1

Open Cloze.
Part 2 of the CAE Reading and Use of English Paper is called 'Open Cloze'. Watch Flo-
Joe’s short, 4-minute video explaining this task on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/2vg70x1Dmkc

The Open Cloze task consists of a short text with 8 gaps - 9 gaps including the example
at the beginning. Each gap equals one word and the candidate has to complete each
gap by identifying the missing word.

The main focus in the Open Cloze is grammar. Let’s look at some common parts of
speech that are often gapped.

Pronouns
Pronouns will often be gapped. In particular look out for pronouns in set expressions,
reflexive pronouns, for example, ‘myself’ or ‘yourself’ and relative pronouns - who,
where when etc. Try the following quiz:

Relative pronouns
Relative pronouns like 'that', 'which', 'who' are often the missing word. Try the following
quiz:

Articles and quantifiers

Articles and quantifiers like ‘much’, ‘more’ , ’some’ , ’many’ etc will sometimes be
required. Try the following quiz:
 2

Modal verbs
Modal verbs, like ‘will’, ‘would’, ‘must’, ‘can’ etc and the auxiliary verbs ‘be’, ‘do’, and ‘have’
are often tested. Try the following quiz:

Conjunctions
Conjunctions like ‘although’, ‘yet’, ‘still’ or ‘because’ will sometimes be gapped. Try the
following quiz:

Prepositions
Prepositions, especially those in set expressions like ‘on the contrary’ or ‘in the
meantime’ will sometimes be gapped. Try the following quiz:

Exam tips.

Make sure you read the complete text first before attempting to answer any questions.
Having an overview of the content will sometimes help you to identify missing words.

Pay attention to the clauses and words around each gap as these will usually help you
identify which part of speech is missing - a verb, a conjunction, a pronoun for example.

If you’d like further practice in the new CAE exam visit the Flo-Joe website at www.flo-
joe.co.uk.
 3

Practice 1: Pronouns.

Pronouns cover a wide area and will often be tested in the CAE exam. Spend some time
getting to know the various types of pronouns that exist and how they are used.

 PERSONAL PRONOUNS: I, you, he, she, it etc.

 POSSESIVE PRONOUNS: his, her, its, my, our, their etc.
 REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS: himself, herself, oneself, myself, yourself, itself etc.
 RELATIVE PRONOUNS: who, which, what, that
 IINTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS: who, what, which
 DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS: this, that, those, these
 INDEFINITE PRONOUNS: any, anybody, some, somebody, one, some, each etc

Exercises.
1) I've promised them a holiday this year. I've been working too hard lately.

2) I don't think it is a good idea to rush into making a decision without thinking of
the consequences.

3) The two twins are identical. It's impossible to tell whose from the other.

4) The employment situation here is much worse than that which exists abroad.

5) Have you been here before? No. this is my first time in London.

6) There's someone on the phone who wants to speak to you.

7)  If he has finished we can go onto the next exercise.

8) You can please who whether you come to the party or not. I don't care.
 4

Practice 2: Relative Pronouns.

The relative pronouns are:

Subject Object Possessive

who who/whom whose

which which whose

that that -

We use relative pronouns to introduce relative clauses. Relative clauses tell us more

about people and things:

Dr. Thompson,  who is 76, has just retired.

This is the house  which Jack built.
Marie Curie is the woman  that discovered radium.

We use:

 who  and whom for people

 which for things

 that for people or things.

 We use whose as the possessive form of who:

 5

Exercises.
1) The student common room is the only place where you can smoke.

2) The company are to introduce a policy that parents can bring their
children in on open days.

3)  Dr Adams, whose research paper has recently been published, will be
visiting the laboratory next month.

4) I'm afraid there is nothing that I can do to help.

5) Nobody is sure of the reason which he decided to take on the job.

6) Will missed Thursday's lesson see me this afternoon.

7) We saw two films last week, neither of them were very interesting.

8) The seven defendants, two of whom were absent from the court, are
charged with burglary.
 6

Practice 3: Articles and Quantifiers.

Articles and quantifiers like ‘much’, ‘more’ , ’some’ , ’many’ etc will sometimes be required. Try
the following quiz…

Exercises.
1. We like to go back to Greece on holiday now and then.
2. Of course you can come! The more the merrier as far as I'm concerned.
3. I had any idea of what he was talking about and felt totally confused.
4. I'm afraid that's here nor there. Being out late is no reason for not doing
your homework.
5. During the bombing campaign the general public must at many times be
on the lookout for suspicious packages.
6. You've eaten more than much cake for one day. Save the rest for
tomorrow.
7. Do something! You could at hold the door open for me.
8. I don't really know what to say more than try speaking to your friend
about the problem.

Personal Work.

'every now and then', 'the more the merrier' and 'neither here nor there' are examples
of set expressions that include an article or determiner. There are many more:

 all in all
 so much the better
 as many as
 enough is enough
 this and that
 7

Practice 4: Modal Verbs.

