ACTIVITY: PAST TENSE OF BE

Read the biography. Then answer the questions.

CESAR CHAVEZ

Cesar Chavez was a Mexican-American labor leader and civil rights activist. He was a farm worker
who cofounded the biggest farm workers’ union in the USA and improved the working conditions of
thousands of farm laborers.
Many see him as one of America’s greatest civil rights leaders. More and more US states are
honoring him by making his birthday a holiday. Chavez was born in Arizona in 1927 to farm worker
parents. His childhood was not pleasant; it was very tough because of the poverty caused by the
Great Depression. Chavez was a natural leader and in 1952 he became an administrator in the Latino
civil rights group the Community Service Organization. He travelled throughout California urging
Mexican Americans to vote and speaking about workers’ rights.
In 1962, Chavez co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) with Dolores Huerta.
His first success was to lead a California grape pickers strike for better wages. The strike lasted five
years and attracted the attention of Robert Kennedy. The NFWA won its first major labor victory for
American farm workers. Chavez moved on to campaign for the rights of other farm workers.
The NFWA developed into the United Farm Workers. Chavez led marches and encouraged farm
workers across America to join together. He helped them strike and organize boycotts. In the 1980’s
he fasted to draw public attention to the dangerous use of pesticides. Chavez died in 1993 of natural
causes. Ten years later, America honored him with a postage stamp.

1. Who was Cesar Chavez?

2. Where was Cesar Chavez Born?

3. How was his childhood?

4. What were some of his accomplishments?

5. What impact did Chavez work have for farm laborers?

6. When did Cesar Chavez die?

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Apply the correct past form of be in the following sentences:

1. Helen _______ absent from school yesterday.
2. I ___________ in the same class as Lisa last year.
3. We _________ good friends for many years.
4. The door of the office _______ open.
5. But both Windows __________ closed.
6. John ________ not in school yesterday.
7. He and his brother __________ sick.
8. You _______ busy all day yesterday.
9. We ________ tired after our long walk.
10.I ________ hungry after so much exercise.
11.There _________ a lot of students absent from class.
12.Ana __________ present but you ______ not.
13.The weather yesterday ________ very warm.
14.We ______ pleased to receive your letter.
15.The teacher _______ not satisfied with my task.
16.The exercises in the last lesson _______ easy.
17.The wind last night ________ very strong.
18.They _______ not able to get in touch with you yesterday.