Simple past or past continuous? 1 (English exercise)

Topic: SIMPLE PAST OR PAST CONTINUOUS? 1 | level: Intermediate (B1-B2)

Choose the best, most natural-sounding verb tense (simple past or past continuous) for each of the sentences.
Example: I was reading when I heard the door open.

1. Oliver ____________ when he heard a noise from the kitchen.
a. sang
b. was singing

2. My sister ________ you twice.
a. was calling
b. called

3. Q: What was Peter doing? A: He ________ telly.
a. was watching
b. watched

4. My grandad was a person who ________ people and never asked for anything in return.
a. helped
b. was helping

5. Q: Did Robert buy those runners? P2: Yes, he ________ them.
a. was buying
b. bought

6. We ________ our kids at 3:00 pm.
a. picked up
b. were picking up

7. The doorbell ________ the cat.
a. was waking
b. woke

8. He ________ his exam and had to retake it.
a. was failing
b. failed

9. Amelia was walking around the park, ________ at the trees.
a. looking
b. looked

10. Today I finally ________ a promotion at work.
a. got
b. was getting

11. Jim ________ the car park when he saw Mary crossing the street.
a. was leaving
b. left

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