Christmas is nearly upon us again, so it’s time for another holiday-themed exercise to get you in the merry spirit. I’ve decided to revisit the same style of exercise I produced for Christmas last year: a short story gap-fill exercise to test your understanding of phrasal verbs (check out the first Christmas phrasal verbs exercise here!).

These exercises complement the master list that I was slowly developing here, which is something I aim to get back to in the New Year. It also uses seasonal Christmas language which you can find a list of here.

This exercise tests understanding of 17 phrasal verbs, which are given in alphabetical order at the start with short definitions. To complete the exercise, choose the right phrasal verb for each gap in the story, and put it in the right form. The text is written in the past tense, so you’ll mostly have to use the past simple and past perfect tenses.

The answers are given both as a list and in the text below. Note: some of the phrasal verbs are quite similar, and might be used in similar places.

Phrasal Verbs Exercise

Put the following phrasal verbs into the text below in their correct form.

to blend in – look like the surrounding people/area (become less noticeable)

to blow away – impress very much

to call around – call a number of different places, usually by phone

to catch up – reach something that is ahead

to check in – register somewhere, usually on arrival

to fall over – fall from upright to the ground

to get in – arrive / enter somewhere

to go out – to leave somewhere

to hold up – support

to keep at – persevere (continue doing something despite difficulty)

to knock over – make something fall over

to make for – go towards something

to pick up – collect

to put up – erect/construct or raise something for display

to slow down – do something slower

to start out – begin a trip or venture to somewhere

to take up – begin doing/learning something (usually regularly)

Kate Skates at Christmas

Kate was determined to (1) __________ ice skating this Christmas.

Her town (2) __________ an ice rink every December, but her mother said she couldn’t go. It was too dangerous, her mother said. What if she (3) __________ and hurt her wrist? Besides, her mother was too busy with work to take her, even going out on Saturdays now.

Kate was sure if she went for lots of lessons and (4) __________ her skating practice it would be safe. And her mother was at work so much lately, she could not watch Kate all winter.

One foggy day Saturday in Advent, Kate waited until her mother had (5) __________ to work, then quickly (6) __________ to her friends and persuaded them to come to the skating ring. Billy’s dad agreed to drive and came to (7) __________ Kate ten minutes later.

They were away!

Kate marvelled at the ice rink, sitting on the grassy town common. It was a big white building with two huge Christmas trees standing by the entrance, covered in glittering lights and tinsel. She and her friends raced inside and (8) __________ at the counter to hire some skates. It was very busy. They had to squeeze through the crowd, and the music was loud with carols playing.

Kate started to worry, as they reached the ice. There were so many people she might get (9) __________. She was clumsy and unsteady with the skates, and when she (10) __________ the rink her feet almost skidded away. She clung to the side, scared, as her friends (11) __________ the centre of the ice.

Her friends called her out, waving their hands and urging her to (12) __________ with them. If she did not move soon, they would all (13) __________ to the crowd and she would lose them. Gritting her teeth, Kate pushed the wall and (14) __________ onto the ice, moving fast, really skating! Then she slipped. Each foot went a different way! She was going to hit the ice.

“(15) __________!” someone cried, and a hand caught her, Kate looked up with surprise to see it was her mother who (16) __________ (her). Her mother was dressed in skates!

“You’re not supposed to be here,” Kate’s mother said, but she didn’t sound angry. Before Kate could apologise, her mother smiled. “Not until next week. I’ve been taking lessons so I could teach you myself. But now you’re here, let’s get started.”

Kate was (17) __________ by the surprise and grinned from ear to ear. Her mother took her hand and led her onto the ice, saying, “Merry Christmas!”

Answers

Kate was determined to (1) take up ice skating this Christmas.

Her town (2) put up an ice rink every December, but her mother said she couldn’t go. It was too dangerous, her mother said. What if she (3) fell over and hurt her wrist? Besides, her mother was too busy with work to take her, even going out on Saturdays now.

Kate was sure if she went for lots of lessons and (4) kept at her skating practice it would be safe. And her mother was at work so much lately, she could not watch Kate all winter.

One foggy day Saturday in Advent, Kate waited until her mother had (5) gone out to work, then quickly (6) called around to her friends and persuaded them to come to the skating ring. Billy’s dad agreed to drive and came to (7) pick up Kate ten minutes later.

They were away!

Kate marvelled at the ice rink, sitting on the grassy town common. It was a big white building with two huge Christmas trees standing by the entrance, covered in glittering lights and tinsel. She and her friends raced inside and (8) checked in at the counter to hire some skates. It was very busy. They had to squeeze through the crowd, and the music was loud with carols playing.

Kate started to worry, as they reached the ice. There were so many people she might get (9) knocked over. She was clumsy and unsteady with the skates, and when she (10) got in the rink her feet almost skidded away. She clung to the side, scared, as her friends (11) made for the centre of the ice.

Her friends called her out, waving their hands and urging her to (12) catch up with them. If she did not move soon, they would all (13) blend in to the crowd and she would lose them. Gritting her teeth, Kate pushed the wall and (14) started out onto the ice, moving fast, really skating! Then she slipped. Each foot went a different way! She was going to hit the ice.

“(15) Slow down!” someone cried, and a hand caught her, Kate looked up with surprise to see it was her mother who (16) held her up. Her mother was dressed in skates!

Kate was (17) blown away by the surprise and grinned from ear to ear. Her mother took her hand and led her onto the ice, saying, “Merry Christmas!”

I hope you enjoyed this exercise – if you’d like more Christmas-themed English learning articles, go here. And otherwise, happy holidays!