Complete the sentences. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form of the past simple.
It was evening. A man \(1\. CROSS\) a narrow bridge when he \(2\. SEE\) a fisherman on the bank of the deep river under him, so he \(3\. STOP\) and \(4\. WATCH\) him quietly. After a few minutes, the fisherman pull his line out. There \(5\. BE\) a big, fat fish at the end of it.
The fisherman \(6\. TAKE\) it off the hook and \(7\. THROW\) it back into the water. Then he \(8\. PUT\) his hook line into the water again. After a few more minutes he \(9\. CATCH\) another big fish. Again he \(10\. LET\) it go into the river. Then the third time he \(11\. MANAGE\) to catch another fish. It was very small. He \(12\. TAKE\) it and \(13\. BEGIN\) to collect his things to go home. The man on the bridge \(14\. CAN\) not hide his surprise, so he \(15\. SPEAK\) to the fisherman. He \(16\. SAY\) “Why have you thrown those beautiful big fish back into the water and keep only that small one?” The fisherman \(17\. LOOK\) up and \(18\. REPLY\), “ I have a small frying pan.”

...and \(18\. REPLY\)...