PRACTICE
PRACTICE
PRACTICE
DATE: 30/09
STUDENT: Santi
READING
For most people, the Arctic and Antarctica are strange places that we know very little
about. Paul Nicklen’s collection of photographs and stories, Polar Obsession, offers an
excellent
introduction.
Nicklen grew up on an island in Northern Canada, where he learned all about the outdoors
from his Inuit1 neighbors. Ever since that time, he has loved animals, cold weather, and
adventure.
As a photojournalist, Nicklen has spent a lot of time in icy polar waters. He has followed
sea lions, dived with whales, and studied polar bears. One of the most exciting parts of the
As the photographs clearly show, leopard seals are very large—up to 12 feet (4 meters) long
and weighing over 1000 pounds (450 kilograms). They have huge, sharp teeth, and they move
quickly through the water searching for food such as fish and penguins.
Leopard seals can be dangerous, but this didn’t stop Nicklen from trying to photograph
one. When a huge seal approached his boat, Nicklen got into the water. He was shaking with
fear, but much to his surprise the seal treated him gently. She even tried to feed him! The seal
brought him penguins to eat, and he photographed her. Nicklen says it was the most incredible
In Polar Obsession, Nicklen shows us the beauty of the polar world and his passion for it.
2 CHECK. Write the letter of the phrase that completes each sentence.
1. Nicklen’s neighbors taught him all about a. leopard seals can be dangerous
3 DISCOVER. Complete the exercises to learn about the grammar in this lesson.
A Find these sentences in the book review from exercise 1. Write the missing words.
2. Ever since that time, he has loved animals, cold weather, and adventure.
4. He has followed sea lions, dived with whales, and studied polar bears.
5. When a huge seal approached his boat, Nicklen got into the water.
B Look at the sentences in exercise A. Write the number of each sentence next to the phrase
EXERCISES
1. a. She has dreamed / dreamed about going to the North Pole since she was young.
b. She has dreamed / dreamed about going to the North Pole last night.
4. a. They haven’t seen / didn’t see any bears on their trip so far.
b. They haven’t seen / didn’t see any bears on their trip last month.
Complete the interview with the words in parentheses. Use the present perfect or simple
past.
Sara: How long (1) have you been (you / be) a snake catcher, Tim?
Tim: (2) I have had (I / have) this job for over ten years.
Sara: When (3) have you become (you / become) interested in snakes?
(5) snakes fascinated (snakes / fascinate) me ever since then. When (6 I was (I / be) in middle
school, (7) I didn’t read (I / not read) much about any other subject. During my high school
years, (8) I often was a volunteer (I / often / volunteer) at the local zoo, and then in college (9)I
majored (I / major) in herpetology—the study of reptiles.
Sara: And after college (10) have you spent (you / spend) a few years in Thailand. Isn’t that
right?
Tim: Yes, I was working with Thai snake experts. (11) I really enjoyed (I / really enjoy) my time
with them.
Sara: (12) have you ever experienced (you / ever / experience) any life-threatening situations
since you started working with snakes?
Tim: (13) I worked (I / work) with many poisonous snakes over the years, but (14) (only one /
bite) only one bited me. That was scary!
Since that time, (15) I (I / pay more attention) to the snakes’ behavior.
Use the words to write questions. Use the present perfect or simple past.
When you were a child have you visited any interesting places?
Complete the paragraph with the words in parentheses. Use the present perfect or present
(1) Both Hank and Jake have planned (plan) a daily menu.
(2)the man has completed (complete) the online food science course yet because he was sick
for two weeks. The professor is letting him make up the final exam next week. (3)he has
already took (already / take) the course, so (4)he has helped (help) Jake study for the exam.(5)
(already / turn in) his food safety paper. (6) (work) has working hard on his food safety paper,
but (7) (finish)he hasn’t finished it yet. (8) (plan)they had planing the food budget and the
menu for the holiday meal together for a few weeks.
(9) (serve)they hadn’t served the holiday meal yet, but they plan to serve it next Thursday.
Both hope to graduate in December.