Open Cloze

For questions 1-8, read the text below and think of the word which fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. EXAM DESCRIPTION

Holidays

Whatever you do in tourism, you are likely to have a (1) ... of contact (2) ... other people. That can be both enjoyable (3) ... difficult. You will soon find (4) ... how often people behave unlike their usual selves while on holiday, or while trying to arrange it. (5) ... they stay in their own country or go abroad, they want to get away from it all. They (6) ... paying hard-earned money to relax from work, so they want value (7) ... money.

They will also be in unfamiliar surroundings and unsure of themselves. When things go well, their happiness is infectious - it is rewarding to help (8) ... and contribute to the enjoyment of their holiday. When things go badly, clients blame the hotel staff or the tour operator's representative, even if it isn't their fault. You've just got to keep calm and keep smiling when people are shouting at you.

Answers

GAP 1 (LOT) ... tourism, you are likely to have a lot of contact with other people. This can be ... ↑_ _ _↑
A LOT OF => DETERMINER
A LOT OF => a large number or amount of somebody/something.
Common Errors:
~~She's got many friends in the town.~~ X MANY is used mainly in questions and negative sentences.
She's got a lot of friends in the town. V In statements A LOT OF (informal) is much more common.

GAP 2 (WITH) ... you are likely to have a lot of contact with other people. This can be both enjoyable ... ↑_ _ _↑
CONTACT + WITH => NOUN + PREPOSITION
CONTACT WITH sb => the act of communicating with somebody, especially regularly.
Common Errors:
~~He's lost contact to all his relatives.~~ X
He's lost contact with all his relatives. V

GAP 3 (AND) ... This can be both enjoyable and difficult. You will soon find out how often people behave ... ↑_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _↑
BOTH ... AND ... => CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTION
BOTH ... AND ... => used before two words or phrases connected with and to stress that each is included.
Common Errors:
Both Carol and Marion is attending the course. X
Both Carol and Marion are attending the course. V PLURAL VERB FORM!

GAP 4 (OUT) ... difficult. You will soon find out how often people behave unlike their usual selves while ... ↑_ _↑
FIND + OUT => PHRASAL VERB
FIND OUT => to get some information about something/somebody by asking, reading, etc.
Other Fixed Phrases and Idioms:
FIND FAULT => to criticize someone or something.
FIND YOUR WAY => to reach a place by discovering the right way to get there.
FIND YOUR WAY (TO) => to discover the right route (to a place).

GAP 5 (WHETHER) ... holiday. Whether they stay in their own country or go abroad, they want to get away ... ↑_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _↑
WHETHER ... OR ... => CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTION
WHETHER ... OR ... => used to express a doubt or choice between two possibilities.
Common Errors:
John was uncertain if to go or stay. V LESS FORMAL but also correct!
John was uncertain whether to go or stay. V MORE FORMAL

GAP 6 (ARE) ... want to get away from it all. They are paying hard-earned money to relax from work ... ↑_ _ _↑
AUXILIARY VERB + (VERB + ING) => PRESENT CONTINUOUS
ARE => used with a present participle to form progressive tenses.
Common Errors:
~~You are coming with us?~~ X
Are you coming with us? V

GAP 7 (FOR) ... work, so they want value for money. They will also be in unfamiliar surroundings ... ↑_ _ _ _ _↑
VALUE + FOR + MONEY => IDIOM
VALUE FOR MONEY => (BRITISH ENGLISH) good value, or the quality of being good value.
Common Errors:
~~It cost only 5 €, a great value of money.~~ X
It cost only 5 €, a great value for money. V

GAP 8 (OTHERS) ... it is rewarding to help others and contribute to the enjoyment of their holiday ... ↑_ _ _ _
OTHERS => DETERMINER
OTHERS => WITHOUT NOUN (PLURAL UNSPECIFIC) refers to 'different or additional people or things'.
Common Errors:
~~I don't want those books. I want another.~~ X
I don't want those books. I want others. V OTHERS without NOUN!