CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH examinations / PROFICIENCY EXAM / CPE / USE OF ENGLISH / Multiple Choice Cloze

For questions 1- 8, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap.


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Brexit


Britain is  … [embarking/undertaking/commencing/setting]  on the most dramatic and perilous period in its peace-time history. Soon the electorate will be asked in a plebiscite to answer the question: 'Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union?' On their answer  ... [hangs/suspends/keeps/clings]  the future of the UK, the continued presence of Scotland in a common state with England and the future of the world's longest-existing major party of government, the Conservative Party. It is impossible to overestimate the stakes. If Britain votes to stay in the UE, the last twenty-five years of anti-European agitation which has given  ... [rise/out/away/raise]  to new parties and which has had a major impact  ... [on/with/for/to]  public opinion will have been shown to be a  ... [dead/hind/loose/low]  end. The Eurosceptic era and movement which was  ... [unleashed/discharged/unchained/dismissed]  following Margaret Thatcher's departure from office a quarter of century ago will  ... [come/reach/move/go]  to an end. A new era of British politics with the nation having voted to remain part of an integrated Europe will begin. Euroscepticism will not disappear, but a decision to stay in the EU will be a decisive  ...  [blow/bash/hit/blast]  for those campaigning against Europe.

[answer-table]

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWER KEYS

 

1)    EMBARKING
PHRASAL VERB EMBARK ON
To start to do something new or difficult: 
She is about to embark on a diplomatic career.

 
2)    HANGS
PHRASAL VERB HANG ON
To depend on something:  
Everything hangs on the result of the last race.

 
3)    RISE
PHRASE GIVE RISE TO
To make something happen or begin, especially something unpleasant or unexpected: 
The remark about an election inevitably gave rise to widespread speculation.

 
4)    ON
IDIOM HAVE AN IMPACT ON STH
To leave an impression on someone or something: 
The sharp change in interest rates had an impact on the housing market. 

 
5)    DEAD
PHRASE A DEAD END
A situation in which no progress can be made:
Negotiators have reached a dead end in their attempts to find a peaceful solution to the crisis. 

 
6)    UNLEASHED
VERB UNLEASH
To suddenly let a strong force, emotion, etc. be felt or have an effect:
The government's proposals unleashed a storm of protest in the press.

 
7)    COME
PHRASE COME TO AN END
To finish: 
When the war finally came to an end, Europe was in ruins.

 
8)    BLOW
COLLOCATION A DECISIVE BLOW
An event that spoils your chances of success: 
The fight ended with a decisive blow.