Open Cloze Pack

For questions 1 - 15, 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).

KANGAROOS
The kangaroo is and instantly recognisable animal (0) WHOSE familiar outline is often used as

symbol of its native, Australia. Wild kangaroos (1) _____________ still to be found in quite large

numbers in almost (2) _____________ part of Australia. They move around on two powerful back

legs, with a long, thick tail to keep (3) _____________ balance, and they can reach speeds of up to

60 kph and jump over obstacles three metres (4) _____________ height.

In fact, the word kangaroo is used for any (5) _____________ about forty-seven different species of

animal, all of which (6) _____________ to the kangaroo family and have a similar appearance.

Generally speaking, it is the larger members of the family that are called kangaroos - their smaller

relations are more usually know (7) _____________ wallabies.

(8) _____________ the word kangaroo comes from an ancient Australian language, it is not the word

speakers of that language used to describe the animal. Indeed (9) _____________ to legend, the

animal was given the name as the (10) _____________ of a misunderstanding. (11) _____________

the first European explorers saw the strange hopping creature, they asked a local inhabitant

(12) _____________ it was called. In reply, the man said 'kangaroo', (13) _____________ translates

into English as 'I don't understand.' And, (14) _____________ the story is to be believed , the name

has been used for the animal (15) _____________ since.

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For questions 1 - 15, 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).

A CHILDHOOD TRIP TO THE CINEMA

Many years ago, when I was nine years old, my parents took me to see (0) A science fiction film.

It had (1) _____________ advertised everywhere (2) _____________ the greatest film about space

exploration ever made. (3) _____________ I couldn't really understand the story, I thoroughly

enjoyed the film. (4) _____________ wasn't a problem for me, because I was lost in the photography,

the music and the special effects.

I clearly remember the way in (5) _____________ the giant space station on the screen seemed

(6) _____________ roll over my head, and I thought its gentle movement against a background of

stars was (7) _____________ of the most beautiful things I (8) _____________ ever seen. I still get

tears in my eyes (9) _____________ time I remember this scene. The spaceships looked

(10) _____________ very real that I couldn't believe that they (11) _____________ not, in fact, exist.

There was even more impressive photography later on , when the crew of the spaceship went

(12) _____________ dangerous walks in space, and talked to an amazingly intelligent computer.

When we left the cinema, my parents looked puzzled. They had not understood (13) _____________

the film was about, so they asked me if I had. Of course, I had understood hardly

(14) _____________ , so I replied firmly that you weren't supposed to understand it - all you had to

do (15) _____________ watch it!

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For questions 1 - 15, 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).

CREATIVE WRITING - A TEACHER'S OPINION

Most authors admit that the brilliant idea, (0) WHICH seems to arrive from nowhere and results (1)

_____________ a work of genius, does not often come along. At (2) _____________ , the blank

screen of a computer might appear to offer very (3) _____________ in the way of a good idea, but

some say it eventually works (4) _____________ them. Others prefer to go jogging, and often return

home (5) _____________ successfully dreamed up a good storyline.

But there are several less difficult ways to find good ideas for a story. (6) _____________ method is

to read other people's work. This may sound (7) _____________ a statement of the obvious. But,

(8) _____________ authors say they try to read great deal, many of them do not read very much at

(9) _____________ .

(10) _____________ a teacher of creative writing, I am often discouraged (11) _____________ I

learn that a student on my short-story writing course (12) _____________ never actually read any

short stories! To write short stories you must read (13) _____________ is currently being published.

Soon you will have dozens of good ideas, (14) _____________ if these are not terribly original. In

time, you will find you can come up with ideas of your (15) _____________.

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For questions 1 - 15, 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).

THE PERFECT TRIP

Last August, I was lucky (0) ENOUGH to go to the Arctic. My journey started in the Canadian town

of Resolute, (1) _____________ , since the middle of the last century, (2) _____________ been a

scientific research station and starting point for expeditions. There I boarded a ship called the Sea

Vixen. It had very (3) _____________ in common with the luxurious cruise ships tourists usually

travel on - no entertainment and definitely no thick carpets. In (4) _____________ of being basic in

many ways. It was quite comfortable.

Our journey was going to be totally unpredictable, not at (5) _____________ like that of a cruise ship

that calls at a particular port (6) _____________ day. On our first day (7) _____________ sea, it was

decided that we (8) _____________ travel to Ellesmere Island, but when (9) _____________ polar

bear was spotted on the ice shelf, the ship slowed and stopped. Then, two more bears appeared - a

mother together (10) _____________ her cub. The ship kept its distance (11) _____________ as not

to break the ice near (12) _____________ the bears were hunting.

Our group never did get to Ellesmere Island, but (13) _____________ of us minded, as seeing the

bears was exactly (14) _____________ we had come to the Arctic for. I got as close as anyone can

get to the world as it once was - undisturbed, unpolluted and unseen by anyone, apart

(15) _____________ a few lucky people like myself.

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For questions 1 - 12, 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).

MOUNTAIN CLIMBING
The world's highest mountains are to (0) BE found in the Himalayan and Karakoram ranges;

fourteen of them are more than 8,000 metres high. Some of the routes up these mountains are not in

themselves very difficult, but (1) _____________ makes climbing them hard is the high altitude. This

leads to tiredness and the need to stop and set up camp more often. This means the climb takes

longer and that, (2) _____________ turn, means the climbers risk encountering difficult weather

conditions.

Before climbing became a sport, people had only climbed above 5,000 metres (3) _____________

hunting and trade purposes, but nobody had spent any length of (4) _____________ above that

height. At (5) _____________ and altitude, breathing becomes difficult. (6) _____________ the body

can, to a certain extent, (7) _____________ used to the thinner air, (8) _____________ are still many

dangers, not least surviving in extremely cold, windy conditions.

Yet, in spite of the dangers involved, (9) _____________ thing is clear - there has never (10)

_____________ a shortage of people prepared to take up the challenge. The fascination with

climbing the world's highest mountain is summed up by the climber, George Mallory. When asked

(11) _____________ he wanted to climb Mount Everest, he is supposed to (12) _____________

replied, 'Because it's there.'

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For questions 1 - 12, 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).

THE RYDER CUP

The Ryder Cup is (0) A famous golf tournament and it is now one of the biggest events in sport.

Tickets regularly sell out within hours (1) _____________ going on sale. (2) _____________ makes it

different from other golf tournaments is that it is between teams rather (3) _____________

individuals, with Europe competing against the USA. There is no prize money, but emotions run high.

The players enjoy experiencing again the original feelings that made (4) _____________ take up the

sport in the first place (5) _____________ year the number of spectators is huge.

It began with an agreement (6) _____________ two men, Samuel Ryder and Walter Hagen. Ryder

was a businessman, while Hagen was the first international star of the professional game. In

(7) _____________ of their different backgrounds, the two men were able to work together to

organise the first match between Britain and the USA. From (8) _____________ on , the tournament

was played every two years. From 1935 to 1983, the USA dominated the game. But

(9) _____________ other European countries joined the British (10) _____________ take on the

Americans, everything changed. From (11) _____________ time, every Ryder Cup competition

(12) _____________ provided a gripping battle for spectators.

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