonderful holiday. I will always remember (to see/seeing) Niagara Falls. 5. They can’t promise (to finish/finishing) the work today. 6. He hates (to use/using) computers. 7. I am really looking forward to (to start/starting) my new course. 8. They can’t help us (to move/moving) in our new flat. 9. They enjoyed (to be/being) on holiday by the sea. 10. She refused (to answer/answering) the phone. 11. The weather was awful. It didn’t stop (to rain/raining) all week. 12. My sister has agreed (to help/helping) with the decorating. 13. They managed (to save/saving) enough to buy a car. 14. His parents don’t allow him (to stay up/staying up) after ten o’clock. 15. I don’t mind (to drive/driving) to the restaurant. 16. Please remember (to post/posting) my letter. It’s very important. 17. We were late. Tom suggested (to take/taking) a taxi. 18. I asked him to stop (to talk/talking), but he kept (to ask/asking) me questions. 19. Sometimes she puts off (to do/doing) her homework. 20. They always forget (to water/watering) the plants. Test 4. Gerund: choose the correct form. Sometimes more than one answer is possible. 1. This question needs _________. a) discussing b) being discussed c) having discussed d) having been discussed 2. I like John. I look forward to _________ to his party. a) inviting b) being invited c) having invited d) having been invited 3. He can’t give up _________ chocolate. a) eating b) being eaten c) having eaten d) having been eaten 4. I am sorry for not _________ to you. I was very busy last week. a) writing b) being written c) having written d) having been written 5. My friends and I can’t help _________ videos. a) watching b) being watched c) having watched d) having been watched 6. She apologised for not _________ her friend at the airport. a) meeting b) being met c) having met d) having been met 7. This film is worth _________. a) seeing b) being seen c) having seen d) having been seen 8. I am very busy. I don’t feel like _________. a) disturbing b) being disturbed c) having disturbed d) having been disturbed 9. Paul avoids _________ to strangers. Moreover, he avoids _________ to. a) speaking b) being spoken c) having spoken d) having been spoken 10. He was still hungry in spite of _________ several sandwiches. a) eating b) being eaten c) having eaten d) having been eaten 11. I can’t put off _________ this book. a) reading b) being read c) having read d) having been read 12. After the cat _________ went to sleep. a) feeding b) being fed c) having fed d) having been fed 13. He complained of _________ at. a) laughing b) being laughed c) having laughed d) having been laughed 14. This dress is dirty. It wants _________. a) washing b) being washed c) having washed d) having been washed 15. She was very glad of _________ that difficult problem. a) solving b) being solved c) having solved d) having been solved 16. They climbed through the window without _________ by anyone. a) seeing b) being seen c) having seen d) having been seen 17. I am fond of _________ sports. a) playing b) being played c) having played d) having been played 18. Jane complained of not _________ to the party last Friday. a) inviting b) being invited c) having invited d) having been invited 19. After _________ into English, the article was published. a) translating b) being translated c) having translated d) having been translated 20. I dislike not _________ to. a) listening b) being listened c) having listened d) having been listened Test 5. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form (gerund or infinitive). 1. Thank you for (come). 2. We saw this film last year. Do you remember (see) it? 3. After (examine) the student, the professor gave him a good mark. 4. I’ll never forget (visit) London for the first time. 5. She accused him of (steal) her purse. 6. I tried (explain) but she refused (listen). 7. You don’t need (iron) that shirt. It doesn’t need (iron). 8. Has it stopped (rain) yet? 9. ‘Did you remember (book) seats for the theatre tomorrow?’ ‘Yes, I have the tickets here. Would you like (keep) them?’ 10. He was very glad of (help) in his difficulty. 11. You must never forget (say) ‘Thank you’. 12. The problem is not worth (discuss). 13. She complained of (forget) to send this letter. 14. I tried (work) in a department store, but it wasn’t a very good job. 15. Can you help me (do) this exercise? 16. I don’t feel like (see) him. 17. She tried (be) serious but she couldn’t help (laugh). 18. I wish (see) the manager. 19. She tried to avoid (speak) to. 20. Would you mind (shut) the window? Test 6. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form (gerund or infinitive). 1. I’ll never forget (go) to school for the first time. I remember that day quite clearly. 2. David was happy (find) his aunt. 3. I tried (reach) the shelf but I wasn’t tall enough. 