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 office was (1)___ the verge of replacing its reusable cups with disposable ones. The proposed change was presented as a means of (2)___ cleaning costs. (3)___ we accepted the estimate unquestioningly, we would have missed several additional expenses. The figures failed to take storage and deliveries (4)___ account. What concerned me most (5)___ the lack of any comparison with improved washing facilities.
It was not until a colleague raised the issue that we (6)___ another option. The supplier was asked (7)___ a breakdown of the assumptions. (8)___ the initial resistance, the discussion became more constructive. The manager admitted to (9)___ some of the indirect costs. We agreed to run a trial, (10)___ that its results would be made available to everyone.
The new procedure turned out to be considerably (11)___ time-consuming than expected. Staff could leave their cups in one place rather than (12)___ them individually. The proposal was revised in the (13)___ of the trial's findings. Far from (14)___ a decision unnecessarily, the questions had improved it. The experience left us more wary (15)___ treating the simplest-looking option as the cheapest.
Our office was ___ the verge of replacing its reusable cups with disposable ones.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: on
Our office was on the verge of replacing its reusable cups with disposable ones. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
The proposed change was presented as a means of ___ cleaning costs.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: cutting
The proposed change was presented as a means of cutting cleaning costs. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
___ we accepted the estimate unquestioningly, we would have missed several additional expenses.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: Had
Had we accepted the estimate unquestioningly, we would have missed several additional expenses. An inverted conditional uses had + subject + past participle. After a fronted negative expression, put an auxiliary before the subject.
The figures failed to take storage and deliveries ___ account.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: into
The figures failed to take storage and deliveries into account. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
What concerned me most ___ the lack of any comparison with improved washing facilities.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: was
What concerned me most was the lack of any comparison with improved washing facilities. The verb agrees with the head of its subject, rather than a nearby plural noun.
It was not until a colleague raised the issue that we ___ another option.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: considered
It was not until a colleague raised the issue that we considered another option. Use the past simple for a completed event in the past.
The supplier was asked ___ a breakdown of the assumptions.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: to provide
The supplier was asked to provide a breakdown of the assumptions. The passive of ask someone to do something keeps the to-infinitive.
___ the initial resistance, the discussion became more constructive.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: Despite
Despite the initial resistance, the discussion became more constructive. Despite takes a noun phrase or -ing form; although introduces a clause.
The manager admitted to ___ some of the indirect costs.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: having overlooked
The manager admitted to having overlooked some of the indirect costs. After a preposition, use an -ing form; having + past participle expresses an earlier action.
We agreed to run a trial, ___ that its results would be made available to everyone.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: provided
We agreed to run a trial, provided that its results would be made available to everyone. Provided that introduces a condition on which the agreement depends.
The new procedure turned out to be considerably ___ time-consuming than expected.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: less
The new procedure turned out to be considerably less time-consuming than expected. Use an appropriate degree modifier before a comparative, rather than a quantity determiner for countable nouns.
Staff could leave their cups in one place rather than ___ them individually.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: washing
Staff could leave their cups in one place rather than washing them individually. Keep the grammatical forms parallel on either side of the contrast or comparison.
The proposal was revised in the ___ of the trial's findings.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: light
The proposal was revised in the light of the trial's findings. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Far from ___ a decision unnecessarily, the questions had improved it.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: delaying
Far from delaying a decision unnecessarily, the questions had improved it. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
The experience left us more wary ___ treating the simplest-looking option as the cheapest.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: of
The experience left us more wary of treating the simplest-looking option as the cheapest. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Question 1 of 150% complete
Gap 1Our office was ___ the verge of replacing its reusable cups with disposable ones.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: on
Our office was on the verge of replacing its reusable cups with disposable ones. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: cutting
The proposed change was presented as a means of cutting cleaning costs. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: Had
Had we accepted the estimate unquestioningly, we would have missed several additional expenses. 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: into
The figures failed to take storage and deliveries into account. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: was
What concerned me most was the lack of any comparison with improved washing facilities. The verb agrees with the head of its subject, rather than a nearby plural noun.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: considered
It was not until a colleague raised the issue that we considered another option. Use the past simple for a completed event in the past.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: to provide
The supplier was asked to provide a breakdown of the assumptions. The passive of ask someone to do something keeps the to-infinitive.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: Despite
Despite the initial resistance, the discussion became more constructive. Despite takes a noun phrase or -ing form; although introduces a clause.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: having overlooked
The manager admitted to having overlooked some of the indirect costs. After a preposition, use an -ing form; having + past participle expresses an earlier action.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: provided
We agreed to run a trial, provided that its results would be made available to everyone. Provided that introduces a condition on which the agreement depends.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: less
The new procedure turned out to be considerably less time-consuming than expected. Use an appropriate degree modifier before a comparative, rather than a quantity determiner for countable nouns.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: washing
Staff could leave their cups in one place rather than washing them individually. Keep the grammatical forms parallel on either side of the contrast or comparison.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: light
The proposal was revised in the light of the trial's findings. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: delaying
Far from delaying a decision unnecessarily, the questions had improved it. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: of
The experience left us more wary of treating the simplest-looking option as the cheapest. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
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