THE PASSIVE VOICE
MR. ANH
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CÂU BỊ ĐỘNG
(The passive voice)
Active: S + V + O
Passive: S + Be PP + By O
Notes: - The subject is changed into the object.
- The object is changed into the subject.
- “To be” replaces the verb in the correct tense and person.
- The verb is changed into the past participle (column 3).








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 Thomas writes a letter.
A letter is written by Thomas.
 Jack has bought some books.
Some books have been bought by Jack.
* Only personal pronouns are changed in form when they are changed in position, as follows:
-Subjects: I You He She It We They
 
- Object: me you him her it us them








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 She will send a parcel.
A parcel will be sent by her.
* By me/you/him/her/it/us/them/people/someone ... can be omitted.
 She will send a parcel.
A parcel will be sent.
* Adverbs of place are before By O; Adverbs of time are after By O.
 Mary cooked curry yesterday.
Curry was cooked by Mary yesterday.
 Daisy takes some flowers into the living-room.
Some flowers are taken into the living-room by Daisy.








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Exercise 1: Change into the opposite voice
1. They will carry that table into the dining-room.
2. Jack has typed the article recently.
3. The soup was cooked by Mary yesterday.
4. The Paris agreement was signed in 1973.
5. Tran does her homework every day.
6. Why did he water the flowers?
7. The driver will not carry the old man.
8. What can he play today?
9. She doesn’t eat bread every day.
10. Is Henry feeding the pigs?



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Exercise 2: Change into the active voice
1. Who has been helped many times by Lan?
2. Which clock is chosen by Tuan?
3. That man was hit by a car last week.
4. Coffee is not drunk by Jack.
5. Am I supported by you?
6. Is he loved by Lien?
7. The patient has been examined by the doctor.
8. The sick poultry were killed by the authorities.
9. Many chickens are raised on the farm.
10. That apple may be eaten by the boy.








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Các dạng thụ động đặc biệt
S + Make + O + V ...  S + Be + Made + To Inf ...
 The boss made him clean the toilets.
He was made to clean the toilets by the boss.
 He will make his son learn computer science.
His son will be made to learn computer science.
S + Perceptive verbs + O + V ...  S + Be +
Perceptive verbs (PP) + To V
 She hears him sing in the room.
He is heard to sing in the room.
 They watched her feed the poultry.
She was watched to feed the poultry.







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Exercise 3: Change into the passive voice
1. His wife made him stay at home last week.
2. The police will make her leave the room.
3. The government can make farmers destroy sick chickens.
4. Her parents made her marry an old man.
5. John will make me water the flowers.
6. They heard her cry in the room.
7. Teacher noticed him sleep in the class.
8. Tuong Linh listens to Dan Truong sing on the cassette.
9. Hieu smells something burn in the kitchen.
10. Mr. Brown watched her tease the dog.







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S1 + V1 + That + S2 + V2…  It + Be V1(PP) + That + S2 + V2…
V1 before V2
 People say that he will move to London.
It is said that he will move to London.
S1 + V1 + That + S2 + V2...  S2 + Be V1(PP) + To Inf (V2) ...
V1 and V2 are simultaneous.
 They rumoured that he lived with a young girl.
He was rumoured to live with a young girl.







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S1 + V1 + That + S2 + V2...  S2 + Be V1(PP) + To Have V2 (PP) ...
V1 after V2
 They think that she sold her own car.
She is thought to have sold her own car.
Exercise 4:
1. They say that he is miserable now.
2. People thought that she was happy then.
3. We think that you stay at home.
4. We know that they sell good food.
5. People believed that the earth was square in the old days.






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6. They say that he bought a new house.
7. They think that she has met him before.
8. People rumoured that he had married a woman before.
9. They say that you were there then.
10. They reported that the prisoner had escaped.
11. They said that he would leave his hometown.
12. People say that Yen Vy will win the prize.
13. They rumour that the director will commit a crime.
14. They state that a new ambassador will come.
15. The police report that he will hold a party.







