FCE word formation

For questions 1- 8, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of some of the lines to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line.

malta

A history of human (1) ... which stretches over seven millennia and a vital location at the heart of the Mediterranean have brought both wealth and conflict to Malta. This history is witnessed by great buildings constructed in the (2) ... golden limestone that gives the island its name - Melita, the island of honey. (3) ... megalithic temples date back to 4000BC and reveal the (4) ... capabilities of these earliest inhabitants. Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Romans left their traces, to be followed by Arabs and Normans. The Knights of the order of St John made the island their headquarters from the 16th century and built great (5) ..., palaces, public buildings and St John’s Cathedral with its eight ornate chapels dedicated to each of the langue or nations of the Order. Ottoman (6) ... in the Mediterranean was halted by the Knights' successful (7) ... of the islands. This was echoed four centuries later by heroic (8) ... under British rule during World War II, a feat which earned the island the George Cross – the only time an entire country has been given such an honour.

 

[start-answers-block type=1 columns=2 textTransform=none]

 

[answer="HABITATION" label="HABITAT"]

[answer="BEAUTIFUL" label="BEAUTY"]

[answer="MYSTERIOUS" label="MYSTERY"]

[answer="TECHNICAL" label="TECHNIQUE"]

[answer="FORTIFICATIONS" label="FORTIFY"]

[answer="EXPANSION" label="EXPANSE"]

[answer="DEFENSE" label="DEFEND"]

[answer="RESISTANCE" label="RESIST"]

[end-answers-block]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER keys


GAP 1 (HABITATION) ... history of human habitation which stretches over seven millennia and a vital location ... 
HABITAT => HABITATION | NOUN => NOUN
ION => SUFFIX (IN NOUNS) the action or state of. (COMPETITION//PERFECTION/CONFESSION).
Root Words
1). This old building is no longer habitable. HABIT + ABLE => ADJECTIVE
2). She took her habitual walk before lunch. HABITU + AL => ADJECTIVE
3). Dublin is a city of one million inhabitants. IN + HABITANT => NOUN

 

GAP 2 (BEAUTIFUL) ... constructed in the beautiful golden limestone that gives the island its name - Melita, ... 
BEAUTY => BEAUTIFUL | NOUN => ADJECTIVE
FUL => SUFFIX (IN ADJECTIVES) having the quality of something or causing something. (FORGETFUL/PAINFUL/RESTFUL
Root Words
1). The painting is beautiful. BEAUTI + FUL => ADJECTIVE
2). Her beautician advised her how to put on make-up. BEAUTIC + IAN => NOUN
3). Your garden is really beautifully decorated. BEAUTIFUL + LY => ADVERB

 

GAP 3 (MYSTERIOUS) ... of honey mysterious megalithic temples date back to 4000BC and reveal ... 
MYSTERY => MYSTERIOUS | NOUN => ADJECTIVE
OUS => SUFFIX (IN ADJECTIVES) having the quality of. (GLORIOUS/POISONOUS/GLAMOROUS)
Root Words
1). She's being very mysterious about what her work is. MYSTERI + OUS => ADJECTIVE
2). His death was surrounded by mystery. MYSTERY => NOUN
3). She died mysteriously at the age of 24. MYSTERIOUS + LY => ADVERB

 

GAP 4 (TECHNICAL) ... reveal the technical capabilities of these earliest inhabitants. Phoenicians, ... 
TECHNIQUE => TECHNICAL | NOUN => ADJECTIVE
AL => SUFFIX (IN ADJECTIVES) connected with. (MAGICAL//GEOGRAPHICAL/FICTIONAL).
Root Words
1). He trained as a dental technician. TECHNIC + IAN => NOUN
2). We admired the guitarist's faultless technique. TECHNIQUE => NOUN
3). This kind of operation is now technically possible. TECHNICAL + LY => ADVERB

 

GAP 5 (FORTIFICATIONS) ... built great fortifications, palaces, public buildings and St John's Cathedral ...
FORTIFY => FORTIFICATION | VERB => NOUN
TION => SUFFIX (IN NOUNS) the action or state of. (COMPETITION//PERFECTION/HESITATION).
Root Words
1). The king had to fortify his castle against attack. FORTIFY => VERB
2). The town was protected by huge fortifications. FORTIFICATION => NOUN
3). Sidon Sea Castle is a fortress built by the Crusaders in the early 13th century. FORTRESS => NOUN

 

GAP 6 (EXPANSION) ... Order. Ottoman expansion in the Mediterranean was halted by the Knights' successful ...
EXPANSE => EXPANSION | VERB => NOUN
ION => SUFFIX (IN NOUNS) the action or state of. (COMPETITION//PERFECTION/CONFESSION).
Root Words
1). Metals expand when heated. EXPAND => VERB
2). The hotel has expansive views of the mountains. EXPANS + IVE => ADJECTIVE
3). An economic expansion is an increase in the level of economic activity. EXPANS + ION => NOUN

 

GAP 7 (DEFENSE) ... Knights' successful defence of the islands. This was echoed four centuries ... 
DEFEND => DEFENCE | VERB => NOUN
ENCE => SUFFIX (IN NOUNS) the action or state of. (CONFIDENCE/DEPENDENCE/REFERENCE)
Root Words
1). They had to take defensive action against their attackers. DEFENS + IVE => ADJECTIVE
2). The soldiers are going to defend the castles. DEFEND => VERB
3). The walls were built as a defence against flooding. DEFENCE => NOUN

 

GAP 8 (RESISITANCE) ... by heroic resistance under British rule during World War II, a feat which ... 
RESIST => RESISITANCE | VERB => NOUN
ANCE => SUFFIX (IN NOUNS) the action or state of. (ASSISTANCE/ELEGANCE/NUISANCE)
Root Words
1). This breed of cattle is resistant to disease. RESIST + ANT => ADJECTIVE
2). The rebel army met with strong resistance from the troops. RESIST + ANCE => NOUN
3). She had an irresistible desire to hit him. IR + RESISTABLE => ADJECTIVE