Задание

Read the text and choose the correct answer to fill in the gap in the sentence below.

He Didn’t Laugh

Mark Twain, the famous American author, was well known as a lecturer, and literary clubs often __________ (to invite) him to speak. Before one of his lectures a club member ____ (to come) up to him and said,

“Mr. Twain, people ___ (to say) that you can tell very funny stories. I hope that during your lecture you ___ (to make) my uncle ___ (to laugh). He ___ (not to laugh) for ten years.”

“I’ll do my best”, Mark Twain said.

At the beginning of his lecture, Mark Twain ____ (to notice) the club member who ____ (to sit) in front of him with a sad old man.

Mark Twain ____ (to begin) (to tell) jokes, one after another, long jokes and short jokes, new jokes and old jokes. Soon everybody ___ (to cry) with laughter. Everybody – but not the old man. He ____ (to look) at Mark Twain with his cold blue eyes. Mark Twain ___ (to ashame).

After the lecture, the club member ____ (to thank) Mark Twain because he ____ (never to hear) so many funny stories.

“They _____ (not to be) funny enough for your uncle. He _____ (not even smile)!” Mark Twain ___ (to answer).

“I’d like to thank you and say again my uncle ___ (not to laugh) for ten years. I want you to know he ____ (not to hear) anything for ten years. He ____ (to be deaf).”

-----

Mark Twain (to begin) (to tell) jokes, one after another, long jokes and short jokes, new jokes and old jokes. Soon everybody (to cry) with laughter. Everybody – but not the old man. He (11) __________ (to look) at Mark Twain with his cold blue eyes. Mark Twain (to ashame).

was looking

would look

had looked

had been looking