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1.1 Reading and Use of English Part 1

Instructions: None
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1.1 Reading and Use of English Part 1

Objective:

To test whether the student understands the structural words used to construct sentences, and to be able to follow the coherent theme of a piece of text.


Method:

In part 2 of the FCE Reading and Use of English exam we are given a piece of text with 8 spaces, and a set of 4 words for each space. We are then required to identify the correct word for each space.

Let's look at a typical exam question:


Text
Giza is a plateau southwest of modern Cairo which (1) ........ as the necropolis for the royalty of the Old Kingdom of Egypt. The original necropolis of Giza was laid (2) ........ with amazing precision and skill but, once it became associated (3) ........ the great kings of Egypt and their pyramids, it attracted the attention of less prominent officials of lower rank. These officials had enough money and prestige to buy their (4) ........ into burial plots at Giza but had no regard for the symmetry of the original schematics and had their tombs dug wherever they found available (5) ........ .

Although the Giza plateau is most closely associated with the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, the site was used as (6) ........ as the First Dynasty of Egypt as evidenced by the tomb of the king Djet, which was found toward the (7) ........ of the plateau. Evidence of at least one king from the Second Dynasty being buried at Giza has also been found. Furthermore, inscriptions (8) ........ how king Khufu had to clear many earlier tombs and grave complexes to build the Great Pyramid.

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
A established
A out
A of
A fashion
A region
A dawn
A edge
A combine
B trained
B around
B from
B way
B zone
B early
B limit
B join
C served
C off
C for
C path
C area
C premature
C border
C relate
D nourished
D in
D with
D lane
D space
D soon
D end
D bond

The way to do this exercise is as follows:


1 READ THE TEXT QUICKLY TO UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT.

2 LOOK AT THE FIRST SENTENCE WITH A SPACE.

3 TRY EACH OF THE FOUR WORDS IN THE SPACE WITH THE WORDS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE SPACE.

4 ELIMINATE WORDS THAT DOn'T FIT.

5 LOOK FOR COMMON WORD GROUPS.

6 LOOK FOR GRAMMATICAL CONSISTENCY (NOT NOUNS WHERE ADJECTIVES SHOULD BE).

7 MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SENTENCE WIT A SPACE AND REPEAT THE PROCESS.

8 WHEN ALL THE SPACES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, READ THE FULL TEXT TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO GRAMMATICAL ERRORS.


Let's apply these steps to our exam question.


Looking at the first sentence with a space.


Giza is a plateau southwest of modern Cairo which (1) ........ as the necropolis for the royalty of the Old Kingdom of Egypt.


Putting the given words in place:

Giza is a plateau southwest of modern Cairo which (established, trained, served, nourished) (1) ........ as the necropolis for the royalty of the Old Kingdom of Egypt.


The first word group which ESTABLISHED AS doesn't work, so established doesn't fit.

The second word group which TRAINED AS doesn't work, so trained doesn't fit.

The third word group which SERVED AS could work.

The fourth word group which NOURISHED AS doesn't work, so nourished doesn't fit.


The only word that works is SERVED, so it must be the correct answer.


The completed sentence then is:

Giza is a plateau southwest of modern Cairo which (1) ....SERVED.... as the necropolis for the royalty of the Old Kingdom of Egypt.

which is grammatically acceptable.

It is important to note that there cannot be two correct answers, so it is normal that only one word group would make sense.


It is useful to consider how these exercises are created. A normal text is the starting point. Eight suitable word groups are identified. One word from each word group is chosen. For each chosen words, three other words which are similar in meaning but wrong in context are generated to make the set of four words.


Our objective is to reverse this process to find the original functional word groups.


Continuing with the second sentence with a space:


The original necropolis of Giza was laid (2) ........ with amazing precision and skill but, once it became associated (3) ........ the great kings of Egypt and their pyramids, it attracted the attention of less prominent officials of lower rank.


Putting the given words in place:

The original necropolis of Giza was laid (out, around, off, in) (2) ........ with amazing precision and skill but, once it became associated (3) ........ the great kings of Egypt and their pyramids, it attracted the attention of less prominent officials of lower rank.


Looking specifically at the second space, and trying each of the four given words:

The first word group was laid OUT with amazing precision could work.

The second word group was laid AROUND with amazing precision doesn't work, so around doesn't fit.

The third word group was laid OFF with amazing precision doesn't work, so off doesn't fit.

The fourth word group was laid IN with amazing precision doesn't work, so in doesn't fit.


The only correct answer then for space 2 must be OUT.



Looking at the third space:


The original necropolis of Giza was laid (2) ........ with amazing precision and skill but, once it became associated (3) ........ the great kings of Egypt and their pyramids, it attracted the attention of less prominent officials of lower rank.


