Cambridge FCE Reading: Part I Multiple choice cloze exercise

Multiple Choice Cloze Exercise 1
1. This house is so old now. When it rains,
the windows leak and the roof needs to be
replaced soon. __, we love it and would
never move to another.
a. nevertheless
b. although
c. though
d. despite
2. You can't ignore this problem any longer.
You have to ___ with it so we can go on with
the plan.

5. We couldn't find the hotel and it was
getting dark___ we got out a map and
studied it carefully.
a. so
b. and
c. but
d. if
6. Well, according to the timetable, a bus
should be along in___two minutes. But I
wouldn't be surprised if we had to wait
another half an hour!
a. less

a. deal

b. below

b. do

c. about

c. solve

d. round

d. beat

7. Martin Jones,____as the Gentle Bank
Robber during his three-year reign, was
jailed for 25 years today at the Central
Court.

3. I don't like watching soap operas and
films on TV. I prefer documentaries with ___
people talking about their lives.
a. reality
b. real
c. authentic
d. genuine
4. Has someone moved the drinks___the
table while I was gone? I'm sure that glass in
front of Peter was mine.

a. named
b. reputed
c. called
d. known
8. I was born about 30km___ Rome but

have always lived in Great Britain.
a. from

a. of

b. to

b. along

c. far

c. around

d. near

d. on


Multiple Choice Cloze Exercise 2
1. Don't wash that sweater in hot water,___
it will shrink.
a. unless
b. if
c. moreover
d. otherwise

5. When each group of tourists have paid
the entrance fee,___them with a picnic
hamper and two parasols.
a. provide

b. give
c. lend
d. give out

a. along

6. You are the only person in this company
who__ access to both the staf phone list
and the bank information of every
employee. Please remember it is a huge
responsibility.

b. throughout

a. has

c. moreover

b. takes

d. all in all

c. opens

3. Police arrested a man late last night in
connection with the murder. Police expect
to charge the___later this morning.

d. sees

2. __ the vacation, we had the most
wonderful weather imaginable. Sunshine all
the way!

a. guilty
b. suspect
c. condemned
d. arrested
4. Right, Mrs. Jones. Take these pills twice a
day and if the problem___ more serious,
come back and pay me a visit.

7. We all just looked at the bill and then
realised that ___wasn't even included! So
we had to pay another 15% on top of that! I
am never going back to that restaurant.
a. services
b. serving
c. serves
d. service

a. goes

8. We got home to find the children___
down the marble hallway in their socks.

b. becomes

a. sliding

c. turns

b. skidding

d. develops

c. falling
d. crashing


Multiple Choice Cloze Exercise 3
1. It was in the 19th Century that scientists
began to realise that monkeys and apes
were___relatives of man.
a. remote
b. distant
c. far
d. vague
2. Overall, six universities have accepted my
application but I___to go to Chicago
because my aunt and uncle live there.

5. Christmas Day___on a Sunday this year.
a. comes
b. becomes
c. falls
d. places
6. My original___was not to cut jobs but
only to reduce expenditure in the company.
a. direction

b. view

a. select

c. aim

b. prefer

d. destination

c. like

7. Why are you blaming your sister? In my
opinion, you are___to blame for this
accident!

d. enjoy
3. The___of the coastal areas in these parts
were called "Myami" but the tribes died out
around 600 years ago as European explorers
moved into the area.
a. tenants
b. inhabitants

a. strongly
b. dominantly
c. entirely
d. freely

c. constituents

8. You should___advantage of our special
ofer while we have it, Mrs. Foulkes.

d. citizens

a. get

4. He's taken my bag! Just when you need a
policeman, there isn't a single one in___!

b. take

a. vision
b. sight
c. reach
d. existence

c. hold
d. have


Multiple Choice Cloze Exercise 4
1. Inspector Grant visited the suspect's
house on three occasions and on the
third___a remarkable discovery.
a. did
b. found
c. took
d. made

