2. a) Read the text and complete the gaps with the Past Simple form of the verbs in the box below.
become (x2)
be (x2)
can
have
make
start
recognize

Everyone knows that Picasso (1) became a famous artist when he was an adult. But little Pablo (2) _____quite the prodigy, too. In fact, Picasso (3)____ an interest in drawing even before he (4)____ speak. Perhaps, it (5)____ the reason why, once he finally could talk, he immediately (6)____asking his father, who was an artist himself, to give him his paintbrushes.
When Picasso (7)____ old enough to go to school, he said that he would only go there if he draw as much as he liked.
Fortunately, the headmaster and the other students (8)_____
Picasso's gift, and more or less let him work as he wanted.
Picasso (9)_____
a lot of contributions to modern art,
including cubism, "Guernica," and people drawn with two eyes on one side
of their face. The whole list of his contributions would be too exhaustive to
read here. By the time of his death, he'd created over 22,000 works of art.