Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Simple or the Present Continuous. Hi, Janet! Greetings from Australia! Christmas is so different here! In Toronto it always 1) _______ (snow) on Christmas Day but right now the sun 2) _______ (shine) in Sydney and it 3) _______ (be) very hot! We usually 4) _______ (wear) warm clothes in Canada but today we 5) _______ (wear) T-shirts and shorts! Tina always 6) _______ (make) a snowman or 7) _______ (have) snowball fights with her friends back home but now she 8) _______ (swim) and 9) _______ (make) a sandcastle! It's really cool! Love, Joanna

Here are the answers with explanations: 1) **snows**: The sentence describes a general truth or a habit. 'It always' indicates that it's something that happens regularly. Hence, the present simple tense is used. 2) **is shining**: 'Right now' indicates that the action is happening at the present moment. Therefore, the present continuous tense ('is' + verb+ing) is used. 3) **is**: The sentence expresses a state of being at the moment. So the present simple form of 'be' is 'is'. 4) **wear**: This describes a habitual action that usually happens in Canada. Thus, it requires the present simple tense. 5) **are wearing**: The sentence describes what they are doing today, it's happening at the present moment, therefore, the present continuous tense 'are wearing' is used. 6) **makes**: This is a general action, always happening. Hence the present simple tense is used. 7) **has**: Tina usually has snowball fights, so we need the present simple of 'have', which is 'has' for she/he/it. 8) **is swimming**: The sentence 'now she' suggests the activity is happening at this very moment. Therefore, present continuous tense is used. 9) **making**: The sentence 'now she is swimming and...' indicates that both activities are happening at the same time in the present. Hence we are using present continuous tense. Therefore, the completed text should read: Hi, Janet! Greetings from Australia! Christmas is so different here! In Toronto it always **snows** on Christmas Day but right now the sun **is shining** in Sydney and it **is** very hot! We usually **wear** warm clothes in Canada but today we **are wearing** T-shirts and shorts! Tina always **makes** a snowman or **has** snowball fights with her friends back home but now she **is swimming** and **making** a sandcastle! It's really cool! Love, Joanna