Use of English - Open Cloze
B2
Cambridge English B2 Exam
For questions 1-8, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. Click the gaps to type your answer.
Crowdfunding Platforms
Crowdfunding platforms have changed the way new ideas are financed. In the past, inventors often had to rely (0) ON banks or wealthy investors, both of whom expected strong guarantees. Today, however, creators can present their projects online and ask large numbers of people to contribute small amounts of money. This model has opened the door to opportunities that might not otherwise have existed. One reason for its success is that supporters often feel personally connected to the projects they back. They are not only giving money, but also taking part (1) .......... the development of a product, film or social campaign. In many cases, people contribute because they believe (2) .......... the idea or admire the team behind it. At the same time, project creators must be clear about what the money will be used (3) .......... and how long development is likely to take. Crowdfunding has benefits, but it is not without risk. Some campaigns fail to deliver what they promised, and backers may end (4) .......... disappointed. Even so, these platforms have made it easier for creative people to reach an audience and find support, rather (5) .......... depending entirely on traditional finance. As a result, many small businesses have been able to get (6) .......... the ground more quickly. This has led (7) .......... greater innovation in areas ranging from technology to community projects, and it has shown that public interest can sometimes be as valuable (8) .......... private investment.
About Use of English Open Cloze — Cambridge English B2
In this Cambridge English B2 Use of English Open Cloze exercise you read a short text and think of the one word that best fits each of the 8 gaps.
Open Cloze tests grammar and common fixed expressions — articles, prepositions, pronouns, auxiliary verbs and linking words. Only one word goes in each gap, and it is usually a small grammatical word rather than vocabulary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many gaps are in this B2 Open Cloze exercise?
There are 8 gaps, and you must write exactly one word in each.
What kind of words go in the gaps?
Usually grammatical words: prepositions, articles, pronouns, auxiliaries, relative pronouns and parts of fixed phrases.
What is the best strategy for Open Cloze?
Read the whole text first for meaning, then look closely at the words around each gap — the answer almost always depends on the immediate grammar.
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What to do
This part consists of a short text with a series of gaps. There are no words from which to choose the answers, candidates have to think of a word which fits the gap correctly.
Errors in punctuation are ignored, although spelling must be correct.
Contractions (e.g. don’t, we’ve, won’t) count as two words. However, can’t is a contraction of cannot, which is one word.
Sometimes, there is more than one correct answer. Cambridge will always account for this and all options will be accepted. However, you should not write more than one answer.
Don't spend time in a word you don't know. Wasting time on this activity might cost you points later in the exam because you won’t have enough time to do other tasks well.
Strategy
- Read the title and the whole text so that you understand what it is about.
- Read the whole sentence in which the gap occurs, to look for clues as to what kind of word you need.
- Check the words before and after each gap and look for grammatical collocations.
- Remember you must write only one word.
- You are never required to write a contraction. If you think the answer is a contraction, it must be wrong, so think again.
- Read the whole text through once you have completed it to make sure you have not missed any connectors, plurals or negatives.