2. By studying fossils, many things can be
learnt including even the events that___to
the animal's death.
a. caused
b. went
c. led
d. influenced
3. To___up, what we would like to see is a
more aggressive policing in the area and
more attention given to the victims of
crime...and less to the criminals!
a. add
b. sum
c. total

5. If we want to get to Chicago by sunset,
it___having to leave at dawn tomorrow.
a. intends
b. means
c. wants
d. needs
6. It will be hard to find the area of land__to
build a factory such as this.
a. obliged
b. required
c. meant
d. designed
7. I like my part time job but I would like all
the advantages of having a full-time
contract,___a company car and a good

vacation package.
a. such
b. example
c. like
d. containing

d. figure

8. Be careful swimming Jason. The water
here gets very___suddenly.

4. My uncle has a large greenhouse in his
garden which he uses to__tropical fruit.

a. profound

a. grow
b. rear
c. breed
d. raise

b. deep
c. wide
d. high


Multiple Choice Cloze Exercise 5
1. Could you turn the central heating up a little
more please. I can__notice any diference in
the temperature from an hour ago.

a. barely
b. hard
c. just
d. rather
2. Scientists are warning that human activity
is starting to cause__in the Earth's climate
due to increasing temperatures.
a. alterations
b. changes
c. deviations
d. substitutions
3. The unions are trying to present a__front
in their dispute with the government.
Otherwise, they know they will be defeated.
a. united
b. bound
c. single
d. unique
4. Though many eminent scientists have
travelled to Loch Ness in Scotland, the
famous monster has never been___by any
of them.
a. seen
b. witnessed
c. viewed
d. watched

5. If you need to speak to me, I___that my
attorney is present.
a. insist

b. must
c. force
d. make
6. We found a wonderful house just on
the___
of the town. It's so much cheaper than
living in the center.
a. border
b. confines
c. edge
d. side
7. Run to the supermarket! We're___out of
wine and I forgot to buy some yesterday.
The guests will be here in half an hour.
a. running
b. falling
c. going
d. dropping
8. The islands in this area were___when a
huge volcano erupted about 75,000 years
ago. Now, it's dormant.
a. manufactured
b. created
c. set
d. founded


Multiple Choice Cloze Exercise 6
1. I lifted the lid of the box just a centimetre
or two and could___two shiny eyes staring

out at me.

5. Do you feel___talking about your
childhood? We can change subject if you
prefer.

a. give out

a. comfortable

b. make out

b. favorable

c. make up

c. warm

d. look up

d. agreeable

2. The famous dodo, which lived on the
island of Madagascar,__extinct in the 17th
Century owing to overhunting by European
settlers.
a. went
b. got
c. turned
d. became

3. A__ in communication led to further
fighting before the UN intervened and
proposed a peace treaty.

6. The course also__a few lesson specifically
for those interested in going to live in Spain.
a. involves
b. consists
c. contains
d. comprises
7. The noise in the hall was terrible but he
just___ on speaking as if he couldn't hear it.
a. went

a. fall of

b. let

b. break-up

c. ran

c. breakout

d. set

d. breakdown

8. That's the first good idea you've___ since
breakfast. Well done!

4. I don't know why you are laughing
Maggie. I consider this to be a___serious
issue.
a. sharply
b. gravely

a. made
b. had
c. got
d. thought

c. mainly
d. largely

Multiple Choice Cloze Exercise 7


1. Michelle came nearer the house but then
she ran___when she saw our big black dog.
She has never liked dogs!

5. You can see how this artist has___the
well-known style of earlier artists such as
Turner and Renoir.

a. of

a. repeated

b. away

b. imitated

c. across

c. twinned

d. around

d. modelled

2. The tiger belongs to the big cat family,
but___the panther which lives in South
America, it is found mainly in Asia.

6. ___ temperatures have made living in this
part of the world more and more difficult.

a. whether
b. while
c. unlike
d. dissimilar
3. Jason Rewerd, 27, has been charged with
abandoning his __and failing to report for
duty at the military base in town.
a. gate
b. post
c. job
d. checkpoint

