(UFRGS -2008)As the 2007 Pan-American Games set fo

(UFRGS - 2008)

As the 2007 Pan-American Games set for Rio de Janeiro approached, it seemed that everything was ⁴going the wrong way. Most Rio ²dwellers and Brazilians in general didn't think the city would be able to host this major ³sporting event.

In 2007, besides a rise in crime, air traffic problems escalated almost to a chaotic state, and the structural works for the games fell alarmingly behind schedule. ¹__________, in a ⁵surprising manner, at the opening ceremony at Maracana Stadium, ⁸it seemed like all the problems had magically vanished.

The late structural works were suddenly solved at the last minute, in the best Brazilian tradition, and the overwhelming majority of events took place peacefully, except for ⁹a persistent and impolite booing from the spectators towards Americans, Argentineans and anyone playing against a Brazilian competitor.

Rio de Janeiro bade farewell to the ⁶participating delegations with a taste for ⁷hosting big events, and an eye at the Olympic Games of 2016. All things considered, the city's homework was definitely ¹⁰well done.

Adapted from: MOTA, Alan. 2007 Ohmy News International Sports. 30 jul. 2007. Acesso em: 05 set. 2007

 

Consider the sentence "it seemed like all the problems had magically vanished" (ref. 8).

Rewrite it in the present tense by completing the blanks with the correct alternative.

It __________ like all the problems __________ magically __________.