The top six British writers choose the books they think children should…

The top six British writers choose the books they think children should read in school. For questions 1–10, read the text below and fill in the gaps with the correct verb forms. There is an example at the beginning (0).

The Royal Society of Literature (0) asked (to ask) the top six British writers to make lists of the books they think kids should read before leaving school. These lists could help them with a discussion they (1) ___ (to have) with the people who choose what to include in lessons. J. K. Rowling (2) ___ (to be) among the British writers who (3) ___ (to ask) to list the books. J. K. Rowling (4) ___ (to put) Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights («Грозовой перевал») and Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on her top ten list. Philip Pullman (5) ___ (to involve), too. He (6) ___ (to make) his list. The Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsay and Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are (7) ___ (to include) in his list. A list, that (8) ___ (to make) by the famous poet Andrew Motion, (9) ___ (to include) Homer's The Odyssey («Одиссея») and James Joyce's Ulysses («Улисс»). With the help of these lists the best books for schools will (10) ___ (to choose).

Read some interesting facts about British writers and literature. For questions 1–12, fill in the gaps with the correct forms of the verbs given in capital letters. There is an example at the beginning (0).

1. Limericks are short humorous poems. They are very popular in Great Britain. Many of them (0) were written (WRITE) by the famous English poet Edward Lear. Competitions for the best limerick (1) ___ (HOLD) since the 19th century.
2. Daniel Defoe is well known for his book Robinson Crusoe. Defoe (2) ___ (WRITE) the novel when he was nearly 60 years old. The story of Robinson Crusoe (3) ___ (BASE) on the real adventure of a sailor, Alexander Selkirk, who (4) ___ (LIVE) alone for four years on an island. Defoe (5) ___ (NOT WRITE) his book for children. But every child now (6) ___ (KNOW) Robinson Crusoe.
3. Walter Scott completed his novels with unusual speed. Guy Mannering, for example, (7) ___ (WRITE) in six weeks.
4. William Shakespeare wrote at least thirty-seven plays, although only eighteen of them (8) ___ (PUBLISH) in his lifetime. The first collection of plays (9) ___ (NOT PUBLISH) until 1623, seven years after his death. It (10) ___ (CONTAIN) thirty-six plays. He usually wrote for a specific group of actors, and as they (11) ___ (BECOME) older, he (12) ___ (CREATE) ... with older characters in mind.