Present perfect and past simple

3. In these sentences the verbs are underlined. Are they right or wrong? Correct the verbs that are wrong.

1. Tom arrived last week.              RIGHT

2. Have you seen Pam last week? WRONG: Did you see?

3. I have finished my work. …………………………………

4. I have finished my work at 2 o'clock. ……………………

5. When have you finished your work? ……………………

6. George has left school three years ago. …………………

7. 'Where's Ann?' 'She 's gone to the cinema.' ……………

8. Napoleon Bonaparte has died in 1821. ……………………

9. Have you ever been to Britain? …………………………

10. I haven't seen you at the party on Saturday. ………………

11. The weather has been very bad last week. ………………

4. Put the verb in present perfect (I have done) or past simple (I did).

1. My friend is a writer. She has written (write) many books.

2. We didn’t have (not / have) a holiday last year.

3. Did you see (you / see) Alan last week?

4. I …………… (play) tennis yesterday afternoon.

5. What time …………… (you / go) to bed last night?

6. …………… (you / ever / be) to the United States?

7. My hair is clean. I …………… (wash) it.

8. I ……… (wash) my hair before breakfast this morning.

9. When I was a child, I …………… (not / like) sport.

10. Kathy loves travelling. She …………… (visit) many countries.

11. John works in a bookshop. He ……… (work) there for three years.

12. Last year we ……………… (go) to Finland for a holiday. We …….……… (stay) there for three weeks.

 

5* Are the underlined parts of these sentences right or wrong: Correct the ones that are wrong.

1 I’ve lost my key. I can't find it anywhere. RIGHT.

2 Have you seen the news on television last night? WRONG: Did you see

3 I’ve bought a new car. Do you want to see it? ……………

4 I’ve bought a new car last week. ……………………………

5 Where have you been yesterday evening? ……………………

6 Jenny has left school in 1991. …………………………………

7 I’m looking for Mike. Have you seen him? ……………………

8 I’m very hungry. I haven't eaten anything today. ………………

9 Diane hasn't been at work yesterday. …………………………

10 When has this book been published? ………………………….

 

6* Make sentences from the words in brackets. Use the present perfect or past simple.

1 (it / not / rain / this week)... It hasn't rained this week....

2 (the weather / be / cold / recently) The weather ………………

3 (it / cold / last week) It …………………………………………

4 (I/ not / read / a newspaper yesterday) I ………………………

5 (I/ not / read / a newspaper today) ………………………………

6 (Ann / earn / a lot of money / this year) ……………………….

7 (she / not / earn / so much / last year) ………………………….

8 (you / have / a holiday recently?) ………………………………

 

7* Put the verb into the correct form, present perfect or past simple.

1 I don't know where Amy is. Have you seen (you/see) her?

2 When I.................................................. (get) home last night, I…………… (be) very tired and I ………(go) straight to bed.

3 Your car looks very clean ……………………… (you/wash) it?

4 George ……………………. (not/be) very well last week.

5 Mr. Clark ……… (work) in a bank for 15 years. Then he gave it up.

6 Molly lives in Dublin. She ………………. (live) there all her life.

7 '……… (you/go) to the cinema last night?' 'Yes, but it ………… (be) a mistake. The film ………… (be) awful.

8 My grandfather ………………….(die) 30 years ago. I …………. (never/meet) him.

9 I don't know Carol's husband. I ……………… (never/meet/him).

10 A: Is your father at home? B: No, I’m afraid he ……… (go) out.

A: When exactly …….. (he/go) out? B: About ten minutes ago.

11 A: Where do you live? B: In Boston.

A: How long ……………….. (you/live) there? B: Five years.

A: Where ……………… (you/live) before that? B: In Chicago.

A: And how long ………….. (you/live) in Chicago? B: Two years.

 

State and Local Governments

a

The fifty states are quite different in size, population, climate, economy, history, and interests. The fifty state governments often differ from one another too. Because they often approach political, social, or economic questions differently, the states have been called "laboratories of democracy". However, they share certain basic structures. The individual states all have republican forms of government with a senate and a house. All have executive branches headed by state governors and independent court systems. Each state also has its own constitution. But all must respect the federal laws and not make laws that contradict those of the other states. Likewise, cities and local authorities must make their laws and regulations so that they fit their own state's constitution.

The Constitution limits the federal government to specific powers, but modern judicial interpretations of the Constitution have expanded federal responsibilities. There has always been a battle between federal and slate's rights. The traditional American district of a too powerful central government has kept the battle going over the years. The states and local communities in the US have rights that in other countries generally belong to the central government.

B

Local governments are different from state and federal governments because they do not have constitutions. Local governments receive a charter (a plan of government) from the state government. There are different types of local governments: city, county, town and village. The local charter tells us about the organization of the government.

One of the most important functions or duties of local government is the provision of public schools. People often want to take part in making decisions about the schools because they want their children to get a good education. There are special school boards where parents are the members. The school board makes decisions about teacher's salaries, the curriculum and other administrative aspects. They give their opinions about what needs to be done at school.

Local governments have a court system which considers local problems, such as traffic laws and small disputes. Sometimes cases maybe appealed to the state courts. Judges in local courts are sometimes called justices of peace or judge and magistrate. Local courts usually specialize in one area of law, for example, family law, to be sure that a judge is very competent on the subject. Local courts provide efficient legal service.