4. He likes (invite) by his friends. 5. You don’t need (paint) the door. It doesn’t need (paint). 6. Stop (argue) and start (work). 7. ‘Did you remember (lock) the door?’ ‘No, I’ll go back and do it now.’ 8. If it is worth (do), it is worth (do) well. 9. ‘How did the thief get into the house?’ ‘I forgot (shut) the window.’ 10. They accuse him of (rob) their house. 11. If you can’t turn the key try (put) some oil in the lock. 12. Have you finished (write)? 13. He always helps me (do) my homework. 14. He looks so funny. Whenever I see him, I can’t help (smile). 15. She decided (not buy) the car. 16. Do you mind him (examine) by a cardiologist? 17. I don’t enjoy (go) to the dentist. 18. Excuse me for (break) your beautiful vase. 19. I clearly remember (pay) him. I gave him $20. 20. After (say) this he left the room. Test 7. Fill the gaps with one of the verbs from the box in the correct form (gerund or infinitive).  Jane’s а nurse, but she’s trying _________ (1) а new job. Although she enjoys _________ (2) people, nursing is not very well paid, and she can’t afford _________ (3) all her bills. She finds it impossible to live on such а low salary without _________ (4) her account at the bank. Her flat needs _________ (5), and she would like _________ (6) а car. She managed _________ (7) enough last year for а short holiday by _________ (8) some extra money in her spare time, and this year, she’s hoping _________ (9) some friends in France. She has stopped _________ (10) to the theatre, which used to be one of her greatest pleasures. She’s thinking of _________ (11) in America, where she could earn а higher salary in а private hospital, but would prefer _________ (12) in this country if possible. She likes _________ (13) to see her parents whenever she wants to. А friend of hers went to America after _________ (14) university, but began _________ (15) her friends so badly that she had to come back. 8.2. PARTICIPLES  Test 8. Participles as adjectives. Complete the sentences with the present participle (-ing) or past participle (-ed). 1. The book was so (exciting/excited) that I couldn’t put it down. 2. I thought the interview went well, so I was very (disappointing/disappointed) not to get the job. 3. I didn’t want to tell my sister that I’d borrowed her car, as I knew she would be (annoying/annoyed). 4. I wasn’t looking forward to studying history, but in the end I thought it was a (fascinating/fascinated). 5. I just sat in front of the TV all evening. My day had been really (tiring/tired). 6. Failing my driving test was one of my most (disappointing/disappointed) experiences. 7. I wish he’d be quiet. He’s so (annoying/annoyed). 8. After watching the documentary on global warming, we all felt a bit (depressing/depressed). 9. Many people think hill walking was very energetic, but I find it very (relaxing/relaxed). 10. The children were really (exciting/excited) about opening their presents. 11. I was so hurt when he said I was (boring/bored). 12. He works very hard. It’s not (surprising/surprised) that he is always tired. 13. We were (shocking/shocked) when we heard the news. 14. I didn’t find the situation funny. I was not (amusing/ amused). 15. The journey was really (exciting/excited). I enjoyed it. 16. I am not keen on golf. When I played it, I was really (boring/bored). 17. She really learns very fast. She has made (astonishing/ astonished) progress. 18. Tom is good at telling funny stories. He can be very (amusing/amused). 19. When we heard the news, we didn’t know what to do. The news was (shocking/shocked). 20. The weather forecast was (terrifying/terrified). The (worrying/worried) authorities cancelled the match. Test 9. Choose the correct answer a, b, or c to fill the spaces. 1. Do you know the woman _________ to Tom? a) talked b) talking c) having talked 2. _________ her work, she went home. a) finished b) finishing c) having finished 3. The road _________ the two villages is very narrow. a) joined b) joining c) having joined 4. Most of the goods _________ in this factory are exported. a) made b) making c) having made 5. _________ nearly all our money, we couldn’t stay in a hotel. a) spent b) spending c) having spent 6. I was woken up by a bell _________. a) rung b) ringing c) having rung 7. There were some children _________ in the river. a) swum b) swimming c) having swum 8. A lot of people _________ to the party cannot come. a) invited b) inviting c) having invited 9. _________ our tickets, we went into the theatre. a) bought b) buying c) having bought 10. Everybody looked at the _________ girl. a) danced b) dancing c) having danced 11. The window _________ in the storm last night has now been repaired. a) broken b) breaking c) having broken 12. I saw a woman _________ in the corner on her own. a) stood b) standing