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 neighbourhood had been discussing a shared garden (1)___ years. Nothing happened until a neighbour suggested (2)___ a meeting. By the time I arrived, several people had already (3)___ to help. We chose a small area (4)___ belonged to the community centre. It needed more work (5)___ any of us expected.
Some old equipment had to (6)___ removed before we could start. We divided the tasks so that nobody would feel (7)___. I was responsible (8)___ ordering the soil. If I had checked the address, I wouldn't have (9)___ it to the wrong building. Fortunately, the driver was patient (10)___ to wait while I explained.
We managed (11)___ finish the main path before the open day. The garden is now used by people (12)___ homes have no outside space. It has become (13)___ more popular than we predicted. Looking back, I wish I had (14)___ the group sooner. Working together has made us feel closer (15)___ our neighbours.
Our neighbourhood had been discussing a shared garden ___ years.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: for
Our neighbourhood had been discussing a shared garden for years. For introduces the duration of a period.
Nothing happened until a neighbour suggested ___ a meeting.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: holding
Nothing happened until a neighbour suggested holding a meeting. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
By the time I arrived, several people had already ___ to help.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: offered
By the time I arrived, several people had already offered to help. A perfect construction uses have/has/had followed by a past participle.
We chose a small area ___ belonged to the community centre.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: which
We chose a small area which belonged to the community centre. Choose a relative pronoun for a person or thing, or where for a place when no other subject/object is missing.
It needed more work ___ any of us expected.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: than
It needed more work than any of us expected. Than introduces the second part of a comparison; then refers to time.
Some old equipment had to ___ removed before we could start.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: be
Some old equipment had to be removed before we could start. A passive construction requires be + past participle, with the appropriate tense.
We divided the tasks so that nobody would feel ___.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: overwhelmed
We divided the tasks so that nobody would feel overwhelmed. An -ed form describes a feeling or state; an -ing adjective usually describes what causes the feeling.
I was responsible ___ ordering the soil.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: for
I was responsible for ordering the soil. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
If I had checked the address, I wouldn't have ___ it to the wrong building.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: sent
If I had checked the address, I wouldn't have sent it to the wrong building. A perfect construction uses have/has/had followed by a past participle.
Fortunately, the driver was patient ___ to wait while I explained.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: enough
Fortunately, the driver was patient enough to wait while I explained. Enough comes before a noun or after an adjective and expresses sufficiency.
We managed ___ finish the main path before the open day.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: to
We managed to finish the main path before the open day. The construction requires a to-infinitive.
The garden is now used by people ___ homes have no outside space.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: whose
The garden is now used by people whose homes have no outside space. Whose expresses possession and is followed by the noun belonging to someone or something.
It has become ___ more popular than we predicted.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: much
It has become much more popular than we predicted. Use an appropriate degree modifier before a comparative, rather than a quantity determiner for countable nouns.
Looking back, I wish I had ___ the group sooner.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: joined
Looking back, I wish I had joined the group sooner. A perfect construction uses have/has/had followed by a past participle.
Working together has made us feel closer ___ our neighbours.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: to
Working together has made us feel closer to our neighbours. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Question 1 of 150% complete
Gap 1Our neighbourhood had been discussing a shared garden ___ years.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: for
Our neighbourhood had been discussing a shared garden for years. For introduces the duration of a period.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: holding
Nothing happened until a neighbour suggested holding a meeting. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: offered
By the time I arrived, several people had already offered to help. A perfect construction uses have/has/had followed by a past participle.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: which
We chose a small area which belonged to the community centre. 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: than
It needed more work than any of us expected. Than introduces the second part of a comparison; then refers to time.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: be
Some old equipment had to be removed before we could start. A passive construction requires be + past participle, with the appropriate tense.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: overwhelmed
We divided the tasks so that nobody would feel overwhelmed. An -ed form describes a feeling or state; an -ing adjective usually describes what causes the feeling.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: for
I was responsible for ordering the soil. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: sent
If I had checked the address, I wouldn't have sent it to the wrong building. A perfect construction uses have/has/had followed by a past participle.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: enough
Fortunately, the driver was patient enough to wait while I explained. Enough comes before a noun or after an adjective and expresses sufficiency.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: to
We managed to finish the main path before the open day. The construction requires a to-infinitive.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: whose
The garden is now used by people whose homes have no outside space. Whose expresses possession and is followed by the noun belonging to someone or something.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: much
It has become much more popular than we predicted. Use an appropriate degree modifier before a comparative, rather than a quantity determiner for countable nouns.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: joined
Looking back, I wish I had joined the group sooner. A perfect construction uses have/has/had followed by a past participle.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: to
Working together has made us feel closer to our neighbours. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
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