Task 6. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense or verb form.

A

A big armed robbery (foil) ___ yesterday when gunmen walked into a police ambush in central York.

The gang (hold up) ___ a security van after it (collect) ___ more than £600,000 from shops around the downtown, but they (not have) ___ time to begin (put) ___ their plan into operation. If it (succeed) ___, it (be) ___ one of the largest this year.

However, the gang’s carefully planned raid (betray) ___, and police, (act) ___ on a tip-off, knew where and when it (take) ___ place.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police flying squad and the firearms unit (set) ___ an elaborate trap.

Plain-clothes detectives (position) ___ in streets and cars around the Electricity showrooms just north of the downtown, where the van (pick up) ___ takings. The robbers, who were armed with pistols, (allow) ___ to loiter outside the showroom entrance and wait for the van to arrive.

A police spokesman refused (discuss) ___ what happened next or to say how many officers (involved) in the operation. Witnesses said that as the raid (begin) ___, plain-clothes detectives came out from a side road and used a Post Office van to block off a possible escape route down the street.

Meanwhile, marksmen who (hide) ___ behind a wall in front of the showroom appeared behind the gunmen and called on them (surrender) ___.

The three (throw) ___ to the ground and (handcuff) ___. Scotland Yard said that no shots (fire) ___.

Last night three men (interview) ___ at the Police Station. They (appear) in court tomorrow.

B

My wife and I (live) ___ in our present house in the country for 5 years. We (move) ___ here after our second child (be) ___ born. We (live) ___ in town for ten years, and (decide) ___ that as soon as we (can) afford it, we (move) away ___ from the smoke and noise of the city centre, which we finally (do) ___ in 1985. We (never regret) ___ it. We (be) ___ reminded of the wisdom of our decision every morning when we (draw) ___ the curtains to see open fields (stretch) before us. When the children (have) ___ breakfast, they (rush) ___ outside to play, which they (do) since they (know) ___ how to walk. While they (play) ___ outside, we somehow manage (start) our day.