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 Scottish people
By world standards - (1) ... by the standards of Europe and North America - Scots are a very well-educated people. And although the location of Scotland, tucked away in a distant corner of Europe, might have once kept Scots (2) ... of touch with the rest of the world, they have had, (3) ... the 18th century, a distinctly global outlook. Generations of Scottish emigration means that (4) ... Scots are without relatives in countries (5) ... New Zealand, Australia, Canada, South Africa, or America.
The Scots view of (6) ... is often quite difficult for visitors to understand. That view tends to be a mixture of outrageous pride and incredible cynicism. It's a complex mixture. The complete Scottish patriot is a far rarer person than would be found in (7) ... countries such as America. And yet, any Scot (8) ... completely writes off Scotland will be intensely disliked.
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[answer="that"]
[answer="enough"] [answer="already"] ! [answer="without"][answer="all"][answer="were"][answer="by"]
[answer="with"]
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answer keys
GAP 1 (EVEN) ... By world standards - even by the standards of Europe and North America - Scots are a very ...
EVEN => ADVERB
EVEN => used to emphasize something unexpected or surprising.
Common Errors:
It even might be possible to make robots that could reproduce themselves. X
It might even be possible to make robots that could reproduce themselves. V Put EVEN immediately before the word or phrase that you want to emphasize!
GAP 2 (OUT) ... have once kept Scots out of touch with the rest of the world, they have had ...
OUT + OF + TOUCH => FIXED PHRASE
BE OUT OF TOUCH (with sb) => to not have the latest knowledge about a subject or situation.
Other Fixed Phrases and Idioms:
AN EASY/A SOFT TOUCH => a person that you can easily persuade to do something, especially to give you money.
BE/GET/KEEP IN TOUCH (with sb) => to communicate with somebody, especially by writing to them or telephoning them.
THE COMMON TOUCH => the ability to communicate with, appeal to, or inspire ordinary people.
GAP 3 (SINCE) ... world, they have had, since the 18th century, a distinctly global outlook. Generations ...
SINCE => PREPOSITION
SINCE => from a time in the past until a later past time, or until now.
Common Errors:
They have lived in New York for 1997. X
They have lived in New York for twenty years. V FOR + PERIOD (FROM START TO END)
They have lived in New York since 1997. V SINCE + POINT (UP TO NOW)
GAP 4 (FEW) ... emigration means that few Scots are without relatives in countries (5) ... New Zealand, ...
FEW + PLURAL NOUN
FEW => not many | A FEW => some | used with countable nouns
Common Errors:
She's got a lot of money but a few friends. X A FEW doesn't make sense in this sentence!
She's got a lot of money but few friends. V
GAP 5 (LIKE) ... relatives in countries like New Zealand, Australia, Canada, South Africa, or America ...
LIKE + SERIES OF EXAMPLES
LIKE => SUCH AS, FOR EXAMPLE
Common Errors:
Outdoor sports as running and climbing are very popular in the US. X
Outdoor sports like running and climbing are very popular in the US. V
GAP 6 (THEMSELVES) ... The Scots view of themselves is often quite difficult for visitors to understand. That view tends to be ...
THEMSELVES => REFLEXIVE PRONOUN
THEMSELVES => used to show that the people who do something are affected by their own action.
Common Errors:
George dressed himself and got ready for work. X We do not use MYSELF etc. with DRESS/SHAVE/WASH!
George dressed and got ready for work. V
GAP 7 (OTHER) ... would be found in other countries such as America. And yet, any Scot ...
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 8 (WHO/THAT) ... And yet, any Scot who completely writes off Scotland will be intensely disliked ...
WHO/THAT => RELATIVE PRONOUN
WHO/THAT => used to show which person or people you mean.
Common Errors:
His mother, that was tired out, gave him a snack. X in non-defining clauses THAT cannot replace WHO!
The man that telephoned was a friend of yours. V in defining relative clauses we can use WHO or THAT!
The man who telephoned was a friend of yours. V in defining relative clauses we can use WHO or THAT!