Use of English PRO

Changing Traditions

Many traditions are passed down from one generation to the next, but they do not always remain exactly the same. Customs that once seemed fixed can gradually (0) CHANGE as society develops and people respond to new ways of living. In some families, celebrations still follow old patterns, while in others they have been (1) .......... to suit modern life. For example, a meal that was once prepared entirely at home may now (2) .......... place in a restaurant, simply because relatives live far apart and have less time. Even so, the meaning behind these events often remains (3) .......... . People may alter the details, but they still want to mark important moments and stay connected to their roots. In fact, some traditions survive precisely because they are flexible enough to (4) .......... up with changing circumstances. If customs were too rigid, younger generations might turn them (5) .......... completely. Instead, many communities find a balance between respecting the past and accepting new influences. As a result, traditions are rarely lost overnight. More often, they are gradually (6) .......... into forms that better reflect present-day values. This process can sometimes lead to disagreement, but it also shows that culture is not static. It is something people actively (7) .......... on to shape together. That is why traditions continue to matter, even when they no longer look exactly as they did in the (8) .......... .

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.