Archive for the Gap filling Category

A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE
Mary Smith has (0) .been a contributor to Fame magazine for
the (16) six years. She is a freelance writer and television
producer based in London. She (17) .. worked on stories
across six continents and (18) . nominated for an Emmy
Award for her coverage of the 1991 Soviet coup.
Having now given (19) .covering war zones, she has (20)
up polo which she finds far (21)..dangerous, (22)
.considers it an addiction (23) will finish either in
bankruptcy or old (24).. .This month, she will play the game
riding (25) ..the back of an elephant.Mary also (26)
three years in Japan studying the language (27) coming
back to London to work (28)the BBC and the Japanese
Broadcasting Corporation. In this issue of Fame she writes (29)
.an initiative to (30) .Namibias cheetahs and
leopards

Gap filling, 14
January 11, 2007
Fill in the missing prepositions (or adverb particles) in the following
passage. There is an example at the beginning (0).
The Curse of Tutankhamun
Most people scoff- (0) at the idea of curses coming true, but the
events that followed the opening (1)___ Tutankhamuns tomb
(2)______ Howard Carter (3)______ 1922 may make them think twice
(4)______ laughing.
The story (5)_____ the curse began when the last man climbed out
(6)____ the tomb. It is said that a sudden sandstorm blew (7)______
and that the men (8)_____ the party saw a hawk, the ancient royal
symbol (9)____ Egypt, fly overhead.
Local Egyptians took this to mean that the spirit (10)___the dead
king had left his tomb, cursing those who had opened it. Five
months later, the man who financed the expedition, Lord Carnarvon,
was bitten (11)____ the cheek (12)____ a mosquito. Normally nothing
too serious! But the bite became infected and Carnarvon caught
pneumonia and died (13)____ an Egyptian hospital.
(14) ____ the precise moment (15)_____ his death all the lights
(16)_____ Cairo went (17)______ and thousands (18)______ miles
away (19) ______ the Carnarvon mansion (20)____ Hampshire,

England, his dog began to howl and died (21)_______ the night.
Doctors who examined the mummified body (22)______
Tutankhamun reported that he had a small depression (23)_____ his
cheek, just like a mosquito bite, (24)______ exactly the same spot
where Carnarvon had been bitten.
Many people who visited the tomb also died (25)____ strange
circumstances. Lord Carnarvons half-brother died (26)_____ a burst
appendix. An Egyptian prince whose family claimed descent (27)____
the pharaohs was murdered (28)______ London and his brother
commited suicide. An American railway tycoon caught a cold while
(29)________ the tomb and died (30)______ pneumonia.
The man who helped Howard Carter to catalogue the items found
(31)____ the tomb commited suicide, and a few months later his
father jumped (32)_____ his death (33)_____ the balcony (34)____ his
London flat. There was an alabaster vase (35)______ the tomb (36)
______the room that he jumped (37)______
(38)_____ 1966 the governement (39)____ Egypt agreed to lend the
treasures (40)_______France (41)_______ an important exhibition. The
Director (42)______ Antiquities fought (43)______the decision,
because he had dreamed that he would die if he allowed the
treasures to go (44)____________ (two words) Egypt. When he left the
last meeting, still trying to make the authorities change their minds,
he was knocked down (45)____ a car and died two days later.
And Howard Carter who was the first man (46)_____ the tomb? He
died -(47)_____ natural causes (48) ______ 1939.

Gap filling, 13
Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each
space. Use only one word in each space. There is an example at the
beginning (0)

Call me Mother
It was (0) their first wedding anniversary and to celebrate it Colin
and his wife, Julie decided to go (1)_______ a meal at one of the
(2)________expensive restaurants in town. They were
(3)_______________ the romantic evening, gazing lovingly
(4)_____________ each others eyes, when an elderly lady sitting
alone made her way to the table.
Im terribly sorry to (5)____________you, she said, wiping away a
tear. But you look just (6)_________my son. He was killed in a car
accident just over a year ago and I (7)__________ miss him terribly, I
wonder if youd (8)_____________ me a favour?

