CLOZE REVISION 1
Circle A, B, C or D that best fits each blank in the following passages
And Dave is Wearing ...
Why is it that the average man has a(n) (1) ___ to buying clothes? In fact, shopping probably (2) ___ as high as visits to the
dentist or doing the washing up on the male 'Most Hated Chores' list. While a woman may sit happily (3) ___ through glossy
fashion magazines, then spend hours trying to (4) ___ her favourite top model, her male partner spends approximately five
minutes deciding what to wear, even less time putting it on, and is out of the front door before she has even (5) ___ her
underwear. Women seek out ways to look different, while men generally choose clothes which are as (6) ___ as possible. She
will be horrified if another woman is wearing the same dress at a party, whereas for him, finding someone else in the same
attire will simply confirm that he belongs and is not a freak.
1. A hatred
2. A ranks
3. A roaming
4. A emulate
5. A dressed
6. A indescribable
B distaste
B stands
B turning
B envisage
B worn
B nondescript
C aversion
C places
C rifling
C visualise
C donned
C obscure
D horror
D aims
D leafing
D embody
D adorned
D nonexistent
All Aboard!
An old, ostensibly obsolete Thames barge has gained an unexpected (1) ___ of life. A young couple have bought it and intend
to (2) ___ it into a floating home. This move (3) ___ a major change in the couple's lifestyle. 'We had been feeling (4) ___
boxed in by our small flat in the centre,' says Cathy Smythe, 'but with such (5) ___ house prices, the possibility of moving
anywhere else in the city seemed a million years away. Then someone jokingly mentioned houseboats, and that gave us the
idea.' A broker showed them various vessels and the Smythes saw potential in the barge. 'We (6) ___ for the Thames barge
because of its broadness,' explains David, Cathy's husband. 'It's actually very spacious below. And, of course, the price was
right!' Let's hope that life afloat lives up to their expectations.
1. A spark
2. A convert
3. A rates
4. A exclusively
5. A extortionate
6. A chose
B lease
B alter
B marks
B extensively
B opulent
B decided
C addition
C transfer
C infers
C decidedly
C stupendous
C agreed
D loan
D adapt
D announces
D drastically
D lavish
D opted
The Trouble with Numbers
I need help. I can't work, I can't sleep; the situation's getting out of (1) ___. Try as I (2) ___, I just can't resist opening the paper
every morning at the puzzle page. It's this Su Doku numbers game everyone's been (3) ___ about. Although it looks
straightforward at first (4) ___ it's fiendishly deceptive. You start with a simple-looking grid of nine rows by nine, split into nine
boxes with nine squares in each. The (5) ___ of the game is to fill in the grid so that every row, column and box contains the
numbers one to nine. You think, no problem, I'll just have a quick go. Five minutes and I'll (6) ___ this. But oh, no! You get
hooked. The tricky ones niggle you and you can't stop. I've been late for work twice this week. And now there's talk of them
adding the game to mobile phones!
1. A sorts
2. A could
3. A craving
4. A glance
5. A task
6. A break
B world
B might
B longing
B look
B object
B win
C hand
C can
C raging
C peep
C exercise
C crack
D mind
D should
D raving
D glimpse
D goal
D split
Rubik's Cube
One of the most recognisable fad icons of the 1980s has to be Rubik's cube - a three-dimensional toy made up of twenty-six
smaller interconnecting cubes, which can be (1) ___ either vertically or horizontally to form 'faces' of six different colours. The
cube was invented in the mid -1970s by Erno Rubik, a Hungarian engineer fascinated by geometrical (2) ___ although it wasn't
until the end of the decade that people began to show an interest in the toy. Then suddenly, almost overnight, the craze went
international. Demand for the cubes soon far (3) ___ the original production order of one million and pirated versions (4) ___
the market. It is estimated that over 100 million cubes had been sold by the end of 1982.
