Решение:
В данном тексте нужно вставить глаголы в правильной форме, чтобы сохранить логику повествования и грамматическую корректность.
- Tom Smith was a writer. He 1) wrote (to write) detective stories for magazines.
- One evening he 2) was not able (to be not able) to invent an end for a story.
- He 3) sat (to sit) with his typewriter in front of him, but he 4) had (to have) no ideas.
- Then he 5) went (to go) to the cinema.
- When he 6) left (to leave), a burglar 7) broke (to break) into his flat and 8) read (to read) his story.
- The visitor 9) left (to leave) Tom a note: "I have read your story and I 10) did not think (not to think) much of it.
- I 11) did not go (not to go) to steal anything tonight, but I will return, when you become a successful writer."
- Tom 12) studied (to study) the burglar's suggestions and 13) wrote (to write) the rest of the story.
- He 14) was (to be) still not a successful writer, and he 15) waited (wait) for his burglar to return.
- Before he 16) went out (go out) in the evening, he always 17) left (to leave) a half-finished story near his typewriter.
Правильный вариант для пропуска (14): was