Past simple and past continuous – English Grammar Test for A2
Grammar » Grammar Test for A2 » Past simple and past continuous - English Grammar Test for A2
Reading Text
Last Saturday evening, Anna stayed at home because she didn’t feel well. While she was reading a book in her room, she heard a strange noise outside. She got up quickly and looked out of the window. A man was standing near her car and trying to open the door. Anna felt very scared. She immediately called the police. While she was talking on the phone, the man suddenly ran away. A few minutes later, the police arrived. They asked Anna some questions about what happened. While the police were writing the report, Anna’s neighbor came over. He said he saw the man earlier near the street. Finally, the police thanked Anna and promised to look for the thief. Anna was still shaking, but she felt safer because the police were there.
1 What did Anna do last Saturday evening?
(a) She went to a party
(b) She stayed at home
2 Why did Anna stay at home?
(a) She was busy
(b) She didn’t feel well
(c) She wanted to watch TV
3 What was Anna doing when she heard a noise?
(a) She was reading a book
(b) She was watching TV
(c) She was cooking
4 What did Anna hear?
(a) Music
(b) A strange noise
(c) A car horn
5 What did she do after hearing the noise?
(a) She continued reading
(b) She went to bed
(c) She looked out of the window
6 Who was standing near her car?
(a) Her friend
(b) A man
(c) Her neighbor
7 What was the man doing?
(a) Sleeping in the car
(b) Trying to open the door
8 How did Anna feel?
(a) Excited
(b) Scared
(c) Happy
9 What did Anna do immediately?
(a) Called the police
(b) Went outside
(c) Shouted at the man
10 What happened while Anna was talking on the phone?
(a) The man ran away
(b) The police arrived
(c) The neighbor came
11 How long did it take for the police to arrive?
(a) Immediately
(b) A few minutes later
(c) An hour later
12 What did the police do first?
(a) Wrote a report
(b) Asked Anna questions
(c) Arrested the man
13 What were the police doing when the neighbor came?
(a) Writing the report
(b) Talking to the man
(c) Leaving the house
14 Who came to Anna’s house during the report?
(a) Her brother
(b) Her neighbor
(c) Her friend
15 What did the neighbor say?
(a) He saw the man earlier
(b) He didn’t see anything
(c) He saw Anna outside
16 What did the police promise?
(a) To find the thief
(b) To stay all night
(c) To fix her car
17 How did Anna feel at the end?
(a) She felt safer
(b) She felt angry
(c) She felt bored
18 Which tense is used for background actions in the story?
(a) Past Simple
(b) Past Continuous
(c) Present Simple
19 Which tense is used for completed actions?
(a) Past Continuous
(b) Past Simple
(c) Future Simple
20 “Anna stayed at home.” – Which tense is this?
(a) Past Simple
(b) Past Continuous
(c) Present Simple
21 “She was reading a book.” – Which tense is this?
(a) Past Simple
(b) Past Continuous
(c) Present Continuous
22 “She heard a strange noise.” – Which tense is this?
(a) Past Simple
(b) Past Continuous
(c) Present Simple
23 “A man was standing near her car.” – Which tense is this?
(a) Past Simple
(b) Past Continuous
(c) Present Continuous
24 “She called the police.” – Which tense is this?
(a) Past Simple
(b) Past Continuous
(c) Present Simple
25 “While she was talking on the phone, the man ran away.” – Which action is Past Continuous?
(a) Was talking on the phone
(b) Ran away
(c) Called the police
26 “While she was talking on the phone, the man ran away.” – Which action is Past Simple?
(a) Was talking
(b) Ran away
(c) Was standing
27 “The police arrived.” – Which tense is this?
(a) Past Simple
(b) Past Continuous
28 “The police were writing the report.” – Which tense is this?
(a) Past Simple
(b) Past Continuous
(c) Present Continuous
29 “Anna was still shaking.” – Which tense is this?
(a) Past Simple
(b) Past Continuous
(c) Present Simple
30 “She felt safer.” – Which tense is this?
(a) Past Simple
(b) Past Continuous
(c) Present Simple
Answer
1 (b) She stayed at home – Past Simple describes a completed action.
2 (b) She didn’t feel well – Reason given in the passage.
3 (a) She was reading a book – Past Continuous background action.
4 (b) A strange noise – Detail from the text.
5 (c) She looked out of the window – Next action.
6 (b) A man – The stranger outside.
7 (b) Trying to open the door – Ongoing action.
8 (b) Scared – Emotional reaction.
9 (a) Called the police – Immediate action.
10 (a) The man ran away – Past Simple sudden event.
11 (b) A few minutes later – Time phrase.
12 (b) Asked Anna questions – Sequence of events.
13 (a) Writing the report – Past Continuous background action.
14 (b) Her neighbor – Correct detail.
15 (a) He saw the man earlier – Neighbor’s statement.
16 (a) To find the thief – Promise by the police.
17 (a) She felt safer – Ending emotion.
18 (b) Past Continuous – For background.
19 (b) Past Simple – For completed actions.
20 (a) Past Simple – “Stayed” is Past Simple.
21 (b) Past Continuous – “Was reading” shows ongoing.
22 (a) Past Simple – “Heard” is completed.
23 (b) Past Continuous – “Was standing” shows ongoing.
24 (a) Past Simple – “Called” is completed.
25 (a) Was talking on the phone – Continuous background.
26 (b) Ran away – Sudden completed action.
27 (a) Past Simple – “Arrived” is completed.
28 (b) Past Continuous – “Were writing” shows ongoing.
29 (b) Past Continuous – “Was shaking” = ongoing state.
30 (a) Past Simple – “Felt” is completed past event.