In the following reading text, all of the verbs should be in one of the past simple forms. Choose which past simple form to use, and complete the reading text by using the information in brackets. Sometimes the verb in brackets is also joined by a negative or subject.

For example:

• Q: He ______ (to go / not) to the opera.
• A: He did not go to the opera.

Felix and the Umbrella Mixed Past Simple Exercise

Felix ________ (to decide) to go the park last Saturday. He ________ (to want) to see the pond and feed the ducks. It ________ (to be / not) a sunny day, though, so he needed an umbrella. The umbrella ________ (to be / not) in its usual place. He ________ (to ask) his sister: ________ (to have / she) his umbrella? She ________ (to say) no.

“________ (to leave / you) it at school?” she replied.

He ________ (to know). He ________ (to have) the umbrella when he ________ (to walk) home on Thursday. He ________ (to remember) leaving it to dry in the bathroom.

Felix ________ (to find) the bathroom door locked. His father ________ (to tell) him the bath ________ (to need) replacing.

“________ (to see / you) my umbrella in there?” Felix ________ (to ask).

“Why ________ (to put / not / you) it back by the door?” his dad ________ (to answer).

Felix ________ (to explain) that it had been wet. The umbrella ________ (to be / not) in the bathroom when he ________ (to lock) the door though, his dad ________ (to be) sure. Where ________ (to be) it?

Felix ________ (to sit) on the stairs, sad. It ________ (to be / not) possible to visit the park without the umbrella. What else ________ (can / he / to do), though?

Just as he ________ (to be) about to give up hope, though, his mother ________ (return) from shopping. She ________ (to have) the umbrella!

Felix ________ (to grab) the umbrella from her startled hands, and ________ (to charge) outside, finally ready to visit the park. He ________ (to run) down the road, and ________ (to stop / not) for anything on the way. He ________ (to arrive) at the pond, at long last. The ducks ________ (to be / not) there. Where ________ (to go / they)?

Of course, Felix ________ (to understand), standing in the rain. The ducks ________ (to like / not) the rain either. They ________ (to be) safe, inside, somewhere out of sight.

He would have to come back another day.

 

Mixed Past Simple Reading Text Answers

Felix decided to go the park last Saturday. He wanted to see the pond and feed the ducks. It was not a sunny day, though, so he needed an umbrella. The umbrella was not in its usual place. He asked his sister: did she have his umbrella? She said no.

“Did you leave it at school?” she replied.

He did not know. He had the umbrella when he walked home on Thursday. He remembered leaving it to dry in the bathroom.

Felix found the bathroom door was locked. His father told him the bath needed replacing.

“Did you see my umbrella in there?” Felix asked.

“Why did you not put it back by the door?” his dad answered.

Felix explained that it had been wet. The umbrella was not in the bathroom when he locked the door though, his dad was sure. Where was it?

Felix sat on the stairs, sad. It was not possible to visit the park without the umbrella. What else could he do, though?

Just as he was about to give up hope, though, his mother returned from shopping. She had the umbrella!

Felix grabbed the umbrella from her startled hands, and charged outside, finally ready to visit the park. He ran down the road, and did not stop for anything on the way. He arrived at the pond, at long last. The ducks were not there. Where did they go?

Of course, Felix understood, standing in the rain. The ducks did not like the rain either. They were safe, inside, somewhere out of sight.