1. Complete the text with the correct passive forms.
ARGO – THE REAL STORY
In 1979, during the Iranian Revolution, the American embassy in Tehran (1) ………………… (occupy) by revolutionaries, and embassy staff became hostages. America (2) ………………… (see) as an enemy by the new government, and any American (3) ………………… (caught) on the streets could (4) ………………… (arrest). Five diplomats managed to escape and hide after (5) ………………… (help) by citizens of Canada and other countries. Then the CIA came up with a rescue plan.
Fake Canadian passports (6) ………………… (produce) for the diplomats, along with a story to explain why they were in Iran: they were a Canadian film crew in Tehran to find locations for a new film. For their story (7) ………………… (believe), Hollywood writers (8) ………………… (ask) to produce a real film script for the operation. They came up with a science-fiction film called Argo, (9) ………………… (set) in an alien city that looked exactly like Tehran – the story was probably too strange (10) ………………… (doubt)!
On 27 January 1980, the diplomats used their fake identities to get through security at Tehran’s airport and board a flight to Switzerland. After months in hiding, they were free!
Answer
1 was occupied
2 was seen
3 (who was) caught
4 be arrested / have been arrested
5 being helped / they were helped
6 were produced
7 to be believed
8 were asked
9 set / which was set
10 to be doubted
2. Write passive sentences from the cues.
1 I / never like / be / tell / what to do by others
………………………………………
2 years ago, Tom / give / a small part in a Bond movie
………………………………………
3 today Amy Adams / regard / as a great actress
………………………………………
4 the film / direct / by JJ Abrams / cost / $50 million
………………………………………
5 give / a role in any film / you / need / audition
………………………………………
6 we / wake up / this morning by a loud noise outside
………………………………………
Answer
1 I never like being told what to do by others.
2 Years ago, Tom was given a small part in a Bond movie.
3 Today, Amy Adams is regarded as a great actress.
4 The film directed by JJ Abrams cost $50 million.
5 To be given a role in any film, you need an audition.
6 We were woken up this morning by a loud noise outside.
3. Rewrite the sentences using a passive form of the verbs in brackets.
1 They presented the film at the film festival. (show)
………………………………………
2 Undercover CIA agents often risk death. (kill)
………………………………………
3 People say that Josh is getting divorced. (rumour)
………………………………………
4 People invented that story – it’s not true. (make up)
………………………………………
5 If you want them to select you for the Olympic team, you need to train harder. (choose)
………………………………………
6 A reporter was talking to me when we heard the explosion. (interview)
………………………………………
Answer
1 The film was shown at the film festival.
2 Undercover CIA agents are often killed.
3 It is rumoured that Josh is getting divorced.
4 That story is / was made up.
5 If you want to be chosen for the Olympic team, you need to train harder.
6 I was being interviewed (by a reporter) when we heard the explosion.
4. Complete the sentences using the auxiliary passive and the phrases below.
a medal / present • a strange package / deliver
bag / steal • my phone / confiscate • my bank card / take
our army boots / give • the trick / explain
our wedding dinner / cook
1 The soldier …………………………… to her for bravery in battle.
2 I …………………………… because I was using Whatsapp in class.
3 We …………………………… for us by a celebrity chef.
4 Tessa …………………………… to her, but she still couldn’t work out how the magician had done it.
5 I …………………………… from me by the cash machine. Maybe I used the wrong pin code.
6 We …………………………… to us by an officer in the store room.
7 At the start of the film, a killer …………………………… to a complete stranger – inside it, there was a gun and a photo.
8 I …………………………… when I left it under a café table and went to get a drink.
Answer
1 had a medal presented
2 had my phone confiscated
3 had our wedding dinner cooked
4 had the trick explained
5 had my bank card taken
6 had our army boots given
7 had a strange package delivered
8 had my bag stolen
5. Rewrite the incorrect sentences. Tick (✓) the correct ones.
1 Have you had everything explained you get?
…………………………………………
2 Jack had his photo took for the film poster.
…………………………………………
3 I had an amazing trick was played on me by a magician.
…………………………………………
4 We had checked our passports twice at the airport.
…………………………………………
5 I’m having flowers sent to my mum for her birthday.
…………………………………………
6 Why don’t you have tidied your garden?
…………………………………………
Answer
1 Have you had everything explained to you yet?
2 Jack had his photo taken for the film poster.
3 I had an amazing trick played on me by a magician.
4 We had our passports checked twice at the airport.
5 ✓
6 Why don’t you have your garden tidied?
6. Complete the sentences with the correct passive form of the verbs in brackets.
1 I really hate ……………………… (make) to wait for a table at a restaurant.
2 You ……………………… (give) a pay rise after six months if you perform well in the job.
3 ……………………… (name) FIFA Footballer of the Year is a great honour, even for a world-famous player like Ronaldo.
4 Ai Weiwei ……………………… (see) as one of the most important artists living today.
5 The film La La Land, ……………………… (write) by Damien Chazelle, is a hugely successful romantic musical.
6 It ……………………… (rumour) that Stephen Spielberg is working on a top-secret new film project.
Answer
1 being made / to be made
2 will be given / are given
3 To be named / Being named
4 is seen
5 written
6 is rumoured
7. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the words in brackets. Use the auxiliary passive.
1 I ……………………… (everything / explain) to me earlier, so I know what I have to do.
2 Rachel ……………………… (her bag / steal) last year so now she always keeps it in her locker.
3 We ……………………… (the email / translate / for us) by a friend because it was in Japanese.
4 I often order books on the internet, and I ……………………… (them / send) to my home address.
5 The Queen ……………………… (her portrait / paint) this week. It’ll take several days to complete.
6 They’re a local band, but they’re really good – they ……………………… (their concert / show on TV / last year).
Answer
1 had everything explained
2 had her bag stolen
3 had the email translated for us
4 have them sent
5 is having her portrait painted
6 had their concert shown on TV last year
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