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.
A bench may seem too ordinary (1)___ carry a significant public meaning. Yet decisions about its location can have a bearing (2)___ who is able to use a space comfortably. The proposed redesign offered an attractive image while giving little (3)___ to the routines of existing users. (4)___ until residents described those routines did the omissions become apparent. An older visitor explained that the bench allowed her to rest (5)___ route to the shops.
A parent described waiting there while a child attended an activity (6)___. These uses did not fit neatly (7)___ the categories in the design brief. The planner conceded that the consultation should have (8)___ earlier. She recommended that the existing seating (9)___ retained during the trial. (10)___ modest that adjustment might appear, it changed the project's starting point.
The question became what was already working, rather than what could be swept (11)___. This did not preclude (12)___ substantial changes later. It did require the team to justify them in (13)___ of more than visual appeal. The final proposal paid closer attention (14)___ the social life of the space. Its success would depend not on the drawing alone, but on how people made use (15)___ it over time.
A bench may seem too ordinary ___ carry a significant public meaning.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: to
A bench may seem too ordinary to carry a significant public meaning. The construction requires a to-infinitive.
Yet decisions about its location can have a bearing ___ who is able to use a space comfortably.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: on
Yet decisions about its location can have a bearing on who is able to use a space comfortably. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
The proposed redesign offered an attractive image while giving little ___ to the routines of existing users.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: thought
The proposed redesign offered an attractive image while giving little thought to the routines of existing users. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
___ until residents described those routines did the omissions become apparent.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: Not
Not until residents described those routines did the omissions become apparent. An inverted conditional uses had + subject + past participle. After a fronted negative expression, put an auxiliary before the subject.
An older visitor explained that the bench allowed her to rest ___ route to the shops.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: en
An older visitor explained that the bench allowed her to rest en route to the shops. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
A parent described waiting there while a child attended an activity ___.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: nearby
A parent described waiting there while a child attended an activity nearby. An adverb describes how, when or where an action happens.
These uses did not fit neatly ___ the categories in the design brief.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: into
These uses did not fit neatly into the categories in the design brief. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
The planner conceded that the consultation should have ___ earlier.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: begun
The planner conceded that the consultation should have begun earlier. A perfect construction uses have/has/had followed by a past participle.
She recommended that the existing seating ___ retained during the trial.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: be
She recommended that the existing seating be retained during the trial. After a recommendation, demand or requirement, a mandative that-clause can use the base form, including be.
___ modest that adjustment might appear, it changed the project's starting point.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: However
However modest that adjustment might appear, it changed the project's starting point. However + adjective introduces a concession meaning no matter how.
The question became what was already working, rather than what could be swept ___.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: aside
The question became what was already working, rather than what could be swept aside. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
This did not preclude ___ substantial changes later.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: making
This did not preclude making substantial changes later. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
It did require the team to justify them in ___ of more than visual appeal.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: terms
It did require the team to justify them in terms of more than visual appeal. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
The final proposal paid closer attention ___ the social life of the space.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: to
The final proposal paid closer attention to the social life of the space. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Its success would depend not on the drawing alone, but on how people made use ___ it over time.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: of
Its success would depend not on the drawing alone, but on how people made use of it over time. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Question 1 of 150% complete
Gap 1A bench may seem too ordinary ___ carry a significant public meaning.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: to
A bench may seem too ordinary to carry a significant public meaning. The construction requires a to-infinitive.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: on
Yet decisions about its location can have a bearing on who is able to use a space comfortably. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: thought
The proposed redesign offered an attractive image while giving little thought to the routines of existing users. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: Not
Not until residents described those routines did the omissions become apparent. 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: en
An older visitor explained that the bench allowed her to rest en route to the shops. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: nearby
A parent described waiting there while a child attended an activity nearby. An adverb describes how, when or where an action happens.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: into
These uses did not fit neatly into the categories in the design brief. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: begun
The planner conceded that the consultation should have begun earlier. A perfect construction uses have/has/had followed by a past participle.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: be
She recommended that the existing seating be retained during the trial. After a recommendation, demand or requirement, a mandative that-clause can use the base form, including be.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: However
However modest that adjustment might appear, it changed the project's starting point. However + adjective introduces a concession meaning no matter how.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: aside
The question became what was already working, rather than what could be swept aside. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: making
This did not preclude making substantial changes later. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: terms
It did require the team to justify them in terms of more than visual appeal. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: to
The final proposal paid closer attention to the social life of the space. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
Not quite. Keep learning.
Correct answer: of
Its success would depend not on the drawing alone, but on how people made use of it over time. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
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