4. The Antarctic may seem an empty,
desolate place but it is actually___to
hundreds of diferent species of animals.
a. dwelling
b. shelter
c. home
d. habitat

a. raising
b. enlarging
c. rising
d. growing
7. How much would it cost to put a
new__on this old picture Larry? It's for the
wife's birthday.
a. border
b. surround
c. frame
d. square
8. In the event of fire, ___ the glass and use
the extinguisher.
a. crash
b. crack
c. hit
d. smash


Multiple Choice Cloze Exercise 8
1. Don't waste time looking___a cheap
hotel when you arrive. They are all about

the same price.

5. Although they tried to put___the fire for
nearly two hours, eventually the firefighters
had to give up.
a. out

a. at

b. of

b. by

c. away

c. for

d. on

d. on

6. It's absolutely___tonight so make sure
you wear both your gloves and your heavy
coat.

2. The man was questioned by the police
after acting in a(n)___way outside the bank.
a. suspicious
b. faulty
c. dishonest

d. unfriendly
3. Sharon never stops telling us how
wonderful she is. She can be a little___.
a. selfish
b. arrogant
c. sensible
d. silly
4. If you___all the lessons on the course,
you get a certificate anyway.

a. mild
b. cold
c. freezing
d. chilly
7. Your behavior today will have
serious___for your future promotion
chances.
a. warnings
b. predictions
c. consequences
d. results

a. go

8. How can you deny the allegations Mrs.
Penney? ___ people saw you leave the store
without paying.

b. frequent

a. several

c. attend

b. few

d. assist

c. some of
d. any


Multiple Choice Cloze Exercise 9
1. How can you possibly work in a zoo if you
are terrified__snakes?

5. Can you put me___for two days if I come
and stay with you?
a. up

a. at

b. about

b. of

c. in

c. with

d. out

d. in

6. The floods were caused by two days of
___ rain.

2. Are you___on foreign language films?
a. enthusiastic
b. excited
c. keen
d. liking
3. This government should be using far
___policies in an attempt to beat
unemployment.

a. pouring
b. drowning
c. flowing
d. shattering
7. It was only a minor accident and we all
escaped without___.
a. damage

a. crueler

b. wounds

b. meaner

c. injury

c. tougher

d. hurt

d. harder

8. By 10pm it was very dark and the black
car was___almost impossible to see.

4. Homeschooling, which involves__
children at home, is becoming ever more
popular.
a. training
b. managing
c. bringing up
d. educating

a. so
b. therefore
c. that
d. such


Multiple Choice Cloze Exercise 10
1. Can I borrow $10 __ you until tomorrow. I
have to buy a book for college.
a. to
b. from

c. for
d. with
2. There is so little time left until the exams.
I think I need to just concentrate my efort
___the most important two exams that I
cannot fail.

5. When I first arrived in Russia, I took ___
lessons from an old woman to help me with
the language.
a. private
b. secret
c. personal
d. reserved
6. There was only a light ___ in the morning
with no sign that a storm was coming.
a. gale

a. for

b. cyclone

b. with

c. breeze

c. of

d. draught

d. on

7. A new type of transistor radio has been

3. I was never very___ at history at school
and now I work in a museum. How ironic!

___ by South African electrical engineers.

a. good
b. expert
c. keen
d. able
4. My mother would like to consider herself
___ but I think even she would be shocked if
we took her to see that film!
a. broad-minded
b. independent
c. stubborn
d. well-behaved

a. developed
b. found
c. discovered
d. looked into
8. I want to play a game with you. First,
___ about an animal you would like to be.
Ready?
a. consider
b. imagine

c. think
d. wonder


Multiple Choice Cloze Exercise 11
1. Seeing you in that red dress reminds me a
lot___our honeymoon. Do you remember
that red dress you bought in Hawaii and you
wore it nearly every day!

