Objective: This multiple-choice exercise is designed to practice on four English tenses which are The Simple Present Tense, The Simple Past Tense, The Present Perfect Tense, and The Past Perfect Tense. Direction: Please choose the correct answer to fill in the blanks. Click on the "[?]" button to get a detailed feedback. A link to a helpful website which explains English tenses is also included in feedback window.
The Nutcracker Ballet ____ on the story called "The Nutcracker and the King of Mice" written by German author E.T.A. Hoffman in 1816.
is based
was based
had been based
has been based
Although what ____ on the stage today is different in detail from the original story, the basic plot remains the same.
has been seen
is seen
had been seen
was seen
The original production of The Nutcracker play was not an overwhelming success. Though popular in Russia it ___ outside of that country until 1934, when it appeared in London.
has never been staged
had never been staged
was never staged
is never staged
Since 1934 numerous versions of the Nutcracker story ____, with the most successful being that by George Balanchine performed in 1954.
are created
were created
had been created
have been created
The Nutcracker Ballet is the tale of a girl named Clara who ____ a nutcracker doll for Christmas by her godfather, Drosselmaier.
is given
has been given
was given
is to be given
Clara falls asleep under Christmas tree that night with the nutcracker in her arm. The toys around the tree come to life while the room fills with an army of mice who ____ by the fierce Mouse King.
had been led
have been led
are led
were led
When the Mouse King attacks Clara, the nutcracker leads his toy soldiers into battle with the mice. The Mouse King corners the Nutcracker and the Nutcracker ___. The fighting reaches a climax when Clara strikes the Mouse King to the floor with her slipper.
was threatened
is threatened
had been threatened
has been threatened
The Nutcracker turns into a Prince and takes Clara on a journey to the Land of Snow, an enchanted forest wonderland where the Nutcracker Prince and Clara ___ by dancing snowflakes.
were welcomed
are welcomed
have been welcomed
had been welcomed
Clara and the Prince have reached the Kingdom of the Sweets and ___ in the great hall of the Sugarplum Fairy’s castle.
had been received
are received
have been received
were received
When the Prince reveals how Clara saved his life, the entire court greets her with acclaim. Clara ____ to a miniature throne to view the presentation that ____ in her honor.