Putting the given words in place:

The original necropolis of Giza was laid (2) ........ with amazing precision and skill but, once it became associated (of, from, for, with) (3) ........ the great kings of Egypt and their pyramids, it attracted the attention of less prominent officials of lower rank.


The first word group became associated OF the great kings doesn't work, so OF doesn't fit.

The second word group became associated FROM the great kings doesn't work, so FROM doesn't fit.

The third word group became associated FOR the great kings doesn't work, so FOR doesn't fit.

The fourth word group became associated WITH the great kings could work.


So WITH must be the correct answer, and the completed sentences would be:

Giza is a plateau southwest of modern Cairo which (1) ....SERVED.... as the necropolis for the royalty of the Old Kingdom of Egypt. The original necropolis of Giza was laid (2) ...OUT..... with amazing precision and skill but, once it became associated (3) ...WITH..... the great kings of Egypt and their pyramids, it attracted the attention of less prominent officials of lower rank.


This works grammatically.

Continuing with the third sentence with a space:


These officials had enough money and prestige to buy their (fashion way path lane) (4) ........ into burial plots at Giza but had no regard for the symmetry of the original schematics and had their tombs dug wherever they found available (5) ........ .


Putting the given words in place:

These officials had enough money and prestige to buy their (fashion way path lane) (4) ........ into burial plots at Giza but had no regard for the symmetry of the original schematics and had their tombs dug wherever they found available (5) ........ .


Looking specifically at space 4 by adding the given words:


The first word group to buy their FASHION into burial plots doesn't work, so FASHION doesn't fit.

The second word group to buy their WAY into burial plots could work.

The third word group to buy their PATH into burial plots doesn't work, so PATH doesn't fit.

The fourth word group to buy their LANE into burial plots doesn't work, so LANE doesn't fit.


So WAY must be the correct answer.



Looking at the words for space 5:


These officials had enough money and prestige to buy their (4) ........ into burial plots at Giza but had no regard for the symmetry of the original schematics and had their tombs dug wherever they found available (5) ........ .


Putting the given words in place:

These officials had enough money and prestige to buy their (4) ........ into burial plots at Giza but had no regard for the symmetry of the original schematics and had their tombs dug wherever they found available (region zone area space) (5) ........ .


The first word group wherever they found available REGION doesn't work, so REGION doesn't fit.

The second word group wherever they found available ZONE doesn't work, so ZONE doesn't fit.

The third word group wherever they found available AREA doesn't work, so AREA doesn't fit.

The fourth word group wherever they found available SPACE could work.


So SPACE must be the correct answer, and the completed sentences would be:

Giza is a plateau southwest of modern Cairo which (1) ....SERVED.... as the necropolis for the royalty of the Old Kingdom of Egypt. The original necropolis of Giza was laid (2) ...OUT..... with amazing precision and skill but, once it became associated (3) ...WITH..... the great kings of Egypt and their pyramids, it attracted the attention of less prominent officials of lower rank. These officials had enough money and prestige to buy their (4) ...WAY..... into burial plots at Giza but had no regard for the symmetry of the original schematics and had their tombs dug wherever they found available (5) ....SPACE.... .


This works grammatically.

Continuing with the fourth sentence with a space:


Although the Giza plateau is most closely associated with the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, the site was used as (6) ........ as the First Dynasty of Egypt as evidenced by the tomb of the king Djet, which was found toward the (7) ........ of the plateau.


Putting the given words in place:

Although the Giza plateau is most closely associated with the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, the site was used as (dawn, early, premature, soon) (6) ........ as the First Dynasty of Egypt as evidenced by the tomb of the king Djet, which was found toward the (7) ........ of the plateau.


Looking specifically at space 6, and trying each of the four given words:


The first word group the site was used as DAWN as the First Dynasty doesn't work, so DAWN doesn't fit.

The second word group the site was used as EARLY as the First Dynasty could work.

The third word group the site was used as PREMATURE as the First Dynasty doesn't work, so PREMATURE doesn't fit.

The fourth word group the site was used as SOON as the First Dynasty doesn't work, so SOON doesn't fit.


So EARLY must be the correct answer.



Looking at the words for space 7:


Although the Giza plateau is most closely associated with the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, the site was used as (6) ........ as the First Dynasty of Egypt as evidenced by the tomb of the king Djet, which was found toward the (7) ........ of the plateau.


Putting the given words in place:

Although the Giza plateau is most closely associated with the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, the site was used as (6) ........ as the First Dynasty of Egypt as evidenced by the tomb of the king Djet, which was found toward the (edge, limit, border, end) (7) ........ of the plateau.


