FCE Use of English Part 2: open cloze exercises
The B2 open cloze is a short text with eight gaps and no options: you write one word in each. Most answers are small grammar words such as prepositions, auxiliaries, pronouns and linkers, and each correct gap earns one Use of English mark.
- Questions
- 8 (Q9–16)
- Marks
- 1 each
- Time to spend
- ≈ 9 min
- Counts towards
- Use of English
What the FCE open cloze tests
In Part 2 you read a short text with eight gaps (questions 9–16) and an example (0). There are no options to choose from: you must think of the one word that fits each gap. Two or three words cannot score, and nor can a contraction such as didn't or I'd, because contractions count as two words. The only exception is can't, which counts as one word (cannot).
The focus is grammar, with some vocabulary. Most answers are short "function words" rather than content words, for example:
- relative pronouns: who, which, whose, where;
- auxiliary and modal verbs: do, has, been, would, should;
- prepositions in fixed phrases: in advance, on behalf of, by far;
- linkers and conjunctions: although, unless, whereas, as;
- quantifiers and determiners: few, much, every, such;
- words in comparisons and set expressions: than, as, let alone, so far;
- particles that complete phrasal verbs: up, out, off.
How it is marked: one mark per gap, 8 marks in total, and the marks count towards your Use of English score together with Parts 3 and 4 (28 marks). Spelling must be correct. On the paper-based test you write your answers in capital letters on the answer sheet. Sometimes more than one word is possible, and the mark scheme accepts each correct alternative, but you should only ever write one: if you write two answers and one of them is wrong, the gap scores zero.
Open cloze B2 exercise
Read the text and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).
Dark skies
Three years ago, the small town of Elsmere decided to switch off most of (0) its street lights after midnight. The main aim was to save money, but the council also hoped to attract visitors (9) were interested in astronomy. Some residents were worried that the streets would become dangerous, and a few even threatened to move away. In (10) of these fears, the number of accidents did not rise.
Today, the town holds a stargazing festival every autumn, and local hotels are fully booked months (11) advance. Visitors are given red torches, (12) allow them to find their way without spoiling their night vision. Many say they had never seen the Milky Way before, (13) alone a shooting star. The festival now brings (14) far more money than the lights ever cost to run.
Not everyone is convinced, of course. Some shopkeepers complain that the town looks closed at night, (15) in winter, when it gets dark early. But so (16), the experiment seems to have done more good than harm.
Show the answer and explanation
9 who (also that). A defining relative clause about people: the visitors who were interested.
10 spite. In spite of introduces a contrast. Despite is wrong here because it never follows in.
11 in. In advance is a fixed phrase meaning "before the time".
12 which. A non-defining relative clause after a comma, referring to the torches. That cannot follow a comma in this kind of clause, a frequent error in this part.
13 let. Let alone means "and certainly not". It always follows a negative idea, here had never seen.
14 in. To bring in money means to earn it. The gap is the particle of a phrasal verb, a regular item type in this part.
15 especially (also particularly). The writer is adding the case where the complaint is strongest.
16 far. So far means "until now". The word before the gap is often the clue: here it is so.
Two more B2 open cloze exercises
Each text has eight gaps, numbered 9–16 as in the exam. Try one under time pressure: about nine minutes.
Practice set 2: The library of things
Read the text and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).
The library of things
When Marta moved into her first flat, she needed a drill to put up some shelves, but she did not want to buy one that she would use (0) only once. Then a neighbour told her about a 'library of things' that had opened just (9) the corner. It works in much the same way (10) an ordinary library, except that members borrow tools, tents and sewing machines instead of books. Since it opened, more than two thousand items (11) been borrowed.
The volunteers who run the scheme were worried at first that things would disappear, but in fact very (12) items have ever gone missing.
Marta now borrows something almost every month. 'I used to think I had to own everything I needed,' she says. 'Now I realise (13) much money I was wasting.' She has also got to know several of her neighbours, one of (14) now volunteers there on Saturdays. Thanks (15) the scheme's success, a second branch is planned, and the organisers are looking (16) more people to help.
Show the answers and explanations
9 round (also around). Just round the corner means very close by.
10 as. In the same way as is the fixed comparison. Like cannot follow the same way.
11 have. A present perfect passive with a plural subject (items): have been borrowed. Has does not agree with items.
12 few. Very few means "almost none", which fits but in fact after the worry. Little is for uncountable nouns.
13 how. How much money introduces what she realises. So or such cannot start this clause.
14 whom. After a preposition, the relative pronoun for people is whom: one of whom. Who is wrong after of, and them would join two sentences with only a comma.
15 to. Thanks to means "because of" and gives a positive cause.
16 for. To look for people is to try to find them. This is the particle of a phrasal verb.
Practice set 3: Learning to juggle
Read the text and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).
