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.
I had been checking my phone so often (1)___ I barely noticed doing it. A friend challenged me to spend a weekend without (2)___ any social apps. I agreed, although I wasn't sure (3)___ I could manage it. On Saturday morning, I reached (4)___ my phone before I was fully awake. There was nothing urgent I needed (5)___ know.
I put it away and went (6)___ a walk instead. The absence of notifications felt (7)___ at first. By the afternoon, I had stopped (8)___ something to happen every minute. I realised I must have (9)___ hours responding to things that didn't matter. I didn't want to give (10)___ online contact altogether.
However, I would rather (11)___ when to check messages than react constantly. I have now (12)___ off most alerts. The change has made it easier (13)___ concentrate on conversations. I am still getting used to (14)___ the phone in another room. It is a small adjustment rather (15)___ a complete rejection of technology.
I had been checking my phone so often ___ I barely noticed doing it.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: that
I had been checking my phone so often that I barely noticed doing it. The structure so + adjective/adverb + that introduces a result.
A friend challenged me to spend a weekend without ___ any social apps.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: opening
A friend challenged me to spend a weekend without opening any social apps. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
I agreed, although I wasn't sure ___ I could manage it.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: whether
I agreed, although I wasn't sure whether I could manage it. Whether introduces an indirect yes/no question.
On Saturday morning, I reached ___ my phone before I was fully awake.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: for
On Saturday morning, I reached for my phone before I was fully awake. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
There was nothing urgent I needed ___ know.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: to
There was nothing urgent I needed to know. The construction requires a to-infinitive.
I put it away and went ___ a walk instead.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: for
I put it away and went for a walk instead. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
The absence of notifications felt ___ at first.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: strange
The absence of notifications felt strange at first. An adjective describes a noun or follows a linking verb; an adverb or noun would not fit.
By the afternoon, I had stopped ___ something to happen every minute.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: expecting
By the afternoon, I had stopped expecting something to happen every minute. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
I realised I must have ___ hours responding to things that didn't matter.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: spent
I realised I must have spent hours responding to things that didn't matter. A perfect construction uses have/has/had followed by a past participle.
I didn't want to give ___ online contact altogether.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: up
I didn't want to give up online contact altogether. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
However, I would rather ___ when to check messages than react constantly.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: choose
However, I would rather choose when to check messages than react constantly. Would rather/sooner takes a bare infinitive; would rather have takes a past participle for a past preference.
I have now ___ off most alerts.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: turned
I have now turned off most alerts. A perfect construction uses have/has/had followed by a past participle.
The change has made it easier ___ concentrate on conversations.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: to
The change has made it easier to concentrate on conversations. The construction requires a to-infinitive.
I am still getting used to ___ the phone in another room.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: leaving
I am still getting used to leaving the phone in another room. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
It is a small adjustment rather ___ a complete rejection of technology.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: than
It is a small adjustment rather than a complete rejection of technology. Than introduces the second part of a comparison; then refers to time.
Question 1 of 150% complete
Gap 1I had been checking my phone so often ___ I barely noticed doing it.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: that
I had been checking my phone so often that I barely noticed doing it. The structure so + adjective/adverb + that introduces a result.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: opening
A friend challenged me to spend a weekend without opening any social apps. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: whether
I agreed, although I wasn't sure whether I could manage it. Whether introduces an indirect yes/no question.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: for
On Saturday morning, I reached for my phone before I was fully awake. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: to
There was nothing urgent I needed to know. The construction requires a to-infinitive.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: for
I put it away and went for a walk instead. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: strange
The absence of notifications felt strange at first. An adjective describes a noun or follows a linking verb; an adverb or noun would not fit.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: expecting
By the afternoon, I had stopped expecting something to happen every minute. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: spent
I realised I must have spent hours responding to things that didn't matter. A perfect construction uses have/has/had followed by a past participle.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: up
I didn't want to give up online contact altogether. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: choose
However, I would rather choose when to check messages than react constantly. Would rather/sooner takes a bare infinitive; would rather have takes a past participle for a past preference.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: turned
I have now turned off most alerts. A perfect construction uses have/has/had followed by a past participle.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: to
The change has made it easier to concentrate on conversations. The construction requires a to-infinitive.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: leaving
I am still getting used to leaving the phone in another room. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: than
It is a small adjustment rather than a complete rejection of technology. Than introduces the second part of a comparison; then refers to time.
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