ANSWERS PAGE 21

When I was fourteen, I could not swim. As a child, I was afraid of the water, so I never
learned. Usually, this was not a problem, but in the summer, things were different. All of
my friends went to the public pool on hot days, I went, too, but I had to watch them have
fun. Finally I decided to take swimming lessons at a place near my house. The class met
every day. At first, I was very nervous, but I did not give up. I practiced and, by the end, I
was a good swimmer.

A. Read the paragraph. Them answer the questions with a partner.

1. What couldn’t the person do?

The person couldn’t swim

2. Why was this a problem?

Because the person was afraid of water

3. How did the person learn?

The person learned to take classes in a place near his home.

4. Was the person successful?

Yes, the person in the end was a good swimmer.

B. Think about something you could not do, but learned to do, answer the questions in
A about yourself. Then use your ideas and the example above to help you write you
own paragraph. Remember to use the correct simple past tense verbs.

DEVELOPING

When I was eight years old, I didn't know how to play soccer. At that age I did not have a

ball to play and neither did friends. But when I entered high school, things changed. In
physical education classes, my classmates played soccer and I watched them from the

stands, but finally I decided to play, I entered a soccer school, practiced twice a week, and

in the end I was a good soccer player.

QUESTIONS

1. What couldn’t the person do?

The person could not play soccer

2. Why was this a problem?

Because the person had no ball or friends.

3. How did the person learn?

The person entered a soccer school and practiced twice a week

4. Was the person successful?

Yes, the person was finally a good soccer player

ANSWERS PAGE 22