Use of English - Open Cloze
C2
Cambridge English C2 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.
Regular Exercise
Few habits contribute as much to long-term well-being (0) AS regular exercise. Its benefits extend far beyond appearance, affecting everything from mood to memory. People who exercise consistently tend to sleep better and are less prone (1) .......... periods of stress or low energy. This is partly because physical activity helps the body deal more effectively (2) .......... tension, while also encouraging the release of chemicals associated with pleasure and calm. Regular movement is valuable not only for adults but also for children, (3) .......... concentration at school often improves after active play. Another advantage lies in prevention: those who stay active are less likely to suffer (4) .......... conditions linked to a sedentary lifestyle. Even moderate activity, carried (5) .......... on a routine basis, can strengthen the heart and improve circulation. What matters most is not intensity but consistency. People frequently give (6) .......... after a few weeks because they expect immediate results, whereas the greatest gains appear over time. For this reason, experts recommend choosing an activity you genuinely enjoy, so that you are more likely to stick (7) .......... it. In the long run, exercise is one of the simplest ways to invest (8) .......... your health.
About Use of English Open Cloze — Cambridge English C2
In this Cambridge English C2 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 C2 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.