读短文，用所给动词的适当形式填空。
James wrote a play for television about a family who came to England from India, and the play was very
interesting. It 1_____ (buy) by an American TV company. James 2_____ (invite) to go to New York to help
them. He lived in Washington, which is an hour away from New York by air. The plane 3_____ (take) off at
8:30 in the morning. So he had to be at the airport at about 7:30. He ordered a taxi for 6:30 and went to sleep.
He forgot to wind the clock, so he was late for the plane. He was just 4_____ (prepare) his coffee when the
radio sent out another news, "Reports are coming in of a plane crash (飞机坠落) near Washington airport.
A Boeing 707 fly to New York crashed shortly after taking off this morning. Plane number 2234..." James
suddenly turned pale (苍白). "My plane," he said aloud. "If I haven't 5_____ (be) late, I'd have been on the
plane!"