c) having stood 13. She was lying in the middle of the road, _________ for help. a) cried b) crying c) having cried 14. _________ our meal, we went out. a) Finished b) Finishing c) Having finished 15. He just sits around all day, _________ nothing. a) done b)doing c) having done 16. Books _________ from the library must be returned in two weeks. a) borrowed b) borrowing c) having borrowed 17. Not _________ what to do, she burst out crying. a) known b) knowing c) having known 18. _________ hungry, I decided to make myself a sandwich. a) felt b) feeling c) having felt 19. _________ dinner, they continued their journey. a) had b) having c) having had 20. Emma was sitting in an armchair _________ a book. a) read b) reading c) having read Test 10. Open the brackets using Participle I or Participle II. 1. (Walk) along the street I saw several (destroy) houses. 2. It was an (excite) incident. No wonder she spoke about it in an (excite) voice. 3. (Sit) near the fire, he felt very warm. 4. (Find) a hotel, we looked for somewhere to have dinner. 5. The (frighten) child could not sleep all night – so (frighten) was the tale. 6. (Be) unemployed, he hasn’t got much money. 7. I don’t know what was in the (burn) letter. I didn’t read it. 8. (Look) out of the window, he saw his mother watering the flowers. 9. The house (surround) by tall trees was very beautiful. 10. The wall (surround) the house was very high. 11. (Translate) by a good specialist, the story preserved all the humour of the original. 12. (Sell) fruit, he looked back from time to time, hoping to see his friends. 13. (Sell) all the fruit, he went to see his friends. 14. (Enter) the room, she turned on the light. 15. (Arrive) late, we missed the train. 16. Jim hurt his arm while (play) tennis. 17. The (lose) book was found at last. 18. (Not wish) to discuss that problem, he changed the conversation. 19. A word (speak) in time may have very important results. 20. The students (speak) good English must help their classmates. Test 11. Open the brackets using Participle I or Participle II. 1. A crowd of (excite) people stood (watch) the burning house. 2. ‘Why do you look so (worry)?’ ‘I’ve had a number of (worry) telephone calls lately.’ 3. (Look) through some magazines, I came across an interesting article. 4. (Have) dinner, they continued their journey. 5. After hearing the (frighten) tale, the (frighten) children wouldn’t go to sleep. 6. (Feel) tired, I went to bed early. 7. A lot of people (invite) to the party cannot come. 8. (Hear) the sounds of music, we stopped talking. 9. The girl (wash) the floor is my sister. 10. The floor (wash) by Helen looked very clean. 11. (Approve) by the critics, the story was accepted by a popular magazine. 12. (Do) his homework, he was thinking hard. 13. (Do) his homework, he went for a walk. 14. (Come) to the theatre, she saw that the performance had already begun. 15. (See) this film twice, I didn’t want to go to the cinema. 16. Be careful when (cross) the road. 17. Translate the words (write) on the blackboard. 18. (Not know) her address, we couldn’t go to see her. 19. A fish (take) out of the water cannot live. 20. A person (take) a sun-bath must be very careful. Test 12. Fill in each space in the following text, using an appropriate present or past participle of the verbs given in the box. You will need to use one of the verbs twice.  The Haunted House Just after midnight, Julian and Anne, with Tommy the dog, arrived at the _________ (1) house, having first _________ (2) sure that no one would notice their absence. The house, _________ (3) in the seventeenth century, had been abandoned for several years and the _________ (4) windows stood _________ (5) like the eyes of a frightened ghost. Julian, _________ (6) by Anne and Tommy, took out his torch and pointed it towards the fence, _________ (7) for the gap which they had _________ (8) a few days earlier. But how had their latest adventure _________ (9)? Julian had been sitting in a cafe _________ (10) a drink when he overheard some men _________ (11) about hiding ‘the stuff’ in the haunted house till things had quietened down. _________ (12) that the police were looking for drug traffickers in the area, Julian had followed the men to their car, _________ (13) sure to take down the number. Julian, Anne and Tommy the dog spent the next few evenings at the house, _________ (14) in one of the old stables next to the house, _________ (15) patiently for the arrival of the criminals. At last, their efforts were rewarded. They saw the lights of a car _________ (16) closer. When the car stopped, a man got out, _________ (17) what seemed to be a large parcel. A few seconds later they saw another figure _________ (18) out of the car, _________ (19) a long black overcoat and _________ (20) something in his hand