Put in the prepositions ago, by, before, in, for, during, since, while, till.
1. I got here ＿ him, almost an hour ＿ ,I've been waiting for an hour.
2. I haven't seen Julia＿ two months, ＿June. She was away ＿ the summer.
3. It's almost a year ＿ you left school. You did nothing ＿ this time.
4. I last saw Alex the day＿ yesterday,I haven't met him＿.
5. The book review will be ready ＿ a fortnight,＿ the end of April.
6. Has anybody called me＿ the tea break＿I was out?
7. You must finish the report ＿Friday, ＿the weekend - at the lastest.
- Cannot it wait ＿next week? - No, you got the task long＿.

Life today seems to be much better than 50 years ago. It became much easier to do many basic things. For example, people don't have to wash clothes without a washing machine. There is a microwave, a vacuum cleaner, a dishwasher, an electric cooker almost in every house. Modern technology has fully changed our lives to the better. Fifty years ago people couldn't even imagine that household chores would be done by smart appliances. To think only, they didn't know that computers would instantly send messages, take photos, or allow making video calls. Nobody had cell phones back then. On the one hand, it might have been difficult to live without these gadgets. On the other hand, children were much happier without cell phones and hand-held computers. My grandparents often tell me about their childhood and youth. They say it was a happy time and people were different.People of their generation weren't commercially-minded at all. Our generation lives at the era of consumerism. We don’t value things and clothes that much. When we break or spoil something, we go to the store and easily buy a new one. My grandmother tells that she could wear the same pair of shoes for ten years and more, while I want to buy new shoes almost every season. Women’s rights have also been modified. Fifty years ago they were supposed to be diligent housewives. Today women are seen at many high positions. They can be leading lawyers, politicians, financiers, top managers and superintendants. Another modern step forward is the development of travel opportunities. It has become faster, cheaper and more convenient to travel from one country to another. It is beneficial nearly for everyone: international students, curious adults, international commerce and trade, etc.

1. Peter (was reading) by the fireplace when the door ( opened) and the maid (entered). The cook (followed) her. 2. When the mother (satisfied) herself that the children (were sleeping) peacefully in their beds, she (took) out the Christmas presents and carefully ( put) them into the stockings which (were hanging) at the beds. 3. If you ( ring) me up tomorrow, I (will tell) you all about it. 4. The lesson (has not yet begun), and the children (are talking) loudly in the corridor. 5. I (have lived) in St. Petersburg since 1991. 6. By the fifteenth of January the students (had passed) all the examinations. 7. The students (had written) the paper by dinner-time. 8. They (had been sailing) down the river for many hours before they ( came) to the village. 9. I (have not been) to my home town for five years. 10. The rain (had stopped) by the time we ( reached) home. 11. The message (arrived) five minutes after he (had left) the house. 12. It (was) nearly eleven o'clock when we ( began) doing this work. 13. At last the reply from my grandmother (had come), and my mother (told) me that she (would come) soon. 14. Here you (are) at last! I (have been waiting) for you for twenty minutes. Aren't you ashamed?