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.


 

Variation in English
 

When foreign learners of English first come to the British Isles, they are usually surprised, and often dismayed, to discover (1) ... little they understand of the English they hear. For (2) ... thing, people seem to speak faster (3) ... expected. Also, the English that most British or Irish people speak seems to be different in (4) ... ways from the English the visitor has learnt. While it is probably differences of pronunciation that (5) ... immediately strike them, learners may also notice differences of grammar and vocabulary. 

Their reactions (6) ... this experience will vary. They may conclude that most of the English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish people that they hear do not – or even cannot – speak English correctly. In this they would find that many native speakers agree (7) ... them. They might even be told that, since learners of English (8) ... a foreign or second language have usually studied English in a formal way, they should know better than would native speakers what is 'correct'.

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

[answer="how"]

[answer="one"] [answer="than"] ! [answer="many"][answer="will"][answer="to"][answer="with"]

[answer="as"]

[end-answers-block]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

answer keys

GAP 1 (HOW) ... dismayed, to discover how little they understand of the English they hear ... 
HOW => ADVERB
HOW => used to ask or talk about the way in which something happens or is done.
Common Errors:
What do you spell your name? X
How do you spell your name? V

 

GAP 2 (ONE) ... English they hear. For one thing, people seem to speak faster (3) ... expected. Also, the English ... 
FOR + ONE + THING => IDIOM
FOR ONE THING => used to introduce a reason for what you have just said. 
Other Fixed Phrases and Idioms:
ONE BY ONE => separately and in order. 
ALL IN ONE => having two or more uses, functions, etc.
ONE AFTER ANOTHER/THE OTHER => first one person or thing, and then another, and then another, up to any number or amount.

 

GAP 3 (THAN) ... seem to speak faster than expected. Also, the English that most British or Irish people speak ... 
FASTER + 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! 

 

GAP 4 (MANY) ... to be different in many ways from the English the visitor has learnt. While it is probably ... 
MANY => DETERMINER
MANY => used with plural nouns and verbs, especially in negative sentences and questions, to mean 'a large number of '. 
Common Errors:
He has got many friends. X in affirmative sentences we use A LOT OF or PLANTY OF!
He hasn't got many friends. V MANY is usually used in questions and negative sentences!

 

GAP 5 (WILL) ... differences in pronunciation that will immediately strike them, learners may also notice ...
WILL + BARE INFINITIVE => MODAL VERB
WILL => used to say that something is likely or certain to be true. 
Common Errors:
I will do it for you if you will like. X
I will do it for you if you like. V

 

GAP 6 (TO) ... and vocabulary. Their reaction to this experience will vary. They may conclude that most of the English ... REACTION + TO => NOUN + PREPOSITION
REACTION TO => something that you feel or do because of something that has happened or been said.
Common Errors:
What was her reaction for your remarks? X
What was her reaction to your remarks? V REACTION + TO

 

GAP 7 (WITH) ... that many native speakers agree with them. They might even be told that, since learners ... 
AGREE + WITH => VERB + PREPOSITION
AGREE WITH (sb) => to have or express the same opinion about something as someone else. 
Common Errors:
I generally agree to her statement. X
I generally agree with her statement. V AGREE WITH SB/STH 

 

GAP 8 (AS) ... since learners of English as a foreign or second language have usually studied English in ...
AS => PREPOSITION
AS => used to say what job, duty, use, or appearance someone or something has. 
Common Errors:
Nobody sings like she does. X
Nobody sings as she does. V