Put the verbs in brackets into the past indefinite and the past continuous. 1. mary (play) the piano. 2. john (read)

1.Mary played the piano
Mary was playing the piano
2.John read
John was reading

1) the past indefinite: Mary played 
    the past countinious Mary was playing
2) John read
    John was reading 
Ну вот так, а вообще там от контекста зависит.