The custom of sending Christmas cards was started in the UK in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole. He was a senior civil servant (Government worker) who had helped set-up the new 'Public Record Office' (now called the Post Office), where he was an Assistant Keeper, and wondered how it could be used more by ordinary people.Sir Henry had the idea of Christmas Cards with his friend John Horsley, who was an artist. They designed the first card and sold them for 1 shilling each. (That is only 5p or 8 cents today(!), but in those days it was worth much much more.) The card had three panels. The outer two panels showed people caring for the poor and in the center panel was a family having a large Christmas dinner! Some people didn't like the card because it showed a child being given a glass of wine! About 1000 (or it might have been less!) were printed and sold. They are now very rare and cost thousands of Pounds or Dollars to buy now! The original cards were advertised with the slogan: "Just published, a Christmas Congratulations Card; or picture emblematical of old English festivity to perpetuate kind recollections between dear friends"!The first postal service that ordinary people could use was started in 1840 when the first 'Penny Post' public postal deliveries began (Sir Henry Cole helped to introduce the Penny Post). Before that, only very rich people could afford to send anything in the post. The new Post Office was able to offer a Penny stamp because new railways were being built. These could carry much more post than the horse and carriage that had been used before. Also, trains could go a lot faster. Cards became even more popular in the UK when they could be posted in an unsealed envelope for one halfpenny - half the price of an ordinary letter.
1. A: Why is she so sad? B: She is preparing for her exams.
2. A: Does she often cry? B: Yes, she always cries.
3. Why are you tired?
4. How often does she read books?
5. A: Why aren't you going to bed? It is late.
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2. Fill in: furious, sensitive, stubborn, reliable, confident.
6. Don’t worry, Greg will be here on time, he’s very reliable.
7. Nadia is so stubborn! She never listens to anyone, and does whatever she wants.
8. Be confident. If you like yourself, then others will like you too.
9. Clenching your teeth means you are furious.
10. Fred's sensitive and caring. He always understands how others feel, always stays calm and doesn't get annoyed with people easily.
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3. Complete the sentences with the past simple or past continuous form of the verbs.
11. They were getting ready to go out when it began raining.
12. When the children were walking through the wood, they saw a fox.
13. When I met Tom, he was going to the shop.
14. He put on his coat and cap, opened the door and went out.
15. What were you doing when your mother came home yesterday?
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4. Put the verbs in brackets into the future simple or present simple.
16. If I study, I'll pass my exams.
17. When you run fast, you get hot.
18. What will you do if it rains this afternoon?
19. If they don't hurry up, they won't catch the bus.
20. She will be tired if she doesn't have a rest.
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5. Complete the sentence with the past simple or present perfect.
21. I haven't seen John for more than a year.
22. We saw the second part of the Lord of the Rings last weekend.
23. Terminator is the best film I have ever seen.
24. David has never driven a car before.
25. I didn't like the food that my mother cooked yesterday.
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6. Put the words in brackets in the correct comparative or superlative form.
26. Travelling by train is more expensive than travelling by bus.
27. English is less difficult than Japanese.
28. She is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.
29. Today it is colder than yesterday.
30. Mrs. Green is the most interesting person I know.
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7. Fill in the correct tag question.
31. Ted and Sarah have just planned their holidays, haven't they?
32. I am pretty good at English, aren't I?
33. Mike is driving home, isn't he?
34. Greg wasn’t surprised to know the results of the exam, was he?
35. My granny and I know how to cook, don't we?
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8. Use the present perfect or present perfect continuous to complete the sentences.
36. She has been working at the clothes shop for two years.
37. I haven't been to the new electronics shop yet.
38. Have you finished yet?
39. You have been packing all morning.
40. She has known Jane for 5 years.
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9. Fill in: out, back, up, into, over.
41. We ran out of sugar, we should go and buy some.
42. When I was hanging out at the shopping centre, I ran into my classmate Alex.
43. Lilly gave up fencing two years ago because of a bad injury.
44. Mark gave his stamp collection over to his younger brothers.
45. Hey! Give me back my red pen!
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10. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
46. If it doesn't rain, the plants die.
47. If the weather is good, we’ll go on a picnic.
48. We will go to the disco if we don't feel too tired.
49. If I have a party, I will invite all my friends.
50. If you cook dinner, I will make the dessert.
