B2 First Exam Guide: Multiple Choice Cloze
Reading & Use of English Paper
Contents
Overview
Context: Part 1 of the B2 First Reading and Use of English paper includes a text with eight gaps, each requiring a nuanced understanding of vocabulary and grammar.
Task: Candidates choose the correct word or phrase from four options for each gap, focusing on meanings, collocations, and grammatical patterns.
Objective: To assess detailed lexical knowledge and understanding of language in context.
Scoring & Marks: The eight questions are worth eight points, so one point for each. There are 70 points available for the whole Reading & Use of English paper.
How to Approach
- Understand that this task tests different types of words, including those with similar meanings but different usage contexts.
- Pay attention to the context around each gap, including subsequent prepositions, adverbs, or verb forms that might dictate the correct choice.
- Encourage learning whole phrases and understanding grammatical patterns and collocations, not just individual word meanings.
- Be aware of common collocations (e.g., "pay attention to") and different forms of phrasal verbs tested in this section.
- Read the entire sentence before choosing an answer to ensure the chosen word fits the overall sentence context.
Example Question
6. The machine can be very dangerous, especially when it ___________ in motion.
a. is
b. moves
c. goes
d. has
Assessment Focus
This part assesses the ability to discern subtle differences in vocabulary usage and to understand how words function within sentences and larger text contexts.
Tips
- Develop skills in recognising and using collocations and phrasal verbs in appropriate contexts.
- Engage in activities that involve dissecting sentences and understanding how each word contributes to the overall meaning.
- Practise with language games that challenge you to fill in gaps in sentences, focusing on the grammatical and contextual appropriateness of words.
- Regularly read and analyse different types of texts, paying special attention to how authors use specific words and phrases to convey nuanced meanings.
How It Looks
Student Suggestion
"I focused on learning phrases and collocations in context, not just individual words. This approach really helped me in choosing the right options in the multiple choice cloze." - Khaled Abbas
Practice Exercises
We have a page on the site to practise: B2 First: Multiple Choice Cloze Exercises