The couple were very moved by the old lady and , feeling sorry
(9)________her, agreed to help her if they could.
I wonder if, just as Im leaving, you (10)___________ say Goodbye ,
Mum and wave me off? It could give me (11)______________ a thrill.
Of course we will, the couple replied. No problem. Well,
(12)___________ could they possibly refuse?
The old lady thanked them and went back to her table. (13)_________
a short while, she picked up all her belongings and got up to leave.
Goodbye, Mum! shouted the couple with a big , theatrical wave as
the old lady made her way slowly out (14)_______ the restaurant.
See you at the weekend, Colin added.
Feeling very pleased (15)____________they had made an old person
happy, they finished their meal and asked for the (16)_________ . But
after checking and rechecking it they sent for the manager,
demanding to know (17)________ they had been overcharged by
more than 40.
But that (18)___________ the charge for the ladys meal, the
manager explained. She said her son would pay.

Gap Filling, 12
Read through the following newspaper article and then choose the
best phrase given below to fill each of the gaps. Write one letter (ap). Not all the phrases will be used.
Smoking will kill one million young people
Prolonged smoking will kill around one million British teenagers and
children in middle age (1)____ , says a report published yesterday.
A further one million will die of tobacco-related diseases in old age,
(2)___ at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund and the World Health
Organization. On present trends , 4-5 million young Britons (3)___ .
Professor Richard Peto, of the ICRF, said that worldwide somebody
(4)___ which was already killing three million people each year, and
the number was increasing.
In most countries (5)___ . If current smoking patterns persist, then
by the time the young smokers of today (6)___ there will be about
ten million deaths a year from tobacco one evey three seconds.
Furthermore, young people continue to see misleading portrayals
(7)___ . It tells them that lighting up is acceptable. It is no surprise
therefore that 90 per cent of smokers start when young.

He argued that (8)___ about the effects of prolonged smoking,

because of the very long delay between cause and effect. The risk
came decades later.
If cigarette smokers start young and dont stop, about half will be
killed by tobacco. This means that the developing countries (9)___ ,
said Professor Peto.
Dr Alan Lopez of the World Health Organization in Geneva, added:
The WHO has called on governments everywhere to protect
children from (10)___ . The sooner the tobacco advertising is
banned, the more lives will be saved.
Professor Sir Richard Doll one of the two people (11)___ forty years
ago urged the Government to increase tax on cigarettes and ban
advertising.
It is quite incredible they dont do it. Here you have something that
(12)___ and people are being encouraged to do it. It is immoral,
there is no other word for it.
a of smoking as romantic and sporting
b who proved the link between smoking and lung cancer
c there has been widespread misunderstanding
d there has been little notice paid
e if current patterns continue
f is killing one sixth of the population prematurely
g are sitting on a time bomb
h the worst is yet to come
i it is both cruel and deadly
j according to the report by scientists
k the advertising and promotion of tobacco
l died every ten seconds through smoking
m will probably kill millions of young people
n reach middle or old age

o will become regular smokers

p refusal to ban tobacco advertising

Gap filling, 11
January 11, 2007
Fill each of the blank spaces in the sentences below with a suitable
word or phrase. There is an example at the beginning (0)
0 Even though / Although he was nearly seventy, he could still beat
me at tennis.
1 Youre late! You __________________________here half an hour ago.
2 Even if we had run all the way we still __________catch the train.
3 Cigarette?
No, thank you. I ______________ two years ago
4 Do you really ________________________so soon? Cant you stay
just a little bit longer?
5 Sorry everyone. Im going to have to go to bed. Im just
_______________________staying up late.
6 My neighbour is ___________________________ people you could
ever wish to meet.
7 Dont park there! _________________________ get a parking ticket
8 Another cup of coffee?
No, thanks. I __________________two cups already.
9 Even if wed caught a taxi, we still _____________ there in time.
10 The weather was so bad that they decided __________
the
barbecue.
11 What _____________________a living?
Shes an accountant
12 I was only eighteen when I started working for Brown &
Company. So by June next year I __________ for them
for forty-five
years.
13 Whats happened to Jake? I _____________since 1990
14 The holiday was a total disaster. I just wish _________
somewhere else.
15 My wife was staying with her mother in Scotland last
weekend, so you __________________________
have seen her in London.

