Preposition Exercise #8: Harvard University

Preposition Exercise #8

Context: Universities: Harvard University  

Directions: Complete the reading passage below with the most appropriate prepositions.

     Harvard University was founded ____ 1636, _____ Massachusetts. It is the oldest university _____ the United States.

     The university is named _____ John Harvard, who donated half _____ his money and his personal library _____ the university.

     Harvard has grown since 1636 _____ become the leading university ____ the world, _____ 21,000 students, hundreds  _____ degree programs and the second largest library _____ the United States.  

© James Doyle, 2011

www.mylanguagesolutions.com

Preposition Exercise #7: Whale Watching

Preposition Exercise #7

Context: Tourism: Boston: Whale Watching

Directions: Complete the reading passage below with the most appropriate prepositions.

Exercise:

     Whale watching has been growing _____ popularity _____ the world since it first began _____ the mid-20^th century. _____ addition _____ furthering public interest _____ and scientific research _____ whales, it serves _____ prevent whaling _____ providing an alternative use _____ these creatures as a natural resource. 

     Boston, as well as other New England cities and towns, is a popular departure point _____ whale watching tours. Boats usually accommodate 50 _____ 150 passengers _____ cruises varying from 4 _____ 6 hours _____ length. Tickets normally range _____ price _____ $40.00 _____ $60.00

    Whales are usually sighted _____ 2 hours _____ _____ the New England coast. Locals and tourists alike enjoy seeing a variety _____ species rising _____ the Atlantic and diving _____ it again as they glide _____ the water.

© James Doyle, 2012

www.mylanguagesolutions.com

Preposition Exercise #6: Mount Auburn Cemetery

Preposition Exercise #6

Context: Tourism: Boston: Mount Auburn Cemetery

Directions: Complete the passage below with the most appropriate prepositions.

     Mount Auburn Cemetery is celebrated as the first planned cemetery _____ the U.S., founded _____ Boston _____ 1831. Many prominent Bostonians are buried here, including artists, writers, mayors _____ Boston and governors _____ Massachusetts.

     Established _____ 175 acres _____ verdant hills, woods and 4 ponds, it is very different _____ the grimmer colonial era burial grounds that preceded it. As such, it has served as a lovely park _____ generations _____ Bostonians and visitors _____ Boston. 

     Indeed, the creation _____ the cemetery is credited _____ inspiring a host _____ others, as well as parks and other recreational areas, including New York City’s renowned Central Park.

     The plant life is so diverse that the cemetery serves as an arboretum, _____ over 5,500 trees drawn _____ approximately 700 varieties. Of course, this lush environment provides shelter _____ a wide array _____ animal life, including squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, fish, frogs, turtles, raccoons and other woodland creatures.       

     This natural splendor, combined _____ the great artistic and architectural value _____ the cemetery’s memorials and buildings, draw approximately 200,000 tourists _____ it each year.

    

© James Doyle, 2012

www.mylanguagesolutions.com

Preposition Exercise #5: Head Of The Charles

Preposition Exercise #5

Context: Tourism: Boston: Head Of The Charles

Directions: Complete the passage below with the most appropriate prepositions.

     “The Head of the Charles Regatta” is a rowing competition held annually _____ Boston since 1965 _____ the next _____ last weekend _____ October. The largest _____ its kind _____ the world, it includes American and international high school, university and rowing club participants.   

    It takes place _____ the Charles River, which runs _____ Boston and Cambridge, featuring a variety _____ 55 races.

      Approximately 300,000 spectators enjoyed viewing the races this year _____ the banks _____ the river. 

© James Doyle, 2012

www.mylanguagesolutions.com

Preposition Exercise #4: Arnold Arboretum

Preposition Exercise #4

Context: Tourism: Boston: Arnold Arboretum  

Directions: Complete the reading passage below with the most appropriate prepositions.

Exercise:

     The Arnold Arboretum _____ Harvard University was founded _____ 265 acres _____ land _____ the Roslindale and Jamaica Plain neighborhoods _____ Boston ______ 1872, _____ the former estate _____ Benjamin Bussey, who had donated the land _____ the university _____ order _____ further its research _____ the agricultural sciences.  

     The grounds _____ the arboretum were designed _____ the celebrated Frederick Law Olmsted, one _____ the fathers _____ American landscape design. It includes hills, ponds and many miles _____ lovely, winding paths. The collection includes _____ 15,000 living plants, mostly trees, many _____ which are labeled _____ their scientific names, origins and other pertinent information.

    Free and open ______ the public _____ dawn _____ dusk, the arboretum welcomes _____ 250,000 visitors a year. The best time _____ visit is the fall, when the leaves change color _____ green _____ varying shades _____ red, orange, yellow and brown. It is one _____ many wonderful attractions _____ Boston.    

 © James Doyle, 2012

www.mylanguagesolutions.com

Preposition Exercise #3: Valentine's Day

Preposition Exercise #3

Context: Holidays: United States: Valentine’s Day

Directions: Complete the passage below with the most appropriate prepositions.

     Most cultures celebrate some version _____ a holiday dedicated _____ romantic love. Today, the most popular holiday _____ this respect is “Valentine’s Day,” celebrated _____ February 14^th.

     Although the name _____ the holiday is derived _____ that of a Christian saint, the holiday has no religious basis and no religious content. The holiday shares the saint’s name only because average medieval Europeans could not use dates. Instead, they kept track _____ time _____ referring _____ holidays. Someone was not born _____ “August 28^th,”   _____ example. He or she was born _____ “Saint Augustine’s day.”

     _____ the United States, couples share a romantic dinner together and exchange cards, flowers, chocolate and other gifts. _____ recent decades, the holiday has become highly commercialized and is often criticized as being too retail-oriented.    

    

© James Doyle, 2013

www.mylanguagesolutions.com

Preposition Exercise #2: Saint Patrick's Day

Preposition Exercise #2

Context: Holidays: United States: Saint Patrick’s Day

Directions: Complete the passage below with the most appropriate prepositions.

     Saint Patrick’s Day is a major cultural and religious holiday _____ Ireland and the United States, celebrated each year _____ March 17^th, the saint’s feast day.

     Originally a Catholic feast day honoring the evangelizer _____ the Emerald Isle, it now commonly celebrated as an Irish cultural holiday.      

     _____ major Irish-American population centers, such as Boston and New York, traditional Irish music and dance entertains crowds _____ pubs and cultural centers. A popular highlight _____ the celebrations, especially _____ New York, is the parades. Participants wear green, the color _____ Ireland, _____ honor _____ the holiday and as an expression _____ Irish pride.  

© James Doyle, 2013

www.mylanguagesolutions.com