Learning to juggle
Last spring, Tom Hale decided to learn something he had wanted to do (0) since he was a child: juggling. 'I'd always assumed only circus performers could do it,' he says. 'In fact, it turned out to be easier (9) I expected.'
Tom started with two soft balls and practised for ten minutes every evening. (10) first, he dropped them constantly, but within a week he could keep three in the air. A friend (11) son runs a juggling club persuaded him to come along, and he now goes every Thursday.
Tom believes that learning a physical skill like this is (12) good for the brain as it is for the body. 'You have to concentrate completely, so you can't think about your worries,' he explains. 'It's (13) a relaxing way to end the day that I hardly ever miss a session.'
He admits that he is not good (14) to perform in public, and he may never be. 'But that doesn't matter,' he says. 'I do it for fun. As (15) as I'm enjoying it, I'll keep going, (16) many balls I drop.'
Show the answers and explanations
9 than. A comparative (easier) needs than.
10 At. At first describes how things were at the beginning, before they changed (but within a week…).
11 whose. The son belongs to the friend: a friend whose son. Who cannot show possession.
12 as. As good for the brain as it is for the body: the second as is your clue.
13 such. Such a + adjective + noun … that gives a result. So would need the adjective straight after it (so relaxing).
14 enough. Good enough to + verb. Enough comes after an adjective.
15 long. As long as means "provided that".
16 however. However many means "it doesn't matter how many". No matter would need two words.
How to do the open cloze in FCE Use of English Part 2
- 01
Read the whole text first for the general meaning. Several gaps depend on what happens in the next sentence, especially linkers such as although or however.
- 02
For each gap, decide what kind of word is missing: a pronoun, an auxiliary, a preposition, an article, a linker? Look at the words immediately before and after.
- 03
Check for a fixed phrase around the gap. Patterns such as in ___ of, as ___ as, so ___ that or ___ alone have only one or two possible answers.
- 04
If a verb looks incomplete, check tense and voice: a passive needs a form of be, a perfect needs have, a question or emphatic sentence may need do.
- 05
Read the full sentence with your word in it and check it agrees with the paragraph. A word that is grammatical but reverses the logic (because instead of although) still scores zero.
- 06
Write one word only, spelled correctly, in capitals on the paper answer sheet. If you have no idea, write your best guess: an empty box can never score.
Common open cloze mistakes
Writing two words or a contraction. Didn't, it's and a lot all count as two words. If the answer seems to need two, the gap probably needs a different structure.
Using that after a comma. In a non-defining relative clause you need which or who. The comma before the gap is your clue.
Missing a negative or a contrast. Candidates write because where the text needs although, or much where the sense needs little. Always reread the sentence before and after.
Spelling small words wrongly. Wich, thier, untill and allthough lose the mark even when the idea is right.
The words that fill most open cloze gaps
The same small group of words appears in open cloze B2 exercises again and again. If you can use all of these confidently, most gaps become recognition rather than guesswork.
| Group | Words to know | Typical pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Relatives | who, which, whose, where, when, whom | the man whose car was stolen |
| Linkers | although, though, unless, whereas, while, as, since, however | Although it rained, we went. |
| Auxiliaries | do, did, has, had, been, being, be | The road is being repaired. |
| Modals | would, could, should, must, might | You should have told me. |
| Quantifiers | few, little, much, many, each, every, any, none, all | Very few people came. |
| Comparison | than, as, more, most, the (the more… the better) | It's twice as long as the last one. |
| Dummy subjects | it, there | It is worth visiting. There is no need. |
| So / such | so (+ adjective), such (+ noun phrase) | such a long day |
| Fixed phrases | in spite of, as well as, on behalf of, by far, at least, let alone | at least twice a week |
Practise Part 2 in full FCE Reading and Use of English tests
Each FCE Reading and Use of English test on this site has its own Part 2, timed with the whole paper and marked as soon as you submit, with an explanation for every answer.
FCE open cloze questions
How many words can I write in the FCE open cloze?
One word per gap. A contraction such as don't counts as two words, so it cannot be correct. The one exception is can't, which counts as a single word (cannot).
Does spelling count in FCE Use of English Part 2?
Yes. A misspelled answer scores zero, even if it is the right word. Check small words such as which, their and until carefully.
Can more than one answer be right in the open cloze?
Sometimes. In the example on this page, who and that are both correct for question 9. The mark scheme lists every acceptable answer, but you should write only one word.
Where can I find more open cloze B2 exercises?
This page has three full open cloze texts with answers: the example and practice sets 2 and 3. Each of the six FCE Reading and Use of English tests on this site also includes a complete Part 2 open cloze, marked instantly with an explanation for every answer.
Sources
- B2 First Handbook for Teachers (Cambridge University Press & Assessment), pages 7–8, 11
- B2 First exam format (cambridgeenglish.org)
- B2 First preparation materials: Cambridge's own sample tests
CambridgeMock is independent and not affiliated with Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Facts on this page are checked against the official documents above; the practice items and advice are our own.
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