Past Simple vs. Past Continuous – Past simple o past continuous?

David _____ late in his backyard vegetable garden when the door lock broke. (work)

was working

A heavy rain _____ outside while they gathered the small plants. (fall)

was falling

The strong wind _____ loudly through the nearby trees all evening. (blow)

was blowing

Suddenly, a big gust of wind _____ the greenhouse door shut. (slam)

slammed

The metal lock _____ under the intense pressure of the wind. (break)

broke

The main exit _____ completely blocked after the door jammed. (become)

became

David _____ his small wooden shovel onto the wet floor. (drop)

dropped

While he _____ for his toolbox, there was a loud clap of thunder. (look)

was looking

A loud clap of thunder suddenly _____ directly overhead. (crash)

crashed

Clara _____ vegetables inside for dinner when she heard the glass shake. (cut)

was cutting

I _____ the glass shake from inside the small kitchen. (hear)

heard

I _____ to open the lock when you ran out into the yard. (try)

was trying

David successfully _____ the broken metal lock two minutes later. (fix)

fixed

While they _____ the heavy door open together, the wind stopped. (pull)

were pulling

The wind _____ for a short moment during the storm. (stop)

stopped

David _____ broadly and gathered his gardening tools. (smile)

smiled

He _____ back inside the house with the dry firewood. (walk)

walked

We _____ the small tomato plants into the greenhouse at 11:00 PM last night. (move)

were moving

The mailman _____ an important letter yesterday morning during the rain. (deliver)

delivered

First he picked the green apples, and then he _____ the basket with a rope. (tie)

tied

The old wooden fence _____ perfectly stable before the storm hit it. (look)

looked

What _____ you _____ when the heavy flowerpot broke open? (do)

were / doing

He _____ a clay pot while he was lifting the heavy dirt bags. (break)

broke

The sun _____ brilliantly when the rain finally stopped this morning. (shine)

was shining

They _____ the backyard garden map two days ago by hand. (draw)

drew

Suddenly, a small stray cat _____ on top of the greenhouse roof. (appear)

appeared

While the children _____ the old dirt, the rain started again. (mix)

were mixing

The gardener _____ the missing tools, cleaned them, and put them away. (find)

found

They _____ for the storm to pass all afternoon under the porch. (wait)

were waiting

The farmer _____ digging the long water trench two weeks ago. (finish)

finished