Read the text written in the Passive Voice. A Skillful Piece of Work.

shutterstock_183972431.jpg

Once Birmingham and Sheffield, two of the largest towns in England, began to quarrel. The quarrel started as each of them claimed to be able to produce the most skillful piece of work.A special jury was chosen to decide which city would show the greatest skill.

The day arrived. A steel spider with long thin legs was produced by representatives of Sheffield. The spider was made by the best workers. It was as small as a pea. It ran about on the table as if it were alive. A wonderful mechanism had been put in that little body. Everybody was sure that the first place would be given to Sheffield.

Then a sewing needle was laid on the table by representatives of Birmingham. A smile appeared on the lips of the jury when the needle was noticed.Then the top of the needle was screwed off and 4 needles were drawn out, one from another.

The first needle, as it was, had been the case of the four other needles. The needles were handed over to each member and examined with great interest.
In whose favour did the jury decide?

Write the correct words into each sentence.

1. A steel spider with long thin legs was produced by
.

2. Everybody was sure that the first place would be
.

3. The first needle, as it was, had been the case of the four ​

1. A steel spider with long thin legs was produced by representatives of Sheffield.
- In this sentence, the subject "a steel spider with long thin legs" is acted upon by the verb "was produced". The doer of the action is "representatives of Sheffield". The passive voice is used here to emphasize the focus on the spider rather than the ones who produced it.

2. Everybody was sure that the first place would be given to Sheffield.
- In this sentence, the subject "everybody" is acted upon by the verb "was sure". The passive voice is used here to emphasize that the feeling of certainty was experienced by "everybody".

3. The first needle, as it was, had been the case of the four other needles.
- In this sentence, the subject "the first needle" is acted upon by the verb "had been". The passive voice is used here to emphasize that the first needle had a specific role or function in relation to the other four needles.

To answer the question "In whose favour did the jury decide?", we need to look for information in the text. In this case, the sentence "A smile appeared on the lips of the jury when the needle was noticed" suggests that the jury was impressed by the needle from Birmingham. Therefore, the jury decided in favor of Birmingham.