Exercise 1: Vocabulary – Noise and soundComplete each of the gaps in the sentences with a word from below.

Example: She spoke in a hushed voice, anxious not to wake the baby up.slammed / rowdy / distant / hushed / dies / deafening / squeaky

1. Wait until the noise {{{dies}}} down a little before you give your speech, otherwise you’ll have to shout.

2. He spoke in a high {{{squeaky}}} voice that made him sound like a little mouse.

3. His shock announcement that he was resigning met with {{{deafening}}} silence; no one knew quite what to say.

4. We could hear the {{{distant}}} sound of Jerry’s tractor in the neighborhood; it was faint, but unmistakable.

5. There was a sudden gust of wind and the door {{{slammed}}} shut behind her; she thought at first a gun had been fired.

6. Police arrested several {{{rowdy}}} fans who were clearly intent on causing trouble at the concert.

Exercise 2: Participle clause

Participle clauses are clauses which begin with a present or past participle. They help to express ideas concisely, and add variety to written English. Participle clauses can be used instead of relative clause, instead of certain conjunctions – because/ so, as/ while, when/ once/ after, and, if.

Rewrite the following sentences using participle clauses. Don’t forget the punctuation!