Use of English - Word Formation
B2
Cambridge English B2 Exam
For questions 1-8, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals to form a word that fits in the gap. Use only one word in each gap. Click the gaps to type your answer.
A Brief History of Football
Modern football is often described as a (0) GLOBAL (GLOBE) game, but its roots are far older and more complex than many fans realise. In ancient China, for example, a ball game called *cuju* was played for military (1) .......... (TRAIN), while similar games existed in Greece and Rome. However, the sport only began to take a recognisable form in England, where different schools had their own rules and there was little (2) .......... (AGREE) about what was allowed. This changed in 1863, when the Football Association was founded and a set of (3) .......... (OFFICE) rules was written down. As the game spread, it became increasingly (4) .......... (PROFESSION), with players being paid and clubs attracting large crowds. The growth of rail travel also made (5) .......... (NATION) competitions possible, because teams could finally travel to play each other more easily. In the 20th century, international tournaments helped football gain even greater (6) .......... (POPULAR), and the World Cup became a major (7) .......... (CELEBRATE) of national identity. Today, new technology has improved (8) .......... (FAIR) in decision-making, but debates about the “spirit of the game” continue.
About Use of English Word Formation — Cambridge English B2
This Cambridge English B2 Use of English Word Formation exercise gives you a text with 8 gaps. Use the word in capitals at the end of each line to form a new word that fits the gap.
You may need to add prefixes or suffixes, change a word into a noun, adjective, adverb or verb, make a negative, or adjust the spelling. It tests both your knowledge of word families and the grammar of the sentence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are in this B2 Word Formation exercise?
There are 8 gaps, each with a base word in capitals that you must change to fit.
What does Word Formation test?
Prefixes, suffixes and word families — turning a root word into the correct noun, adjective, adverb, verb or negative form.
How can I improve at Word Formation?
First decide which part of speech the gap needs, then form it — and always check for negatives (un-, in-, dis-) and plurals, which are easy to miss.
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What to do
For each gap you get one word in capitals which you have to change so the grammar and meaning fit in the sentence. Here you have to show how well you know word families and if you can change words by using prefixes and suffixes.
You need to read the whole text to get the writer’s opinion on the topic. That’s because sometimes a negative prefix will be required. There is usually at least one word requiring a negative prefix, so look out for these.
In the exam always write something. You never know, you might be lucky even if you are not sure of the answer!
Strategy
- Read the title and the whole text so that you understand what it is about.
- Look at each sentence in detail.
- Think about what kind of word you need and whether you need a negative prefix or a suffix.
- Read the sentence again to check whether you need a plural form.
- Check your spelling, as it must be correct.