Use of English Part 4
The Cambridge First keyword transformation exercise asks you to write a new sentence, with the same meaning as the example, by using the keyword prompt given. On this page we will take a look at what you need to know.
Cambridge First part 4 keyword transformation
Instructions
For questions 25-30, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given. Here is an example (0).
Example:
0 A very friendly taxi driver drove us into town.
DRIVEN
We …………………………………………………… a very friendly taxi driver.
The gap can be filled by the words ‘were driven into town by’, so you write:
| 0 | DRIVEN INTO TOWN BY |
How to do the transformations exercise
In this exercise you need to put a single word in each gap. You cannot use contractions as they count as two words. There are no nouns or basic adjective forms in the task although we can find comparatives and some adverb forms.
There are a number of steps you can use to complete the exercise.
- Always read each sentence completely as this can give you some clues about the missing word.
- Look at the commas in the text, especially those before and after any gap. Some words follow or are followed by commas
- Look at words immediately before and after the gaps for clues about the type of word. The word than for example suggests you may need a comparative form.
Doing it better!
The open cloze exercise can be a challenging exercise, as it is not always easy to see exactly what the word is. In some cases more than one option may be possible which makes the task a little less difficult.
Read the full text.
Sometimes when we read a text we can instantly see the missing words because our minds fills the gaps for us. It also helps to give us some context for the missing words.
Create a list of possible option words for reference.
A possible list of words is too long but you can prepare a sample set of words in groups to remind you of the types of words to look for. Lists of words like pronouns, linking words, and prepositions could make thinking of the right word easier for you.
Read as much as you can
In your preparation for the exam try to read as much as you can. Apart from helping you feel more comfortable with reading tasks it will also help you see the missing words in this exercise.
Final thoughts
The Cambridge First part 2 open cloze exercise can be very challenging but candidates need to to try to identity as many options as they can. To do this you should have a strategy and some of the ideas we have suggested here may be of use to you.
Part 1
Put a word in each gap by choosing the best option from the four multiple choice answers.
Part 2
Put a single word in each of the gaps.
Part 3
Change the form of the word given at the end of a line to create a new word.