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.
Green Infrastructure
Green infrastructure has become a central concept in urban planning, referring (0) TO networks of parks, wetlands, green roofs and tree-lined streets that deliver environmental and social benefits. In the past, city development was often carried out with little regard (1) .......... natural systems, but planners are now far more aware of the need to work (2) .......... them rather than against them. One reason for this shift is that traditional infrastructure alone is no longer sufficient to protect cities (3) .......... flooding, overheating and poor air quality. Green spaces can absorb rainwater, reduce temperatures and improve public health, all (4) .......... contributing to biodiversity. In addition, investment in such projects often results (5) .......... long-term economic gains, since attractive urban environments tend to increase property values and encourage tourism. The development of green infrastructure depends not only on public funding but also on cooperation between local authorities, businesses and residents, without (6) .......... large-scale projects are unlikely to succeed. It is therefore essential that policies be designed in such a way (7) .......... environmental goals are balanced with social needs. Only by taking this broader approach can cities ensure that future growth takes place in harmony (8) .......... the natural world.
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.