ARTICLES

1) Complete the dialogues using a, an, the or no article (--).

1 A: Do you ever travel to work by …… train?

B: Never – I prefer to go by …… bus or on …… foot.
2 A: What can …… governments do to help …… unemployed?
B: They can increase …… unemployment benefits for …… start.
3 A: What do you think is …… main difference between …… British and …… French?
B: Probably …… food they eat!
4 A: Were you at …… work when you heard …… news about the earthquake?
B: I was at …… home watching TV.
5 A: I’ll pick you up after …… dinner and we’ll go to …… cinema.
B: Fine – we’ll have finished …… meal by about 7.30.
6 A: What does Jim want to do when he leaves …… school?
B: He wants to join …… police force.
7 A: Do you have …… favourite flower?
B: Yes – it’s …… orchid.
8 A: What do you consider to be …… greatest invention ever?
B: …… computer, of course.

2) Complete gaps 1-12 with a, an, the or no article (--).

Every month we’re giving away 1 …… magical holiday. Don’t miss this unique opportunity
to sample 2 …… luxury of our Transglobe holidays in one of 3 …… world’s most sought-
after destinations: 4 …… Pacific. Or perhaps you have a secret passion to travel to 5 ……
destinations such as Venice, experience 6 …… exciting adventure in 7 …… sports car, or
learn to cook 8 …… Eastern delicacies in 9 …… Orient? Just log on to our travel service
website and, if you don’t win, you can find 10 …… latest destinations and advice on how to
plan a trip. At 11 …… end of each holiday, we’ll give you 12 …… vouchers to be used
towards your next holiday with us.

3) Complete the text with with a, an, the or (–) when no article is needed.

Courageous Young Athletes

Nearly 400 children and young people with (1) …… physical disabilities from all over (2)
…… Australia, (3) …… United States, (4) …… New Zealand and (5) …… South Africa
have been competing in (6) …… National Junior Games for the Disabled. They have taken
part in (7) …… swimming, (8) …… basketball, (9) …… archery and (10) tennis. (11) ……
Games were opened by (12) …… Prime Minister, who is (13) …… Olympic sprint
champion herself.

Training for Success

(14) …… recent report in (15) …… Sport and Science magazine explains how (16) ……
sports training programmes need to be designed to fit (17) …… needs of (18) …… individual
athletes. (19) …… factors such as (20) …… age, (21) …… lifestyle and even (22) ……
language background are all important. (23) …… most successful training programmes are
planned specifically for each individual athlete. (24) …… decisions about (25) …… diet and
even how much sleep they need can really affect their chances of success.
Surf Contest Cancelled

(26) …… Fifth International Women’s Surf Championships scheduled to take place on (27)
…… island of Mauritius, in (28) …… Indian Ocean, have been cancelled due to (29) ……
bad weather. There were (30) …… waves as high as (31) …… three metres yesterday
afternoon, and (32) …… strong winds are making (33) …… conditions even more dangerous.
(34) …… Organising Committee hopes (35) …… Championships can be held in (36) ……
week’s time once (37) …… weather has improved.

4) Put a, an or the in each space, or leave the space blank.

1) We went by …-… train to …the… west of England.

2) …… people who live in …… Netherlands are called …… Dutch.
3) …… judge sent me to …… prison for …… ten years.
4) …… Columbus was one of …… first people to cross …… Atlantic.
5) As ……captain of …… ship, I have …… complete authority.
6) David learned to play …… violin when he was at …… university.
7) ……Trafalgar Square is near …… Charing Cross Station.
8) Did you read …… book I lent you …… last week?
9) We’ll put up …… shelves and then go to …… café for …… something to eat.
10) Is that …… present Bill gave you for ……Christmas?