How the task looks
You get a short text with 5 gaps and a list of 7 words. Each gap takes one word, each word is used only once, and two words are extra (they do not fit anywhere). The words are given in a fixed form: you cannot change invent into invented — you must find the gap where invent fits as it is.
Fill in each gap with an appropriate word from the list below (two odd variants are given).
This means three kinds of checks: grammar (part of speech, form), partnership (which words go together) and meaning (does the sentence make sense in the text).
Step-by-step method
- Read the whole text once without filling anything. Understand the topic and the general direction (positive / negative, past / present).
- Sort the 7 words by part of speech: nouns, verbs (which form? V1, V2/V3, V-ing), adjectives, adverbs. Write a small letter next to each: n, v, adj, adv.
- For each gap, decide which part of speech it needs (see the clues below) and write it next to the gap.
- Fill the certain gaps first, where only one word in the list fits grammatically. Cross out each word you use.
- For the remaining gaps, compare the candidates by meaning and partnership.
- Check the two words left over. Put each of them in every gap once more — they must really fit nowhere. If one of them fits better than your choice, change your answer.
- Read the whole text with all five words.
Grammar clues: what does the gap need?
| Position of the gap | Part of speech | Example |
|---|---|---|
| after a / an / the / his / their / this | noun (or adjective + noun) | the invention of the telephone |
| after an adjective | noun | a serious problem |
| between a / the and a noun | adjective | a dependent child |
| after be / become / seem / remain | adjective (or V3 / V-ing as part of the verb) | is entirely dependent on tourism |
| after a verb, says how | adverb | the meeting went smoothly |
| before an adjective | adverb | entirely different |
| after has / have / had / been / was | V3 | had been carefully checked |
| after to / can / will / must | V1 | to exchange goods |
| after a preposition | noun or V-ing | by using a map |
Look at both sides of the gap. a ___ of money needs a noun; a ___ amount of money needs an adjective.
A or an helps: an ___ needs a word starting with a vowel sound (an important, an hour); a ___ needs a consonant sound.
Singular or plural: many ___ needs a plural noun; ___ is needs a singular subject.
The form of a verb in the list matters. If the list has checked, it can only go where V2 or V3 is needed: had been ___, was ___, they ___ it yesterday. It cannot go after to or can.
Partnerships: words that go together
Many gaps are decided by a fixed partnership. A word may have the right meaning but still not combine with its neighbour.
| Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| verb + noun | make a decision, make progress, do research, do damage, take part, take place, pay attention, keep a promise, reach an agreement |
| adjective + preposition | dependent on, famous for, responsible for, interested in, similar to, different from, aware of, capable of |
| noun + preposition | in return (for), in exchange for, in place of, the reason for, an increase in, access to, a solution to |
| preposition + noun | by means of, in addition to, on purpose, in danger, under pressure, at risk |
| adjective + noun | heavy traffic, heavy rain, strong coffee, a wide range, a huge success, a narrow escape |
| adverb + adjective | highly successful, deeply worried, entirely dependent, widely used |
✗ do a decision → ✓ make a decision. ✗ dependent from → ✓ dependent on.
If the gap is between a word and a preposition (famous ___ its beaches, in ___ for his help), the partnership often decides the answer at once.
Meaning and logic of the text
When two words fit grammatically, ask:
- Is the meaning positive or negative here? After the new manager arrived, the office worked much more ___ — things got better, so a positive word: smoothly, not slowly.
- Cause, result, contrast? Although it was cheap, the product was ___ — although shows contrast, so a positive word for “cheap” needs a negative one for the product (or the other way round).
- Does the word repeat or continue an idea? Texts often name the same thing with a synonym: car … vehicle, job … work … profession.
- Is the word a little too strong or too weak? a slight / huge / total — read the rest of the sentence: a ___ increase of 2% → slight.
Words with two roles
Some words can be more than one part of speech. Check which role the gap needs:
| Word | As a noun | As a verb | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| place | in place of | place an order | — |
| return | in return | return home | — |
| result | as a result | result in | — |
| increase | an increase in prices | prices increase | — |
| present | a present | present a report | adj: the present time |
| fast | — | — | adj: a fast car; adv: drive fast |
Solve the bank as a system
- Every word you place changes the choices for the other gaps. A good guess in gap 1 can “steal” the only word that fits gap 4.
- If you are not sure about a gap, mark the two candidates and come back later.
- At the end, exactly two words must remain. If three words remain or you have used one word twice, something is wrong.
- Never put a word into a gap where it breaks the grammar, even if it is “the last one left”. Recheck the other gaps instead.
Worked example
Text:
“In the past, libraries were quiet places where people went to (1) ___ books. Today they offer a wide (2) ___ of services: free internet, language courses and even concerts. Many libraries have become (3) ___ with teenagers, who come to study together. This change did not happen (4) ___: it took many years of planning. Most visitors say they are very (5) ___ with the result.”
Bank: borrow, range, popular, overnight, satisfied, borrowing, satisfaction
Step 1 — sort the bank: borrow (v, V1), range (n), popular (adj), overnight (adv), satisfied (adj / V3), borrowing (V-ing / n), satisfaction (n).
(1) went to ___ books → to + V1 → borrow. Borrowing cannot follow this to.
(2) a wide ___ of services → noun, and the partnership a wide range of. Satisfaction is a noun too, but “a wide satisfaction of services” makes no sense.
(3) have become ___ with teenagers → adjective after become; partnership popular with (liked by).
(4) did not happen ___ → describes how it happened → adverb overnight (= very quickly, in one moment).
(5) very ___ with the result → adjective + with → satisfied with.
Extra words: borrowing and satisfaction — no gap needs an -ing form or another noun.
Final checklist
- Have I sorted the 7 words by part of speech and form?
- Does each word fit its gap grammatically, in the exact form given?
- Are the partnerships right (make / do, dependent on, in return)?
- Does each sentence make sense and match the logic of the text?
- Is every word used only once, and do exactly two words remain?
- Do the two extra words really fit nowhere?