It’s that time of year again, with Christmas quickly coming and a great excuse to add some seasonal language exercises. Today, I’m sharing a new short story gap-fill exercise to test understanding of phrasal verbs, to go with the list I’m developing 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 choose between 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 come up with or think up could be used in the same places.
Phrasal Verbs Exercise
Put the following phrasal verbs into the text below in their correct form.
to blow in – arrive suddenly, unexpectedly
to bring down – make sad
to burst out – suddenly say or do something
to cheer up – make happy
to come back – return
to come up with – think of a plan, solution or idea
to cut off – break a connection
to end up – produce a final result, often where unexpected
to get in touch – contact, usually after a break in communication
to give out – to distribute
to give up – quit from attempting something
to hear about – learn of something, usually a piece of news or interesting information
to hop on – casually board (e.g. a mode of transport)
to light up – illuminate
to think up – think of a plan, solution or idea
to turn over – rotate to face a different direction
to turn up – arrive somewhere unexpectedly
The True Treasure of Christmas
Uncle George (1) __________ unexpectedly last Christmas.
He had been missing for three years, since he had (2) __________ a train to France, saying he was going to find gold in the Alps. It was an unusual time for the Martin family, as no one knew where he (3) __________ with such an idea. When he did not (4) __________, they hired a private investigator, but he (5) __________ somewhere around Lyons, where George was last seen trying to buy a pick axe and two strong donkeys.
For two years, Christmas was not the same. Uncle George had always been the heart of the celebration. He was quick to joke and (6) __________ the very best presents. One year, he gave little Robin a small robot, another year he gave everyone flowers the colour of their eyes. He also (7) __________ all the best Christmas games to keep everyone entertained, including zoo animal charades and a new version of Cluedo.
The family Christmas was quiet without him, and it really (8) _____ everyone _____. His brother John only played sad classical carols on the radio, and Robin and Clarissa spent the holidays watching television. Mother Lucille tried to (9) _____ them _____ with her monkey impressions, but everyone agreed she was not as good at it as Uncle George.
But like a reindeer in a snowstorm, Uncle George finally (10) __________ with the wind on Christmas Eve. He had a sack over one shoulder and (11) __________ with laughter when the children asked what was in it. He apologised that he had not (12) __________ all this time, but his journey to the Alps had been dangerous. Dangerous pirates had also (13) __________ the treasure, and it was a race against time to get there first. Once he was in the mountains, they had (14) __________ all communications. Thanks to the help of a village of well-meaning lumberjacks, George had finally trapped the pirates in a cave, and completed his quest.
Well, thought John Martin, this sounded rather far-fetched, even though his children were delighted by the tale. But George (15) __________ his sack, and out spilled a mountain’s worth of gold – big nuggets that (16) __________ the room brighter than any fairy lights. The family shrieked with glee and danced around the pile, and welcomed George back. With more celebration, food, music and laughter than ever before, it (17) __________ being a truly Merry Christmas.
Answers
- turned up
- hopped on
- came up
- come back
- gave up
- gave out
- thought up
- brought everyone down
- cheer them up
- blew in
- burst out
- got in touch
- heard about
- cut off
- turned over
- lit up
- ended up
Uncle George (1) turned up unexpectedly last Christmas.
He had been missing for three years, since he had (2) hopped on a train to France, saying he was going to find gold in the Alps. It was an unusual time for the Martin family, as no one knew where he (3) came up with such an idea. When he did not (4) come back, they hired a private investigator, but the trail (5) gave up somewhere around Lyons, where George was last seen trying to buy a pick axe and two strong donkeys.
For two years, Christmas was not the same. Uncle George had always been the heart of the celebration. He was quick to joke and (6) gave out the very best presents. One year, he gave little Robin a small robot, another year he gave everyone flowers the colour of their eyes. He also (7) thought up all the best Christmas games to keep everyone entertained, including zoo animal charades and a new version of Cluedo.
The family Christmas was quiet without him, and it really (8) brought everyone down. His brother John only played sad classical carols on the radio, and Robin and Clarissa spent the holidays watching television. Mother Lucille tried to (9) cheer them up with her monkey impressions, but everyone agreed she was not as good at it as Uncle George.
But like a reindeer in a snowstorm, Uncle George finally (10) blew in with the wind on Christmas Eve. He had a sack over one shoulder and (11) burst out with laughter when the children asked what was in it. He apologised that he had not (12) got in touch all this time, but his journey to the Alps had been dangerous. Dangerous pirates had also (13) heard about the treasure, and it was a race against time to get there first. Once he was in the mountains, they had (14) cut off all communications. Thanks to the help of a village of well-meaning lumberjacks, George had finally trapped the pirates in a cave, and completed his quest.
Well, thought John Martin, this sounded rather far-fetched, even though his children were delighted by the tale. But George (15) turned over his sack, and out spilled a mountain’s worth of gold – big nuggets that (16) lit up the room brighter than any fairy lights. The family shrieked with glee and danced around the pile, and welcomed George back. With more celebration, food, music and laughter than ever before, it (17) ended up being a truly Merry Christmas.
I hope you enjoyed this exercise – if you’d like more Christmas-themed English learning articles, go here. And otherwise, happy holidays!
It’s always very helpful to practice the exercises. The short stories are funny and also help students to learn vocabulary
Thank you!