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 client insisted that the agreement (1)___ a guarantee of completion by June. Our director was reluctant to commit (2)___ to a date dependent on external approvals. (3)___ those approvals to be delayed, the promise would become impossible to honour. The difficulty was not a lack of willingness but an inability to exercise control (4)___ every stage. We proposed separating the work we could guarantee (5)___ the assumptions on which the rest depended.
The client initially took this as an attempt to evade (6)___. Only after we mapped the dependencies (7)___ the distinction become clear. A fixed date for our own deliverables would remain (8)___. The final launch would be conditional (9)___ the agreed approvals being received. (10)___ made the revised proposal acceptable was its clarity about who would act next.
We also stipulated that any change (11)___ promptly to both parties. Neither side wanted to be taken (12)___ surprise a week before launch. The negotiation was lengthy, but it brought the underlying concern to (13)___. The client needed predictability, not an assurance that would fall (14)___ under scrutiny. An honest qualification proved more valuable than an undertaking neither party could realistically (15)___ on.
The client insisted that the agreement ___ a guarantee of completion by June.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: include
The client insisted that the agreement include a guarantee of completion by June. After a recommendation, demand or requirement, a mandative that-clause can use the base form, including be.
Our director was reluctant to commit ___ to a date dependent on external approvals.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: herself
Our director was reluctant to commit herself to a date dependent on external approvals. A reflexive pronoun refers back to the same subject or completes the fixed reflexive expression.
___ those approvals to be delayed, the promise would become impossible to honour.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: Were
Were those approvals to be delayed, the promise would become impossible to honour. Were + subject + to-infinitive expresses a hypothetical future condition without if.
The difficulty was not a lack of willingness but an inability to exercise control ___ every stage.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: over
The difficulty was not a lack of willingness but an inability to exercise control over every stage. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
We proposed separating the work we could guarantee ___ the assumptions on which the rest depended.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: from
We proposed separating the work we could guarantee from the assumptions on which the rest depended. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
The client initially took this as an attempt to evade ___.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: responsibility
The client initially took this as an attempt to evade responsibility. This position requires a noun, not an adjective, adverb or finite verb.
Only after we mapped the dependencies ___ the distinction become clear.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: did
Only after we mapped the dependencies did the distinction become clear. An inverted conditional uses had + subject + past participle. After a fronted negative expression, put an auxiliary before the subject.
A fixed date for our own deliverables would remain ___.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: binding
A fixed date for our own deliverables would remain binding. An adjective describes a noun or follows a linking verb; an adverb or noun would not fit.
The final launch would be conditional ___ the agreed approvals being received.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: on
The final launch would be conditional on the agreed approvals being received. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
___ made the revised proposal acceptable was its clarity about who would act next.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: What
What made the revised proposal acceptable was its clarity about who would act next. What introduces the fused relative clause identifying the thing being emphasised.
We also stipulated that any change ___ promptly to both parties.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: be communicated
We also stipulated that any change be communicated promptly to both parties. After a recommendation, demand or requirement, a mandative that-clause can use the base form, including be.
Neither side wanted to be taken ___ surprise a week before launch.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: by
Neither side wanted to be taken by surprise a week before launch. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
The negotiation was lengthy, but it brought the underlying concern to ___.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: light
The negotiation was lengthy, but it brought the underlying concern to light. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
The client needed predictability, not an assurance that would fall ___ under scrutiny.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: apart
The client needed predictability, not an assurance that would fall apart under scrutiny. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
An honest qualification proved more valuable than an undertaking neither party could realistically ___ on.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: rely
An honest qualification proved more valuable than an undertaking neither party could realistically rely on. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Question 1 of 150% complete
Gap 1The client insisted that the agreement ___ a guarantee of completion by June.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: include
The client insisted that the agreement include a guarantee of completion by June. After a recommendation, demand or requirement, a mandative that-clause can use the base form, including be.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: herself
Our director was reluctant to commit herself to a date dependent on external approvals. A reflexive pronoun refers back to the same subject or completes the fixed reflexive expression.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: Were
Were those approvals to be delayed, the promise would become impossible to honour. Were + subject + to-infinitive expresses a hypothetical future condition without if.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: over
The difficulty was not a lack of willingness but an inability to exercise control over every stage. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: from
We proposed separating the work we could guarantee from the assumptions on which the rest depended. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: responsibility
The client initially took this as an attempt to evade responsibility. This position requires a noun, not an adjective, adverb or finite verb.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: did
Only after we mapped the dependencies did the distinction become clear. 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: binding
A fixed date for our own deliverables would remain binding. An adjective describes a noun or follows a linking verb; an adverb or noun would not fit.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: on
The final launch would be conditional on the agreed approvals being received. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: What
What made the revised proposal acceptable was its clarity about who would act next. What introduces the fused relative clause identifying the thing being emphasised.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: be communicated
We also stipulated that any change be communicated promptly to both parties. After a recommendation, demand or requirement, a mandative that-clause can use the base form, including be.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: by
Neither side wanted to be taken by surprise a week before launch. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: light
The negotiation was lengthy, but it brought the underlying concern to light. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: apart
The client needed predictability, not an assurance that would fall apart under scrutiny. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: rely
An honest qualification proved more valuable than an undertaking neither party could realistically rely on. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
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