15 Open Cloze Practice Questions with Answers | Cambridge B2 First

Open Cloze is Part 2 of the Reading and Use of English paper in Cambridge B2 First (FCE). You read a short text with eight gaps and write one word in each gap. It tests your grammar and your knowledge of fixed phrases, linking words, and common word pairs. This post gives you 15 B2 First Open Cloze practice questions with answers. Each text has a worked example (gap 0), and every answer comes with a short note that explains why the word fits. Try each text first, then open the answers to check your work.

Question 1

Why a Compass Needle Settles

Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).

(0) ALTHOUGH a compass needle can turn freely, it does not point to the same kind of north shown by every map. There may be a small difference (1) ______ magnetic north and map north. The needle lines up (2) ______ Earth's magnetic field because (3) ______ the magnetic material inside it. After being disturbed, it swings from side to side until friction causes it (4) ______ come to rest.

In some compasses, the liquid acts (5) ______ a brake, slowing the movement without fixing the needle in place. The instrument must also be kept away (6) ______ metal objects and electric cables. It is free to settle correctly only if (7) ______ of its two ends is touching the case. A direction should be read only when the needle is (8) ______ rest, with the compass held flat so that the scale remains level.

Question 2

How a Vacuum Flask Keeps Soup Warm

Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).

A vacuum lies (0) BETWEEN the two walls of the flask. At Redwick Outdoor Centre, instructor Samir Holt explains why a sealed flask slows the loss of heat. Its lid prevents warm air (1) ______ escaping. A shiny inner surface returns much of the radiant heat to (2) ______ it came from, towards the contents. The bottle is filled nearly to the top so that there is as (3) ______ air as possible above the soup.

Rather (4) ______ test the temperature immediately, Holt waits for an hour. He compares the flask with an identical uncovered container, which cools far more quickly (5) ______ the insulated one. The result depends (6) ______ the lid being tight. Damage to the seal may mean that cold air ends (7) ______ inside the flask. The flask should also remain upright so that liquid does not come into contact (8) ______ the outer edge of the stopper.

Question 3

How a Parcel Locker Opens the Right Door

Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).

Parcel lockers are secure cupboards (0) WHERE deliveries can wait until customers collect them. When a parcel arrives, a code is sent (1) ______ the customer. It is made (2) ______ of several numbers or letters. Once it (3) ______ been entered on the screen, the system opens the compartment behind (4) ______ the parcel is stored.

After the customer removes the parcel and shuts the door, it locks (5) ______ itself. The collection code can be used only (6) ______, so a photograph of it cannot open the door later. A parcel normally remains in the locker for no (7) ______ than two days. Clear instructions are provided for anyone (8) ______ who needs to collect it, such as a family member, but the original customer must share the code privately.

Question 4

How a Salad Spinner Dries Leaves

Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).

A salad spinner contains a basket, (0) WHICH turns inside a larger bowl. Its handle is connected (1) ______ the basket by a simple gear. Because of this gear, the basket turns much faster (2) ______ the handle. Small holes let water escape (3) ______ the leaves leaving the basket.

Rather (4) ______ spinning continuously, the user can stop after a few seconds and check the leaves. The lid must stay in place for as (5) ______ as the basket is moving. Using too (6) ______ force may damage soft leaves instead of drying them. During use, the bowl must be held firmly in (7) ______ so that it does not slide across the table. The handle provides the means (8) ______ which the movement is produced without electrical power.

Question 5

Why a Chess Clock Has Two Buttons

Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).

A chess player presses a button (0) WHEN finishing a turn. Inside the clock, the two timers are connected in (1) ______ a way that only one can run at once. Immediately (2) ______ a player presses their button, their own timer stops and the opponent's begins.

Instead (3) ______ measuring the total length of the game, the clock records each player's thinking time separately. This allows (4) ______ players and spectators to see how much time remains. Before play begins, an official tests the buttons in (5) ______ one of them has become stuck. No matter (6) ______ quickly a move is made, the press must be complete before the player removes a hand from the clock. As long (7) ______ a player still has time, the game can continue. After the result is recorded, the official makes (8) ______ that the clock and pieces remain untouched during the final check.

Question 6

How a Garden Gate Closes Itself

Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).

A self-closing garden gate is useful because it shuts behind a person, (0) SO pets cannot easily escape. A spring is fitted (1) ______ the gate and its post. The gate opens only as far (2) ______ the hinge allows, then the stored force in the spring pulls it back. If nobody holds it, the gate closes by (3) ______.

The spring must be strong (4) ______ to move the gate, but not so strong that the gate slams. A small damper does not stop the gate; (5) ______, it makes the movement slower. For correct closing, the latch also has (6) ______ be level with its catch. The hinge should be adjusted rather (7) ______ increasing the spring force immediately. When everything is aligned, the latch is held (8) ______ place and keeps the gate shut until the handle is used.

Question 7

Tracking Light Exposure in a Museum

Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).

Historic textiles can be highly sensitive (0) TO light. At Westbarrow Museum, conservator Ivo March places a small monitoring card beside a woven coat. The card changes colour in response (1) ______ receiving light. This allows March to keep track (2) ______ the total exposure. Rather than rely (3) ______ a single reading, he checks the card every week. Once a safe limit has been reached, the coat is removed (4) ______ its display case.

It remains in dark storage for at least as (5) ______ as it was shown. Rotating the exhibits prevents colour loss (6) ______ becoming visible. The system also makes it possible (7) ______ delicate objects to be shared with visitors for short periods. No object is returned to the gallery until its condition has been checked (8) ______ a conservator.

