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G5:  Verb Tenses IV - Mixed Tenses

by Tom Rohrbach

Multiple Choice Quiz

 

In this practice quiz, we'll practice some of the verb tenses you've learned so far,

including present perfect and past perfect, plus active and passive.

  

Read the story below, and try to figure out the best verb tense for each blank.

Then, each question will show you a sentence or clause from the reading

and ask you to make the best verb choice from the answers given.

      


     
 

SpaceX

 
 

LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO 2014

     Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or “SpaceX”, __ (found)1 by the famous entrepreneur Elon Musk, who __ (become)2 a billionaire from his earlier companies – PayPal, SolarCity, and Tesla Motors.  SpaceX began as just a dream in 2002, and within a few years, it quickly became the leading private spacecraft company in the world.

     SpaceX __ (already / launch)3 several kinds of rockets, including the Falcon 1 and the Falcon 9 by the end of 2010.  In 2012, they became the first private company to dock a ship to the International Space Station.  They __ (also / launch)4 a number of satellites into orbit for other companies and other countries. 

     SpaceX __ (work on)5 a version of their “Dragon” space capsule to carry astronauts to the ISS, and they plan to launch astronauts into space in 2015.  If these manned launches __ (be)6 successful, they __ (save)7 the U.S. government millions of dollars that it __ (currently / spend)8 to send astronauts to the ISS on old-fashioned Russian rockets.  Competitors like Blue Origin and Orbital Sciences __ (not / have)9 one successful commercial launch yet.

     Elon Musk’s company __ (already / begin)10 testing a rocket (“Grasshopper”) that can fly itself back to Earth and use thruster engines to land gently back on the ground next to their factory.  When this system __ (put)11 into operation, it will lower flight costs dramatically.  Mr. Musk __ (believe)12 that SpaceX __ (make)13 the cost of space flight 10 times cheaper than it is now.

     By the beginning of 2013, SpaceX __ (sign)14 contracts for over $4 billion in launches for both commercial and government customers, so the company is already a financial success.  The company leases space at “Spaceport America” in New Mexico, the first private spaceport in the world.  Several states, including Colorado, __ (consider)15 opening competing spaceports in the next few years. 

     A competitor of SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, __ (plan)16 to launch tourists into space starting in 2015.  Each person will pay $250,000 for a very brief loop above the Earth’s atmosphere into the blackness and weightlessness of space.  Like SpaceX, Virgin Galactic __ (start)17 by a billionaire entrepreneur – in this case, the famous Richard Branson, who __ (run)18 the Virgin Group, a large collection of companies including cellular service, trains, planes, auto racing, health services, and others.  Would you like to take a trip into space in the future?  These billionaires __ (turn)19 the dream into reality right now!

 
     

 

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