Exercise 9. Rewrite the following passage using the simple past or the past perfect tense of the verbs given in the brackets:

When Marco Polo and his two companions (reach) back in Italy in 1295, nobody (recognize) them. They (be) away for about twenty-four years and (almost forget) how to speak Italian. Their families (give) them up for dead. Marco Polo (tell) his people strange stories about the things he (see) in China. He (say) the Chinese (not write) out their books by hand, they (print) them. At that time, no one in Italy (ever hear) of printing. So people (find) it difficult to believe Marco Polo.

Marco Polo and his companions reached back Italy in 1295. Nobody recognized them upon their return. They had been away for about twenty-four years and had almost forgotten how to speak Italian. Their families had given them up for dead. Marco Polo told his people strange stories about the things he had seen in China. He said the Chinese did not write out their books by hand; they printed them. At that time, no one in Italy had ever heard of printing, so people found it difficult to believe Marco Polo.

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