Name: ..
Read the article and complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in
brackets. Use the Past Simple or Past Continuous. Then tick ( ) the sentences
T (true) or F (false).
ROBBERY ON POST OFFICE TRAIN
From Our Pages 8th August
On this date in 1963, the Great
Train Robbery occurred in
England. Most of the 15 robbers
went to prison. One of them,
Ronnie Biggs, became famous
after he escaped from prison.
He left England, had cosmetic
surgery to change his
appearance and lived mainly in
Brazil. In 2001, he decided to
leave Brazil and return to
England and to prison. The
following article appeared in this
newspaper on the day after the
robbery.
Early yesterday morning, a group of thieves robbed a Post
Office train while it was travelling from Glasgow to
London. The incident occurred at the Bridego Railway
Bridge in Buckinghamshire. The train was carrying post
and cash to London.
When the train stopped at a red light, the robbers boarded
the train. They were wearing masks and carrying weapons.
They hit the train driver on the head, took 120 bags of post
and cash, and put the bags into a nearby lorry. According
to bank spokesmen, the thieves stole between two and
three million pounds in cash.
The Post Office, British Transport Police and the local
police are investigating the crime. Inspector Dan Smith
said last night, The robbery was very well planned, but
we found fingerprints and other important clues while we
were searching the area. We hope to catch the suspects
soon.
T
1. The train (travel) to Glasgow when thieves robbed it.
2. The robbers (board) the train at the train station.
3. The bags (contain) more than 1 million.
4. While the police (search) for clues, they found footprints.
Write questions about the Great Train Robbery. Use the words below. Use the
Past Simple or Past Continuous forms of the verbs.
1. what / be / the train / carry
.................................................................................................................................
2. the incident / occur / in / Glasgow
.................................................................................................................................
3. what / the robbers / wear / when / they / board / the train
.................................................................................................................................
4. how / much / money / the robbers / steal
.................................................................................................................................
BUILD UP 4 Photocopiable
B Burlington Books
UNIT 2 EXTENSION
Complete the answers to the questions in Exercise 2 according to the information
in the text.
1. The train ......................................................................................................................................... .
2. No, it didnt. The incident .............................................................................................................. .
3. The robbers .................................................................................................................................... .
4. The robbers .................................................................................................................................... .
Imagine that it is the day after Ronnie Biggs returned to England in 2001. Write a news
article about his return. Use information from the text to help you. Use your own words
as much as possible.
BUILD UP 4 Photocopiable
B Burlington Books
