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 proposal that the gallery (1)___ visibly unfinished initially met with resistance. The curator feared it would give (2)___ to accusations of poor preparation. (3)___ visitors to encounter incomplete labels without explanation, that concern would be justified. We therefore suggested making the purpose explicit, (4)___ the absence of finality be mistaken for neglect. The exhibition would invite visitors to examine the choices (5)___ a finished display.
(6)___ we wanted to expose was the process of selection, not simply a collection of rejected objects. A decision not to show an item can be every (7)___ as revealing as a decision to include it. (8)___ we concealed those decisions, the display would have appeared more inevitable than it was. The challenge lay (9)___ providing enough structure without pretending that only one arrangement was defensible. We resisted the temptation (10)___ equate openness with the absence of expertise.
An account of uncertainty needs to be carefully (11)___ if it is to inform rather than confuse. No sooner (12)___ the trial opened than visitors began proposing alternative groupings. Some responses called the original categories into (13)___. Far from undermining the project, that was the outcome we had (14)___. The value of the unfinished display lay in the conversation it made (15)___.
Our proposal that the gallery ___ visibly unfinished initially met with resistance.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: remain
Our proposal that the gallery remain visibly unfinished initially met with resistance. After a recommendation, demand or requirement, a mandative that-clause can use the base form, including be.
The curator feared it would give ___ to accusations of poor preparation.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: rise
The curator feared it would give rise to accusations of poor preparation. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
___ visitors to encounter incomplete labels without explanation, that concern would be justified.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: Were
Were visitors to encounter incomplete labels without explanation, that concern would be justified. Were + subject + to-infinitive expresses a hypothetical future condition without if.
We therefore suggested making the purpose explicit, ___ the absence of finality be mistaken for neglect.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: lest
We therefore suggested making the purpose explicit, lest the absence of finality be mistaken for neglect. Lest introduces something to be avoided, often followed by a formal subjunctive.
The exhibition would invite visitors to examine the choices ___ a finished display.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: underlying
The exhibition would invite visitors to examine the choices underlying a finished display. A present participle can describe an active state or action connected with the noun.
___ we wanted to expose was the process of selection, not simply a collection of rejected objects.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: What
What we wanted to expose was the process of selection, not simply a collection of rejected objects. What introduces the fused relative clause identifying the thing being emphasised.
A decision not to show an item can be every ___ as revealing as a decision to include it.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: bit
A decision not to show an item can be every bit as revealing as a decision to include it. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
___ we concealed those decisions, the display would have appeared more inevitable than it was.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: Had
Had we concealed those decisions, the display would have appeared more inevitable than it was. An inverted conditional uses had + subject + past participle. After a fronted negative expression, put an auxiliary before the subject.
The challenge lay ___ providing enough structure without pretending that only one arrangement was defensible.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: in
The challenge lay in providing enough structure without pretending that only one arrangement was defensible. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
We resisted the temptation ___ equate openness with the absence of expertise.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: to
We resisted the temptation to equate openness with the absence of expertise. The construction requires a to-infinitive.
An account of uncertainty needs to be carefully ___ if it is to inform rather than confuse.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: framed
An account of uncertainty needs to be carefully framed if it is to inform rather than confuse. A passive construction requires be + past participle, with the appropriate tense.
No sooner ___ the trial opened than visitors began proposing alternative groupings.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: had
No sooner had the trial opened than visitors began proposing alternative groupings. Use hardly ... when and no sooner ... than, with auxiliary-subject inversion when the expression is fronted.
Some responses called the original categories into ___.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: question
Some responses called the original categories into question. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Far from undermining the project, that was the outcome we had ___.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: sought
Far from undermining the project, that was the outcome we had sought. A perfect construction uses have/has/had followed by a past participle.
The value of the unfinished display lay in the conversation it made ___.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: possible
The value of the unfinished display lay in the conversation it made possible. An adjective describes a noun or follows a linking verb; an adverb or noun would not fit.
Question 1 of 150% complete
Gap 1Our proposal that the gallery ___ visibly unfinished initially met with resistance.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: remain
Our proposal that the gallery remain visibly unfinished initially met with resistance. After a recommendation, demand or requirement, a mandative that-clause can use the base form, including be.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: rise
The curator feared it would give rise to accusations of poor preparation. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: Were
Were visitors to encounter incomplete labels without explanation, that concern would be justified. Were + subject + to-infinitive expresses a hypothetical future condition without if.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: lest
We therefore suggested making the purpose explicit, lest the absence of finality be mistaken for neglect. Lest introduces something to be avoided, often followed by a formal subjunctive.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: underlying
The exhibition would invite visitors to examine the choices underlying a finished display. A present participle can describe an active state or action connected with the noun.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: What
What we wanted to expose was the process of selection, not simply a collection of rejected objects. What introduces the fused relative clause identifying the thing being emphasised.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: bit
A decision not to show an item can be every bit as revealing as a decision to include it. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: Had
Had we concealed those decisions, the display would have appeared more inevitable than it was. 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: in
The challenge lay in providing enough structure without pretending that only one arrangement was defensible. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: to
We resisted the temptation to equate openness with the absence of expertise. The construction requires a to-infinitive.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: framed
An account of uncertainty needs to be carefully framed if it is to inform rather than confuse. A passive construction requires be + past participle, with the appropriate tense.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: had
No sooner had the trial opened than visitors began proposing alternative groupings. Use hardly ... when and no sooner ... than, with auxiliary-subject inversion when the expression is fronted.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: question
Some responses called the original categories into question. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: sought
Far from undermining the project, that was the outcome we had sought. A perfect construction uses have/has/had followed by a past participle.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: possible
The value of the unfinished display lay in the conversation it made possible. An adjective describes a noun or follows a linking verb; an adverb or noun would not fit.
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