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S + let + O1 + V + O2  S + let + O2 + Be + V (PP)
Reflexive passive
 He has let people cheat him.
He has let himself be cheated.
 Don`t let anyone help you.
Don`t let yourself be helped.
Exercise 5: Change into the opposite voice
1. She let them help her then.
2. Don’t let people insult you.
3. He will let the police arrest him tomorrow.
4. They have let someone treat them.
5. Let someone recommend you there.







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V + O  Let + O + Be + V (PP)
Imperative passive
 Do this homework now.
Let this homework be done now.
 Eat this cake.
Let this cake be eaten.
Exercise 6: Change into the opposite voice
1. Drink this glass of milk.
2. Cut the grass in the lawns.
3. Catch that fish over there.
4. Watch this film today.
5. Check this machine now.








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S + Have + Operson + V + Othing  S + Have + Othing + V (PP) (passive 1)
Sthing + Have + to be + V (PP) (passive 2)
Causative passive
 They will have someone cut the tree down.
They will have the tree cut down. (passive 1)
The tree will have to be cut down. (passive 2)
 He can have someone repair his car.
He can have his car repaired.
His car can have to be repaired.








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Exercise 7: Change into the opposite voice
1. They can have someone paint the house.
2. He will have them photocopy the document.
3. She should have someone cut her hair.
4. They must have someone check the brakes.
5. She will have people publish her book.
6. People should have him check the machine.
7. They would have her mend their clothes.
8. One will have her grow some flowers.
9. Jack will have her cook some food.
10. They could have her draw a map.




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S + V + O1+ O2  S1 + Be + V (PP) + O2 + By O
 S2 + Be + V (PP) + Prep. + O1 + By O
O1 là người; O2 là vật.
 A vassal offered the king a precious jug.
The king was offered a precious jug by a vassal.
A precious jug was offered to the king by a vassal.
 Mary buys him a tie.
He is bought a tie by Mary.
A tie is bought for him by Mary.








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Exercise 8: Change into the opposite voice
1. Jack gave me some money yesterday.
2. Mrs Brown makes us some coffee.
3. Mai has sent Jane a letter.
4. My mother bought me a new dress.
5. They offered us some dry fish last month.
6. Jack taught me a lesson.
7. The grandmother told us a story.
8. The teacher explained the lesson to her.
9. Next week Sarah will write him a letter.
10. Everyday she cooks some food for the dog.



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Exercise 9: Change into the active voice
Hai Tam is praised by her teacher.
Khanh has been telephoned by his friend.
3. The television was turned off at ten o’clock.
4. Some mosquitoes are killed in the net by Anh Thu.
5. The table is fixed by Mr Ba.
6. The box was thrown away by the boss.
7. This exercise is written by Mr Anh.
8. The fish will be caught by him next week.
9. The basket has to be emptied by Nga every day.
10. This exercise ought to be done by students.







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Multiple choice:
1. My wedding ring …… of yellow and white gold.
a. is made b. is making c. made d. maked
2. If your brother ………………., he would come.
a. Invited b. were invited c. were inviting d. invite
3. Mr. Wilson is …………… as Wilie to his friend.
a. knowed b. knew c. known d. is known
4. References …………. in the examination room.
a. not are used b. is not used c. didn’t used d. are not used
5. Laura ………….. in Boston.
a. are born b. were born c. was born d. born







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6. My mother is going …………… this house.
a. sold b. to be sold c. to sold d. to sell
7. There’s somebody hehind us. I think we are …….
a. being followed b. are followed c. follow d. following
8. Have you …………….. by a dog?
a. Bite b. ever been bit c. ever been bitten d. bit
9. The room is being ………….. at the moment.
a. was cleaned b. cleaned c. cleaning d. clean
10. The road to our village ……. widened next year.
a. is b. will c. can d. will be








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1. Somebody cleans that room everyday.
a. The room every day is cleaned.
b. The room is everyday cleaned.
c. The room is cleaned every day.
d. The room is cleaned by somebody everyday.
2. They cancelled all flights because of fog.
a. All flights because of fog were cancelled.
b. All flights were cancelled because of fog.
c. All flights were cancelled by them because of fog.
d. All flights were because of fog cancelled.