Looking specifically at space 7, and trying each of the four given words:


The first word group which was found toward the EDGE of the plateau could work.

The second word group which was found toward the LIMIT of the plateau doesn't work, so LIMIT doesn't fit.

The third word group which was found toward the BORDER of the plateau doesn't work, so BORDER doesn't fit.

The fourth word group which was found toward the END of the plateau doesn't work, so END doesn't fit.


So EDGE must be the correct answer, and the completed sentences would be:

Giza is a plateau southwest of modern Cairo which (1)....SERVED.... as the necropolis for the royalty of the Old Kingdom of Egypt. The original necropolis of Giza was laid (2) ...OUT..... with amazing precision and skill but, once it became associated (3) ...WITH..... the great kings of Egypt and their pyramids, it attracted the attention of less prominent officials of lower rank. These officials had enough money and prestige to buy their (4) ...WAY..... into burial plots at Giza but had no regard for the symmetry of the original schematics and had their tombs dug wherever they found available (5) ....SPACE.

Although the Giza plateau is most closely associated with the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, the site was used as (6) ....EARLY.... as the First Dynasty of Egypt as evidenced by the tomb of the king Djet, which was found toward the (7) ....EDGE.... of the plateau.


This works grammatically.

Continuing with the final sentence with a space:


Evidence of at least one king from the Second Dynasty being buried at Giza has also been found. Furthermore, inscriptions (8) ........ how king Khufu had to clear many earlier tombs and grave complexes to build the Great Pyramid.


Putting the given words in place:

Evidence of at least one king from the Second Dynasty being buried at Giza has also been found. Furthermore, inscriptions (combine, join, relate, bond) (8) ........ how king Khufu had to clear many earlier tombs and grave complexes to build the Great Pyramid.


Looking specifically at space 8, and trying each of the four given words:


The first word group inscriptions COMBINE how king Khufu had to doesn't work, so COMBINE doesn't fit.

The second word group inscriptions JOIN how king Khufu had to doesn't work, so JOIN doesn't fit.

The third word group inscriptions RELATE how king Khufu had to could work.

The fourth word group inscriptions BOND how king Khufu had to doesn't work, so BOND doesn't fit.


So RELATE must be the correct answer, and the completed sentences, and the completed text would be:


Giza is a plateau southwest of modern Cairo which (1)....SERVED.... as the necropolis for the royalty of the Old Kingdom of Egypt. The original necropolis of Giza was laid (2) ...OUT..... with amazing precision and skill but, once it became associated (3) ...WITH..... the great kings of Egypt and their pyramids, it attracted the attention of less prominent officials of lower rank. These officials had enough money and prestige to buy their (4) ...WAY..... into burial plots at Giza but had no regard for the symmetry of the original schematics and had their tombs dug wherever they found available (5) ....SPACE.

Although the Giza plateau is most closely associated with the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, the site was used as (6) ....EARLY.... as the First Dynasty of Egypt as evidenced by the tomb of the king Djet, which was found toward the (7) ....EDGE.... of the plateau. Evidence of at least one king from the Second Dynasty being buried at Giza has also been found. Furthermore, inscriptions (8) ...RELATE..... how king Khufu had to clear many earlier tombs and grave complexes to build the Great Pyramid.


This works grammatically.

The correct answers then are:

1 C)

2 A)

3 D)

4 B)

5 D)

6 B)

7 A)

8 C)


and the final text would look like:


Text
Giza is a plateau southwest of modern Cairo which (1) ....SERVED.... as the necropolis for the royalty of the Old Kingdom of Egypt. The original necropolis of Giza was laid (2) ....OUT.... with amazing precision and skill but, once it became associated (3) ....WITH.... the great kings of Egypt and their pyramids, it attracted the attention of less prominent officials of lower rank. These officials had enough money and prestige to buy their (4) ....WAY.... into burial plots at Giza but had no regard for the symmetry of the original schematics and had their tombs dug wherever they found available (5) .....SPACE... .

Although the Giza plateau is most closely associated with the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, the site was used as (6) ....EARLY.... as the First Dynasty of Egypt as evidenced by the tomb of the king Djet, which was found toward the (7) ....EDGE.... of the plateau. Evidence of at least one king from the Second Dynasty being buried at Giza has also been found. Furthermore, inscriptions (8) ...RELATE..... how king Khufu had to clear many earlier tombs and grave complexes to build the Great Pyramid.

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
A established
A out
A of
A fashion
A region
A dawn
A edge
A combine
B trained
B around
B from
B way
B zone
B early
B limit
B join
C served
C off
C for
C path
C area
C premature
C border
C relate
D nourished
D in
D with
D lane
D space
D soon
D end
D bond