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.
DASH Eating Plan
If you need to lose weight, (1) ... a small weight loss will help to lower your risks of developing high blood pressure and (2)... serious health conditions. At the very (3) ... , you should not gain weight. A recent study showed that people can lose weight while following the DASH eating plan and lowering their sodium intake. In a study of 810 participants, one-third were taught how (4) ... lower their sodium intake and follow the eating plan on their (5) ... . (6) ... of them needed to lose weight as (7) ... .
They followed the DASH eating plan at lower calorie levels and they increased their physical activity. Over the course of 18 months, participants lost weight and improved their blood pressure control. If you're trying to lose weight, use the foods and serving guidelines. Aim for a caloric level that is lower (8) ... what you usually consume. In addition, you can make your diet lower in calories by using the tips.
[start-answers-block type=1 columns=3 textTransform=none]
[answer="even"]
[answer="other"] [answer="least"] ! [answer="to"][answer="own"][answer="most"][answer="well"]
[answer="than"]
[end-answers-block]
answer keys
GAP 1 (EVEN) ... If you need to lose weight, even a small weight loss will help to lower your risks of developing high ...
EVEN => ADVERB
EVEN => used to emphasize something unexpected or surprising.
Common Errors:
Jack even didn't call to say he wasn't coming. X
Jack didn't even call to say he wasn't coming. V
GAP 2 (OTHER) ... blood pressure and other serious health conditions. At the very least, you should ...
OTHER + PLURAL NOUN
OTHER => used to refer to additional people or things of the same kind.
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 3 (LEAST) ... conditions. At the very least, you should not gain weight. A recent study showed that people can ...
AT + THE VERY LEAST => IDIOM
AT THE VERY LEAST => used after amounts to show that the amount is the lowest possible.
Other Fixed Phrases and Idioms:
NOT IN THE LEAST => not at all.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST => used when mentioning the last person or thing in a list.
LEAST OF ALL => especially not a particular person or thing.
GAP 4 (TO) ... third were taught how to lower their sodium intake and follow the eating plan on their ...
HOW + TO => ADVERB + TO + INFINITIVE
HOW TO => in what way or manner.
Common Errors:
I'll show you to how set up the timer. X
I'll show you how to set up the timer. V HOW + TO + INFINITIVE
GAP 5 (OWN) ... eating plan on their own. Most of them needed to lose weight well. They followed the DASH ...
ON YOUR OWN => FIXED PHRASE
ON YOUR OWN => alone, without anyone's help.
Common Errors:
Don't leave me to my own in this horrible place. X
Don't leave me on my own in this horrible place. V ON MY OWN => BY MYSELF!
GAP 6 (MOST) ... plan on their own. Most of them needed to lose weight as well. They followed the DASH eating plan ...
MOST + OF => DETERMINER
MOST OF => nearly all of the people or things in a group, or nearly all of something.
Common Errors:
The most of these students speak English. X We use MOST (not THE MOST) when you mean NEARLY ALL!
Most of these students speak English. V
GAP 7 (WELL) ... to lose weight as well. They followed the DASH eating plan at lower calorie levels ...
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 8 (THAN) ... level that is lower than what you usually consume. In addition, you can make your diet ...
LOWER + THAN => THE COMPARATIVE + THAN => COMPARISON
THAN => (CONJUNCTION) used to introduce the second part of a comparison.
Common Errors:
I'm older from her. X
I'm older than her. V We use THAN when we compare two things!