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

In 1852, Augustus Dowd 1 had been trackingwas trackinghas trackedtracked a bear for a while when he came across 2 an old amazing massivean amazing massive olda massive amazing oldan old massive amazing tree. The measurement around its trunk was over fifty feet, and it was 3 suchsuch assuch aso tall that he 4 did hardlycould hardlyhardly couldhardly didn’t see the top. Dowd was the first white colonist 5 seeingsawseeto see the huge giant sequoias in Yosemite national park, and news of the huge trees soon spread. However, 6 in spitedespitealthoughdue 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 AdmireTo admireAdmiringAdmired nature’s grandeur should 8 to bebebeinghave been 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 arrivedto have arrivedto arrivearrive in California in 1855 to see the trees for the first time. However, using the trees as a tourist attraction guaranteed 10 noneneitherbotheither 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 seenseeingto seeto 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 suggestedagreedadmittedinsisted to go on a camping trip in Yosemite 14 forso thatas toin order to 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 givinghad givengavewere 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.