5. The price of heating oil has been ___ up
again by the local government. Many
people have criticised them for doing so as
winter approaches.

a. about

a. pushed

b. to

b. taken

c. on

c. put

d. of

d. cost

2. My favourite___ at school was
undoubtedly geography. Now I want to
study it at university.

6. Houston is a very ___ city in the summer
and it can be very difficult to sleep at night.

a. material
b. subject
c. object
d. matter
3. You will need very diferent clothes when
you go on holiday___to where you go and
the time of year.
a. relying
b. according
c. depending
d. concluding

a. wet
b. damp
c. dripping
d. humid
7. My uncle is ___ deaf so you may have to
raise your voice a little, but don't shout at
him!
a. slightly
b. hardly
c. extremely

d. just

4. This wine is from the north of the
country, is drunk with the local fish and
must be___ ice cold.

8. After the government's defeat in
parliament last night, the new
transportation recommendations will have
to ___ a little longer before becoming law.

a. given

a. anticipate

b. prepared

b. expect

c. made

c. wait

d. served

d. delay


Multiple Choice Cloze Exercise 12
1. "Does this pen belong ___ you Juan?"

"No, it is Mick's I think."

5. It isn't going to rain tomorrow, they said,
but there may be a few __ in the evening.
a. puddles

a. to

b. showers

b. at

c. breezes

c. with

d. gales

d. on

6. ___ sounding very boring, the film was
actually pretty interesting. I would
recommend it!

2. I need to pass a difficult___ even before
they see me for interview.
a. proof
b. skill
c. test
d. course

3. Pass me the ___ , I need to put these
sheets together.
a. scissors
b. eraser
c. stapler
d. sharpener
4. If you help me ___ the potatoes, I will
chop them and you can go and watch the
movie.
a. mash
b. skin
c. break
d. peel

a. although
b. however
c. despite
d. nevertheless
7. My doctor told me to follow a more
___ diet and to cut down on my sugar and
cafeine.
a. even
b. balanced
c. equalised
d. unbiased
8. I went back to that house ___ again but
never saw anything that looked like a ghost
ever again.
a. over and over
b. repeatedly

c. constantly
d. moreover


Multiple Choice Cloze Exercise 13
1. I don't need these old typewriters any
more. If you can ___ a good use for them,
you can have them for nothing.
a. find
b. have
c. put
d. do
2. I didn't buy this ring. It was __ down to
me by the brother of my mother, my uncle
Peter, when I was only 12 years old.
a. given
b. passed
c. handed
d. sent
3. The two soldiers, lost in the desert,
looked up at the sun __ in the blue sky and
looked nervously at each other.

5. There's no way I can let you go out again
tonight. ___ , it's raining very hard.
a. although
b. however
c. moreover
d. besides
6. Only put a little oil in the mixture. If you

___ in too much, it will make the cake very
greasy - and not very healthy either.
a. crumble
b. spill
c. sip
d. pour
7. The wild area to the north of the lake
___ of conifer forests and small lakes full of
trout.

a. burning

a. makes

b. glittering

b. comprises

c. gleaming

c. consists

d. firing

d. contains

4. I can't ___ why you lent him the money.
You know how unreliable he is.

8. Now we are going to play a game which

should be ___to you all: scrabble! Let's pick
teams first!

a. assume
b. think of
c. figure
d. imagine

a. popular
b. normal
c. widespread
d. familiar
Multiple Choice Cloze Exercise 14


1. I was too scared to approach the house in
the dark. I couldn't ___ the courage and
remembered all the stories about ghosts
being seen there. a. get
b. see
c. find
d. experience
2. Did you hear him talk about the Amazon
rain forest last night. He is a very ___man
and you can always learn so much speaking
to him.
a. well known
b. all knowing
c. knowledgeable
d. know-it-all

5. The authorities want to build a new lake
in Proctor Park, which ___ the residential
and commercial districts of the city.
a. disconnects
b. splits
c. separates
d. parts
6. Be careful of the high winds on that
___ stretch of road along the coast.
a. horizontal
b. straight
c. open
d. fast

