Weddings are expensive. How about a grocery store cake

Study the questions and tasks

Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.

Practice level

B2. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.

Question formats

Fill in the blank (dropdown)

How to approach this practice

Read the complete sentence and notice the subject, verb form, time reference and word order before answering.

1. Question 1 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Couples may choose ___ more on venues or popular reception trends.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. spending
   2. to spending
   3. spend
   4. spent
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   spend

   The modal may is followed by the base verb spend.

2. Question 2 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The couple ___ Costco for the cake last year.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. choose
   2. choosing
   3. has choose
   4. chose
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   chose

   The completed past action requires the simple past chose.

3. Question 3 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The cake was decorated ___ baby’s breath used at the venue.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. inspiring by
   2. inspired by
   3. inspire with
   4. to inspired by
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   inspired by

   Inspired by correctly introduces the source of the decoration.

4. Question 4 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   If couples want to save money, they ___ consider grocery-store cakes.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. could
   2. could to
   3. could considering
   4. could considered
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   could

   The conditional clause pairs with the modal could for a possible result.

5. Question 5 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The article reports that wedding spending ___ higher in May than a year earlier.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. are
   2. have
   3. was
   4. be
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   was

   Reported past data takes the simple past was.

6. Question 6 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Many couples still want the cake because it ___ an important part of the celebration.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. remain
   2. remaining
   3. has remain
   4. remains
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   remains

   A singular subject takes remains in the present simple.

7. Question 7 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The cakes ___ about $30 each at Costco.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. cost
   2. costs
   3. costing
   4. has cost
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   cost

   The plural subject cakes requires the plural past verb cost.

What to review next

After checking an answer, explain the rule in your own words and write a new sentence using the same pattern. Revisit any rules you could not explain.

A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.