Complete an original connected text with 15 multiple-choice gaps. Read the whole passage and use the surrounding context. Answers and explanations appear after completion.
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Choose an option for each numbered gap. Your choices appear in the text; they are checked when you finish.
Our school garden (1)___ empty last winter. A group of students decided (2)___ improve it. We asked a teacher (3)___ permission to start. She said yes and (4)___ us some old tools. First, we had to remove (5)___ the rubbish.
It took (6)___ than we expected. While some students were digging, others were (7)___ the fence. We planted flowers (8)___ grow well in small spaces. There wasn't (9)___ rain, so we watered them often. We have worked in the garden (10)___ three months now.
It has (11)___ a popular place to sit. Students enjoy (12)___ their breaks there. We are going (13)___ add a bench next month. If the weather is good, we (14)___ have lunch outside. Everyone feels (15)___ of the result.
Our school garden was empty last winter. Was is used with singular I/he/she/it in the past; were is used with you/we/they.
A group of students decided ___ improve it.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: to
A group of students decided to improve it. The construction requires a to-infinitive.
We asked a teacher ___ permission to start.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: for
We asked a teacher for permission to start. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
She said yes and ___ us some old tools.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: gave
She said yes and gave us some old tools. Use the past simple for a completed event in the past.
First, we had to remove ___ the rubbish.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: all
First, we had to remove all the rubbish. Choose the determiner that agrees with the noun and fits the quantity or reference.
It took ___ than we expected.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: longer
It took longer than we expected. Use the comparative form to compare two things, often with than.
While some students were digging, others were ___ the fence.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: painting
While some students were digging, others were painting the fence. A continuous verb form uses be followed by the -ing form.
We planted flowers ___ grow well in small spaces.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: which
We planted flowers which grow well in small spaces. Choose a relative pronoun for a person or thing, or where for a place when no other subject/object is missing.
There wasn't ___ rain, so we watered them often.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: much
There wasn't much rain, so we watered them often. Countable and uncountable nouns require different quantity words; check the sentence and noun.
We have worked in the garden ___ three months now.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: for
We have worked in the garden for three months now. For introduces the duration of a period.
It has ___ a popular place to sit.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: become
It has become a popular place to sit. A perfect construction uses have/has/had followed by a past participle.
Students enjoy ___ their breaks there.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: spending
Students enjoy spending their breaks there. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
We are going ___ add a bench next month.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: to
We are going to add a bench next month. The construction requires a to-infinitive.
If the weather is good, we ___ have lunch outside.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: will
If the weather is good, we will have lunch outside. In a first conditional, if + present can be followed by will + base verb for a real future possibility.
Everyone feels ___ of the result.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: proud
Everyone feels proud of the result. An adjective describes a noun or follows a linking verb; an adverb or noun would not fit.
Question 1 of 150% complete
Gap 1Our school garden ___ empty last winter.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: was
Our school garden was empty last winter. Was is used with singular I/he/she/it in the past; were is used with you/we/they.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: to
A group of students decided to improve it. The construction requires a to-infinitive.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: for
We asked a teacher for permission to start. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: gave
She said yes and gave us some old tools. Use the past simple for a completed event in the past.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: all
First, we had to remove all the rubbish. Choose the determiner that agrees with the noun and fits the quantity or reference.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: longer
It took longer than we expected. Use the comparative form to compare two things, often with than.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: painting
While some students were digging, others were painting the fence. A continuous verb form uses be followed by the -ing form.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: which
We planted flowers which grow well in small spaces. Choose a relative pronoun for a person or thing, or where for a place when no other subject/object is missing.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: much
There wasn't much rain, so we watered them often. Countable and uncountable nouns require different quantity words; check the sentence and noun.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: for
We have worked in the garden for three months now. For introduces the duration of a period.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: become
It has become a popular place to sit. A perfect construction uses have/has/had followed by a past participle.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: spending
Students enjoy spending their breaks there. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: to
We are going to add a bench next month. The construction requires a to-infinitive.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: will
If the weather is good, we will have lunch outside. In a first conditional, if + present can be followed by will + base verb for a real future possibility.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: proud
Everyone feels proud of the result. An adjective describes a noun or follows a linking verb; an adverb or noun would not fit.
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