The house that Jack built

Put the correct verb into each gap. Use either the infinitive or the -ing form.

Jack Baines is a self-made millionaire, but his beginnings were very lowly. He was the youngest of eight children. His father had a job in the cotton mills of Blackburn, Lancashire in the 1920s, but he was often unable (a)­­­­­­­­­­­­­ ________ due to poor health. The family couldn't afford (b)________ the rent or bills, and the children often went hungry. After (c)________ school at the age of 14, Jack was wondering what (d)________ when Mr Walker, his old teacher, offered (e) ________ him £100 to start his own business.

It was just after the war. Raw materials were scarce, and Jack (without (f) ________ to his parents' advice) saw a future in scrap metal. He bought bits of metal and stored them in an old garage. When he had built up a sizeable amount, he sold it to local industries for a vast profit.

Jack enjoyed (g) ________ hard and was encouraged (h) ________ the most of his potential by Mr Walker. After one year he had succeeded in (i)________ the £100 loan and he also managed (j) ________ Mr Walker £100 interest to thank him for his generosity.

By the time Jack was 30 years old he had made his first million, and he wanted (k) ________ this achievement by (l) ________ something 'grand'. With all his money it was now possible (m) ________ a beautiful home for himself and his parents . In 1959 'Baines Castle' was built in the heart of the Lancashire countryside. It was one of the finest buildings in the county.

Jack has recently sold 'Barnes Steel' for a staggering £500 million, but Jack still can't get used to (n) ________ the good life. He can often be found at the local pub drinking pints with the locals.

'I remember (o) ________ very poor as a child but never unhappy,' says Jack, 'and I never forget where I come from and who I am.'

Lancashire people are proud of their local hero, and if a visitor asks the origins of the 'grand' castle on the hill the locals say 'Why, it's the house that Jack built'.

/from New Headway English Course. Upper-Intermediate Workbook. Liz and John Soars/

See someone do/doing

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 1550