Gap filling, 10
January 11, 2007
Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each
space. Use only one word in each space. There is an example at the
beginning (0).
lee_balterman_young_hitchhiker_on_highway_near_chicago_il_1784_
67.jpg
The Hitchhiker
It was a very wet and windy day and David Williams was (0) soaked
to the skin (1)____________ he stood at the side of the road
(2)__________ to hitch a lift. (3)_______ far, only four cars had
(4)_________ along and each one had gone past (5)__________
stopping . David was beginning to wonder if anyone (6)________ stop
for him when a lorry suddenly (7)__________ up and the driver told
him to hop on the back as there wasnt (8)____________ in the cab.
David accepted gladly and quickly climbed aboard.
To his (9)________ , in the back was an empty coffin. (10)_________ it
was still raining heavily, David decided to climb (11)_________ it for
shelter. Standing by the roadside had (12)_________ him feel very
tired, so it wasnt (13) _______ before he had fallen fast asleep.
While he was sleeping, the lorry (14)_________ stopped again to
(15)________ up another hitchhiker. Like David, he too climbed on to
the back of the lorry. By now, the rain had stopped and the sun had
come (16)________ . It began to (17)_______very hot inside the coffin
and David suddenly woke up. Without thinking, he lifted the lid
(18)________the coffin, saw the stranger sitting there and shouted:
Have I (19)_______asleep for long?
His fellow hitchhiker took one look at David, screamed
(20)_____________ fear and jumped (21)__________ the lorry in panic.
Needless to say, he has never hitchhiked (22) ________ .
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Gap filling , 9
January 11, 2007

Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each
space. Use only one word in each space. There is an example at the
beginning (0)
dead-rabbit.jpg
The New Pet
Harry Dawsons two children, Mark and Sarah, were overjoyed (0)
when he came home one day with a scruffy black and white mongrel
(1)___________ the local Dogs Home. The children (2)____________to
call him Lucky.
A few days (3)___________Harry Dawson felt less happy (4)_____ the
new family pet when Lucky came (5)______ the kitchen with a dead
rabbit in (6) _________ mouth. The creature was quite fat and wellgroomed and was obviously a pet (7)_____ than a wild rabbit.
Sarah (8)_______ one look at it and immediately identified it as (9)___
to her friend, who lived next door (10)___ one. Fortunately, the Blake
family were away (11)___ holiday in the South of France. So
(12)_______ dark that evening, Harry Dawson sneaked into their
garden and put the rabbit (13)_____ into the empty hutch*. There
were (14)_____ marks on it and hoped that the Blakes (15)_______
assume it had died (16)_____ natural causes.
A week later, Harry Dawson (17)________ Mr Blake in the Post Office
and asked him (18)_______ his family was.
Theyre all very well, thank you, he said. But my daughter, Cathy
is very upset. Her pet rabbit died the week before we went on
holiday and (19) _________ really sick person (20)_______ gone and
put a dead rabbit in its cage!
(* a cage for a rabbit and other pets, usually made of wood)
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Gap filling, 8
January 11, 2007
Fill each of the blank spaces in the sentences below with a suitable
word or phrase. There is an example at the beginning (0).
0 How much are..the apples?
Eighty pence a kilo
If _______________Paula at the meeting, remind her to phone me
tonight.
_________________from here to the station? No, its only a ten
minute walk
Its Kevins party at the weekend.
___________________________________to it?

