Television

A2-level English Test 

Theme: television

Grammar focus: past simple and past continuous

Part 1 – Vocabulary (Television)  

A. Match the words (1–6) with the definitions (A–F).

1. channel  

2. remote control  

3. cartoon  

4. news  

5. series  

6. commercial

A. A TV show that tells you what is happening in the world  

B. A funny TV program with drawings, not real people  

C. A group of TV episodes that tell one long story  

D. A device you use to change the TV channel or volume  

E. An advertisement on TV  

F. A number on the TV where you can watch different programs

Part 2 – Grammar: Past Simple vs Past Continuous  

A. Choose the correct option (past simple or past continuous).

1. I ___ (watched / was watching) a movie when the phone rang.  

2. While we ___ (were eating / ate) dinner, my dad changed the channel.  

3. They ___ (were sitting / sat) on the sofa and ___ (watched / were watching) a game show yesterday evening.  

4. My sister ___ (was doing / did) her homework when the TV suddenly ___ (turned / was turning) off.  

5. I ___ (was flipping / flipped) through the channels when I ___ (found / was finding) an interesting documentary.

B. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form: past simple or past continuous.

Example:  

When I was watching (watch) TV, my friend called (call) me.

1. Yesterday at 8 p.m., we __________ (watch) a talent show.  

2. While my mum __________ (cook) dinner, my dad __________ (change) the channel.  

3. I __________ (not see) the end of the film because I __________ (fall) asleep.  

4. The power __________ (go) out while we __________ (watch) the news.  

5. While I __________ (flip) through the channels, my brother __________ (play) a game on his tablet.

Part 3 – Reading Comprehension  

Read the text and answer the questions.

My Evening with TV

Last Saturday, I came home from school at 6 p.m. I was very tired, so I decided to watch TV. I turned on the TV and looked for my favourite series, but it wasn’t on. While I was looking for another program, I found an interesting documentary about animals. I watched it for an hour. Then, while I was watching the documentary, my friend Maria called me. She wanted to talk about a new talent show. After our call, I changed the channel and started watching the talent show. It was very funny, and the singers were great. I went to bed at 11 p.m., but I was still thinking about the documentary and the talent show.

A. Choose the correct answer: a, b, or c.

1. When did the writer come home?  

   a) At 5 p.m.  

   b) At 6 p.m.  

   c) At 7 p.m.  

2. What did the writer do first?  

   a) Called Maria  

   b) Turned on the TV  

   c) Went to bed  

3. What did the writer find while looking for another program?  

   a) A cartoon  

   b) A documentary  

   c) A game show  

4. What happened while the writer was watching the documentary?  

   a) The TV broke  

   b) Maria called  

   c) The power went out  

5. What time did the writer go to bed?  

   a) 10 p.m.  

   b) 11 p.m.  

   c) Midnight  

Part 4 – Sentence Writing (Guided)  

Use the past simple and past continuous to complete the sentences. Use your own ideas, but keep the television theme.

Example:  

While I was watching a film, my brother changed the channel.

1. While I was watching my favourite series, _______________________________.  

2. The TV suddenly turned off while we were _____________________________.  

3. I was flipping through the channels when _____________________________.  

4. Yesterday evening, I watched _________________________ and I liked it because ____________________________.

Part 5 – Error Correction  

Each sentence has one mistake with the past simple or past continuous. Correct the mistake. Write the whole sentence correctly.

1. I was watched TV when my mum called me.  

2. We was watching a cartoon at 9 o’clock yesterday.  

3. While I watched the news, my dad was talking on the phone.  

4. They were play video games when the TV broke.  

5. The film was very boring, so I was turned it off.

Answer Key

Part 1 – Vocabulary  

1 – F  

2 – D  

3 – B  

4 – A  

5 – C  

6 – E  

Part 2 – Grammar  

A. Choose the correct option

1. was watching  

2. were eating  

3. were sitting; were watching / sat; watched *(both possible at A2, but prefer: were sitting and watching)*  

4. was doing; turned  

5. was flipping; found  

B. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form

1. were watching  

2. was cooking; was changing / changed *(both possible; best: was cooking; changed)*  

3. didn’t see; fell  

4. went; were watching  

5. was flipping; was playing  

Part 3 – Reading  

1. b  

2. b  

3. b  

4. b  

5. b  

Part 4 – Sentence Writing (example answers)  

Answers will vary. Sample:  

1. While I was watching my favourite series, my sister came into the room.  

2. The TV suddenly turned off while we were watching the football match.  

3. I was flipping through the channels when I found a great documentary.  

4. Yesterday evening, I watched a comedy and I liked it because it was very funny.

Part 5 – Error Correction  

1. I was watching TV when my mum called me.  

2. We were watching a cartoon at 9 o’clock yesterday.  

3. While I was watching the news, my dad was talking on the phone.  

4. They were playing video games when the TV broke.  

5. The film was very boring, so I turned it off.