A. Choose the word or phrase that produces a grammatically correct sentence.

1. Having successfully carried out his duties he was given permission                  study leave.

a. taking                       b. to take               c. in taking                d. to have taken

2. Under no circumstances do I support                  plastic bags when more eco-friendly alternatives exist.

a. using                        b. to use                c. use                        d. the use

3. The company may be receiving a lot of bad publicity at the moment but I do not intend                  my
resignation.

a. submit                      b. to submit            c. submitting             d. to submitting

4.My husband used to be an FBI agent, but even when he retired, he refused                  information which
was strictly confidential.

a.divulging                   b.having divulged  c.to divulge              d.to have divulged

5.I am not so ambitious as to be interested in pursuing a career which would involve me                  long
hours.

a.work                         b.to work               c.working                 d.in working

6.Given that I need some time to regain my strength, I would prefer                  on a working holiday this
year. 

a.not go                       b.not going           c. not be going          d.not to go

7. There’s no point                  to get an extension because the tutor will not give you one.

a. to try                         b. to trying             c. trying                     d. in trying

8. Can you please explain to me why                  mentioned that before?

a. haven’t you               b. you haven’t         c. hadn’t you             d. wasn’t

9. The basketball players promised                  their best to win next Saturday’s game.

                                    a. to do                  b. doing                    c. they do     d. they could do

B. Rewrite the sentences below using the beginnings given. Use the introductory verbs in the box.

1. ‘Please, please, don’t tell my mother that I’ve been skipping classes’, the boy said to me.
The boy                                                                                                                                      .

2. ‘Well done! Your performance was spectacular and deserves a standing ovation’, Mary said to us.
Mary                                                                                                                                           .

3. ‘How about going on a skiing trip next weekend?’ my friend asked me.
My friend                                                                                                                                    .

4. ‘I will never spend such a huge sum of money without asking you first’, said my wife.
My wife                                                                                                                                      .

5. ‘I’m sorry I forgot to inform you about the important meeting regarding your proposed business trip
abroad,’ my personal assistant said.
My personal assistant                                                                                                             .

C. Complete the sentences using the correct form infinitive or -ing form of the verbs in brackets.

1. I consider                                                 (lie) to your parents about your whereabouts to be not only
terribly irresponsible of you but also morally wrong. 

2. You were                                                 (replace) Andy as a guest speaker at the conference but your
services will no longer be required.

3. He tried hard                                                 (clinch) the deal but it fell through and he was forced to come
home empty handed.

4. Having told so many lies she was not in a position to (remember)                                                 what she
had said to her colleagues at work.

5. She was right                                                 (take up) the job offer because an opportunity such as this
only arises once in a lifetime.

6. Her father regretted                                                 (tell) her about the savings account he had opened for
her when she was a baby because she kept on nagging him to give her the money.

7. She was used to                                                 (train) six hours and never complained about all she had
to be deprived of in order to become a swimming champion.

8. Although Albert Einstein is believed                                                 (have) early speech difficulties, he was
a top student in primary school.

READING