The Great Wall of China interactive worksheet - Free Printable

Task: Choose the correct form of the verb in parentheses, using either the Present Tense or Past Tense.

Let's go through the text step by step and fill in the blanks with the appropriate verb forms.

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#### First Paragraph

1. The Great Wall (be) one of the 7 wonders of the world.
- The Great Wall is one of the 7 wonders of the world.
- *Reason*: This is a general statement about the current status of the Great Wall, so we use the present tense.

2. Do you (know) how many people it (take) to build the wall?
- Do you know how many people it took to build the wall?
- *Reason*: "Do you know" is in the present tense because it refers to the reader's current knowledge. However, "it took" is in the past tense because building the wall is an event that happened in the past.

3. Or how many people (die) from building it?
- Or how many people died from building it?
- *Reason*: This refers to historical events, so we use the past tense.

4. Hundreds of thousands of Chinese (work) on the construction of the wall.
- Hundreds of thousands of Chinese worked on the construction of the wall.
- *Reason*: This describes a historical event, so we use the past tense.

5. They (be) soldiers, “commoners”, peasants and some (be) even criminals.
- They were soldiers, “commoners”, peasants, and some were even criminals.
- *Reason*: This describes who the workers were historically, so we use the past tense.

6. Thousands (die) from working on the wall, accidents, hunger and exhaustion.
- Thousands died from working on the wall, accidents, hunger, and exhaustion.
- *Reason*: This refers to historical events, so we use the past tense.

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#### Second Paragraph

7. The construction (begin) over 2,000 thousand years ago.
- The construction began over 2,000 thousand years ago.
- *Reason*: This describes a historical event, so we use the past tense.

8. It (be) originally called “The Long Wall”.
- It was originally called “The Long Wall”.
- *Reason*: This describes a historical fact, so we use the past tense.

9. The Chinese (build) the wall to (keep) out invaders from the North.
- The Chinese built the wall to keep out invaders from the North.
- *Reason*: "Built" is in the past tense because it refers to a historical action. "To keep" is in the infinitive form because it explains the purpose.

10. The wall (protect) them from Mongol, Turkish and Xiongnu invasions.
- The wall protected them from Mongol, Turkish, and Xiongnu invasions.
- *Reason*: This describes a historical function of the wall, so we use the past tense.

11. The Chinese (use) watchtowers to (watch) for these invaders.
- The Chinese used watchtowers to watch for these invaders.
- *Reason*: "Used" is in the past tense because it refers to historical actions. "To watch" is in the infinitive form because it explains the purpose.

12. The Chinese guards (send) each other smoke signals in the daytime and fire signals at nighttime.
- The Chinese guards sent each other smoke signals in the daytime and fire signals at nighttime.
- *Reason*: This describes historical actions, so we use the past tense.

13. The signals (warn) their army that there (be) danger.
- The signals warned their army that there was danger.
- *Reason*: "Warned" is in the past tense because it refers to historical actions. "Was" is in the past tense because it describes the state of affairs at that time.

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#### Third Paragraph

14. Today the wall (be) is the most popular site in China.
- Today the wall is the most popular site in China.
- *Reason*: This is a current statement, so we use the present tense.

15. It (welcome) thousands of tourists each year.
- It welcomes thousands of tourists each year.
- *Reason*: This is a current activity, so we use the present tense.

16. You can (take) a nice long walk on the wall, take photos, (run) a marathon and even (sleep) in a tent.
- You can take a nice long walk on the wall, take photos, run a marathon, and even sleep in a tent.
- *Reason*: These are activities that can be done now, so we use the present tense.

17. You should bring water, food and toilet paper, but (no wear) open-toed shoes and (no leave) your trash!
- You should bring water, food, and toilet paper, but don’t wear open-toed shoes and don’t leave your trash!
- *Reason*: These are current recommendations, so we use the present tense.

18. The wall (stretch) over 13,000 thousand miles.
- The wall stretches over 13,000 thousand miles.
- *Reason*: This is a current description, so we use the present tense.

19. So there will (be) plenty of room for everyone.
- So there will be plenty of room for everyone.
- *Reason*: This is a future statement, so we use the future tense.

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Final Answer:

Here is the completed text with the correct verb forms:

```
The Great Wall is one of the 7 wonders of the world. Do you know how many people it took to build the wall? Or how many people died from building it? Hundreds of thousands of Chinese worked on the construction of the wall. They were soldiers, “commoners”, peasants, and some were even criminals. Thousands died from working on the wall, accidents, hunger, and exhaustion.

The construction began over 2,000 thousand years ago. It was originally called “The Long Wall”. The Chinese built the wall to keep out invaders from the North. The wall protected them from Mongol, Turkish, and Xiongnu invasions. The Chinese used watchtowers to watch for these invaders. The Chinese guards sent each other smoke signals in the daytime and fire signals at nighttime. The signals warned their army that there was danger.

Today the wall is the most popular site in China. It welcomes thousands of tourists each year. You can take a nice long walk on the wall, take photos, run a marathon, and even sleep in a tent. You should bring water, food, and toilet paper, but don’t wear open-toed shoes and don’t leave your trash! The wall stretches over 13,000 thousand miles. So there will be plenty of room for everyone.
```

Final Answer: \boxed{\text{See above}}