It has been calculated that Rubik's cube has over forty-three quintillion (that's 43 followed by 18 zeros) (5) ___, only one of
which will result in the cube displaying all six sides with the same colour. The official record for the fastest (6) ___ belongs to a
Japanese student who completed it in just under fifteen seconds.
1. A revolved
2. A conundrums
3. A expanded
4. A drowned
5. A permutations
6. A undoing
B rotated
B enigmas
B extended
B flooded
B transformations
B unravelling
C swivelled
C riddles
C exceeded
C washed
C incarnations
C unscrambling
D spun
D puzzles
D excelled
D soaked
D conversions
D unwinding
Underfloor Heating Systems
Underfloor heating systems are becoming increasingly popular as an efficient and economical means of heating your home.
They are easy to (1) ___ into any new building or renovation, and can be installed in most homes with few restrictions on the
type of floor covering required. Because they (2) ___ at a much lower temperature than conventional heating, underfloor
heating systems (3) ___ far less fuel and are therefore also more eco-friendly. Another advantage is the absence of radiators,
which can be (4) ___ and take up a great deal of valuable space. What is more, underfloor heating systems are far more
effective than conventional radiators: heat is (5) ___ to the cooler air at floor level, where it is most needed. The now warm air
rises upwards towards the ceiling, resulting in a(n) (6) ___ distribution of heat across the whole room.
1. A fuse
2. A activate
3. A consume
4. A blatant
5. A drafted
6. A standardised
B assimilate
B operate
B devour
B outstanding
B transferred
B level
C amalgamate
C stimulate
C gulp
C obtrusive
C carried
C uniform
D integrate
D promote
D dispose
D prominent
D relocated
D unswerving
Strange Meeting
The moment Daniel Wilkins walked into her office that October morning, Cynthia was struck by a(n) (1) ___ feeling of deja vu -
she was sure she had seen him before, but she couldn't quite put her finger on where. She noted that he (2) ___ an almost
tangible air of self-assurance, but with her trained (3) ___ she could also see that he (4) ___ a heavy burden. On the phone
earlier that week, he had explained what he needed and she had conceded that she might be able to help him. But now, as he
settled himself into one of the leather armchairs in her office, she wondered if perhaps she was biting off more than she could
(5) ___ Cynthia listened attentively as Daniel told her a little about himself. While he was speaking, she stood by the window,
(6) ___ out at the blustery tops of the trees in the park, watching the starlings circle as they massed together for their long
migration. She had goosebumps on her arms, but they weren't from the cold.
1. A supernatural
2. A absorbed
3. A eye
4. A dragged
5. A masticate
6. A gaping
B unwieldy
B attracted
B view
B heaved
B eat
B gazing
C mystic
C exuded
C sight
C shouldered
C swallow
C glimpsing
D uncanny
D retained
D perception
D weighed
D chew
D gawking
Breaking the News
Where was he? Sally (1) ___ the living room anxiously, unable to keep still. How would he take the news? Would he be angry?
She doubted it, but then nor would he be over the (2) ___. He might be pleased at first, then worry about how they were going
to cope. How would they cope? She (3) ___ her hands in desperation. Why did it have to happen now, just when he was about
to (4) ___ on his PhD? She was supposed to work and support them both while he studied. Two years later and it would have
been wonderful! But now?
The key turned in the lock and she (5) ___ round, her heart thumping. 'Hi, love,' he said, as he came through the door. Then he
saw her face and stopped dead in his (6) ___ 'What's wrong?' There was nothing for it but to tell him. 'We're going to have a
baby,' she said simply.
1. A stalked
2. A meadow
3. A wrapped
4. A endeavour
5. A swirled
6. A steps
B paced
B hill
B shook
B embark
B rolled
B tracks
C wandered
C top
C wrung
C depart
C coiled
C place
D marched
D moon
D clasped
D undertake
D spun
D feet
Feng Shui
To those of you who are pragmatic and have your feet firmly (1) ___ on the ground, the Chinese art of feng shui may sound like
just another bohemian (2) ___ to be scoffed at.
