CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH EXAMINATIONS / CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY EXAM / CPE / 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 History of the Canal

The idea of constructing an artificial water-way between the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Panama is as old as the discovery of America. Christopher Columbus, in early life, became converted (1) ... the idea that the world was round, and his studies led him to believe that by sailing in a direct course and sailing far (2) ..., he could circumnavigate the globe and come back to the point from (3) ... he started, provided he could keep on that straight course.
This belief naturally (4) ... him to the conclusion that by sailing westward from Spain, across the Atlantic, he could reach the coasts and the islands of Asia, which about that time were (5) ... into great prominence as a desired market for the exchange of the wares of the producers and the manufacturers of Europe. The only mistake made by Columbus was that he estimated the circumference of the world at about 8,000 miles, (6) ... of over 24,000. Following his theory, Columbus embarked (7) ... his first and greatest voyage, and was successful, as we know, (8) ... discovering one of the islands of the West Indies.

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[answer="to"]

[answer="enough"] [answer="which"] ! [answer="led"][answer="coming#rising"][answer="instead"][answer="on"]

[answer="in"]

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answer keys

 

1)    TO
VERB + PREPOSITION CONVERT TO
To change to a different set of ideas, principles, or ways of doing something:
I know a lot of people who have recently converted to vegetarianism.
 
2)    ENOUGH
ADVERB ENOUGH
To the necessary degree:
She's old enough to decide for herself.
 
3)    WHICH
PREPOSITION + RELATIVE PRONOUN FROM WHICH
Used to be exact about the thing or things that you mean:
Emily Dickinson's garden was a place from which she drew great inspiration for her poems.
 
4)    LED
PHRASE LEAD TO THE CONCLUSION THAT
Make you decide that:
New evidence might lead to the conclusion that we are wrong.
 
5)    COMING/RISING
PHRASE COME/RISE IN(TO) PROMINENCE (AS)
To become notable; to become renowned:
Jimi came into prominence when he won the state championship.
 
6)    INSTEAD
PREPOSITION INSTEAD OF
In the place of somebody/something:
Instead of being annoyed, he seemed quite pleased..
 
7)    ON
PHRASAL VERB EMBARK ON
To start to do something new or difficult:
She embarked on a new career as a teacher.
 
8)    IN
ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION SUCCESSFUL IN
Achieving your aims or what was intended:
Were you successful in persuading him to change his mind?