How an Empty Shop Became a Workshop
About this practice test
Read how an empty clothes shop became a community workshop and brought people together on Maple Street.
What you’ll practice
Finding detail
Locate specific information and evidence.
Interpreting ideas
Connect main points and inferences.
Evaluating arguments
Assess claims, evidence, and limitations.
What to expect:
2 questions with explanations to review after submission.
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
- B1. 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
- Cloze (text)
How to approach this practice
Read the passage for its main idea, then return to the relevant sentence or paragraph for each question. Base answers on the passage.
How an Empty Shop Became a Workshop
On Maple Street, a small clothes shop stood empty for almost a year. At first, people passed the dark windows without looking. Then Lina Ortiz, who taught craft classes at the local youth centre, began to wonder whether the room could be used as a workshop. She asked the landlord, Mr. Green, and learned that he was tired of waiting for a regular tenant. He agreed to a low rent if the space was looked after. Lina was surprised, but she saw a chance to bring different people together. She did not have money for a full renovation, so she asked for help. Her cousin fixed the broken lock, a retired carpenter donated a table, and two students painted the walls a bright yellow. Neighbours carried in old furniture from their homes. Lina named the place the Corner Workshop because it was small, simple, and open to everyone. On the first week, only six people came, including a boy who wanted to repair his bicycle and a woman who hoped to learn sewing. Even so, the room felt busy and hopeful. Three months later, the workshop had changed the street. On Saturday mornings, the front door was usually open, and the sound of music, tools, and laughter drifted onto the pavement. People who had never spoken before now shared tea and ideas. Some came to make useful things; others came because they felt lonely at home. Lina says the workshop has not solved every problem in the neighbourhood, but it has given people a reason to stop, sit down, and help one another. For her, that is more valuable than turning the empty shop into another place to buy things.
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Question 1 · Cloze (text)
Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each gap. Complete the summary below. At first, the street had an 1___. Lina Ortiz, who ran classes at the 2___, decided it might become a 3___. After she spoke to the landlord, she got a 4___ deal if the room was cared for. Because she had little money, she asked for help. Neighbours carried in 5___ from their homes. Lina then called the place the Corner Workshop.
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Blank 1
- empty shop
- Blank 2
- youth centre
- Blank 3
- workshop
- Blank 4
- low rent
- Blank 5
- old furniture
Gap 1: empty shop — the passage says a small clothes shop stood empty. Gap 2: youth centre — Lina taught craft classes there. Gap 3: workshop — she thought the room could be used as one. Gap 4: low rent — Mr. Green agreed to this if the space was looked after. Gap 5: old furniture — neighbours carried it in from their homes.
a small clothes shop stood empty for almost a year
who taught craft classes at the local youth centre
He agreed to a low rent if the space was looked after
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Question 2 · Cloze (text)
Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each gap. Complete the summary below. Three months later, the place had changed the 1___. On Saturday mornings, the open door let music, tools and laughter reach the 2___. People who had never spoken before now shared 3___ and ideas. Some visitors came to make useful things; others came because they felt 4___ at home. Lina believes the workshop is valuable because it helps people stop, sit down and 5___.
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Blank 1
- street
- Blank 2
- pavement
- Blank 3
- tea
- Blank 4
- lonely
- Blank 5
- help one another
Gap 1: street — the workshop had changed the street after three months. Gap 2: pavement — music, tools, and laughter drifted onto it. Gap 3: tea — people shared tea and ideas. Gap 4: lonely — some visitors felt lonely at home. Gap 5: help one another — Lina valued the workshop because it gave people a reason to help one another.
Three months later, the workshop had changed the street
the sound of music, tools, and laughter drifted onto the pavement
they felt lonely at home
What to review next
Find the words that support each answer. For a mistake, compare the question with the evidence and identify the detail or inference you missed.
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.
Before you practise: a worked example
Look for evidence in the text. Separate what the writer says from what you already know about the topic.
The library normally closes at six, but on Fridays it stays open until eight. When does it close on Friday?
The answer is eight. But introduces an exception to the normal closing time, so the first time mentioned is not the answer.
This teaching example is separate from the scored questions. After your test, compare any mistakes with the explanation and revisit the topic before trying again.