In fact, if you (3) ___ with the philosophy, you will see that feng shui really does provide practical solutions to the problem of
clutter in your life by encouraging you to reconsider your relationship with your surroundings. You are probably reluctant to part
with mementos, yet this unwillingness (4) ___ creates a connection with the past that prevents you from moving on, and your
home atmosphere becomes (5) ___. By teaching you to clear away clutter and create a fresh atmosphere in your home, feng
shui brings a sense of harmony to your environment and so enhances your personal life. That (6) ___ you may then discover
that you are less sceptical of the philosophy behind it.
1. A attached
2. A fad
3. A discard
4. A subconsciously
5. A torpid
6. A said
B rooted
B phase
B dispel
B unwittingly
B immobile
B done
C placed
C habit
C despatch
C unerringly
C stale
C won
D planted
D whim
D dispense
D indefinitely
D inactive
D finished
Drawing: Talent or Skill?
To many people, the ability to draw seems inexplicable, an innate talent reserved only for the chosen few. For this reason
artists are usually revered, sometimes undeservedly so. That is not to (1) ___ their admirable ability, but they themselves do
little to dispel the mystery surrounding the skill of drawing. For skill it is: one which can be taught and learnt when you go (2)
___ it in the right way. If you ask an artist how she draws so well, she is (3) ___ to say, 'Well, I just look at something and draw
what I see.' This naturally does nothing to help the uninitiated and the mystery is (4) ___. Yet on reflection, the artist's words
define the process of drawing precisely, (5) ___ simplistically. For the secret of drawing lies in the artist's ability to see - not so
much what she sees, but how she sees it. It is the art teacher's job, then, to teach students how to change their way of looking
at things, and the student in turn must learn to adjust her (6) ___ of things.
1. A degrade
2. A around
3. A prone
4. A perpetuated
5. A even though
6. A conception
B belittle
B about
B predisposed
B continued
B nevertheless
B revelation
C defame
C over
C loathe
C extended
C albeit
C perception
D besmear
D through
D liable
D disseminated
D all the same
D vision
Sugar: the fuel of the future?
Brazil has a good track (0) ___ in research in many areas of science and technology. It is in the field of bioenergy, however,
that the country (1) ___ to make its biggest contribution. Brazil is the world's largest producer of sugar and since 1975 has been
fermenting sugar-cane juice into a substance called ethanol, which can be used as motor fuel. For many years, the programme
(2) ___ in virtual isolation from the rest of the world, using fairly low-tech methods. Recently, however, the government has
been investing (3) ___ in research aimed at improving all stages in the process from sugar-cane biology to engine efficiency.
Whilst the motivation for the investment is largely (4) ___ by energy needs rather than environmental concerns, the fuel’s green
(5) ___ are now also being emphasised. Net emissions of carbon dioxide from a car (6) ___ on sugar ethanol are just 20
percent of those from a petrol-fuelled vehicle. (7) ___ the bio-energy programme aims to achieve a significant increase in
supply without a corresponding rise in the amount of farmland (8) ___ to sugar cane.
0. A record
1. A stands
2. A took place
3. A highly
4. A driven
5. A endorsements
6. A performing
7. A Nonetheless
8. A occupied
B story
B sets
B held forth
B strongly
B stemming
B credentials
B working
B Furthermore
B applied
C reputation
C rests
C carried on
C vastly
C drawn
C testaments
C running
C Otherwise
C consigned
D success
D ranks
D kept up
D heavily
D arising
D referrals
D burning
D Instead
D devoted
Should we worry about status?
In recent decades, there has been (0) ___ evidence that an individual's well-being is significantly affected by that person’s
place in the social pecking (1) ___. In other words, given that the world is (2) ___ up of winners and losers, counting ourselves
amongst the latter can open up an uncomfortable gap between the way things are and the way we’d like them to be.
