Use of English Part 1: Open Cloze

Use of English Part 1: Open Cloze

You will read a short text which a numberof gaps. For each gap you have to add the missing word. In the exam you transfer your answer to a special answer sheet. Part 1 tests your knowledge of grammar & vocabulary.

1. Parts of speech
The missing word is often (but not always) one of the parts of speech that are listed in the quiz below. Try this exercise to see how well you can identify them:


2. Pronouns/Relative pronouns
Words like 'you', 'her', 'which', 'that' are often the missing word.

3. Articles/Quantifiers
Articles, 'a', 'the' and quantifiers like, 'much', 'many', 'all', 'enough' etc. are often required.

4. Modal/Auxiliary Verbs
Verbs like 'must', 'can', 'be' and other modal or auxiliary verbs are often the missing word.

5. Conjunctions
Conjunctions (linking words) like 'but', 'and', 'yet' etc. will sometimes be the word you are looking for.

6. Prepositions
Prepositions ('in', 'at', 'on' etc.)will very often be the missing word. You may also find that either the verb or the preposition of a phrasal verb is gapped.

7. Sentence level practice
Most of the categories listed above are tested in the following exercise along with words that do not fit into these groups.


Here you are some examples:

Read the following passages carefully and then fill in the blanks with one correct or best answer.

(I)

People of the olden days seldom had feet problems. This may be due to the fact ___1___ their shoes were more comfortable. They ___2___ made from animal skin which did ___3___ harm the feet. Foot sores became ___4___ common with the discovery of wooden ___5___ cloth shoes. No account was taken ___6___ the anatomy of the right or ___7___ foot in the making of wooden ___8___. They were made clumsily or hastily. ___9___ of this, shoes caused more harm ___10___ good. Friction between the feet and the inner lining of the shoes created painful corns and bunions which sometimes resulted in deformed feet.

(II)

Many of us are still unaware of or are indifferent to the need to preserve rare species. Some people argue that species have ___1___ dying out since life began. "So ___2___ should we worry about them now ?" ___3___ ask. They calmly believe that others ___4___ take their place. What these people ___5___ not realize is that it will ___6___ millions of years before a set ___7___ species is evolved to replace those ___8___ are rapidly losing. These species are ___9___ national heritage. We should not let ___10___ die off. They should be preserved for our decendants.

(III)

The cobra is not swift in attacking as one is led to believe. It first erects the hood and ___1___ flattens the neck. A characteristic marking, ___2___ like a pair of spectacles, appears ___3___ the neck. As the cobra raises ___4___ hood, it also sways from side ___5___ side in a slow rhythmic manner. ___6___ several seconds or minutes of this, ___7___ strikes by darting its head forward ___8___ downwards and the fangs sink into ___9___ flesh of the victim. The teeth ___10___ on to the prey until it dies of the venom. The venom can kill in a few minutes.

Answers

People of the olden days seldom had feet problems. This may be due to the fact that their shoes were more comfortable. They were made from animal skin which did not harm the feet. Foot sores became more/very common with the discovery of wooden and cloth shoes. No account was taken of the anatomy of the right or left foot in the making of wooden shoes. They were made clumsily or hastily. Because of this, shoes caused more harm than good. Friction between the feet and the inner lining of the shoes created painful corns and bunions which sometimes resulted in deformed feet.

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Many of us are still unaware of or are indifferent to the need to preserve rare species. Some people argue that species have been dying out since life began. "So why should we worry about them now ?" they ask. They calmly believe that others would take their place. What these people do not realize is that it will take millions of years before a set of species is evolved to replace those we are rapidly losing. These species are our national heritage. We should not let them die off. They should be preserved for our descendants.

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The cobra is not swift in attacking as one is led to believe. It first erects the hood and then flattens the neck. A characteristic marking, just like a pair of spectacles, appears on the neck. As the cobra raises its hood, it also sways from side to side in a slow rhythmic manner. After several seconds or minutes of this, it strikes by darting its head forward and downwards and the fangs sink into the flesh of the victim. The teeth hold on to the prey until it dies of the venom. The venom can kill in a few minutes.