B1+ English test 7 – Text with multiple-choice gaps

In 1852, Augustus Dowd 1 had been trackingtrackedwas trackinghas tracked a bear for a while when he came across 2 a massive amazing oldan old massive amazingan old amazing massivean amazing massive old tree. The measurement around its trunk was over fifty feet, and it was 3 such assuchsosuch a tall that he 4 hardly couldcould hardlyhardly didn’tdid hardly see the top. Dowd was the first white colonist 5 sawto seeseeseeing the huge giant sequoias in Yosemite national park, and news of the huge trees soon spread. However, 6 althoughin spitedespitedue to being impressed by the huge trees, those poor colonists, who were trying to survive off the land, did not respect the trees’ age and heritage. 7 To admireAdmireAdmiringAdmired nature’s grandeur should 8 to bebeinghave beenbe enough for them, but they wanted to use it as a trophy. Consequently, many trees were cut down and sold or displayed for cash.

A group of tourists are known 9 arrivearrivedto arriveto have arrived in California in 1855 to see the trees for the first time. However, using the trees as a tourist attraction guaranteed 10 neithereitherbothnone their protection nor their future preservation. One of the sequoias was smoothed to create a dance floor on which 32 people could dance. The stump of another was cut lengthways and made into a bowling alley. However, gradually, the trees began 11 to be seento seeseeingto have seen as a symbol of America’s greatness and heritage. Soon after 12 comingcamecomehad come to power, President Roosevelt read a book by the conservationist John Muir about his passion for protecting the wilderness in the west of the country. Roosevelt contacted Muir, and they 13 agreedinsistedadmittedsuggested to go on a camping trip in Yosemite 14 in order toforas toso that discuss its future. As a result, Roosevelt turned the whole of Yosemite valley into a national park. As the trees gained protection, they also gained status. Several of them 15 were givenwere givinggavehad given names, but their names do not reflect anything about the trees themselves, such as their location, size or shape. Instead, they have political names, such as The Senate, General Sherman and Lincoln.