Use of English - Open Cloze
C1
Cambridge English C1 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.
A Modern Work Routine
Remote work has become (0) AN established feature of professional life, but it is still evolving. For some employees, the appeal lies in flexibility; for others, it is the chance to focus without the constant interruptions of an open-plan office. Yet the arrangement is not automatically productive, and it depends (1) .......... how well people manage their time and boundaries. One common mistake is assuming that working from home is easier. In (2) .........., it can be harder to switch off, because the line between work and leisure is less clear. Many people find themselves checking emails late at night, (3) .......... though no one has asked them to. Another challenge is communication: messages can be misunderstood, and decisions that would take minutes in person may take hours online. Companies are responding by setting clearer expectations. Some have introduced “no-meeting” mornings, while others encourage staff to take breaks (4) .......... they would in an office. Managers also need to judge performance by results rather (5) .......... by visible activity on a screen. Ultimately, remote work can be sustainable (6) .......... both sides treat it as a long-term system, not a temporary fix. If employees feel trusted and supported, they are more likely to stay engaged, and the organisation benefits (7) .......... lower costs and access to a wider talent pool. The question is not whether remote work will remain, but (8) .......... it will be done well.
About Use of English Open Cloze — Cambridge English C1
In this Cambridge English C1 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 C1 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.