3. You can go to any of the restaurants along
the riverfront ___ from "The Grand Eatery"
which is too expensive.

7. Mike has been really lucky over the last
five years with his job. He now earns ___to
double what he was earning when he
started.

a. apart

a. near

b. excluding

b. almost

c. except

c. next

d. but

d. close

4. I got lost driving back from work again.
That ___ it three times this month! I need
to buy a street map.

8. Each farmworker was given a small ___ of
land and was then expected to give half of
the food produced to the landowner.

a. makes

a. line

b. leaves

b. plot

c. totals

c. measure

d. gives

d. breadth


Multiple Choice Cloze Exercise 15
1. Elvis Presley was, without ___, one of the
best rock and roll singers of all time.

5. For ___ of security, we have had to
cancel tonight's performance...
a. motivation

a. hesitation

b. because

b. doubt

c. reasons

c. explanation

d. consequence

d. questions

6. ...but all ticket costs will be refunded in
___ .

2. I stayed at work all day and ___ got very
little done.

a. full

a. yet

b. complete

b. despite

c. wholeness

c. just

d. entire

d. moreover

7. He graduated from Harvard but never ___
to become as successful as his father was.

3. ___ you won't appreciate it yet, you'll be
happy that you stopped smoking when your
health improves.
a. But
b. However
c. Although
d. Yet
4. I haven't seen Kathy since we both ___

school in 1999.
a. stopped
b. graduated
c. departed
d. left

a. achieved
b. reached
c. succeeded
d. managed
8. We had taken more supplies than usual
with us ___the weather turned bad.
a. supposing
b. if
c. in case
d. because of


Multiple Choice Cloze Exercise 16
1. I am not accusing you ___ taking the
money. I just want to know if you know
where it is!

5. The equipment at the school is oldfashioned and in bad condition.___, the
teachers seem very unmotivated.
a. anyway

a. of

b. furthermore

b. by

c. however

c. to

d. and

d. from

6. The machine can be very dangerous,
especially when it ___ in motion.

2. Older people are going to make ___ a
larger proportion of the population in the
future.
a. up
b. out
c. of
d. on
3. She saw me crying and I expected her to
be ___ to my problems but she just walked
away.
a. merciful
b. friendly
c. sympathetic
d. understanding
4. You should make an omelette in a ___
pan for the best results.

a. flat
b. frying
c. roasting
d. cooking

a. is
b. moves
c. goes
d. has
7. You got back so late and you didn't even
give me a proper ___ why you hadn't called
me! I'm very unhappy with you.
a. reason
b. cause
c. motive
d. result
8. We have such a long car journey
tomorrow. Make sure we bring enough food
and games to ___ for 4 hours so the kids
don't get bored.
a. endure
b. tolerate
c. last
d. during


Multiple Choice Cloze Exercise 17
1. The champion dancer will hold a press
___ tomorrow at which you will all be able
to ask her any questions you may have.

a. meeting
b. seminar
c. lecture
d. conference

5. Your attitude ___ it absolutely impossible
for me to sympathise with you, Jenny!
a. makes
b. causes
c. forces
d. does

2. When the water ___ , put the eggs in and
leave them there for just over two minutes.

6. The government has a ___ range of
powers to deal with security threats, some
of them introduced in recent years.

a. boils

a. large

b. steams

b. big

c. bakes

c. wide

d. simmers

d. narrow

3. This rain means we can't go to the zoo
today. ___ , I have a lot to do and it's best
we stay home.

7. The problem with your daughter, Mrs.
Reilly, is that she sits in my class paying ___
or no attention to anything that is
happening in the class.

a. besides
b. however
c. on the other hand
d. therefore
4. ___ you don't stay out too late, you may
go to the party. But remember to be back
here no later than 11.30pm.
a. seeing
b. though
c. provided
d. unless

a. hardly
b. little
c. few
d. nothing

8. Have you ___ to the same conclusion as I
have, Martin? That is must have been
William in your office last night?
a. arrived
b. reached
c. come
d. gained