A Small Business Finds a Solution

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 (dropdown)

How to approach this practice

Read the complete context. Check both the meaning and the grammar, including word forms, collocations and links between sentences.

1. Question 1 · Cloze (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Choose the best option for each gap: The bakery was popular, but its small building made it difficult to keep every product in stock. The bakery had 1___ out of storage space. Its owner decided 2___ a smaller range of cakes. The owner wanted to improve the service without renting another shop.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. run
   2. runs
   3. running
   4. ran

   Choices for blank 2

   1. offer
   2. offering
   3. offered
   4. to offer
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   run

   Blank 2

   to offer

   Had takes run; decide takes a to-infinitive.

2. Question 2 · Cloze (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Choose the best option for each gap: Regular customers suggested a service that would let them choose bread before leaving home. Customers were 1___ in buying bread online, but the shop had no way 2___ orders. The idea was useful, but the owner first needed a practical way to manage it.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. interesting
   2. interestingly
   3. interest
   4. interested

   Choices for blank 2

   1. to take
   2. take
   3. taken
   4. taking
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   interested

   Blank 2

   to take

   Interested describes customers; a way to take orders is the infinitive pattern.

3. Question 3 · Cloze (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Choose the best option for each gap: The owner knew about baking but had little experience of building an online service. The owner asked her nephew 1___ a website. He agreed 2___ it over the weekend. They agreed to start with a simple page and add features only when needed.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. build
   2. to build
   3. built
   4. building

   Choices for blank 2

   1. done
   2. doing
   3. do
   4. to do
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   to build

   Blank 2

   to do

   Ask someone and agree both take to-infinitives here.

4. Question 4 · Cloze (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Choose the best option for each gap: Before opening the service to everyone, they asked a few regular customers to try it. They paid close 1___ to customer comments and made several 2___. These suggestions helped them make the instructions easier to follow.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. attention
   2. look
   3. watch
   4. notice

   Choices for blank 2

   1. improving
   2. improve
   3. improved
   4. improvements
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   attention

   Blank 2

   improvements

   Pay attention is the collocation; several requires a plural noun.

5. Question 5 · Cloze (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Choose the best option for each gap: The first week was not perfect, and some customers received a different order from the one requested. At first, a few orders 1___ wrong because the system 2___ new. The owner apologised and kept a record of each problem so they could find its cause.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. made
   2. took
   3. went
   4. did

   Choices for blank 2

   1. be
   2. were
   3. has
   4. was
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   went

   Blank 2

   was

   Go wrong describes problems; singular system takes was.

6. Question 6 · Cloze (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Choose the best option for each gap: The mistakes were discouraging, but the owner and her nephew did not treat them as a reason to stop. Instead 1___ giving up, they carried 2___ testing different solutions. They changed one part at a time and checked whether the same problem happened again.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. for
   2. at
   3. of
   4. to

   Choices for blank 2

   1. out of
   2. off
   3. on
   4. away
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   of

   Blank 2

   on

   Instead of takes an ing form; carry on means continue.

7. Question 7 · Cloze (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Choose the best option for each gap: After several weeks of checking and adjusting the service, customers noticed a clear improvement. The changes resulted 1___ fewer mistakes and helped the business 2___. The bakery could prepare orders earlier and avoid wasting as much food.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. in
   2. at
   3. to
   4. of

   Choices for blank 2

   1. grew
   2. growing
   3. grow
   4. grown
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   in

   Blank 2

   grow

   Result in introduces the consequence; help can take base-form grow.

8. Question 8 · Cloze (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Choose the best option for each gap: The experience showed the owner that a small business could change without losing its personal service. The owner is proud 1___ the new service and looks forward 2___ expanding it. She now asks customers for ideas before making the next change.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. for
   2. with
   3. at
   4. of

   Choices for blank 2

   1. for
   2. to
   3. at
   4. on
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   of

   Blank 2

   to

   Proud of and look forward to are the fixed patterns.

What to review next

Explain why each answer fits the meaning and structure. Record useful phrases and write a new example using each pattern you found difficult.

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.