Question

1). When the old man got up/had got up to speak, everyone applauded.
2). They were chatting as if they knew/had known each other all their lives.
3). I was taking/took an umbrella because it was raining/rained.
4). It was a cold winter tonight. It was snowing/snowed hard and I was wanting/wanted to get back home quickly.

Answer 1

had got up
had known
took
was raining
was snowing
was waiting