FCE Multiple Choice Cloze Online Tests 1

1. A) so	B) despite	C) in spite of	D) although
2. A) whole	B) consequently	C) rule	D) result
3. A) regularly	B) occasionally	C) commonly	D) unusually
4. A) in	B) from	C) on	D) of
5. A) historic	B) historical	C) historically	D) historian
6. A) at	B) in	C) on	D) for
7. A) sit	B) catch	C) do	D) make
8. A) few	B) a few	C) little	D) a little

Answers

GAP 1 (ALTHOUGH) ... 264 km east to west - although the land area increases slightly ... ↑_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _↑
INCREASES is a verb
ALTHOUGH => (CONJUNCTION) expresses the idea of contrast.
ALTHOUGH + SUBJECT + VERB
Common Errors:
Although the rain, we had the picnic. X ALTHOUGH cannot be followed by a noun!
Although it was raining, we had the picnic. V ALTHOUGH must be followed by a subject and a verb!

GAP 2 (RESULT) ... slightly each year as a result of continuous land reclamation and drainage... ↑_ _ _ _ _ _↑
AS A RESULT OF => DUE TO, BECAUSE OF
AS A RESULT OF => anything that is due to something already done.
AS A RESULT OF + NOUN
Common Errors:
As a result of he was disobedient, his boss fired him. X AS A RESULT OF cannot be followed by a verb!
As a result of his disobedience, his boss fired him. V AS A RESULT OF must be followed by a noun!

GAP 3 (COMMONLY) ... much to offer, 'Holland,' as it is commonly known to most of us ... ↑_ _ _ _ _ _↑
COMMONLY + KNOWN => COLLOCATION
COMMONLY KNOWN => widely known usually or by most people.
Other Collocations:
COMMONLY ABUSED, COMMONLY AFFECTED, COMMONLY INJURED,
COMMONLY MISSED, COMMONLY SEEN, COMMONLY PRESCRIBED.

GAP 4 (FROM) ... to most of us abroad - a name stemming from its once most prominent provinces ... ↑_ _ _ _ _↑
STEM + FROM => VERB + PREPOSITION
STEM FROM => to be caused by, to come from (something or someone).
Common Errors:
~~Her fear of spiders stems of an incident in her childhood.~~ X
Her fear of spiders stems from an incident in her childhood. V

GAP 5 (HISTORIC) ... You'll be impressed by its historic cities and charmed by its countryside and villages, ... ↑_ _ _ _↑
HISTORIC + CITY => a historic city is very old.
HISTORIC => something important or influential in history. (HISTORIC BUILDING/EVENT/MOMENT/PLACE/SPOT).
HSTORICAL => refers to anything from the past, important or not. (HISTORICAL NOVEL/EVIDENCE/SOCIETY/CONTEXT).
Common Errors:
David writes historic novels. X
David writes historical novels.V

GAP 6 (ON) ... From the exciting variety on offer, you could choose a romantic canal boat tour ... ↑_ _↑
ON + OFFER => FIXED PHRASE
ON OFFER => for sale, often cheaply.
Common Errors:
~~That shop has carpets at offer at £50 each.~~ X
That shop has carpets on offer at £50 each.V

GAP 7 (MAKE) ... which is on hand to give you information and make reservations. You'll have ... ↑_ _ _ _ _ _↑
MAKE + A RESERVATION => COLLOCATION
MAKE A RESERVATION => when you arrange to have something such as a seat on an aircraft or a table at a restaurant kept for you.
Common Errors:
~~I'd like to do a room reservation for three people.~~ X
I'd like to make a room reservation for three people.V

GAP 8 (FEW) ... and make reservations. You'll have few language problems here, as the Dutch are true linguists ... ↑_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _↑
FEW => DETERMINER
FEW => not many | A FEW => some | used with countable nouns
LITTLE => not much | A LITTLE => some | used with uncountable nouns
Common Errors:
~~She's got a lot of money but a few friends.~~ X A FEW doesn't make sense in this sentence!
She's got a lot of money but few friends.V

FCE Multiple Choice Cloze

The Netherlands

Answers