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3. They are building a new highway around the city.
a. A new highway is being built around the city.
b. A new highway is being built around the city by them.
c. A new highway around the city is being built.
d. Around the city a new highway is being built.
4. They have built a new hospital near the airport.
a. A new hospital has been built near the airport by them.
b. A new hospital near the airport has been built.
c. A new hospital has been built near the airport.
d. Near the airport a new hospital has been built by them.








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5. They will ask you a lot of questions at the interview.
a. You will be asked a lot of questions at the interview.
b. You will be asked a lot of questions at the interview by them.
c. A lot of questions will be asked you at the interview.
d. A lot of questions will be asked at the interview.
6. People don’t use this road very often.
a. This road is not used very often.
b. Not very often this road is not used.
c. This road very often is not used.
d. This road not very often is used.








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7. Somebody accused me of stealing money.
a. I was accused by somebody of stealing money.
b. I was accused of stealing money.
c. I was accused of stealing money by somebody.
d. I was accused stealing money.
8. Somebody is using the computer at the moment.
a. The computer is being used at the moment.
b. The computer at the moment is being used.
c. The computer is being used by somebody at the moment.
d. The computer is used at the moment.








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9. The bill includes service.
a. Service is included by the bill.
b. Service included in the bill.
c. Service is included in the bill.
d. Service is in the bill.
10. They have changed the date of the meeting.
a. The date of the meeting has been changed.
b. The date of the meeting has been changed by them.
c. The meeting has been changed the date.
d. The date of the meeting has changed.








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1. The old lady was … exhausted after the long walk.
a. very b. aboslutely c. pretty d. fairly.
2. The old man is said……………. all his money to an old people’s home when he died.
a. to leave b. to leaving c. have left d. to have left.
3. Nobody was injured in the accident, …………?
a. was there b. was he c. were they d. weren’t they.
4. Renoir’s paintings…masterpieces all over the world.
a. had considered b. are considered c. are considering d. consider.
5. He was advised…………singing lessons.
a. take b. taken c. taking d. to take.








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6. You’d better get someone………your living room.
a. Redecorate b. redecorated c. to redecorate d. redecorating.
7. When………….. ? In 1928.
a. penicillin was discovered b. did pencillin discoved.
c. was penicillin discoverd d. did pencillin discover.
8. I don’t remember…………….. of the decision to change the company policy on vacations.
a. telling b. being told c. to tell d. to be told.
9. The children ……………to the zoo.
a. were enjoyed taken b. enjoyed being taken
c. were enjoyed taking d. enjoyed taking.








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10. A new bike was bought …………. him on his birthday.
a. to b. for c. with d. on.
11. His car needs ……………….
a. be fixed b. fixing c. to be fixing d. fixed.
12. Her watch needs…………….
a. reparing b. to be repairedc. repaired d. a&b.
13. He was said………………. this building.
a. designing b. to have designed c. to designs d. designed








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14. Ted…………. by a bee while he was sitting in the garden.
a. got sting b. got stung c. get stung d. gets stung
15. Let the children………….. taken to the cinema.
a. to b. be c. to be d. being









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1. It has been said that UFO sightings are increasing.
a. People say that UFO sightings are increasing.
b. people have said that UFO sightings are increasing.
c. That UFO sightings are increasing is true.
d. UFO has been said to be inreasing.
2. He is getting them mend the windows.
a. He’s having the windows to mend. b. He’s having to mend the windows.
c. He’s having to be mended the windows. d. He is having the windows mended.








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3. They made her hand over her passport.
She was made to hand over her passport.
b. She was made hand over her passport.
c. She was handed over to make her passport.
d. She was handed over for her passport to make.
4. Don’t let the others see you.
Don’t let you to be seen.
b. Don’t let yourself be seen.
c. You aren’t to be seen by the others.
d. Both a &c allowed.








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5. They say that many people are homeless after the tsunami.
a. They say many people to have been homeless after the tsunami.
b. They say many piople to bbe homeless after the tsunami.
c. Many people are said to have been homeless after the tsunami.
d. Many people are said to be homeless after the tsunami.








