В приведённом ниже тексте на место пропуска (14) нужно добавить глагол: Tom Smith was a writer. He 1) … (to write) detective stories for magazines. One evening he 2) … (to be not able) to invent an end for a story. He 3) … (to sit) with his typewriter in front of him, but he 4) … (to have) no ideas. Then he 5) … (to go) to the cinema. When he 6) … (to leave), a burglar 7) … (to break) into his flat and 8) … (to read) his story. The visitor 9) … (to leave) Tom a note: “I have read your story and I 10) … (not to think) much of it. I 11) … (not to go) to steal anything tonight, but I will return, when you become a successful writer.” Tom 12) … (to study) the burglar’s suggestions and 13) … (to write) the rest of the story. He 14) … (to be) still not a successful writer, and he 15) … (wait) for his burglar to return. Before he 16) … (go out) in the evening, he always 17) … (to leave) a half-finished story near his typewriter. Варианты для пропуска (14): was, is, are.

Перевод задания: В приведённом тексте выберите правильную форму глагола в пропуске (14).

Для описания прошлого рассказа употребляется Past Simple. Подлежащее he — третье лицо единственного числа, поэтому правильная форма глагола to be — was.

Вариант: was (был). Полное предложение: He was still not a successful writer. (Он всё ещё не был успешным писателем.)

Ответ: was.