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.

steel that doesn't rust

Harry Brearley, the son of a Sheffield steel smelter, left school at 12 to go to work in one of the city's steelworks. He was an (1) ... chap and started to study metallurgy at home and in evening classes. He (2) ... built a reputation for expertise, and still in his 30s was chosen to run a new (3) ... facility funded by two of Sheffield's largest steel companies. In 1912, he was tasked by a small-arms manufacturer to find a material that could (4) ... the life of their gun barrels. He set out to find erosion-resistant steel, but found corrosion-resistant steel instead. The story goes that in 1913 he threw out some (5) ... steel made of 12.8 per cent chromium and 0.24 per cent carbon. A few weeks later, he found it in the yard still (6) ... as new. This apparently serendipitous discovery led to the (7) ... of the already established cutlery industry in Sheffield. Stainless steel is now used in everything from (8) ... instruments and turbine blades to architectural cladding.

 

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

 

[answer="AMBITIOUS" label="AMBITION"]

[answer="GRADUALLY" label="GRADUAL"]

[answer="RESEARCH" label="SEARCH"]

[answer="PROLONG" label="LONG"]

[answer="EXPERIMENTAL" label="EXPERIMENT"]

[answer="SHINY" label="SHINE"]

[answer="TRANSFORMATION" label="TRANSFORM"]

[answer="SURGICAL" label="SURGERY"]

[end-answers-block]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER keys

GAP 1 (AMBITIOUS) ... steelworks. He was an ambitious chap and started to study metallurgy at home and ... 
AMBITION => AMBITIOUS | NOUN => ADJECTIVE
OUS => SUFFIX (IN ADJECTIVES) having the nature or quality of. (POISONOUS/MARVELLOUS/FABULOUS) 
Root Words
1). She was the kind of friend who was so ambitiously motivated about her goals. AMBITIOUS + LY => ADVERB
2). They were very ambitious for their children. AMBITI(ON) + OUS => ADJECTIVE
3). It was an unambitious plan, probably reflecting the need for economy. UN + AMBITI(ON) + OUS => ADJECTIVE

 

GAP 2 (GRADUALLY) ... evening classes. He gradually built a reputation for expertise, and still in his 30s ... 
GRADUAL => GRADUALLY | ADJECTIVE => ADVERB 
LY => SUFFIX (IN ADVERBS) in a specified manner. (VIRTUALLY/SADLY/SLOWLY)
Root Words
1). John is a Harvard graduate. GRAD(E)U + ATE => NOUN
2). After graduation Maria returned to Spain. GRADUAT(E) + ION => NOUN
3). She gradually became aware of an awful smell. GRADUAL + LY => ADVERB

 

GAP 3 (RESEARCH) ... chosen to run a new research facility funded by two of Sheffield's largest steel companies ... 
SEARCH => RESEARCH | VERB => NOUN
RE => PREFIX (IN VERBS, NOUNS) again in a better way. (REDO/REUNITE/REDECORATE)
Root Words
1). She is working on cancer research. RE + SEARCH => NOUN
2). Researchers conducted telephone interviews with over 7,000 members of public. RE + SEARCH + ER => NOUN
3). He avoided her long searching look. SEARCH + ING => ADJECTIVE

 

GAP 4 (PROLONG) ... material that could prolong the life of their gun barrels. He set out to find ... 
LONG => PROLONG | ADJECTIVE => VERB
PRO => PREFIX (IN VERBS) before in time or position, anterior, forward. (PROCEEDE/PROLOGUE/PRODUCE)
Root Words
1). The river is 600 kilometres in length. LONG => LENGTH (INTERNAL CHANGE) 
2). Could you lengthen this skirt for me? LENGTH + EN => VERB
3). The city lies at longitude 14° west. LONG + ITUDE => NOUN

 

GAP 5 (EXPERIMENTAL) ... threw out some experimental steel made of 12.8 per cent chromium and 0.24 ... 
EXPERIMENT => EXPERIMENTAL | NOUN => ADJECTIVE
AL => SUFFIX (IN ADJECTIVES) connected with. (MAGICAL//GEOGRAPHICAL/FICTIONAL).
Root Words
1). This theory can be confirmed experimentally. EXPERIMENTAL + LY => ADVERB
2). The equipment is still at the experimental stage. EXPERIMENT + AL => ADJECTIVE
3). He performs chemical experiments. EXPERIMENT => NOUN

 

GAP 6 (SHINY) ... it in the yard still shiny as new. This apparently serendipitous discovery ... 
SHINE => SHINY | VERB => ADJECTIVE
Y => SUFFIX (IN ADJECTIVES) having the qualities of something. (DUSTY/MUDDY/RUNNY)
Root Words
1). She had shining black hair. SHIN(E) + ING => ADJECTIVE
2). George has bought a shiny black car. SHIN(E) + Y => ADJECTIVE
3). Nothing like a little shininess to make things look expensive. SHIN(E)I + NESS => NOUN

 

GAP 7 (TRANSFORMATION) ... discovery led to the transformation of the already established cutlery industry ... 
TRANSFORM => TRANSFORMATION | VERB => NOUN
ATION => SUFFIX (IN NOUNS) the action or process of doing something. (FASCINATION/PROVOCATION/DECORATION) 
Root Words
1). The car industry has undergone a dramatic transformation. TRANSFORM + ATION => NOUN
2). It was an event that would transform my life. TRANSFORM => VERB
3). Do you happen to know how to repair this faulty transformer? TRANFORM + ER => NOUN

 

GAP 8 (SURGICAL) ... in everything from surgical instruments and turbine blades to architectural cladding ... 
SURGERY => SURGICAL | NOUN => ADJECTIVE
ICAL => SUFFIX (IN ADJECTIVES) another form of the suffix -IC. (HISTORICAL/PRACTICAL/SATIRICAL)
Root Words
1). He required surgery on his left leg. SURGE + RY => NOUN
2). Andy is a heart surgeon. SURGE + ON => NOUN
3). The lumps will need to be  surgically removed. SURGICAL + LY => ADVERB