Use of English PRO

The Deep Sea

The deep sea remains one of the least understood parts of our planet. Although scientists have made great progress, much of it is still (0) UNKNOWN to the public. For centuries, people believed the ocean floor was a silent, empty place. However, modern research has (1) .......... that this is far from true. Strange creatures, some of which produce their own light, live in conditions that would be impossible for most animals. One reason the deep sea attracts so much attention is that it is full (2) .......... surprises. New species are discovered every year, and each one helps researchers (3) .......... a better understanding of how life can survive in extreme environments. In addition, deep-sea ecosystems may hold clues that could lead (4) .......... medical advances in the future. Despite this, exploring the deep ocean is far (5) .......... easy. The pressure is enormous, and the darkness makes observation difficult. Scientists must rely (6) .......... special equipment that can operate safely at great depths. Even so, many experts believe we have only just begun to scratch the (7) .......... of what lies below. For that reason, interest in the deep sea is likely to (8) .......... growing in the years ahead.

About Use of English Multiple Choice — Cambridge English B2

This is a Cambridge English B2 Use of English Multiple Choice exercise. Read the text and decide which word — A, B, C or D — best fits each of the 8 gaps.

Multiple Choice questions test your vocabulary in context: collocations, phrasal verbs, linking words and words with similar but slightly different meanings. Practising B2 exercises like this builds the instinct to choose the right option quickly in the real exam.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions does this B2 Multiple Choice exercise have?

It has 8 gaps, and each gap gives you four options (A–D) to choose from.

What does Cambridge Use of English Multiple Choice test?

It focuses on vocabulary in context — collocations, phrasal verbs, fixed phrases and words that look similar but are not interchangeable.

How can I get better at Multiple Choice?

Read widely, learn words together with the words they combine with, and always read the whole sentence — including the words after the gap — before choosing your answer.

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What to do

In this part, you read a text with eight gaps and choose the best word from four options to fit each gap.

Nothing prepares you for this test better than reading.

Read a lot. Candidates who often read in English (for work, for fun) find this part of the test manageable, while those who never read tend to find it very hard.

If you are 100% sure that two of the 4 choices are completely identical, then neither can be the answer. There is always only one word that fits grammatically and has the right meaning.

Usually the correct option will be part of a fixed phrase or collocation, a phrasal verb, a connector or the only word that fits grammatically in the gap.

Strategy

  1. Read the title and the whole text quickly to understand its general meaning before you attempt the task.
  2. Check the words before and after the gap.
  3. Choose the best option.
  4. When you have finished, read the text again with the words inserted to check that it makes sense.