Experiences That Matter

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

Single choice

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 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. I … abroad twice, but never on my own.

   1. travelled yesterday
   2. am travel
   3. have travelling
   4. have travelled
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   have travelled

   Twice with no finished time refers to experience up to now.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. It was the first time I had … a speech in public.

   1. given
   2. spoken a
   3. done to
   4. made to
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   given

   Give a speech is the collocation; had takes given.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. The trip made me … how much I enjoyed meeting new people.

   1. to realise
   2. realise
   3. realised
   4. realising
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   realise

   Make someone do something takes a bare infinitive.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. I've known my closest friend … primary school.

   1. while
   2. during
   3. since
   4. for
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   since

   Since introduces the starting point of the relationship.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. The climb was …, but the view made it worthwhile.

   1. exhaust
   2. exhaustedly
   3. exhausting
   4. exhausted
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   exhausting

   Exhausting describes the activity causing fatigue.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. I didn't … to enjoy working outdoors, but I do now.

   1. to use
   2. using
   3. use
   4. used
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   use

   Did not takes the base form use in used-to negatives.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. We had difficulty … the right path in the dark.

   1. to find
   2. found
   3. finding
   4. find
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   finding

   Have difficulty takes an ing form.

8. Question 8 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. Looking back, I'm proud … what we achieved together.

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

   Answer

   of

   Proud of introduces the achievement.

9. Question 9 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. I'd never tried diving … that holiday.

   1. for
   2. before
   3. since
   4. during of
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   before

   Before places the first diving experience at the holiday.

10. Question 10 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    Choose the best completion or reply. The experience taught me not to take my friends for ….

    1. certain
    2. given
    3. allowed
    4. granted
    Check answers and explanations

    Answer

    granted

    Take someone for granted means fail to appreciate them.

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.