Question

Read the following passage and put the verbs in the correct form, present perfect or past simple. (5 marks)
Then and now
Twenty years ago few people realized (realize) that computers were about to become part of our daily lives. This short period of time has seen (see) enormous changes, in business, education and public administration. Jobs which _________________(take) weeks to complete in the past, are now carried out in minutes. Clerks who _______________ (spend) all day copying and checking calculations are now freed from these tedious tasks. In offices, the soft hum and clicking of word processors_________________(replace) the clatter of typewriters. Schoolchildren ____________________ (become) as familiar with hardware and software as their parents _________________ (be) with pencils and exercise books. Computerization of public records __________________ (enable) government departments to analyze the needs of citizens in details. Some of us may wonder, however, whether life ______________ (really/improve) as a result of these changes. Many jobs __________________ (disappear), for example, when intelligent machines ________________ (take) over the work. Employers complain that clerical staff ______________ (become) dependent on calculators and cannot do simple arithmetic.

Answer 1

Twenty years ago few people realized (realized) that computers were about to become part of our daily lives. This short period of time has seen (see) enormous changes, in business, education & public administration. Jobs which --TOOK---- (take) weeks to complete in the past are now carried out in minutes. Clerks who -SPENT- (spend) all day copying & checking calculation are now freed from these tedious tasks. In offices, the soft hum & clicking of word processors--HAVE REPLACED-- (replace) the clatter of typewriters. Schoolchildren ---HAVE BECOME--- (become) as familiar with hardware & software as their parents -USED TO BE-- (be) with pencils & exercise books. Computerization of public records --HAS ENABLED-- (enable) government departments to analyze the needs of citizens in details. Some of us may wonder, however, whether life --REALLY HAS IMPROVED--(really \ improve) as a result of these changes. Many jobs ---DISAPPEARED--- (disappear), for example, when intelligent machines --TOOK-- (take) over the work. Employers complain that clerical staff ---HAVE BECOME-- (become) dependent on calculators & cannot