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.
The photograph had been hanging in the café (1)___ it first opened. It was said (2)___ show the street more than a century earlier. I had always assumed the people in it were waiting (3)___ a parade. One day, the owner admitted (4)___ very little about its history. She offered to let me (5)___ a digital copy.
I started by (6)___ through old local newspapers. The buildings appeared (7)___ match a much later period. The picture couldn't have been (8)___ as early as the label claimed. I managed to contact a woman (9)___ father had worked nearby. She remembered him (10)___ a story about a street closure.
That account made more (11)___ than my parade theory. We had the café label (12)___ to reflect the new evidence. The owner was not disappointed; (13)___ the contrary, she enjoyed the discovery. She said the real story was just as (14)___ as the imagined one. I am now much less likely (15)___ trust a date without checking it.
The photograph had been hanging in the café ___ it first opened.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: since
The photograph had been hanging in the café since it first opened. Since introduces the starting point of a period extending to a later time.
It was said ___ show the street more than a century earlier.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: to
It was said to show the street more than a century earlier. A passive reporting structure such as is said is followed by a to-infinitive.
I had always assumed the people in it were waiting ___ a parade.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: for
I had always assumed the people in it were waiting for a parade. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
One day, the owner admitted ___ very little about its history.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: knowing
One day, the owner admitted knowing very little about its history. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
She offered to let me ___ a digital copy.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: borrow
She offered to let me borrow a digital copy. Let + object is followed by a bare infinitive without to.
I started by ___ through old local newspapers.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: looking
I started by looking through old local newspapers. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
The buildings appeared ___ match a much later period.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: to
The buildings appeared to match a much later period. The construction requires a to-infinitive.
The picture couldn't have been ___ as early as the label claimed.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: taken
The picture couldn't have been taken as early as the label claimed. A perfect construction uses have/has/had followed by a past participle.
I managed to contact a woman ___ father had worked nearby.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: whose
I managed to contact a woman whose father had worked nearby. Whose expresses possession and is followed by the noun belonging to someone or something.
She remembered him ___ a story about a street closure.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: telling
She remembered him telling a story about a street closure. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
That account made more ___ than my parade theory.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: sense
That account made more sense than my parade theory. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
We had the café label ___ to reflect the new evidence.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: changed
We had the café label changed to reflect the new evidence. Have/get + object + past participle describes work completed for someone or a resulting state.
The owner was not disappointed; ___ the contrary, she enjoyed the discovery.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: on
The owner was not disappointed; on the contrary, she enjoyed the discovery. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
She said the real story was just as ___ as the imagined one.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: interesting
She said the real story was just as interesting as the imagined one. An -ed form describes a feeling or state; an -ing adjective usually describes what causes the feeling.
I am now much less likely ___ trust a date without checking it.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: to
I am now much less likely to trust a date without checking it. The construction requires a to-infinitive.
Question 1 of 150% complete
Gap 1The photograph had been hanging in the café ___ it first opened.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: since
The photograph had been hanging in the café since it first opened. Since introduces the starting point of a period extending to a later time.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: to
It was said to show the street more than a century earlier. A passive reporting structure such as is said is followed by a to-infinitive.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: for
I had always assumed the people in it were waiting for a parade. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: knowing
One day, the owner admitted knowing very little about its history. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: borrow
She offered to let me borrow a digital copy. Let + object is followed by a bare infinitive without to.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: looking
I started by looking through old local newspapers. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: to
The buildings appeared to match a much later period. The construction requires a to-infinitive.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: taken
The picture couldn't have been taken as early as the label claimed. A perfect construction uses have/has/had followed by a past participle.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: whose
I managed to contact a woman whose father had worked nearby. Whose expresses possession and is followed by the noun belonging to someone or something.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: telling
She remembered him telling a story about a street closure. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: sense
That account made more sense than my parade theory. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: changed
We had the café label changed to reflect the new evidence. Have/get + object + past participle describes work completed for someone or a resulting state.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: on
The owner was not disappointed; on the contrary, she enjoyed the discovery. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: interesting
She said the real story was just as interesting as the imagined one. An -ed form describes a feeling or state; an -ing adjective usually describes what causes the feeling.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: to
I am now much less likely to trust a date without checking it. The construction requires a to-infinitive.
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