CPE Multiple Choice Cloze

Index
For questions 1- 8, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap. EXAM DESCRIPTION

Atlantis

While scholars almost universally have considered the story of Atlantis little more than a fine (1) ... , does the fact alone preclude it (2) ... being true? Though the story is written as an imaginary dialogue, it contains a (3) ... of detail that seems out of place in a piece of pure fiction. Additionally, Plato himself implies that the story was true and takes great (4) ... to explain how the story came to him through various intermediaries. Why employ such an elaborate (5) ... if it was intended purely as a fable? Unless we are prepared to accept that Plato lied, which would seem (6) ... with history's view of him as one of the most ethical men of the ancient world, it seems presumptuous to simply dismiss it as a work of fiction and leave it (7) ... that. On the other hand, there is no especially compelling reason to assume Plato could not have been duped himself, as so erroneously portrayed a purely (8) ... story as fact; after all, anyone – even the greatest individual of all time, or so one would imagine – is capable of being deceived.

  1. A) yolk B) yell C) yarn D) yard
  2. A) from B) at C) by D) for
  3. A) wealth B) source C) riches D) treasure
  4. A) care B) pride C) delight D) pains
  5. A) rite B) ruse C) totem D) braid
  6. A) inconsistent B) erratic C) contrary D) variable
  7. A) with B) as C) like D) at
  8. A) fictional B) fractious C) fictitious D) fricative

ANSWERS


YARN
NOUN (informal) YARN
A long story, especially one that is exaggerated or invented:
The old captain would often spin us a yarn about life aboard ship.

FROM
VERB + PREPOSITION PRECLUDE sb FROM sth
To prevent something or make something impossible:
The injury precluded him from having an athletic career.

WEALTH
NOUN + PREPOSITION WEALTH OF
A large amount of something:
The new manageress brings a great wealth of experience to the job.

PAINS
IDIOM TAKE GREAT PAINS TO DO STH
Make a special effort to do something:
She's taken great pains to improve her image.

RUSE
COLLOCATION ELABORATE RUSE
A plan or trick used for hiding your true intentions:
Barbara tried to think of a ruse to get him out of the house.

INCONSISTENT
ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION INCONSISTENT WITH
Not in agreement with something:
The decision was inconsistent with the company's policy.

AT
IDIOM LEAVE IT AT THAT
To not do anything more about something:
You've said you're sorry, so let's leave it at that.

FICTITIOUS
ADJECTIVE FICTITIOUS
Invented by somebody rather than true:
All the places and characters in her film are fictitious.
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