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.
Beyond Earth
Space exploration has long been seen (0) AS a symbol of human ambition, but its impact extends far beyond the rockets themselves. Many technologies now used in everyday life were developed (1) .......... a result of research originally intended for missions beyond Earth. Satellite systems, for example, have transformed communication and navigation, while medical equipment has benefited (2) .......... materials and techniques first designed for astronauts. There is also a cultural effect. Images of distant planets and galaxies have encouraged people to think (3) .......... humanity as part of something much larger. At the same time, critics argue that the enormous sums invested in space programmes might be better spent (4) .......... solving urgent problems on Earth. Supporters, however, insist that exploration drives innovation and inspires future generations in ways that are difficult to measure. What is clear is that the influence of space exploration reaches (5) .......... science alone. It affects education, international cooperation and even politics, since major missions often depend (6) .......... partnerships between nations. In addition, the search for life elsewhere has raised questions (7) .......... our place in the universe and whether we are truly alone. For many people, that sense of wonder is reason enough to keep looking (8) .......... the stars.
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.