e· ExamHubENGLISH WORKBOOK TRAINER
All books› Book 1› Section 2
SECTION 02 · Gaps in a connected text

Cloze test

Choose a separate exercise.

70 exercises
Exercise 4Book 1 · Section 2 · 4 / 70
How to solve: Cloze testA connected text with numbered gaps; choose a, b, c or d for each gap.

What it tests

Grammar in context: tenses and their sequence, modal verbs, linking words, verb patterns and fixed phrases.

In the exam: part II, 17 tasks.

Step by step

  1. Read the whole paragraph first — the time frame (past, present, future) is often set by the sentences around the gap.
  2. Look at what comes right before and after the gap: a subject, an auxiliary, a preposition, “to”…
  3. Decide what kind of word fits (verb form, linking word, preposition) before looking at the options.
  4. Check time signals: ago, since, by the time, already, while, tomorrow.
  5. Read the sentence again with your answer — it must sound complete and logical.

Watch out for

  • Choosing a tense from the sentence alone when the paragraph is clearly in the past.
  • Mixing up similar forms: had done / has done / did, to do / doing.
  • Linking words with opposite meaning: because / although, so / but.

Example

By the time we arrived, the film (1)____. a) has started b) had started c) starts d) was starting

b) had started — “by the time we arrived” marks a past moment; the film started before it, so we need the past perfect.

Exercise 4
EXERCISE TEXT

A mayor in a small Spanish town 1 a hero after helping steal food from supermarkets to give to the poor. The modern-day Robin Hood is Juan Manuel Sanchez Gordillo, 59, the elected leader of the southern town of Marinaleda in Andalusia. Mayor Gordillo has immunity from prosecution under Andalusian law and so 2 break the law without being arrested. He has so far orchestrated several raids on supermarkets to hand out the stolen food to poor families. Unfortunately, those helping him are not immune from prosecution and seven have been arrested for theft. Gordillo 3 mayor for 30 years and his recent exploits have seen his popularity skyrocket, with crowds gathering to see his food grabs. Many Spaniards 4 severe economic conditions. A quarter of Spain's workforce is jobless and many now live in poverty. Things are even worse in Andalusia where unemployment 5 over 30 per cent. Mr.Gordillo defended his role in stealing food for the less well-off.

Gap 1
Gap 2
Gap 3
Gap 4
Gap 5