On this page we will take a look at the first of the Use of English exercises in Cambridge Advanced, which is the multiple choice exercise. We will briefly discuss how this exercise works as we assume most readers have seen this type of task before and don’t need a detailed introduction to it.
The Use of English Part 1 in Cambridge Advanced is effectively a reading task and the total is added to the reading test scores. It is a multiple choice task with four answers for each gap.
Options for this particular exercise can range from nouns to adjectives and phrasal verbs. Occasionally there may be some more complex linking expressions as well. The simplest way to describe the exercise is that it is a test of a student’s range of vocabulary.
Taking a look at the example from the exercise we’re going to use we can see this very clearly.
0 A deposits B piles C stores D stocks
Geological (0) …….. of salt were formed millions of years ago …
It is noticeable that although the words are similar in their general meaning there are some very specific differences between how we use them and this is what the Cambridge Advanced Use of English tests.
Let’s just review the meanings of these words so we can determine what the correct word is. We will then look at the exercise in detail and discuss each of the possible answers.
Firstly, in the sentence the topic is the natural resource of salt so we need to look at words that describe this idea.
From this first example it is clear the exam is testing if students can identify the appropriate word for certain contexts and this is the way to approach this exercise.
Geological (0) …….. of salt were formed millions of years ago, when what is now land, lay under the sea. It is hard to believe that salt is now such a cheap (1) …….. , because centuries ago it was the commercial (2) …….. of today’s oil. The men who mined salt became wealthy and, although the work was (3) …….. and frequently dangerous, a job in a salt mine was highly (4) …….. . Nowadays, the specific microclimates in disused mines have been (5) …….. for the treatment of respiratory illnesses such as asthma, and the silent, dark surroundings in a mine are considered (6) …….. in encouraging patients to relax. In addition, some disused mines have been (7) …….. to different commercial enterprises, although keeping up-to-date with the technology of mining is essential to (8) …….. visitors’ safety. Some of the largest underground chambers even host concerts, conferences and business meetings.
1 A provision B utility C material D commodity
2 A match B similarity C parallel D equivalent
3 A critical B demanding C extreme D straining
4 A regarded B admired C approved D honoured
5 A exploited B extracted C exposed D extended
6 A profitable B agreeable C beneficial D popular
7 A put down B turned over C made out D set about
8 A enable B retain C ensure D support
In this section we’re going to complete the exercise above and discuss all the answers and ways in which you can identify the best answer.
Let’s take a look at the first two answers as they are in the part of the same sentence.
It is hard to believe that salt is now such a cheap (1) …….. , because centuries ago it was the commercial (2) …….. of today’s oil.
1 A provision B utility C material D commodity
Clearly in the sentence we need to decide what word can define salt. We can eliminate the first two words provision , which means the same as supply or things we need, and utility , which refers to services. Material is a very generic word so this is not correct for this sentence and we use the word commodity. In addition, the second part of the sentence helps us as it discusses oil, which is something else that is traded and is also known as a commodity.
2 A match B similarity C parallel D equivalent
In the second gap we need to consider words that describe things that are very similar so the word parallel is not possible here because it generally refer to things happening at the same time as each other. Both match and similarity just describe a general sense of being the same and the correct answer in this case is equivalent because it gives the idea of a value.
The men who mined salt became wealthy and, although the work was (3) …….. and frequently dangerous, a job in a salt mine was highly (4) …….. .
3 A critical B demanding C extreme D straining
For question 3 focus on the word work in the sentence. Critical means work that’s very important or essential, extreme refers to work that’s unusual and very risky and straining is commonly used when somebody physically lifts something so the correct answer in this case is demanding. This, of course, is a common collocation of work.
4 A regarded B admired C approved D honoured
For question number 4 sense of the missing word here is a word that means respect. Admired is used to refer to something or someone people have a very good opinion of, approved here not used after highly and honoured suggests that the people who worked in the mines got some kind of reward. The correct word in this case is regarded which describes an opinion that it was a good job to have.
Nowadays, the specific microclimates in disused mines have been (5) …….. for the treatment of respiratory illnesses such as asthma, and the silent, dark surroundings in a mine are considered (6) …….. in encouraging patients to relax.
5 A exploited B extracted C exposed D extended
The word extracted here refers to removing minerals from the ground, exposed means to show something or to allow access. The final option here of extended means to make something bigger so the correct answer in this case is exploited which means to take advantage of the situation. It also means to use up resources, like for example salt.
6 A profitable B agreeable C beneficial D popular
Profitable generally speaking talks about a financial advantage and agreeable is something that is very pleasant or enjoyable. We use the word popular to describe how the general public feel about something so the correct word in this case is beneficial, which refers to the benefit to individual patients in this case.
In addition, some disused mines have been (7) …….. to different commercial enterprises, although keeping up-to-date with the technology of mining is essential to (8) …….. visitors’ safety.
7 A put down B turned over C made out D set about
For question 7 it is all about the meaning of the phrasal verbs. Put down can have of the meaning of explained, made out can mean identified or to pretend something has a particular meaning and set about means to start doing something. The final verb turned over means to give control of something to somebody and this is the correct answer.
8 A enable B retain C ensure D support
For this final question we need a word that means to help in some way. Enable means to make something possible, retain means to keep. The final two verbs both have the sense of offering help but support can also mean provide physical help so the correct answer in this case is ensure which means to guarantee.
The key to being able to do the part 1 exercise well is to build your vocabulary range. There are a number of ways you can do this.
work noun (ACTIVITY) A1 [ U ] an activity, such as a job, that a person uses physical or mental effort to do, usually for money: I’ve got so much work to do. Carrying heavy loads around all day is hard work. What time do you start/finish work? A2 [ U ] the material used by someone at work, or what they produce: I’ll have to take this work home with me and finish it there. All the furniture is the work of residents here. | work noun (PLACE) A1 [ U ] a place where a person goes specially to do their job: Do you have far to travel to work each day? Thousands of people are seriously injured at work every year. B2 [ C ] something created as a result of effort, especially a painting, book, or piece of music: The museum has many works by Picasso as well as other modern painters. the poetic works of Tagore |
All of these synonyms or part synonyms do match ensure but they also have their own individual meaning and situations where we can use them. For more details look at synonyms at this online thesaurus.
At higher levels, particularly at C1 Advanced, the Use of English Part 1 is very challenging. In part, this is due to the wide range of the country you may find. As we pointed out earlier improving your own knowledge of vocabulary is one of the key elements. Let’s just summarize.
Cookie | Duration | Description |
---|---|---|
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional | 11 months | The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. |
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance | 11 months | This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". |
viewed_cookie_policy | 11 months | The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data. |