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.
Barcelona
'Barcelona: Where a city unlike the country, captures the essence of Spain'. (1) ... it is one of Spain's most dynamic cities, Barcelona is really not Spanish (2) ... all. As the capital of cultural hub of the region of Catalonia, the city has a long and glorious history all its own. Catalonia was a leading trading power (3) ... the Mediterranean (4) ... the 14th and 15th centuries, with enterprising merchants and bankers, and (5) ... feudal remnants whatsoever.
United (6) ... the Kingdom of Aragon in the 12th century, the region became part of Spain in 1469 with the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella. Most of the centuries-old Catalan institutions and privileges were then suppressed (7) ... cultural resurgence in the 19th century. The Catalan language (8) ... banned by General Franco's regime in 1939, and was only revived in 1975. King Juan Carlos spoke Catalan to address Parliament in 1978, and again to open the 1992 Olympics, making him a very popular monarch.
[start-answers-block type=1 columns=3 textTransform=none]
[answer="although#though"]
[answer="at"] [answer="in"] ! [answer="during"][answer="no"][answer="with"][answer="untill#till"]
[answer="was"]
[end-answers-block]
answer keys
GAP 1 (ALTHOUGH/THOUGH) ... the essence of Spain'. Although it is one of Spain's most dynamic cities, Barcelona is ...
ALTHOUGH + SUBJECT + VERB
ALTHOUGH | THOUGH => (CONJUNCTION) expresses the idea of contrast.
ALTHOUGH | THOUGH + SUBJECT + VERB
Common Errors:
Although the rain, we had the picnic. X ALTHOUGH cannot be followed by a noun!
Although it was raining, we had the picnic. V ALTHOUGH must be followed by a subject and a verb!
GAP 2 (AT) ... really not Spanish at all. As the capital of cultural hub of the region of Catalonia, the ...
AT + ALL => FIXED PHRASE
AT ALL => used in negative statements and questions to emphasize what you are saying.
Other Fixed Phrases and Idioms:
ALL IN ALL => used to show that you are considering every part of a situation.
ALL OVER => everywhere.
ALL AT ONCE => suddenly.
GAP 3 (IN) ... leading trading power in the Mediterranean during the 14th and 15th centuries, with enterprising ...
IN + THE MEDITERRANEAN => PREPOSITION + AREA/REGION
IN => used with the name of a container, place, or area to say where someone or something is.
Common Errors:
Is there solidarity on Europe over illegal immigration? X
Is there solidarity in Europe over illegal immigration? V
GAP 4 (DURING) ... the Mediterranean during the 14th and 15th centuries, with enterprising merchants and bankers ...
DURING => PREPOSITION
DURING => at some point in a period of time.
Common Errors:
I met her during I was staying in Ireland. X
I met her while I was staying in Ireland. V WHILE + SUBJECT + VERB
I met her during my stay in Ireland. V DURING + SUBJECT + NOUN
GAP 5 (NO) ... and bankers, and no feudal remnants whatsoever. United with the Kingdom of Aragon ...
NO + REMNANTS => DETERMINER + NOUN
NO => not any.
Common Errors:
There weren't no letters this morning. X
There were no letters this morning. V
GAP 6 (WITH) ... whatsoever. United with the Kingdom of Aragon in the 12th century, the region became part ...
UNITED + WITH => ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION
UNITED WITH => made up of members who share the same purpose, interest, etc.
Common Errors:
We are united to the Saints in Heaven during Mass. X
We are united with the Saints in Heaven during Mass. V
GAP 7 (UNTIL/TILL) ... were then suppressed until cultural resurgence in the 19th century. The Catalan language ...
UNTIL => CONJUNCTION
UNTIL => up to the point in time or the event mentioned.
Common Errors:
I'll wait here until she will come back. X
I'll wait here until she comes back. V
GAP 8 (WAS) ... The Catalan language was banned by General Franco's regime in 1939, and was only revived in ...
AUXILIARY VERB + PAST PARTICIPLE => PASSIVE VOICE (PAST SIMPLE)
WAS => used with a past participle to form the passive.
Common Errors:
I given a present the other day. X
I was given a present the other day. V