Tense Review Mega-Exam #3 — Harbor Café (Interactive, with Clear Buttons)

Read the Story — “Morning Shift at Harbor Café”

Simple present & Present continuous: Aisha preps the espresso station every morning, and Marco checks inventory before the doors open. Right now, Aisha is steaming milk while Keiko is slicing lemon loaf for the display. The manager walks the floor and reminds staff to keep the line moving.

Simple past & Past continuous: Yesterday, Ben delivered beans early because a storm was rolling in. When he arrived, Diego was restocking cups, and Zahra was explaining the new pastry labels to a trainee. As Marco wiped the counter, the lights flickered, and a few customers were glancing toward the windows.

Aisha pulled a perfect espresso shot and underlined a note on the order slip. While she was checking milk temperature, the manager announced extended hours for the weekend. Keiko brought a fresh tray; she was carrying the pastries carefully. They reviewed the closing checklist for ten minutes. During that time, the grinder was humming, and the queue was growing steadily.

Back to the present: Today, Aisha is trying a new flow. She is writing short reminders, and Marco helps by asking, “What were you doing when the rush started?” and “What do you usually do after the morning break?” The timer rings every fifteen minutes, so they take stretch breaks and refill the condiment bar.

General habits: The team keeps the counter clear, labels containers, and shares quick feedback. Their rule: habits → simple present; actions in progress → present continuous; finished past actions → simple past; ongoing past actions interrupted → past continuous.

Vocabulary — Matching A (10)

1. barista —

2. inventory —

3. queue —

4. steam —

5. order slip —

6. restock —

7. drizzle —

8. counter —

9. recipe —

10. announce —

Vocabulary — Matching B (10)

1. brew —

2. wipe —

3. label —

4. shift —

5. chatter —

6. refill —

7. timer —

8. slice —

9. display —

10. underlined —

Vocabulary in Context (Select the best meaning)

1. The grinder was humming. —

2. Marco wiped the counter. —

3. The queue was growing. —

4. Aisha underlined a note. —

5. Ben delivered beans. —

6. Zahra was explaining labels. —

7. They take a stretch break. —

8. The manager announced hours. —

9. Keiko was carrying a tray. —

10. They refill the bar. —

Multiple Choice (10)

1) What is Aisha doing now?
She checked inventory.
She is steaming milk.
She will close the café.

2) Why did Ben deliver beans early?
A storm was rolling in.
The grinder broke.
The café was closed.

3) Which shows past continuous + interruption?
Aisha pulls a shot.
Aisha pulled a shot.
Diego was restocking when Ben arrived.

4) What helps the team handle the rush?
Loud music.
Clear roles and reminders.
Closing early.

5) Which is simple present?
Marco checks inventory.
Marco is checking inventory now.
Marco was checking inventory when…

6) Which is simple past?
The queue grows.
The queue is growing.
The queue grew.

7) While Marco was wiping the counter, the lights…
flickered.
will flicker.
are flickering.

8) During the timer breaks, they…
lock the doors.
stretch and refill the bar.
cancel orders.

9) Which is present continuous?
He labels containers every day.
He labeled containers yesterday.
He is labeling containers now.

10) What did the manager announce?
Free coffee.
Extended weekend hours.
A day off for everyone.

Cloze A — Word Bank (drag or click words into blanks)

preps is steaming checks delivered was rolling arrived was restocking announced

Aisha the espresso station every morning. Right now, she milk. Marco inventory before the doors open. Yesterday, Ben beans early because a storm in. When he , Diego cups. The manager later extended hours.

Cloze B — Word Bank (drag or click)

pulled underlined was checking brought was carrying reviewed is trying is writing

Aisha a perfect shot and a note. She milk temperature when the manager arrived. Keiko a tray and pastries carefully. They the checklist. Today, Aisha a new flow and reminders.

Sequencing A — Past Scene (drag to correct order)

Diego was restocking cups.
Ben delivered beans early.
The manager announced extended hours.
Ben arrived at the café.

Sequencing B — Present & Habit (drag to correct order)

The timer rings every fifteen minutes.
Aisha preps the station every morning.
They refill the condiment bar.
Aisha is steaming milk now.

Grammar Transformations — Change the tense

1) (Simple present → Present continuous)
Prompt: Aisha preps the station.

2) (Present continuous → Simple present)
Prompt: Marco is checking inventory.

3) (Simple past → Past continuous + interruption)
Prompt: Ben arrived. (Diego restock)

4) (Past continuous → Simple past)
Prompt: Aisha was checking milk temperature.

5) (Simple present → Simple past)
Prompt: The manager announces extended hours.

6) (Simple past → Simple present)
Prompt: Keiko brought a tray.

7) (Present continuous → Past continuous)
Prompt: Aisha is steaming when the rush starts.

8) (Simple present → Present continuous negative)
Prompt: The grinder stops now.

Guided Sentence Prompts (write full sentences)

1) Habit: (you / prep / mornings)

2) Now: (you / check / inventory / now)

3) Past: (you / deliver / beans / yesterday)

4) Past prog: (you / restock / when / manager / arrive)

5) Habit: (team / label / containers)

6) Now: (Aisha / steam / milk / now)

7) Past: (manager / announce / hours)

8) Past prog: (queue / grow / while / grinder / hum)

9) Habit: (we / keep / counter / clear)

10) Now: (Marco / help / with reminders)

11) Past: (Keiko / bring / tray)

12) Past prog: (customers / glance / when / lights / flicker)

Dialogue Builder — Drag-and-Drop (10 lines)

Drag tiles into the blank slots to build correct sentences. Use a mix of simple present, present continuous, simple past, and past continuous.

Aisha: , ?

are doing now Marco you What

Marco: .

am checking I inventory

Aisha: ?

before the rush What do you usually do

Marco: .

the containers I label check cups the and

Keiko: ?

Where were you working when the lights flickered

Keiko: .

I was slicing lemon loaf by the display

Diego: .

Ben delivered beans early yesterday

Zahra: !

The queue is getting longer now

Marco: .

Let’s take a short break

Aisha: .

I am writing reminders right now

Answer Key (toggle to view)

MCQ: 1-b, 2-a, 3-c, 4-b, 5-a, 6-c, 7-a, 8-b, 9-c, 10-b.

Cloze A (in order): preps, is steaming, checks, delivered, was rolling, arrived, was restocking, announced.

Cloze B (in order): pulled, underlined, was checking, brought, was carrying, reviewed, is trying, is writing.

Sequencing A: deliver → arrive → restock → announce. Sequencing B: preps → is-steaming → ring → refill.

Grammar transforms targets: 1) Aisha is prepping the station. 2) Marco checks inventory. 3) Diego was restocking when Ben arrived. 4) Aisha checked milk temperature. 5) The manager announced extended hours. 6) Keiko brings a tray. 7) Aisha was steaming when the rush started. 8) The grinder isn’t stopping now.