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 used to associate second-hand clothing (1)___ a lack of choice. That assumption was challenged by a jacket I came (2)___ at a local sale. It fitted so well (3)___ I wondered why I had ignored such shops for years. (4)___ bought it, I began looking more carefully at how clothes were made. I learned to distinguish minor wear (5)___ damage that would be difficult to repair.
A low price is not always worth (6)___ if an item will never be worn. Nor (7)___ buying something second-hand automatically make an unnecessary purchase useful. I now ask whether I can imagine (8)___ it with clothes I already own. The aim is to make better use (9)___ what is available. Occasionally, I have a piece (10)___ rather than replace it.
Although that can cost more, the result is often (11)___ suited to me. My wardrobe has become less dependent (12)___ short-lived trends. What I enjoy most (13)___ finding something with a distinctive character. I would sooner (14)___ for the right piece than buy something merely because it is cheap. The habit has changed my attitude (15)___ shopping more than I expected.
I used to associate second-hand clothing ___ a lack of choice.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: with
I used to associate second-hand clothing with a lack of choice. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
That assumption was challenged by a jacket I came ___ at a local sale.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: across
That assumption was challenged by a jacket I came across at a local sale. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
It fitted so well ___ I wondered why I had ignored such shops for years.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: that
It fitted so well that I wondered why I had ignored such shops for years. The structure so + adjective/adverb + that introduces a result.
___ bought it, I began looking more carefully at how clothes were made.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: Having
Having bought it, I began looking more carefully at how clothes were made. Having + past participle introduces a completed earlier action with the same subject as the main clause.
I learned to distinguish minor wear ___ damage that would be difficult to repair.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: from
I learned to distinguish minor wear from damage that would be difficult to repair. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
A low price is not always worth ___ if an item will never be worn.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: paying
A low price is not always worth paying if an item will never be worn. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
Nor ___ buying something second-hand automatically make an unnecessary purchase useful.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: does
Nor does buying something second-hand automatically make an unnecessary purchase useful. An inverted conditional uses had + subject + past participle. After a fronted negative expression, put an auxiliary before the subject.
I now ask whether I can imagine ___ it with clothes I already own.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: wearing
I now ask whether I can imagine wearing it with clothes I already own. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
The aim is to make better use ___ what is available.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: of
The aim is to make better use of what is available. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Occasionally, I have a piece ___ rather than replace it.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: altered
Occasionally, I have a piece altered rather than replace it. Have/get + object + past participle describes work completed for someone or a resulting state.
Although that can cost more, the result is often ___ suited to me.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: better
Although that can cost more, the result is often better suited to me. Use the comparative form to compare two things, often with than.
My wardrobe has become less dependent ___ short-lived trends.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: on
My wardrobe has become less dependent on short-lived trends. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
What I enjoy most ___ finding something with a distinctive character.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: is
What I enjoy most is finding something with a distinctive character. The verb agrees with the head of its subject, rather than a nearby plural noun.
I would sooner ___ for the right piece than buy something merely because it is cheap.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: wait
I would sooner wait for the right piece than buy something merely because it is cheap. Would rather/sooner takes a bare infinitive; would rather have takes a past participle for a past preference.
The habit has changed my attitude ___ shopping more than I expected.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: towards
The habit has changed my attitude towards shopping more than I expected. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Question 1 of 150% complete
Gap 1I used to associate second-hand clothing ___ a lack of choice.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: with
I used to associate second-hand clothing with a lack of choice. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: across
That assumption was challenged by a jacket I came across at a local sale. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: that
It fitted so well that I wondered why I had ignored such shops for years. The structure so + adjective/adverb + that introduces a result.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: Having
Having bought it, I began looking more carefully at how clothes were made. Having + past participle introduces a completed earlier action with the same subject as the main clause.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: from
I learned to distinguish minor wear from damage that would be difficult to repair. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: paying
A low price is not always worth paying if an item will never be worn. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: does
Nor does buying something second-hand automatically make an unnecessary purchase useful. An inverted conditional uses had + subject + past participle. After a fronted negative expression, put an auxiliary before the subject.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: wearing
I now ask whether I can imagine wearing it with clothes I already own. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: of
The aim is to make better use of what is available. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: altered
Occasionally, I have a piece altered rather than replace it. Have/get + object + past participle describes work completed for someone or a resulting state.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: better
Although that can cost more, the result is often better suited to me. Use the comparative form to compare two things, often with than.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: on
My wardrobe has become less dependent on short-lived trends. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: is
What I enjoy most is finding something with a distinctive character. The verb agrees with the head of its subject, rather than a nearby plural noun.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: wait
I would sooner wait for the right piece than buy something merely because it is cheap. Would rather/sooner takes a bare infinitive; would rather have takes a past participle for a past preference.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: towards
The habit has changed my attitude towards shopping more than I expected. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
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