By the end of this exercise, you can turn active sentences with two objects into natural passive sentences — and tell the story of Indigenous rights in Australia.
Free Year 9 English practice: Indigenous Australian history and the passive with two objects (she was given back her land), B1/B2 level.
Read the text and fill in each gap with the correct word.
Australia's history with its First Nations peoples is long and painful — but it is also a story of change. For more than 1 years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples cared for the land.
After 2, when the British arrived, that land was taken from them, and for many years they were not counted as citizens in their own country. Until 1967, the constitution did not even 3 Aboriginal people. Then, in a historic referendum, more than 90 per cent of Australians voted 4 to change that. Aboriginal people were finally given a voice in the nation's laws.
Slowly, more changed. In 1992, the High Court recognised 5 title in the famous Mabo decision, and land rights were recognised in law for Indigenous Australians. In 2008, the 6 said sorry to the Stolen Generations — Aboriginal children who had been 7 from their families. The apology was watched by thousands of people around the country.
Today, Aboriginal culture 8 in art, music and festivals. But the work is not finished: many people say that real respect must be shown in health, education and jobs.
Choose the correct passive form. Remember: most verbs with two objects can form two passives — "She was told the news" or "The news was told to her".
1. In 1962, Aboriginal people the right to vote in federal elections.
2. In 1985, the title to Uluru back to the Anangu people.
3. The Stolen Generations a formal apology in 2008.
4. At the cultural centre, visitors the story of the Dreamtime.
5. At many mission schools, Aboriginal children English, not their own languages.
6. Free park maps to every visitor at the gate.
7. By the time the British arrived, Aboriginal people for the land for thousands of years.
8. The didgeridoo at the concert last night.
Rewrite each active sentence in the passive. Start with the person or thing in bold. Be careful with the verb form!
1. The government gave Aboriginal people the right to vote in 1962.
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2. The government handed the Anangu people the title deeds to Uluru in 1985.
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3. In 2008, the prime minister offered the Stolen Generations a formal apology.
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4. The guide shows visitors sacred rock paintings.
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5. The teachers taught the children English at the mission school.
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6. Next year, the council will give young artists a grant for their paintings.
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7. Yesterday, an elder told us the story of the Rainbow Serpent.
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Your Australian exchange partner's class is preparing a poster exhibition about Indigenous Australian history for the school open day. Write a short poster text (6–8 sentences) about one moment of change: the 1967 referendum, the 1992 Mabo decision or the 2008 apology. Use at least four passive sentences, including two with two objects.
Review your answers below, then send them to your teacher.
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