Frequently, we think the solution (3) ___ in achieving more: if we managed to (4) ___ a better salary, house, body or whatever,
we’d be able to drop the competing game and feel contented. But this (5) ___ risks landing us on a treadmill from which it is
impossible to step off. There will always be people who, to our (6) ___ have achieved more than us and we’d constantly be
running to try and catch up with them. (7) ___ of slavishly following our instincts, however, we would do better to use our (8)
___ for reflection to help us decide for ourselves what gives meaning to our life and is therefore worth doing.
0. A mounting
1. A structure
2. A comprised
3. A lies
4. A secure
5. A policy
6. A opinion
7. A ahead
8. A competence
B rising
B layer
B made
B stays
B confirm
B device
B view
B In spite
B capacity
C piling
C strata
C composed
C abides
C effect
C strategy
C mind
C By means
C ability
D building
D order
D done
D sits
D fulfil
D scheme
D belief
D Instead
D expertise
Touchscreen teething problems
The (0) ___ of touchscreen typing didn't suit everyone initially. Some people who had grown (1) ___ to using a conventional
keyboard, missed the physical feedback on whether they had hit the correct key or not. They found the touchscreen slow to
use, whilst the text they produced was (2) ___ with errors, a situation that was (3) ___ if the text was produced on the (4) ___
using a smartphone. Researchers at Maryland University found that many of these errors resulted from (5) ___ in each
individual's typing style. For example, a user might be (6) ___ to hitting the bottom of a key rather than the centre, increasing
the likelihood that they would also hit the key below by mistake, (7) ___ producing so-called 'fat finger’ errors. They also found
that if typing and walking simultaneously, there was a tendency for people to hit a different pan of the key if the tap coincided
with their foot striking the ground. The data produced by the team eventually allowed designers to (8) ___ these very human
characteristics into account in the next generation of touchscreen keyboards.
0. A advent
1. A familiar
2. A strewn
3. A amplified
4. A haste
B onset
B accustomed
B caked
B deteriorated
B transit
C input
C comfortable
C stashed
C exacerbated
C foot
D upshot
D proficient
D clogged
D incensed
D move
5. A whims
6. A prone
7. A therein
8. A hold
B kinks
B apt
B otherwise
B take
C glitches
C inclined
C thereby
C put
D quirks
D liable
D likewise
D bring
OK?
The word OK is ubiquitous in modern English but its origins remain (0) ___ in mystery. Over the years, many theories have
been (1) ___ regarding its derivation but none of them is (2) ___ convincing. The first recorded written use of OK was in 1839,
when it appeared in a newspaper article in Boston, Massachusetts. There was a (3) ___ for wacky acronyms at the time, just as
today's text messages use things like 'LOL', and OK allegedly originated as a misspelling of All Correct. But (4) ___ many of
these acronyms flourished briefly and then gradually (5) ___ out of use, OK has proved to be remarkably (6) ___. It first
reached England in 1870, where it appeared in the words of a popular song, and today is in (7) ___ use across the English-
speaking world. As part of a phrase '... rules OK', it has been a mainstay of urban graffiti since the 1930s and in 1969 it had the
(8) ___ of being the first word spoken on the moon. In short it's a phenomenally useful word.
0. A shrouded
1. A laid out
2. A widely
3. A hype
4. A despite
5. A slipped
6. A resolute
7. A staunch
8. A credit
B smothered
B put forward
B mainly
B craze
B albeit
B faded
B stalwart
B relentless
B pride
C clothed
C drawn u
C wholly
C rage
C whereas
C crept
C steadfast
C durable
C honour
D draped
D brought about
D largely
D whim
D providing
D strayed
D resilient
D constant
D acclaim
Fashions in sightseeing
The question of what (0) ___ an entertaining sightseeing excursion is just as (1) ___ to the whims of fashion as any other
leisure activity. A trip around the spectacular coastal scenery of western Scotland is now a (2) ___ attractive option but a
couple of centuries ago that same landscape was (3) ___ as a wild and scary wasteland.