that, in the darkness, looked like a gun. 8.3. INFINITIVE/GERUND/PARTICIPLE Test 13. Choose the correct form of the verb. 1. Paula has given up _________. a) to smoke b) smoking c) smoke 2. I promised _________ in time. a) to come b) having come c) come 3. I saw him yesterday. He seems _________ weight. a) losing b) to have lost c) lose 4. Let me _________ your bag. a) to carry b) carrying c) carry 5. I don’t enjoy _________ very much. a) dance b) danced c) dancing 6. It was funny. I couldn’t help _________. a) laughing b) laugh c) to laugh 7. Would you mind _________ the door, please? a) close b) closing c) closed 8. I’d prefer _________ a taxi. a) get b) to get c) having got 9. He is very good at _________ languages. a) to learn b) learn c) learning 10. He is used _________ alone. a) having lived b) to live c) to living 11. David insisted on _________ for the meal. a) to pay b) having paid c) paying 12. It is no use of _________ about it. a) worrying b) worry c) to have worried 13. I had difficulty in _________ a permit. a) to get b) getting c) got 14. Let’s go to the pool _________ a swim. a) to have b) having c) had 15. Ann was surprised _________ you last week. a) see b) to see c) having seen 16. He prevented them from _________ the same mistake. a) do b) to do c) doing 17. Did you notice anyone _________? a) to go out b) go out c) went out 18. _________ her work, she went home. a) To have finished b) Having finished c) To finish 19. She denied _________ there. a) to go b) went c) going 20. Tony mentioned _________ the bus to school instead of walking. a) to take b) took c) taking Test 14. Choose the correct form of the verb. 1. Ann was made _________ her suitcase. a) to open b) opening c) open 2. Do you know how _________ to his house? a) getting b) get c) to get 3. I remember _________ the door. a) locking b) to lock c) to be locked 4. The coat is dirty. It needs _________. a) to clean b) clean c) cleaning 5. I bought a new car instead of _________ to America. a) to fly b) fly c) flying 6. He is looking forward to _________ them again. a) see b) have seen c) seeing 7. She was busy _________ in the garden. a) working b) to work c) to be working 8. I don’t enjoy _________ very much. a) driving b) drive c) drove 9. I can’t afford _________ tonight. I’m too tired. a) to be going out b) to go out c) go out 10. His mother made him _________ the room. a) to clean b) cleaning c) clean 11. Has it stopped _________ yet? a) rain b) to be rain c) raining 12. Can you remind me _________ some coffee? a) to buy b) buy c) having bought 13. Why do you keep _________ me questions? a) being asked b) asked c) asking 14. I refuse _________ his questions. a) to answer b) answer c) having answered 15. I’ve enjoyed _________ them. a) meet b) meeting c) being met 16. The girl began _________ at night. a) cry b) to cry c) having cried 17. He is against _________ the discussion of this issue. a) postpone b) having postpone c) postponing 18. I can’t stand _________ here any longer. a) work b) being work c) working 19. They translated the story into English without _________ a dictionary. a) to use b) use c) using 20. _________ in that country all his life, he knew it very well. a) Having lived b) Being lived c) Live Test 15. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the infinitive or V-ing form. Christmas Whatever else Christmas may _________ (1)(stand for), one thing it still means is _________ (2)(eat). Christmas has traditionally been a time of the year when people have tried _________ (3)(cheer) themselves up during the cold months of winter. Last year more than 10 million turkeys were bought in Britain alone during the festive season _________ (4)(satisfy) the nation’s appetite. Health experts may continue _________ (5)(complain) about all this self-indulgence, but they fail _________ (6)(realise) that there is nothing new about celebratory feasting, practically at this time of the year. The Roman Saturnalia, which was supposed to be a festival _________ (7)(honour) the god of agriculture, started on 19 December. Among other things, the Saturnalia involved _________ (8)(light) candles and _________ (9)(give) gifts. People who had spent the whole year _________ (10)(save) money suddenly became extravagant. In addition to _________ (11)(exchange) gifts, this time of year was also an occasion for masters and slaves alike _________ (12)(eat) excessively. At one Saturnalia feast an emperor is reported _________ (13)(spend) the equivalent of $900,000 on a dinner for twelve guests which consisted of twenty courses and lasted all day. So, when mealtime comes round on 25 December, there’s no point in _________ (14)(have) a guilty conscience. In fact the occasional seasonal feast may promote good health and stop year-round _________ (15)(overeat). |