1. Choose the correct articles to complete the text.
COCKNEYS
Cockneys are (1) – / the working-class Londoners, especially those born in (2) an / the East End of (3) – / the city. Cockneys have (4) a / the distinctive accent when they speak, and they also use (5) – / a particular kind of slang. (6) An / The accent includes dropping the ‘h’ sound from (7) – / the start of words like ‘have’ and ‘house’ and replacing (8) a / the sound ‘th’ with ‘f’ or ‘v’. So ‘I think his brother has a house in Hampstead,’ would become, ‘I fink ‘is bruvver ‘as an ‘ouse in ‘amstead.’ The slang traditionally associated with Cockneys is (9) – / an unusual form of rhyming slang in which the rhyming word itself is usually omitted. ‘Apples’ is (10) – / the term for ‘stairs’ (apples and pears) while ‘china’ refers to (11) a / the friend or ‘mate’ (china plate). (12) A / The reason for omitting (13) a / the key word is not certain, but perhaps (14) – / the original intention was to make it more difficult for other people to understand – for example, if (15) – / the criminals wanted to confuse (16) – / the police.
Answer
1 – 2 the 3 the 4 a 5 a
6 The 7 the 8 the 9 an
10 the 11 a 12 The 13 the
14 the 15 – 16 the
2. Add definite articles to the sentences which are not generalisations. Tick (✓) the other sentences.
1 The river is so polluted that …………………… fish have died.
2 Antarctica is so cold that …………………… trees and …………………… plants cannot grow there.
3 We love skiing in the Alps because …………………… scenery is beautiful there.
4 Bengal tigers live in …………………… rainforests of south-east Asia.
5 I like …………………… holidays in the countryside, but I find …………………… beaches boring.
6 This resort is very popular with tourists, and …………………… beaches are often crowded.
Answer
1 the 2 ✓, ✓ 3 the 4 the
5 ✓, ✓ 6 the
3. Complete the sentences with a, an, the or nothing – (no article).
1 ………………… Red Crescent is ………………… international organisation that provides ………………… disaster relief in ………………… Muslim countries such as ………………… Afghanistan, ………………… Iraq and ………………… United Arab Emirates.
2 ………………… Mount Everest is ………………… world’s highest mountain, but ………………… tallest is ………………… Mauna Kea in ………………… Hawaii, although half of it is submerged beneath ………………… Pacific Ocean.
3 ………………… largest freshwater lake in the world is ………………… Lake Baikal in ………………… Russia, which contains about ………………… fifth of the world’s fresh water – more than ………………… Great Lakes of ………………… North America combined.
4 In London, ………………… Ritz Hotel is considered to be ………………… place to have ………………… afternoon tea, ………………… traditional English meal which includes ………………… sandwiches and ………………… cakes.
5 In 1957, six countries in ………………… Europe, including ………………… Germany and ………………… Netherlands, formed ………………… union for economic co-operation, which ………………… United Kingdom, ………………… Denmark and ………………… Ireland joined in 1973.
6 ………………… Nile flows across ………………… Sahara desert (which is almost the size of ………………… USA) and into ………………… Mediterranean sea.
Answer
1 –, an, –, –, –, –, the
2 –, the, the, –, –, the
3 The, –, – a, the, –
4 the, the, –, a, –, –
5 –, –, the, a, the, –, –
6 The, the, the, the
4. Each sentence contains one mistake with articles. Find the mistakes and write the sentences correctly.
1 During his twenties, he moved from a job to another, trying to find a career that interested him.
……………………………………………………
2 I only listen to radio when I want to hear the news.
……………………………………………………
3 A Mr Ellis phoned; he says he’s journalist.
……………………………………………………
4 We arrived at the airport in the morning and spent one hour or two shopping.
……………………………………………………
5 She earns €500 the weeks as a plumber.
……………………………………………………
6 We’re planning to go camping a weekend in July.
……………………………………………………
7 She spent a week in the Lake District, staying in a hotel near the Lake Windermere.
……………………………………………………
Answer
1 … from one job to another …
2 listen to the radio …
3 … he says he’s a journalist.
4 … spent an hour or two shopping.
5 She earns €500 a week as a plumber.
6 … camping one weekend in July.
7 … hotel near Lake Windermere.
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