Increasingly, in western Europe, safely decommissioned mines and other (4) ___ of the region’s industrial heritage are now
being reinvented as visitor attractions, whilst redundant factories and power stations get a new (5) ___ of life as shopping
centres and art galleries. This (6) ___ the question: if defunct industrial sites can attract tourists, then why not functioning ones?
The Yokohama Factory Scenery Night Cruise is just one of several industrial sightseeing tours now available in Japan. These
are part of an emerging niche tourist trade, (7) ___ by a craze amongst young urbanites to reconnect with the country's
industrial base. Seeing the oil refineries and steelworks at night, when lights and flares are more visible, apparently (8) ___ to
the aesthetic charm of the experience.
0. A makes
1. A determined
2. A greatly
3.A referred
4. A legacies
5. A term
6. A begs
7. A demanded
8. A boosts
B holds
B subject
B strongly
B regarded
B remainders
B source
B leads
B powered
B improves
C gives
C dependent
C highly
C reputed
C inheritances
C grant
C rises
C pushed
C adds
D gets
D affected
D widely
D renowned
D leftovers
D lease
D brings
D fuelled
D enhances
Is a simple life better?
What have you been up to? When (0) ___ up with a friend, how do you tend to answer this very common enquiry? The
response often (1) ___ around such big events as career developments, memorable holidays or family celebrations. I'm often
struck, however, by the (2) ___ to which our real quality of life is affected more by smaller, simpler things. For me. seeing a new
seedling appear from a seed I've sown never (3) ___ to bring me great pleasure. What's more, many moments of joy come
unbidden - like a sudden cooling breeze on a hot day. This (4) ___ the question of what is more relevant to our wellbeing - the
big or the small? To suggest that someone should (5) ___ out happiness in simple pleasures if their career is on the (6) ___
would be absurd. Yet, we could (7) ___ have a row of ticks for all the big things and still feel miserable in our daily lives. Being
overwhelmingly (8) ___ towards achievement, for instance, can make the small and the simple disappear from our awareness.
0. A catching
1. A concentrates
2. A amount
3. A misses
4. A rears
5. A seek
6. A shambles
7. A barely
8. A targeted
B making
B revolves
B level
B disappoints
B elicits
B find
B mess
B easily
B centred
C chatting
C focuses
C extent
C denies
C evokes
C look
C creek
C hardly
C oriented
D keeping
D deals
D quantity
D fails
D raises
D search
D rocks
D mostly
D determined
Art on approval
For inexperienced collectors, the idea of (0) ___ over a large sum of cash for a piece of contemporary art is a daunting
prospect. It’s quite (1) ___ that the work will look out of place in a domestic setting, or that the buyer might simply (2) ___ of it.
In an ideal world, it would be possible to spot a piece with potential, size it up, (3) ___ a deposit and take it home on approval.
Only after living with it for a while would you (4) ___ into a formal commitment to buy. But many dealers are reluctant to allow
this arrangement because there is always the possibility that such a (5) ___ of trust will backfire drastically. In the late 1990s.
for example, some of the world's leading dealers were (6) ___ in by confidence tricksters. A bogus count asked to view some
pieces in situ in various lavishly (7) ___ apartments he owned. The generous hospitality he offered the dealers hoodwinked
them into leaving the works of art with him on extended loan. Both the count and the works of art (8) ___ disappeared without
trace.
