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.
Greener Packaging
In recent years, companies have become increasingly interested in reducing waste through better packaging. In the past, products were often wrapped in several layers of plastic, many of which ended up (0) IN landfill sites. Today, however, manufacturers are under pressure to find materials that are less harmful to the environment and easier to recycle. One reason (1) .......... this change is growing public concern about pollution. Customers now expect brands to think carefully about the materials they use and the amount of packaging they put (2) .......... each item. As a result, many businesses have started replacing plastic (3) .......... paper, glass or plant-based alternatives. Some of these new materials cost more at first, but companies argue that they are worth investing in because they help reduce damage (4) .......... the planet. In addition, improved design can make packaging lighter, which means fewer emissions during transport. There is still a long way to go, but progress is being made. If firms continue to invest in research, they may come (5) .......... even better solutions in the near future. Consumers also play a part, since eco-friendly packaging only works well if it is disposed (6) .......... properly. For that reason, clear instructions are often printed on labels so that buyers know what to do (7) .......... the packaging after use. In this way, both companies and customers can contribute (8) .......... a more sustainable future.
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.