Try these questions on paper before opening any answer. They cover the cloze and language use chapter and start with a short passage.
Questions
Question 1. Fill each gap in the passage.
“The school canteen (1) ___ (introduce) a reusable container scheme last term. Since then, students (2) ___ (bring) their own boxes, (3) ___ the amount of plastic waste has fallen. (4) ___ some students forget their boxes, the canteen keeps a small supply to lend. One of the teachers in charge (5) ___ (be) pleased with the results.”
Answer
- introduced: “last term” names a finished time, so past simple.
- have brought (or have been bringing): “Since then” links the past to now, so present perfect.
- so: the boxes are the reason and the fall in waste is the result.
- Although: the canteen lends boxes despite some students forgetting, which is a contrast.
- is: the subject is “one”, so the verb is singular.
Question 2. She is interested ___ learning another language.
Answer
in. Interested takes “in”.
Question 3. He decided to apply ___ a scholarship.
Answer
for. You apply for something you want, such as a scholarship or a job.
Question 4. The number of participants ___ (increase) this year.
Answer
has increased. “The number” is singular, and “this year” links the change to now.
Question 5. He had not prepared. ___, he passed the quiz.
Answer
However (or Nevertheless). Not preparing should lead to failing, so passing is a contrast.
Question 6. Correct the error: “My brother, together with his friends, are going to the match.”
Answer
My brother, together with his friends, is going to the match. The subject is “brother”. The phrase “together with his friends” only adds detail.
Question 7. Correct the error: “We discussed about the plan and returned back home.”
Answer
We discussed the plan and returned home. Discuss and return already contain the meaning that “about” and “back” repeat.
Question 8. Choose the tense: “When the teacher arrived, the class ___ (finish) the test.”
Answer
had finished. The test ended before the teacher arrived, so the earlier event takes the past perfect.
If you got these wrong
- Questions 1 (gaps 1 and 2) and 8 test choosing tenses from context.
- Questions 1 (gaps 3 and 4) and 5 test selecting connectors that fit the relationship.
- Questions 2, 3 and 7 test using collocations and prepositions accurately.
- Questions 1 (gap 5), 4 and 6 test checking agreement across a paragraph.
Record the clue you missed in the mistake log, and build a timed set with the timed original practice session builder. For a teacher to go through your choices, see online one-to-one English tuition.