GAP-FILLING OR CLOZE EXERCISES

Part 2 of the Use of English paper tests your knowledge of grammar. You are given a text with 15 gaps in it, and you have to fill each gap with one word. Follow these steps to help you do this well.

1. READING A TEXT

Read the text below through a couple of times, until you have seen the whole picture. The text will have a title, so think about it:

-  Is it a good summary of the content?
-  Which would be the best title for this example text?

a)  COOKING WITH SPICES
b)  MAGELLAN'S GREAT ADVENTURE
c)  SPICES AND THE AGE OF DISCOVERY  (correct)

In Medieval Europe, spices from the Far East like cloves and nutmeg were literally worth their weight in gold. Take, for example, Magellan's trip (0) round the world (1) in the sixteenth century. His trip (2) lasted for three years and only a (3) few people survived the dangers of the expedition. But they came home with just over one ton (4) of cloves. These cloves repaid the Spanish king for his huge investment (5) in the expedition and made (6) the eighteen survivors rich for life.

Spices (7) were highly valued. They made badly preserved meat taste better. People also used (8) them to make medicines and magic drinks. At that time these were said to be able to cure anything (9) from a serious disease to a lover's heartache.

The islands (10) where the spices grew are hardly visible (11) on any world map. But they attracted adventurers from all over Europe who hoped to make (12) their fortunes. In this way men who were mainly (13) interested in money became known (14) as discoverers of a new world.

That is (15) why Europeans call the sixteenth century the Age of Discovery.

2. FILLING IN THE GAPS

Start filling in the gaps. There is an example at the beginning (0) which is always done. Do the easy gaps first - don't be afraid to move backwards and forwards through the text.

3. ABOUT DIFFICULT GAPS

Work at the difficult gaps. Think about the grammar and the meaning of the missing word. Let's check this example:

His trip (2) . . . for three years and only a (3) . . . people survived the dangers of the expedition.

(2) You need a verb after 'His trip'. It is followed by 'for three years', so it must be something to do with time. 'For' suggests duration. What about lasted, spent or took? Which is right? Why?

(3) What sort of word would fit grammatically before 'people'? What about couple, few or some? Which is right? Why?

FINAL ADVICE

Check your ideas. When you have filled in a gap, read the sentence through and ask yourself:

-  Does it make sense?
-  Does it sound like good, correct English?
 

Remember:

1. Only ONE word per gap. Never put in two, even if they make sense.

2. If you have no idea what to put. guess. You don't lose marks for a wrong answer - and you might just be right!