Use of English - Word Formation
C1
Cambridge English C1 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.
Balancing Growth and Responsibility
Sustainable development is often presented as an (0) IDEALISTIC goal, but in practice it involves a series of difficult choices. Governments must encourage economic growth while limiting environmental damage, a task made harder by the (1) .......... (COMPLEX) of global supply chains and energy systems. In many countries, public support for green policies disappears when people fear job losses or rising prices, which shows how politically (2) .......... (STABILITY) such reforms can become. Another obstacle is the (3) .......... (EQUAL) distribution of resources. Wealthier nations can invest in cleaner technology, whereas poorer ones may remain (4) .......... (DEPEND) on fossil fuels simply because alternatives are too expensive. International cooperation is therefore essential, yet progress is often slowed by mutual (5) .......... (TRUST) between states and industries. There is also the problem of communication. Scientific warnings may be accurate, but if they are expressed in overly technical language, they lose their (6) .......... (EFFECT) with the general public. What is needed is not panic, but greater (7) .......... (AWARE) of the long-term consequences of delay. Without that, even the most carefully designed policies may prove (8) .......... (SUCCEED).
About Use of English Word Formation — Cambridge English C1
This Cambridge English C1 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 C1 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.