The present perfect or the past simple?

We use the past simple to talk about an action which happened at a specific time in the past, often with a time reference.
Q Have you tried the new swimming pool?
A Yes. I went there for a swim last night.

to the American government in 1967.
Alaska has only been an American state since 1959.
1. Which tense is used to talk generally about a past experience?
2. Which tense is used to give specific details about a past action?

the Rings three times.
2.Sally____(watch) a video last night.
3.I ___ (just/write)a letter- can you post it?
4. Maria____ (send) a postcard to her grandmother last week.
5.James ___ (buy)some new trainers and he’s very happy with them.
6. Peter ____ (run) a marathon yesterday.
7. Sarah____ (never/go)ice skating before.

music concerts___ (you/go) to?
3.Where___ (you/go) for your last holiday?
4.___ (you/do) a parachute jump before?
5.___ (you/watch) television yesterday?
6.Which foreign cities___(you/visit)?
7.___(you/ever/climb) a mountain?
8.What___(you/get) for your birthday?

Dixons___(live) at Winterlake Lodge in the Alaskan wilderness for many years. They___(open) their first lodge in 1983.
They___(come) face to face with bears more than once. One winter, a bear___(come) into the house at night,___(eat) some fruit and___(break) a window before leaving.
The teenage daughters___(learn) how to cook using their home-grown food.
Until a few years ago, they___(keep) honeybeers, but the honey___(attract) too many bears!
Nature___(always/play) an important part in their everyday lives.
The family___(just/celebrate) Christmas.

perfect or the past simple