INTERMEDIATE TENSES 2

Six years ago, I finished high school. Since that day and until last week, I (not/ SEE)
_________________________ any of my classmates again and I was kind of happy
because of this. I know it (SOUND) _________________________ weird but let me
tell you why I think this way. Back at school, some of my mates (USE)
_________________________ to tell me horrible things and I was fed up with (BEG)
_________________________ them to leave me alone but they neither (PAY)
_________________________ attention to my words nor apologized for (BE) _________________________
so cruel to me. There was this girl who (CALL) _________________________ Andrea, whom I especially
disliked. (not/ ASK) _________________________ me why, but there (BE) _________________________
no way we could get along. Maybe, if we (TAKE) _________________________ the time to get to know each
other better, we (not/ DISLIKE) _________________________ each other the way we did. Last week, as I
(WALK) _________________________ along Milford street, I (HEAR) _________________________ the
most terrifying voice I (ever/ HEAR) _________________________: “Carla! Carla! It’s me, Andrea! (you/ not/
REMEMBER) _________________________ me?” My school nightmare was back. I (cannot/ BELIEVE)
_________________________ what (HAPPEN) _________________________ to me. I asked the universe
“What (I/ DO) _________________________ to deserve such punishment?!” As no answer (RECEIVE)
_________________________, by my confused mind, I said to Andrea “Hi there!” How (you/ BE)
_________________________ all this time? You look fantastic.” As I (SAY) _________________________
this, I remembered a Spring Day celebration eight years before when I (CALL) _________________________
Piggy by her and her girl friends and I wished the earth would swallow me up. “Well, you know, this and that,”
she replied. She went on “I (STUDY) _________________________ at university when I (MEET)
_________________________ a wealthy man- which was what I (actually/ LOOK)
_________________________ for at university!- so I dropped out. I got married and (BUY)
_________________________ a three-storey house downtown. I (also/ TRAVEL)
_________________________ a lot recently; in fact, I (TRAVEL) _________________________ the globe
three times already. What else...?” “Oh, you have a wonderful life! Congrats!” I said reluctantly. And then, the
most feared moment came. “What about you?” she asked. “What (you/ DO) _________________________
recently?” she added. Not having time to think of a better answer, I replied with the truth. “I (WORK)
_________________________ in a small grocery for five years but I (TRY) _________________________ to
find a better job for quite some time now. I (also/ LEARN) _________________________ how to speak
Spanish, as I hope one day I (BE) _________________________ able to visit my
parents’ family in Spain.” She said she was in a hurry, kissed me goodbye and left. No
comment (MAKE) _________________________ about my news. As I started walking
towards the bus stop, I could hear a silly laughter coming from her. “Poor thing!” I thought
“She (not/ CHANGE) _________________________ in the least; she is still the same
shallow Andy... still the same...”

KEY:
1. had not seen
2. sounds
3. used
4. begging
5. paid
6. being
7. was called
8. Don’t/ Do not ask me
9. was
10. had taken
11. wouldn’t/ would not have disliked
12. was walking
13. had ever heard
14. Don’t you remember
15. couldn’t/ could not believe
16. was happening
17. have I done
18. was received
19. have you been
20. was saying
21. was called
22. was studying
23. met
24. was actually looking
25. bought
26. have also been travelling
27. have travelled
28. have you been doing
29. have worked
30. have been trying
31. am also learning/ have also been learning
32. will be able
33. was made
34. hasn’t/ has not changed