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.
Community Action
Local community initiatives are often dismissed as small-scale projects with limited impact, yet history suggests the opposite. In many towns, social change has begun with the (0) DETERMINATION of a few residents who refused to accept decline as inevitable. Their efforts may start modestly, but they can have a surprisingly (1) .......... (POWER) effect on public life. One reason for this is that such groups are usually highly (2) .......... (ORGANISE), allowing them to respond quickly to local needs. They also tend to inspire a sense of (3) .......... (BELONG) among residents, which can strengthen trust and cooperation. In some cases, their work draws attention to problems that had previously been met with official (4) .......... (RESPOND). Over time, successful projects can become a source of (5) .......... (INSPIRE) for other communities facing similar challenges. Their achievements also help counter the widespread (6) .......... (BELIEVE) that ordinary citizens are powerless. Although progress is rarely immediate, even small victories can increase public (7) .......... (CONFIDE) and encourage broader participation. For this reason, community initiatives should not be seen as temporary solutions, but as a potentially (8) .......... (TRANSFORM) force in society.
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.
Keep practising Cambridge English C1
Use of English at every level
More Cambridge English C1 skills
Cambridge English Exam Resources
More Cambridge English exam preparation tools from our family of apps:
Made with by Shining Apps
The best Cambridge English apps ever
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.