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6. They know that the Prime Minister is in favour of the new law.
a. The Prime minister is known to have been in favour of the new law.
b. They know the Prime Minister to be in favour of the new law.
c. The Prime Minister is known to be in favour of the new law.
d. They know the Prime Minister to have been in favour of the new law.









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7. They expect that the government will lose the election.
a. The government is expected to have lost the election.
b. The government is expected to lose the election.
c. They expect the government to lose the election.
d. They expect the government have lost election.








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8. I didn’t realize that somebody was recording our conversation.
a. I didn’t realize that our conversation was recorded.
b. I didn’t realize that our conversation was being recorded.
c. I didn’t realize that our conversation was being recorded by someone.
d. Our conversation wasn’t realized to be recorded.








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9. They never made us do anything we didn’t want to do.
a. We are never made to do anything we didn’t want to do.
b. We were never made to do anything we didn’t want to do.
c. We have never made to do anything we didn’t want to do.
d. We had never made to do anything we didn’t want to do.
street.








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10. Brian told me that somebody had attacked him in the street.
a. I was told by Brian that somebody had attacked him in the street.
b. I was told by Brian that he had been attacked in the street.
c. Brian told me to have been attacked in the street.
d. Brian told me that he had been attacked in the








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1. All bottles _________ before transportation.
A. frozen B. is frozen C. was frozen D. were frozen
2. Everything that _________ remained a secret.
A. had be overheard B. had been overheard
C. had been overheared D. would had been overheard
3. Everything ___________.
A. were forbidden B. is forbidden C. is forbidded D. are forbidden
4. Everything___________________________.
A. are going to be forgotten B. is going to be forgotten
C. is going to be forgot D. were going to be forgotten








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5. I___________________________.
A. have not given the money B. have not been given the money C. have not been give the money D. have not be given the money
6. It _______ for years.
A. has not be known B. had not been known
C. had not be known D. have not been known
7. It _________ that learning English is easy.
A. are said B. said C. is said D. is sayed
8. John and Ann_____________________.
were not mislead B. were not misleeded
C. was not misled D. were not misled








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9. Our horses ________.
A. are well feeded B. are well fedC. is well fed D. is well feeded
10. Peter and Tom _____ in an accident yesterday.
A. is hurt B. is hurted C. were hurt D. were hurted
11. South Florida and HawaiI _____by a hurricane.
A. is hit B. have been hit C. have are hit D. has been hit
12. The battles _________ for liberation.
A. had be fought B. had been fighted C. had been fought D. has been fought








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13. We can’t go along here because the road..........
A. is repairing B. is repaired C. is being repaired D. repairs
14. The story I’ve just read______ Agatha Christie.
A. was written B. was written by C. was written from D. wrote by
15. I’m going to go out and_________
A. have cut my hair B. have my hair cut C. cut my hair D. my hair be cut
16.Something funny_________ in class yesterday.
A. happened B. was happened C. happens D. is happened








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17. Many US automobiles___ in Detroit, Michigan.
A. manufacture B. have manufactured C. are manufactured D. are manufacturing
18. A lot of pesticide residue can…unwashed produce.
A. find B. found C. be finding D. be found
19. We_________ by a loud noise during the night.
A. woke up B. are woken up C. were woken up D. were waking up
20. Some film stars_________ difficult to work with.
A. are said be B. are said to be C. say to be D. said to be








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21. Why did Tom keep making jokes about me? – I don’t enjoy_________ at.
A. be laughed B. to be laughed C. laughing D. being laughed
22. Today, many serious childhood diseases _______ by early immunization. [ sự miễn dịch]
A. are preventing B. can prevent C. prevent D. can be prevented
23. Do you get your heating_________ every year?
A. Checking B. check C. be checked D. checked
24. Bicycles____ in the driveway. A. must not leave B. must not be leaving C. must not be left D. must not have left








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25. Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony_________ next weekend. [ Symphony: khúc giao hưởng]
A. is going to be performedB. has been performed C. will be performing D. will have perform
26. All bottles_________ before transportation.
A. frozen B. were froze C. were frozen D. are froze
27. _________________. yet? A. Have the letters been typed B. Have been the letters typed C. Have the letters typed D. Had the letters typed









