FCE / USE OF ENGLISH / open Cloze

For questions 1-8, read the text below and think of the word which fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap.
 

the beatles

Except (1) ... their guitars, John Lennon and Paul McCartney didn't seem to have much (2) ... common when they met that hot summer day in Liverpool. For one thing, John was almost two years older than Paul. He was born on October 9, 1940. Paul was born on June 18, 1942. John's family was middle class. Paul's was working class. In England at the time, these differences could mean a lot. Some people would not associate with members of a different class. There were other differences as (3) ... . In school, Paul was a more attentive student. 

John (4)... cut class and toss erasers, getting in trouble. By modern standards, (5) ... antics don't seem very bad. At the time, however, they were serious enough to label John a troublemaker. On the (6) ... hand, the boys had some important things in common. Both had gone through difficult family trials. Paul's mother died a (7) ... months before the pair met. John's father abandoned John and his mother (8) ... after John was born.

[start-answers-block type=1 columns=3 textTransform=none]

[answer="for"]

[answer="in"] [answer="well"] ! [answer="would"][answer="these#the"][answer="other"][answer="few"]

[answer="soon"]

[end-answers-block]

 

 

 

 

 

 

answer keys

GAP 1 (FOR) ... Except for their guitars, John Lennon and Paul McCartney didn't seem to have much in common when they met ...
EXCEPT + FOR => PREPOSITION
EXCEPT FOR => used before you mention the only thing or person about which a statement is not true. 
Common Errors:
There is likely to be snow everywhere tomorrow except for in Ireland. X We do not use EXCEPT FOR before PREPOSITIONS!
There is likely to be snow everywhere tomorrow except in Ireland. V

 

GAP 2 (IN) ... didn't seem to have much in common when they met that hot summer day in Liverpool. For one thing, ... 
HAVE + IN + COMMON => FIXED PHRASE
HAVE sth IN COMMON WITH sb => to have the same interests, ideas, etc. as somebody else. 
Common Errors:
There are so many things in common between Bob and Jane. X
Bob and Jane have so many things in common. V

 

GAP 3 (WELL) ... other differences as well. In school, Paul was a more attentive student. John would cut ... 
AS + WELL => IDIOM
AS WELL => in addition to somebody/something; too. 
Common Errors:
You didn't buy a new house? They didn't buy one as well. X We never use AS WELL in negative sentences!
You bought a new house? They bought one as well. V 

 

GAP 4 (WOULD) ... attentive student. John would cut class and toss erasers, getting in trouble. By modern standards, ... 
WOULD + BARE INFINITIVE => MODAL VERB
WOULD => used to talk about something that always or often happened in the past. 
Common Errors:
He would take the three o'clock train. X 
He would always take the three o'clock train. V WOULD + SPECIFIC TIME/OCCASION (ALWAYS, OFTEN, WHEN etc.)

 

GAP 5 (THESE/THE) ... By modern standards, these antics don't seem very bad. At the time, however, they were serious enough ... 
THESE + PLURAL NOUN => DETERMINER
THESE => the plural of this. 
Common Errors:
This are my books. X THIS + SINGULAR NOUN!
These are my books. V THESE + PLURAL NOUN! 

 

GAP 6 (OTHER) ... a troublemaker. On the other hand, the boys had some important things in common. Both had ... 
ON THE OTHER HAND => IDIOM
ON THE OTHER HAND => used to introduce statements that describe two different or opposite ideas, people, etc. 
Other Fixed Phrases and Idioms:
BY HAND => by a person rather than a machine.
LIVE FROM HAND TO MOUTH => to spend all the money you earn on basic needs such as food without being able to save any money.
KEEP YOUR HAND IN => to continue to be involved in some activity.

 

GAP 7 (FEW) ... Paul's mother died a few months before the pair met. John's father abandoned John and his ... 
A + FEW => DETERMINER
A FEW => used with plural nouns and a plural verb to mean 'a small number', 'some'. 
Common Errors:
The bus leaves in few minutes. X FEW doesn't make sense in this sentence!
The bus leaves in a few minutes. V

 

GAP 8 (SOON) ... John and his mother soon after John was born. Though his mother lived nearby, John was raised ...
SOON + AFTER => ADVERB
SOON AFTER => in a short time after something happens. 
Common Errors:
I'll let you know as soon as she'll arrive. X
I'll let you know as soon as she arrives. V