0. A handing
1. A reasonable
2. A bore
3. A put down
4. A accept
5. A matter
6. A ripped
7. A appointed
8. A imminently
B paying
B understandable
B fatigue
B leave off
B enter
B gesture
B fooled
B realised
B punctually
C giving
C acceptable
C tire
C offer up
C agree
C motion
C taken
C arranged
C accordingly
D passing
D conceivable
D loathe
D make over
D engage
D token
D tricked
D organised
D promptly
Improving athletics teaching in schools
The Elevating Athletics Fund is an (0) ___ sponsored by AVIVA, a major UK financial institution. It aims to ensure that all
children have a positive first experience of athletics, and hopes to make participation in a range of sports both attractive and
rewarding to all children. The fund was launched against the (1) ___ of research that revealed that 52 percent of teachers felt
inadequately prepared to teach basic athletics skills. The (2) ___ on which the work of the fund is based is that the fundamental
skills of athletics (3) ___ running, jumping and throwing, (4) ___ a good performance in many other sports and so should be
taught as enabling skills before a child goes on to sport-specific training. The fund is designed to make an (5) ___ at grassroots
level and so was set up with a (6) ___ to providing practical training and support for every single sports teacher in the UK. In
doing so, it hopes to raise the (7) ___ of athletics teaching in schools, and thereby bring sporting success within the (8) ___ of a
much wider cross-section of the population.
0. A initiative
1. A backdrop
2. A essence
3. A exactly
4. A underpin
5. A influence
6. A mind
7. A prestige
8. A scope
B exercise
B upshot
B reason
B namely
B subsidise
B result
B view
B image
B range
C operation
C outcome
C premise
C precisely
C uphold
C effect
C goal
C profile
C reach
D association
D downside
D substance
D clearly
D forecast
D impact
D wish
D standing
D dream
How a small company grows
Although Gecko Headgear is a company that now (0) ___ in the design and manufacture of marine safety helmets, the
company started out making surfboards. Feeling a need to (1) ___ their product offering, they identified a (2) ___ in the niche
watersports market, for an innovative heat-retaining helmet. The idea soon (3) ___ a winner amongst surfers, but wanting to
expand its customer (4) ___ the company approached other potential users, including the Royal National Lifeboat Institution
(RNLI), quite a bold (5) ___ for a small company. The RNLI wanted its own version of the helmet, but Gecko found working with
such a big organisation a whole new ballgame. The RNLI helmet had to be adapted, tested and certified before it could go on
the market, so there was a need to (6) ___ investment capital by means of a bank loan. This paid off in the long run, however,
as the RNLI helmet was a big success. And since then, Gecko haven't (7) ___ on their laurels, as ten subsequent versions of
the helmet have been further refined in (8) ___ with customer feedback.
0. A specialises
1. A multiply
2. A space
3. A resulted
4. A base
5. A stroke
6. A earn
7. A rested
8. A accord
B concentrates
B variegate
B gap
B showed
B foundation
B turn
B gain
B stayed
B line
C focuses
C diversify
C blank
C achieved
C structure
C move
C build
C reclined
C response
D targets
D heighten
D hole
D proved
D net
D bid
D raise
D stuck
D theme
The International Space Station
If you look to the heavens between sunset and moonrise in London, the brightest object you're likely to see will be a white
spark racing the wrong (0) ___ across the sky from west to east. (1) ___ it's not cloudy, the International Space Station (ISS),
humanity's toehold on the edge of the vast reaches of the cosmos, is easier to spot with the (2) ___ eye than Venus. Unlike the
cramped Apollo capsules, the ISS is like an artificial island in space: its 14 modules have more elbow (3) ___ than a typical
family house. Together with its 20 solar panels, it could (4) ___ the length of a football pitch. Since the year 2000. nearly two
hundred astronauts and mission specialists from 15 countries have (5) ___ the ISS home. Its success is encouraging since it
emerged as a compromise when the USA. Russia. Europe and Japan found they could not afford separate space stations, and
supporters love to (6) ___ it up as an example of international co-operation. But it has not been without its technical (7) ___ the
final components only being put into place in 2008, eight years (8) ___ schedule.
0. A way
1. A Understanding
2. A bare
3. A space
4. A expand
5. A known
6. A make
B orientation
B Assuming
B single
B range
B spread
B regarded
B put
C direction
C Allowing
C naked
C room
C reach
C referred
C hold
D route
D Supposing
D normal
D scope
D stretch
D called
D stand