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 meeting had barely begun (1)___ the same two people started exchanging ideas. Others were left with little opportunity (2)___. I had assumed that anyone with a useful suggestion would eventually speak (3)___. (4)___ until a colleague challenged that assumption did I reconsider it. She pointed out that confidence and expertise are not necessarily the same (5)___.
We introduced a short written stage (6)___ everyone could prepare an idea. Each participant was then invited to comment without (7)___. The change was intended to widen participation, not to prevent people (8)___ responding spontaneously. Some initially regarded the structure (9)___ unnecessarily formal. Yet the range of proposals was far (10)___ than before.
We discovered several concerns that would otherwise have (11)___ unmentioned. (12)___ heard those concerns, the manager changed the plan. What mattered was not merely the number of ideas (13)___ their variety. The new format has since been (14)___ by other teams. It serves as a reminder that participation depends partly (15)___ how a conversation is organised.
The meeting had barely begun ___ the same two people started exchanging ideas.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: when
The meeting had barely begun when the same two people started exchanging ideas. Use hardly ... when and no sooner ... than, with auxiliary-subject inversion when the expression is fronted.
Others were left with little opportunity ___.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: to contribute
Others were left with little opportunity to contribute. The construction requires a to-infinitive.
I had assumed that anyone with a useful suggestion would eventually speak ___.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: up
I had assumed that anyone with a useful suggestion would eventually speak up. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
___ until a colleague challenged that assumption did I reconsider it.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: Not
Not until a colleague challenged that assumption did I reconsider it. An inverted conditional uses had + subject + past participle. After a fronted negative expression, put an auxiliary before the subject.
She pointed out that confidence and expertise are not necessarily the same ___.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: thing
She pointed out that confidence and expertise are not necessarily the same thing. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
We introduced a short written stage ___ everyone could prepare an idea.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: so that
We introduced a short written stage so that everyone could prepare an idea. So that introduces a full clause explaining purpose; in order to takes a base verb.
Each participant was then invited to comment without ___.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: being interrupted
Each participant was then invited to comment without being interrupted. After this preposition, the passive -ing construction is being + past participle.
The change was intended to widen participation, not to prevent people ___ responding spontaneously.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: from
The change was intended to widen participation, not to prevent people from responding spontaneously. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Some initially regarded the structure ___ unnecessarily formal.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: as
Some initially regarded the structure as unnecessarily formal. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Yet the range of proposals was far ___ than before.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: broader
Yet the range of proposals was far broader than before. Use the comparative form to compare two things, often with than.
We discovered several concerns that would otherwise have ___ unmentioned.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: gone
We discovered several concerns that would otherwise have gone unmentioned. A perfect construction uses have/has/had followed by a past participle.
___ heard those concerns, the manager changed the plan.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: Having
Having heard those concerns, the manager changed the plan. Having + past participle introduces a completed earlier action with the same subject as the main clause.
What mattered was not merely the number of ideas ___ their variety.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: but
What mattered was not merely the number of ideas but their variety. Not ... but contrasts what is rejected with what is intended.
The new format has since been ___ by other teams.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: adopted
The new format has since been adopted by other teams. A passive construction requires be + past participle, with the appropriate tense.
It serves as a reminder that participation depends partly ___ how a conversation is organised.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: on
It serves as a reminder that participation depends partly on how a conversation is organised. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Question 1 of 150% complete
Gap 1The meeting had barely begun ___ the same two people started exchanging ideas.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: when
The meeting had barely begun when the same two people started exchanging ideas. Use hardly ... when and no sooner ... than, with auxiliary-subject inversion when the expression is fronted.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: to contribute
Others were left with little opportunity to contribute. The construction requires a to-infinitive.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: up
I had assumed that anyone with a useful suggestion would eventually speak up. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: Not
Not until a colleague challenged that assumption did I reconsider it. 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: thing
She pointed out that confidence and expertise are not necessarily the same thing. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: so that
We introduced a short written stage so that everyone could prepare an idea. So that introduces a full clause explaining purpose; in order to takes a base verb.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: being interrupted
Each participant was then invited to comment without being interrupted. After this preposition, the passive -ing construction is being + past participle.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: from
The change was intended to widen participation, not to prevent people from responding spontaneously. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: as
Some initially regarded the structure as unnecessarily formal. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: broader
Yet the range of proposals was far broader than before. Use the comparative form to compare two things, often with than.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: gone
We discovered several concerns that would otherwise have gone unmentioned. A perfect construction uses have/has/had followed by a past participle.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: Having
Having heard those concerns, the manager changed the plan. Having + past participle introduces a completed earlier action with the same subject as the main clause.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: but
What mattered was not merely the number of ideas but their variety. Not ... but contrasts what is rejected with what is intended.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: adopted
The new format has since been adopted by other teams. A passive construction requires be + past participle, with the appropriate tense.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: on
It serves as a reminder that participation depends partly on how a conversation is organised. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
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