FCE / USE OF ENGLISH / Multiple Choice Cloze

For questions 1- 8, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap.


 

The city of canals

Venice, the world's only pedestrian city, is easily walkable, and the absence of cars makes this a particularly pleasant  ... [experience/knowledge/involvement/struggle]. However, walking and standing  ... [all/whole/total/complete]  day can also be exhausting, so it is best to  ... [pace/stride/walk/step]  yourself. The Rialtine islands - the 'main' part of Venice - are small enough to walk from one end to the  ... [other/others/another/second]  in about an hour, provided you don't get lost (a common occurrence). If you want to get around a bit more quickly, there are numerous vaporetti (water buses) and water taxis. The vaporetti are generally the best way to get around,  ... [even/as/what/ever]  if the service route map changes frequently. 

If you are going to be in Venice for a few days visiting, it is a lot cheaper to use vaporetti than private water taxis. If you want to have a romantic ride along the canals,  ... [go/take/do/make]  for a gondola ride, although they  ... [tend/deny/admit/keep]  to exist for more scenic purposes, rather  ... [than/to/from/then]  getting people from point A to point B.

[answer-table]

 

 

 

 

 



ANSWERS

 

GAP 1 (EXPERIENCE) ... a particularly pleasant experience. However, walking and standing (2) ... day can also be exhausting ...
PLEASANT + EXPERIANCE => COLLOCATION
EXPERIENCE => an event or activity that affects you in some way.
Common Errors:
I had bad experience with fireworks once. X
I had a bad experience with fireworks once. V In this case EXPERIENCE is a COUNTABLE NOUN!

 

GAP 2 (ALL) ... walking and standing all day can also be exhausting, so it is best to (3) ... yourself ... 
ALL + SINGULAR NOUN
ALL => used with singular nouns showing something has been happening for a whole period of time.
Common Errors:
He has lost his all money. X 
He has lost all his money. V

 

GAP 3 (PACE) ... exhausting, so it is best to pace yourself. The Rialtine islands - the 'main' part of Venice ...
PACE + YOURSELF => FIXED PHRASE
PACE YOURSELF => to organize your life and activities so that you do not have too much to do.
Other Fixed Phrases and Idioms:
SUIT YOURSELF => have it your way. 
HELP YOURSELF TO (sth) => to take some of what you want, without asking permission - especially when offering food.
MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME => used to tell someone who is visiting you that they should relax.

 

GAP 4 (OTHER) ... small enough to walk from one end to the other in about an hour, provided you don't get lost ... 
FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER => IDIOM
FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER => throughout, all over. 
Common Errors:
Please give me other book. X 
Please give me another book. V ANOTHER + SINGULAR NOUN!
Please give me other books. V OTHER + PLURAL NOUN!

 

GAP 5 (EVEN) ... the best way to get around, even if the service route map changes frequently ...
EVEN + IF => PHRASE
EVEN IF => despite the fact or belief that; no matter whether. 
Other Fixed Phrases and Idioms:
EVEN AS => at the same time as. 
EVEN THOUGH => used as a stronger way to say "though" or "although".
EVEN NOW/THEN => in spite of what has happened.

 

GAP 6 (GO) ... romantic ride along the canals, go for a gondola ride, although they (7) ... to exist for more scenic ...
GO + FOR + A + RIDE => COLLOCATION
GO FOR A RIDE => to go for a short journey in a vehicle, on a bicycle, etc.
Other Fixed Phrases and Idioms:
TAKE SOMEBODY FOR A RIDE => to cheat or trick somebody.
A BUMPY RIDE => if something has a bumpy ride, it experiences a lot of problems.
FREE RIDE => special treatment that involves giving away something that is valuable or expensive.

 

GAP 7 (TEND) ... gondola ride, although they tend to exist for more scenic purposes, rather ...
TEND + TO + INFINITIVE => VERB PATTERN
TEND TO DO sth => to be likely to do something because this is what often or usually happens. 
Common Errors:
When she's tired, she tends making mistakes. X
When she's tired, she tends to make mistakes. V TEND + TO + INFINITIVE

 

GAP 8 (THAN) ... for more scenic purposes, rather than getting people from point A to point B ... 
RATHER + THAN => FIXED PHRASE
RATHER THAN => instead of. 
Common Errors:
Gina decided to quit rather then accept the new rules. X THAN and THEN are often confused!
Gina decided to quit rather than accept the new rules. V RATHER + THAN!