Journeys and Experiences in Connected Texts

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: A travel diary begins with a journey that did not go according to the original timetable. By the time we reached the station, our train 1___. We had to 2___ the next one. Luckily, the delay gave us a 3___ to have breakfast. Instead of becoming upset, we used the unexpected break to plan the rest of the day.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. had left
   2. has left
   3. leaves
   4. will leave

   Choices for blank 2

   1. wait to
   2. waiting for
   3. wait at
   4. wait for

   Choices for blank 3

   1. case
   2. cause
   3. chance
   4. change
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   had left

   Blank 2

   wait for

   Blank 3

   chance

   Had left shows an earlier past event. Wait for takes an object. A chance to do something means an opportunity.

2. Question 2 · Cloze (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Choose the best option for each gap: Another entry describes a place whose appeal was different from what the advertisements had suggested. The town was 1___ smaller than I expected. 2___ it had few shops, there was plenty to see. We spent the afternoon 3___ the old streets. The quiet streets gave us time to notice details that a busier place might hide.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. many
   2. very
   3. more
   4. much

   Choices for blank 2

   1. Because of
   2. During
   3. Although
   4. Despite

   Choices for blank 3

   1. explored
   2. exploring
   3. explore
   4. to explore
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   much

   Blank 2

   Although

   Blank 3

   exploring

   Much can modify a comparative. Although introduces a contrasting clause. Spend time is followed by an -ing form.

3. Question 3 · Cloze (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Choose the best option for each gap: A guided walk became one of the most memorable parts of a weekend in the hills. Our guide advised us 1___ comfortable shoes. The path was wet, so we had to walk 2___. At the top, the view was well 3___ the effort. Taking the guide's advice made the difficult parts of the walk feel much safer.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. wear
   2. wore
   3. to wear
   4. wearing

   Choices for blank 2

   1. carefulness
   2. carefully
   3. careful
   4. care

   Choices for blank 3

   1. worth
   2. worthy
   3. value
   4. cost
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   to wear

   Blank 2

   carefully

   Blank 3

   worth

   Advise someone to do something takes a to-infinitive. Carefully modifies walk. Worth the effort is a natural phrase.

4. Question 4 · Cloze (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Choose the best option for each gap: One diary entry looks back at the first journey when I had to manage everything without a companion. I had never travelled abroad 1___ my own before. At first I felt 2___, but the other passengers were friendly. By the end of the journey, I 3___ several new friends. The experience taught me that asking a friendly stranger for help can make travel easier.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. with
   2. on
   3. by
   4. at

   Choices for blank 2

   1. nervous
   2. nervously
   3. nerves
   4. nervousness

   Choices for blank 3

   1. have made
   2. make
   3. was make
   4. had made
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   on

   Blank 2

   nervous

   Blank 3

   had made

   On my own means alone. Felt takes the adjective nervous. Had made describes completed events before the end of the journey.

5. Question 5 · Cloze (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Choose the best option for each gap: During a festival visit, arranging accommodation early made the first evening much less stressful. We booked a room in 1___ because the festival was popular. When we arrived, the owner 2___ us a warm welcome. She also suggested 3___ the market nearby. Having a place to stay left us free to explore instead of searching for a room.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. advance
   2. advanced
   3. advancing
   4. advancement

   Choices for blank 2

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

   Choices for blank 3

   1. visit
   2. visited
   3. visiting
   4. to visit
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   advance

   Blank 2

   gave

   Blank 3

   visiting

   In advance means beforehand. Give someone a welcome is a natural combination. Suggest takes an -ing form here.

6. Question 6 · Cloze (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Choose the best option for each gap: On a city break, we chose one activity for a rainy afternoon rather than trying to see everything. The museum is 1___ walking distance of our hotel. We decided 2___ there after lunch. The exhibition was so interesting that we lost 3___ of time. It was a reminder that leaving time for one place can be better than rushing through many.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. between
   2. among
   3. under
   4. within

   Choices for blank 2

   1. go
   2. went
   3. to go
   4. going

   Choices for blank 3

   1. path
   2. track
   3. road
   4. plan
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   within

   Blank 2

   to go

   Blank 3

   track

   Within walking distance describes a reachable location. Decide takes a to-infinitive. Lose track of time means stop noticing it passing.

7. Question 7 · Cloze (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Choose the best option for each gap: Not every entry in the diary ends with a completed journey; one describes a plan we had to abandon. Our flight was cancelled 1___ heavy snow. The airline offered us a 2___ or a seat on the next flight. We chose the money because we could no longer 3___ the trip. We were disappointed, but accepting another date would not have suited the people travelling.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. although
   2. even though
   3. because of
   4. because

   Choices for blank 2

   1. refundable
   2. refund
   3. refunding
   4. refunded

   Choices for blank 3

   1. afford
   2. affordable
   3. affording
   4. afforded
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   because of

   Blank 2

   refund

   Blank 3

   afford

   Because of takes the noun phrase heavy snow. A refund is returned money. Could takes the base verb afford.

8. Question 8 · Cloze (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Choose the best option for each gap: A return visit showed how much a familiar seaside place had changed over a few years. This beach used 1___ quiet in winter. Now it attracts visitors all year 2___. The council has built a new path to make it easier 3___ people to reach the sea. The new facilities helped visitors, although the village no longer felt as quiet as before.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. been
   2. to be
   3. being
   4. be

   Choices for blank 2

   1. round
   2. along
   3. across
   4. between

   Choices for blank 3

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

   Blank 1

   to be

   Blank 2

   round

   Blank 3

   for

   Used to be describes a former state. All year round is a fixed phrase. Easier for people to do something identifies who benefits.

9. Question 9 · Cloze (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Choose the best option for each gap: A journey by car included an unexpected stop in an area where there were few shops. We ran 1___ petrol on a country road. A farmer stopped and offered 2___ us to the nearest garage. We were grateful 3___ his help. The farmer's practical help turned a stressful problem into a story we could laugh about later.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. out of
   2. away from
   3. off with
   4. over by

   Choices for blank 2

   1. driving
   2. drive
   3. drove
   4. to drive

   Choices for blank 3

   1. at
   2. by
   3. for
   4. of
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   out of

   Blank 2

   to drive

   Blank 3

   for

   Run out of means use all of a supply. Offer takes a to-infinitive. Grateful for identifies the help received.

10. Question 10 · Cloze (dropdown)

    Choose the correct option for each blank.

    Choose the best option for each gap: The final entry is about a small disappointment that did not prevent us from enjoying a beautiful place. I was disappointed because I 1___ my best camera at home. The sunset was 2___ beautiful that we stayed until dark. Even now, my phone photographs remind me 3___ that evening. The pictures are imperfect, but they still bring back the feeling of being there.

    Choices for blank 1

    1. have left
    2. will leave
    3. leave
    4. had left

    Choices for blank 2

    1. too
    2. enough
    3. so
    4. such

    Choices for blank 3

    1. with
    2. of
    3. at
    4. for
    Check answers and explanations

    Blank 1

    had left

    Blank 2

    so

    Blank 3

    of

    Had left places the forgotten camera before the disappointment. So modifies beautiful before a that-clause. Remind someone of recalls an experience.

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.