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.
Ski Resorts in Europe
In many European countries skiing is (1) ... of the most popular leisure-activities, especially during the winter months. Alpine skiing (2) ... a long tradition in the Alpine regions of Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Germany and France. (3) ..., in these countries there is a very large interest (4) ... skiing, (5) ... is only beaten by swimming or cycling.
During the decades skiing has become popular also in (6) ... other European countries (7) ... the geographic or climatic conditions are not really good for skiing. Skiing has increased thanks (8) ... the growing number of high-tech cable cars and skilifts. Another reason for the growth of skisport are the new technologies of skis themselves. Carving-skis make it easier to learn how to ski and therefore the number of people that want to go to the mountains for holidays is rising steadily. Especially for younger children and teenagers winter is one of the most exciting seasons.
[start-answers-block type=1 columns=3 textTransform=none]
[answer="one"]
[answer="has"] [answer="therefore"] ! [answer="in"][answer="which"][answer="many"][answer="although#though"]
[answer="to"]
[end-answers-block]
answer keys
GAP 1 (ONE) ... countries skiing is one of the most popular leisure-activities, especially during the ...
ONE + OF => PRONOUN
ONE OF => a person or thing belonging to a particular group.
Common Errors:
"Iris" is one of my favourite song of all time. X
"Iris" is one of my favourite songs of all time. V The NOUN/PRONOUN following ONE OF is always PLURAL!
GAP 2 (HAS) ... months. Alpine skiing has a long tradition in the Alpine regions of Austria, Switzerland, Italy, ...
HAS => VERB
HAS => the third person singular of the present tense of have.
Common Errors:
He has got two brothers and one sister. X
He's got two brothers and one sister. V HAVE GOT is almost always CONTRACTED!
GAP 3 (THEREFORE) ... Germany and France. Therefore, in these countries there is a very large interest in skiing, ...
THEREFORE + COMMA => ADVERB
THEREFORE => (FORMAL) used to introduce the logical result of something that has just been mentioned.
Common Errors:
I loved her. Therefore I married her. X
I loved her. Therefore, I married her. V COMMA required after THEREFORE!
GAP 4 (IN) ... there is a very large interest in skiing, which is only beaten by swimming or cycling. During ...
INTEREST + IN => NOUN + PREPOSITION
INTEREST IN => a feeling of wanting to learn more about something or to be involved in something.
Common Errors:
He has no interest on the arts. X
He has no interest in the arts. V
GAP 5 (WHICH) ... very large interest in skiing, which is only beaten by swimming or cycling. During the decades skiing ...
WHICH => COMMA + RELATIVE PRONOUN
WHICH => used to give more information about something.
Common Errors:
He gave me the book, that was very old. X in non-defining clauses THAT cannot replace WHICH!
This is the book that you wanted. V in defining relative clauses we can use WHICH or THAT!
This is the book which you wanted. V in defining relative clauses we can use WHICH or THAT!
GAP 6 (MANY) ... popular also in many other European countries although the geographic or climatic conditions ...
MANY => DETERMINER
MANY => a large number of.
Common Errors:
There weren't a lot of people at the meeting. X A LOT OF => AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES
There weren't many people at the meeting. V MANY => NEGATIVE SENTENCES and QUESTIONS
GAP 7 (ALTHOUGH/THOUGH) ... countries although the geographic or climatic conditions are not really good for skiing. ...
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 8 (TO) ... Skiing has increased thanks to the growing number of high-tech cable cars and skilifts. ...
THANKS + TO => NOUN + PREPOSITION
THANKS TO => because of.
Common Errors:
Thank to John's bad behaviour, the whole class had to stay in at lunchtime. X
Thanks to John's bad behaviour, the whole class had to stay in at lunchtime. V THANKS TO => BECAUSE OF