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.
Design Thinking
In many organisations, design thinking is no longer seen as a fashionable extra but as a practical method for tackling complex issues. Its growing (0) POPULARITY has encouraged managers to look beyond purely technical answers and focus instead on the people affected by a problem. One of its main strengths is the (1) .......... (ABLE) to combine careful analysis with genuine curiosity about users’ needs. Rather than rushing towards an immediate fix, teams are encouraged to begin with close (2) .......... (OBSERVE) of how people actually behave. This often leads to a clearer (3) .......... (UNDERSTAND) of the real difficulty, which may be quite different from the one first identified. Another advantage is that the process makes room for (4) .......... (CREATE), allowing unusual ideas to be tested before major resources are committed. Early failure is not treated as proof of (5) .......... (COMPETE), but as useful feedback that can guide later improvements. In addition, the highly collaborative nature of design thinking helps reduce (6) .......... (RESIST) from colleagues, since they are more likely to support solutions they helped shape. For this reason, many businesses now regard it as an (7) .......... (VALUE) approach to innovation, especially when facing uncertainty. Used well, it can turn confusion into (8) .......... (CLEAR) and make problem-solving far more effective.
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.