According to his instructions, we _____________ left at the next set of

traffic lights.
______________________________harder, you wont pass your exams in
the summer.
When she first moved to Britain from the States it took her quite a
while to ___________________driving on the left.
Wed better leave now because it _______________ at least half an
hour to get there.
Im sorry. I _____________________________ you werent allowed to
smoke in here.
Im at least a kilo overweight.
Then you_____ __________go
on a diet
How long ___________________________ short hair? Since I joined the
army
Are you Swedish? No, _____________Norway.
What__________________if you won 1 million?
Thats a nice car. It __________her a lot of money.
It might rain later on , so ________________an umbrella with you
You ___________________________smoke in here. Its not allowed.
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Gap filling, 7
January 11, 2007
Put the verbs in brackets in the passage below into the correct
tenses. There is an example at the beginning (0)
burglar.gif
The Car Thief
My cousin and her husband live in Hanwell, one of the suburbs of
London. One morning they (0) woke up (wake up) to find to their
dismay that their car (1)_______(steal) from outside their house.
They immediately ______(phone) the police to report the theft,
before (3)__________(leave) for work by bus.
When they (4)___________(return) home later the same day, they
(5)____________ (find) to their surprise that their car (6)
_________(bring back) and was parked in its usual place outside their
house. Under one of the windscreen wipers (7)________(be) a small
envelope.
They quickly (8)________ (open) it and (9)______(find) a note (10)
_______ (apologize) for borrowing their car. The man who
(11)________(write) it explained that he (12) _____ (not have) a car
himself, and his wife (13) ____ (go) into labour in the middle of the
night with their first baby. So he (14) ______ (hope) they
(15)__________ (not mind) too much that he (16) _______ (take) their

car without their permission in order to run her to the hospital, as it

was something of an emergency.
By way of compensation, he (17) ___________ (enclose) two tickets
for the West End show Sunset Boulevard on Saturday evening. They
(18) _______ (be) both delighted as they loved Andrew Lloyd
Webbers music and (19) ____ (try) for ages to get tickets to this
particular musical.
It was a perfect evening. They (20) ________ (have) front row seats
and the show itself was every bit as good as they (21)_________
(expect) . They (22) ______ (be) in such a good mood after it that
they (23) ______ (decide) to go for a meal at their favourite Italian
restaurant. When they eventually (24) ______ (get) home just after
midnight, a new shock (25)________ (await) them. While they were
away, their house (26)________ (burgle)! Everything of value (27)
_________(steal). They (28) ______(know) immediately who the thief
was because (29) ______(lie) on the kitchen was a note in
handwriting they (30) ____ (recognize) , (31)_________(say) : HOPE
YOU _______(enjoy) THE SHOW!
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Gap filling, 6
January 11, 2007
Read the sentences below and think of the word which best fits each
space. Use only one word in each space (in this case negative
contractions count as one word). There is an example at the
beginning (0)
0 I need some milk. I havent got any left.
Its _______easier to learn to play the guitar ______ a teacher ______
by trying to teach yourself.
She has ______ living in Brighton ______ 1991
______he first lived in Italy it took him a long time to get _______ to
driving ______the right
How ________do you go jogging? Oh, about once ______week.
Peter doesnt sing ______well as his brother, but hes a much
______keyboard player.
Sally ______ come with us tonight _______shes got a cold.
I______ learning French five years ______,but Ive ______ got a lot to
learn.
I havent smoked _____ten years. In fact, I cant really remember
what a cigarette tastes ______
Is that red Volvo_______________? No, its _______mine. I ______drive
Im ______to get a job in television when I ______university.
How______does it take to ______ to London? About twenty minutes
________car

_______ was a Bank Holiday yesterday so, as usual, ______were lots of

cars on the roads.
Hes been decorating the kitchen ______last week and still hasnt
finished it _______
Which bus ______ you catch home ______night?
In Britain, it is ______ cheaper to go by bus ______ to go by train
______ of them live in Wales but ______ one of them speaks Welsh.
How ______ people ______there at the meeting last night?
______s the time please? Its ___________three oclock
Did you__________anything interesting yesterday? No, not ______ . I
just ______some shopping in the afternoon, thats _______
You will ______ to work much harder ______ youre going to pass your
exam ______ the summer.
Have you ever ______ to London before? No, this ________my first
visit.
She moved to Belgium two years ______ and has been living and
working ______ ever since.
We didnt know that our flight ______ be delayed. We ______ to wait in
the Departure Lounge for ______ than three hours.
You ______ have seen Mary in London yesterday. Shes been in
Canada ______ the past month.