Modal verbs, like ‘will’, ‘would’, ‘must’, ‘can’ etc and the auxiliary verbs ‘be’, ‘do’, and ‘have’ are
often tested.

Exercises.
1) The plan has .......... found to have several weaknesses.

2) We .......... have been living here for 3 years by the summer.

3) I really .......... like going out at weekends. It's so nice to forget about work.

4) My grandfather .......... always take me for a ride in his taxi when he visited.

5) When I got home I realised I .......... left my keys at work.

6)  I think you .......... to get your hair cut if you're looking for a new job.

7) To .......... taken three times a day before meals.

8)  You .......... have known he'd be late. He never turns up on time for anything.

Personal Work.

Look out for the various ways in which an auxiliary or modal verb might be the missing
word. For example:

 in a passive construction
 in an incomplete tense construction
 in questions
 where possibility, obligation or permission is being expressed
 8

Practice 5: Conjunctions.

Conjunctions like ‘although’, ‘yet’, ‘still’ or ‘because’ will sometimes be gapped.

Exercises.
1) I'm just calling to see ........ or not you'd like to join us at our next meeting.

2) Unemployment figures have not ........ increased but the benefits paid to
unemployed people have also fallen.

3) The hotel manager was ........ friendly nor helpful when we complained.
4)  I'll have ........ pasta or risotto, whichever is easier.

5)  It's quite warm this afternoon in ........ to the cold start we had this morning.

6)  I'll definitely complete the work ........ if I have to work all night.

7) He's recovering well. There is, ........, no chance of the player recovering in time
for the next game.

8) ........ the Managing Director and Head of Personnel will be attending the
conference.

Personal Work.

Conjunctions will often be tested in the Open Cloze task. It's important to read the
sentences before and after the gap in order to identify whether a missing conjunction is
required and what type it might be, such as expressing contrast, addition, cause and
effect etc.
 9

Practice 6: Prepositions.
Prepositions, especially those in set expressions like ‘on the contrary’ or ‘in the meantime’ will
sometimes be gapped. Try the following quiz:

Exercises.
1) I think we should go ahead with the project regardless ........ the problems you've
raised.

2) The company will not be issuing a profits warning ........ account of the recent
improvement in sales.

3) You're ........ an advantage because you've already seen the test paper.

4) Once recording is ........ way could we ask for silence until the interview is
finished.

5) You must get your homework to me ........ fail or I'll have to mark the assignment
'zero'.

6) We've had one or two minor problems but ........ and large I'd say I'm satisfied
with the service.

7) I thought losing his temper was very ........ of character and I'm wondering if he's
feeling stressed.

8) Very few items of food are bad for you if they are eaten ........ moderation.

Personal Work.
Prepositions used like this are integral to the phrase and are further evidence of
why you should try to learn 'chunks' of vocabulary. Make a note of other
dependent prepositions in set expressions such as:

 AT the latest
 FOR a change
 IN a hurry
 UNDER guarantee
 10

Sample Exam Question 1.

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. There is an example at the beginning (0).
Example (0) IS

The origin of language.

The truth (0) ........ nobody really knows how language first began. Did we all start talking
at around the same time (1) ........ of the manner in which our brains had begun to
develop?

Although there is a lack of clear evidence, people have come up with various theories
about the origins of language. One recent theory is that human beings have evolved
in (2) ........ a way that we are programmed for language from the moment of birth.
In (3) ........ words, language came about as a result of an evolutionary change in our
brains at some stage.

Language (4) ........ well be programmed into the brain but, (5) ......... this, people still
need stimulus from others around them. From studies, we know that (6) ........ children
are isolated from human contact and have not learnt to construct sentences before
they are ten, it is doubtful they will ever do so. The research shows, if (7) ......... else, that
language is a social activity, not something invented (8) ......... isolation.

 
(Source: CAE Handbook. Reproduced with permission from Cambridge English)
 11

Sample Exam Question 2.

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. There is an example at the beginning (0).
Example (0) IS

Stress

Stress (0) ..... often called a 21st century illness but it has always been with us if perhaps
with different names. These days we regard stress (1) ..... a necessary evil of modern
living. Yet stress is not negative and without (2) ..... we would not enjoy some of the
highpoints in life (3) ..... as the anticipation before a date or the tension leading up to an
important match. All these situations produce stress but (4) ..... you can control it and
not the other way around, you will feel stimulated, not worn out. However, unlike these
situations, (5) ..... are generally positive and easier to deal with, sitting in a train that is
running late, (6) ..... stuck in a traffic jam or working to a tight deadline are much harder
to manage and control and can be a significant cause of stress. Stress is now recognised
as a medical problem and as a signficant factor (7) ..... causing coronary heart disease,
high blood pressure and a high cholesterol count. Patients are often unwilling to admit
to stress problems since they feel they are a form of social failure and it is important
that symptoms (8) ..... identified in order to avoid unnecessary suffering.

All material sourced from https://www.flo-joe.co.uk/cae/students/tests/ .