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.
During the panel discussion, the most confident speaker seemed to command the greatest (1)___. His account allowed little room (2)___ uncertainty, which made it easy to repeat. The second speaker qualified her conclusions in the (3)___ of the evidence's limitations. Some listeners mistook those qualifications for a lack of (4)___. (5)___ they examined the arguments rather than their delivery, they might have judged differently.
The moderator asked that each speaker (6)___ what evidence would change their position. That request brought a previously hidden difference into (7)___. One account could accommodate contrary findings; the other dismissed them (8)___ of hand. (9)___ distinguished the positions was not simply the amount of information presented. It was the extent (10)___ which each claim remained open to correction.
(11)___ as the audience wanted a definitive answer, the issue resisted one. Acknowledging that fact need not amount (12)___ a refusal to make decisions. Decisions can be provisional without (13)___ arbitrary. The discussion made a strong (14)___ for distinguishing confidence from justified confidence. Expertise may be most useful precisely when it makes the boundaries of knowledge (15)___.
During the panel discussion, the most confident speaker seemed to command the greatest ___.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: attention
During the panel discussion, the most confident speaker seemed to command the greatest attention. This position requires a noun, not an adjective, adverb or finite verb.
His account allowed little room ___ uncertainty, which made it easy to repeat.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: for
His account allowed little room for uncertainty, which made it easy to repeat. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
The second speaker qualified her conclusions in the ___ of the evidence's limitations.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: light
The second speaker qualified her conclusions in the light of the evidence's limitations. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Some listeners mistook those qualifications for a lack of ___.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: conviction
Some listeners mistook those qualifications for a lack of conviction. This position requires a noun, not an adjective, adverb or finite verb.
___ they examined the arguments rather than their delivery, they might have judged differently.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: Had
Had they examined the arguments rather than their delivery, they might have judged differently. An inverted conditional uses had + subject + past participle. After a fronted negative expression, put an auxiliary before the subject.
The moderator asked that each speaker ___ what evidence would change their position.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: identify
The moderator asked that each speaker identify what evidence would change their position. After a recommendation, demand or requirement, a mandative that-clause can use the base form, including be.
That request brought a previously hidden difference into ___.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: focus
That request brought a previously hidden difference into focus. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
One account could accommodate contrary findings; the other dismissed them ___ of hand.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: out
One account could accommodate contrary findings; the other dismissed them out of hand. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
___ distinguished the positions was not simply the amount of information presented.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: What
What distinguished the positions was not simply the amount of information presented. What introduces the fused relative clause identifying the thing being emphasised.
It was the extent ___ which each claim remained open to correction.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: to
It was the extent to which each claim remained open to correction. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
___ as the audience wanted a definitive answer, the issue resisted one.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: Much
Much as the audience wanted a definitive answer, the issue resisted one. Much as means although in this concessive construction.
Acknowledging that fact need not amount ___ a refusal to make decisions.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: to
Acknowledging that fact need not amount to a refusal to make decisions. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Decisions can be provisional without ___ arbitrary.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: being
Decisions can be provisional without being arbitrary. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
The discussion made a strong ___ for distinguishing confidence from justified confidence.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: case
The discussion made a strong case for distinguishing confidence from justified confidence. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Expertise may be most useful precisely when it makes the boundaries of knowledge ___.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: visible
Expertise may be most useful precisely when it makes the boundaries of knowledge visible. An adjective describes a noun or follows a linking verb; an adverb or noun would not fit.
Question 1 of 150% complete
Gap 1During the panel discussion, the most confident speaker seemed to command the greatest ___.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: attention
During the panel discussion, the most confident speaker seemed to command the greatest attention. This position requires a noun, not an adjective, adverb or finite verb.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: for
His account allowed little room for uncertainty, which made it easy to repeat. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: light
The second speaker qualified her conclusions in the light of the evidence's limitations. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: conviction
Some listeners mistook those qualifications for a lack of conviction. This position requires a noun, not an adjective, adverb or finite verb.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: Had
Had they examined the arguments rather than their delivery, they might have judged differently. 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: identify
The moderator asked that each speaker identify what evidence would change their position. After a recommendation, demand or requirement, a mandative that-clause can use the base form, including be.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: focus
That request brought a previously hidden difference into focus. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: out
One account could accommodate contrary findings; the other dismissed them out of hand. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: What
What distinguished the positions was not simply the amount of information presented. What introduces the fused relative clause identifying the thing being emphasised.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: to
It was the extent to which each claim remained open to correction. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: Much
Much as the audience wanted a definitive answer, the issue resisted one. Much as means although in this concessive construction.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: to
Acknowledging that fact need not amount to a refusal to make decisions. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: being
Decisions can be provisional without being arbitrary. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: case
The discussion made a strong case for distinguishing confidence from justified confidence. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: visible
Expertise may be most useful precisely when it makes the boundaries of knowledge visible. An adjective describes a noun or follows a linking verb; an adverb or noun would not fit.
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