EXAM PRACTICE. Fill in the blanks.

TIPS:

Read the text for general understanding.

The word must make sense in the context of the text as a whole. Remember it is usually a
function word. Function words are prepositions, auxiliary or modal verbs, relative clauses, linking
words, subjective and possessive pronouns, or objects.

Look out for fixed expressions or idioms. They are expressions such as “the sooner, the better”.

For Questions 16-30, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space. Use only
one word in each space. There is an example at the beginning (0).

Please, write your answers in the chart below.

ACTIVITY 1

FIT FOR SPORTS

It's not always easy to decide which sport to (0) take up. When choosing, it is important to remember
that excellence in sports results (16) … a number of factors. For some sports, the body shape and
structure with (17) … you are born are important, Top runners are typical examples of individuals (18)
… have selected a sport because of their natural body type. Many other sports are more dependent
(19) … training and technique, and anyone following a well-structured and appropriate training
programme should do well. The aim of all sports training (20) … to improve fitness and skills, and to
develop training programmes that are both safe (21) ... effective. To do (22) properly, an
understanding of (23) … physical demands of sport is needed. All sports require a combination of
strength, speed, endurance, agility and flexibility to varying degrees. (24) … is important is how these
elements are combined to build up the skilIs of the sport (25) … question. Other factors to be (26) …
into account in a training programme are diet, the importance of avoiding injuries, your general state
of health, and the nature and role (27) … other team players. Bearing (28) … considerations in mind,
anyone prepared to work (29) … it can expect to progress to a very reasonable competitive level,
even (30) only a few people will go on to break world records.

Answers

0 Take 19 23 27

16 of 20 24 28

17 21 25 29

18 22 26 30
ACTIVITY 2

GOOD AT LANGUAGES

At school, Sarah Biggs says she was very bad (0) at languages. Now she speaks English, Spanish
and Italian and works (16) … a bilingual secretary in a travel company in England. (17) … several
foreign languages at work is not easy, but for Sarah, and other multi-lingual secretaries (18) … her, it
is all standard practice. Sarah comes from Spain, (19)… she attended school and college. But it was
time spent abroad after college (20)... encouraged her interest in languages. In her job, Sarah has
(21) … great deal more responsibility than the title of secretary would suggest. She stresses the
importance of (22) … fluent in Spanish because part of her job is dealing (23) … customers from Latin
America. (24) … such clients come from abroad, she has to translate everything (25) … say into
English. She is given (26) … time for preparation at all, so this aspect of her job is one of the (27) …
difficult.

It is important for Sarah to be up-to-date with changes (28) … her own language, so she reads
Spanish newspapers and books looking for new additions to (29) … vocabulary. Sarah says she (30)
… not give up this job even if they offered her a better salary in another company.

Answers

0 At 19 23 27

16 20 24 28

17 21 25 29

18 22 26 30
ACTIVITY 3

CHILDREN LOVE COMPUTERS

Children love computers. Parents often find their children don’t (0) need computer books because
they feel (16) … home with computers naturally. Some parents say their children have been playing
(17) … computers since (18) … they could even walk or talk. (19) … this they mean the children were
banging (20) … the keyboard, as they do later if (21) … is a piano in the home. But (22) … one parent
pointed out, (23) … was an old keyboard he gave his one-year-old son. As children grow older the
(24) … they enjoy watching letters appear (25) … the screen. One parent recalls how her daughter
would become very excited (26) … seeing her name appear. And more (27) … anything her young
son still enjoys typing his own name.

Of course, if you share a computer (28) … younger children all parents recommend a secret
password to (29) … your own material (30) … accidentally wiped.

Answers

0 Need 19 23 27

16 20 24 28

17 21 25 29

18 22 26 30
 MAKE AND DO

Before doing the activities, please, re-read the list of collocations below.

MAKE

Collocation Example

make arrangements for The school can make arrangements for pupils
with special needs.

make a change / changes The new manager is planning to make some

changes.

make a choice Amelia had to make a choice between her

career and her family.

make a comment / comments Would anyone like to make any comments on

the talk?

make a contribution to She made a useful contribution to the

discussion.

make a decision I’m glad it’s you who has to make the
decision, not me.

make an effort Michael is really making an effort with his

maths this term.

make an excuse I’m too tired to go out tonight. Let’s make an

excuse and stay at home.

make friends Caroline is very good at making friends.

make an improvement Repainting the room has really made an
improvement.

make a mistake They’ve made a mistake in our bill.

make a phone call I’ve got to make some phone calls before
dinner.

make progress Holly is making progress with all her

schoolwork.
 DO

Collocation Example

do your best All that matters in the exam is to do your

best.

do damage The storm did some damage to our roof.

do an experiment We are doing an experiment to test how the

metal reacts with water.

do exercises We’ll do some exercises practising these

collocations tomorrow.

do someone a good turn / do someone a favour Could you do me a favour and pick me up
some milk from the supermarket?

Jess did me a good turn by lending me her

car while mine was in the garage.

do harm Changing the rules may do more harm than

good.

do your hair No, I’m not ready. I haven’t done my hair yet.

do your homework My son has to do his homework straight after

school.

do the ironing/shopping/washing, etc. I’ll do the washing if you do the ironing.

do some work We’ll do some work on our project and then
we’ll go to the cinema.
Use a collocation with make and a noun instead of the underlined words in each of these
conversations.

1 Naomi: The bill says we’ve had three desserts. We only had two.

Stella: The waiter must have been mistaken.

2 Avery: It’s so difficult. Should I take the job or not?

Owen: I know it’s difficult. But you have to decide one way or the other.

3 Grace: Can you and Ethan come to dinner on Saturday?

Lily: Yes, we’ll have to arrange to get a babysitter, but it should be OK.

4 Zoe: Did you hear about the air traffic controllers’ strike in the USA?

Aaron: Yes. We had to change our travel itinerary because of it.

5 Luke: Can I have chips and rice with my lunch?

Clare: No, you have to choose, chips or rice, but not both.

6 Gavin: Do you intend to speak at the meeting?

Victoria: Yes, I hope I can contribute to the debate.

Choose the correct collocation, do or make.

1 Did the fire do / make much damage to the factory?

2 I hate doing / making my homework at the last minute.

3 You must do / make an effort to work harder.

4 Did you do / make any work at the weekend?

5 We are trying to do / make improvements to the system for registering.

6 Do you think it would do / make any harm if I cut some leaves off this plant?
You are designing a questionnaire for your school website. Complete each question with

do or make.

1 Do you .......................... your best to be on time when meeting a friend?

a) Always b) sometimes c) never

2 Do you ever .......................... the cooking at home?

a) Always b) sometimes c) never

3 Do you .......................... excuses if someone asks you to .......................... a big favour for them?
a) Always b) sometimes c) never

4 Do you ever .......................... negative comments about your friends’ hair, clothes, etc?
a) Always b) sometimes c) never

5 Do you find it easy to .......................... friends?

a) Always b) sometimes c) never