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28. English has become a second language in countries like India, Nigeria or Singapore where `_________ for administration, broadcasting and education.
A. is used B. it is used C. used D. being used
29. The telephones____ by Alexander Graham Bell.
A. is invented B. is inventing C. invented D. was invented
30. Lots of houses_________ by the earthquake.
A. are destroying B. destroyed C. were destroyed D. is destroyed







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31. Gold_________ in California in the 19th century.
A. was discovered B. has been discovered C. was discover D. they discover
32. The preparation_________ by the time the guest_________
A. had been finished- arrived B. have finished- arrived
C. had finished-were arriving D. have been finished- were arrived
33. The boy_________ by the teacher yesterday.
A. punish B. punished C. punishing D. was punished








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34.“Ms Jones, please type those letters before noon”_ “They’ve already ______, sir. They’re on your desk.”
A. typed B. been being typed C. being typed D. been typed
35. Sarah is wearing a blouse. It___________ of cotton.
A. be made B. are made C. is made D. made
36. They had a boy _________ that yesterday.
A. Done B. to do C. did D. do








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37. We got our mail _________ yesterday.
A. been delivered B. delivered C. delivering D. to deliver
38. James…….. the news as soon as possible.
A. should tell B. should be told C. should told D. should be telled
39. My wedding ring _____ yellow and white gold.
A. is made B. is making C. made D. make
40. Mr. Wilson is _________ as Willie to his friend. A. known B. knew C. is known D. know








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41. References ______ in the examination room.
A. not are used B. is not used C. didn’t used D. are not used
42. Laura _________ in Boston.
A. are born B. were born C. was born D. born
43. His car needs _________
A. be fixed B. fixing C. to be fixing D. fixed
44. Her watch needs _________.
A. repairing B. to be repaired C. repaired D. A and B








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45. My mother is going _________ this house.
A. sold B. sell C. to be sold D. to sell
46. There’s somebody behind us. I think we are ___.
A. being followed B. are followed C. follow D. following
47. Have you _________ by a dog?
A. Bite B. bit C. ever been bitten D. ever been bit
48. The room is being _________ at the moment. A. was cleaned B. cleaned C. cleaning D. clean








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49. It _________ that the strike will end soon.
A. is expected B. expected C. are expected D. was expected
50. It is _________ that many people are homeless after the floods.
A. was reported B. reports C. reported D. reporting
51. He was said _________ this building.
A. Designing B. to have designed C. to design D. designed
52. Ted __ by a bee while he was sitting in the garden.
A. got sting B. got stung C. get stung D. gets stung








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53. These tennis courts don’t _________ very often. Not many people want to play.
A. got used B. used C. get used D. get use
54. I’ll get Minh _________ this for you.
A. do B. done C. did D. to do
55. Those letters __ now. You can do the typing later.
A. need typing B. needn`t be typed C. need to type D. needn`t typing
56. “What a beautiful dress you are wearing”- “thanks, it___ especially for me by a French tailor. ”
A. is made B. has made C. made D. was made








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57. Somebody cleans the room every day.
A. The room everyday is cleaned. B. The room is every day cleaned. C. The room is cleaned every day. D. The room is cleaned by somebody every day.
58. People don’t use this road very often.
This road is not used very often. B. Not very often this road is not used. C. This road very often is not used. D. This road not very often is used.
59. How do people learn languages?
A. How are languages learned? B. How are languages learned by people? C. How languages are learned? D. Languages are learned how?








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60. Over 1500 new houses _________ each year. Last year, 1720 new houses _________.
A. were built/ were built B. are built/ were built C. are building / were built D. were built/ were being built
61. Tom bought that book yesterday.
A. That book was bought by Tom yesterday. B. That book was bought yesterday by Tom.
C. That book yesterday was bought by Tom D. That book was bought yesterday.
62. The new computer system ____ next month.
A. is be installed B. is being installed C. is been installed D. is being installed by people








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Good luck!



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