Question 8

Music for a Silent Film

Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).

Silent films were created at a time (0) WHEN recorded dialogue could not yet be played in cinemas. A pianist often received a list of scenes, along (1) ______ a few suggestions about mood. This did not mean that every note was planned (2) ______ advance. The player had to react (3) ______ changes on the screen and watch the actors closely.

A chase might call (4) ______ quick, exciting music. The faster the action became, the (5) ______ energetic the playing needed to be. Experienced performers knew hundreds of tunes (6) ______ heart and could join them together without stopping. Their music prevented long scenes (7) ______ feeling slow or empty. A skilled pianist's performance was far more (8) ______ background sound; it helped the audience understand when a scene was funny, frightening or sad.

Question 9

Loading Cars onto a Ferry

Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).

A vehicle ferry, (0) WHICH carries cars across a stretch of water, must keep its load balanced. Cars drive onto the lower deck and stop with the wide ramp directly (1) ______ them. Drivers are then asked (2) ______ switch off their engines. The vehicles must remain parked (3) ______ such time as the ferry reaches the other side.

Each car is given (4) ______ assigned lane so that emergency routes stay clear. No matter (5) ______ short the journey is, passengers must leave the vehicle deck. A car remains safe provided (6) ______ its handbrake is firmly applied. A green light shows drivers exactly (7) ______ it is safe to return to their vehicles. Within one local fleet, two ferries carry cars on a single open deck; all (8) ______ have several enclosed levels connected by ramps.

Question 10

How Rope Bridges Are Checked

Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).

Some mountain paths cross deep valleys by means of a rope bridge, (0) WHICH can look much less complicated than it really is. Each main cable consists of hundreds of separate fibres, each (1) ______ which carries a small part of the load. Damage can be so gradual (2) ______ it remains invisible from a distance.

Measurements are therefore taken regardless of (3) ______ the bridge has carried many people that week. Inspectors compare the length and thickness of the cables with earlier records. In spite (4) ______ the cost, any worn sections are replaced before the path reopens. If fibres have stretched too far, they are no (5) ______ considered safe. Repairs are completed on one side at a time so as (6) ______ avoid placing all the weight on the other cable. The new rope is tightened little (7) ______ little, because a sudden pull could damage the wooden supports. Finally, the bridge is tested with heavy bags as well (8) ______ by people walking across it.

Question 11

Teaching a Guide Dog to Ignore Food

Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).

A guide dog must learn not to respond (0) TO food on the pavement. At Clayford Training Yard, instructor Mina Shaw places a covered snack where a young guide dog can see it but cannot reach (1) ______. A reward is given on condition (2) ______ the dog continues walking without pulling. The dog is praised for keeping its eyes (3) ______ the route ahead rather than down at the ground. The exercise is repeated in quiet streets as well (4) ______ indoors.

Shaw makes sure the dog never succeeds (5) ______ picking up the food. If it pulls towards the snack, the handler stands still until the lead becomes loose (6) ______. Progress is judged according (7) ______ the amount of attention the dog gives the distraction. Eventually, the behaviour must remain reliable whether (8) ______ not a spoken command is given by the handler.

Question 12

Measuring Rain with a Homemade Gauge

Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).

A simple rain gauge uses a funnel (0) WHICH collects water from a known area. Water travels (1) ______ the wide funnel to a narrow measuring bottle. The gauge must be placed in (2) ______ a position that no roof, wall or tree blocks the rain.

The top of the funnel should be as level (3) ______ possible. If the ground slopes, the amount collected may be inaccurate because (4) ______ the angle. Instead (5) ______ estimating the depth by eye, the observer reads the marked scale. After writing down the result, the bottle is emptied carefully so as (6) ______ prepare it for the next shower. A simple screen over the opening keeps both leaves (7) ______ insects out, but it does not stop raindrops. To make results from different days easy to compare, the reading is taken (8) ______ a day at the same hour.

Question 13

A Library for Borrowing Tools

Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).

In several towns, residents can now visit a library (0) WHERE the shelves hold drills, ladders and gardening equipment instead of books. Members borrow these objects rather (1) ______ buying something they may use only once. Some tools cost as (2) ______ as a week's wages, so sharing them can save a considerable amount of money.

Before taking anything home, members receive basic safety advice in (3) ______ they have not used that kind of tool before. Staff also make (4) ______ that every item is working properly when it is returned. The service not only reduces waste (5) ______ also gives neighbours a reason to exchange practical knowledge. People who do not know (6) ______ to repair an object alone can attend a workshop. In (7) ______ to learning a skill, they often meet someone willing to help with a future project. Tools are labelled clearly so (8) ______ each part can be placed back in the correct box after use.

Question 14

Why a Clay Pot Cools Water

Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).

An unglazed clay pot can keep water cool (0) BECAUSE its walls contain tiny spaces. A small amount of water passes straight (1) ______ the wall from the inside to the outside. It reaches the outer surface, (2) ______ is exposed to moving air, and changes from liquid (3) ______ vapour. The escaping vapour is responsible (4) ______ carrying heat away from the pot.

The water inside may therefore become cooler (5) ______ the surrounding air. The speed (6) ______ evaporation matters: if water leaves the surface slowly, less heat is removed. The air must be dry (7) ______ to accept more water vapour. Painting or glazing the pot prevents water (8) ______ escaping through the wall, so a decorated pot may not cool its contents in the same way.

Question 15

How a Canal Boat Lift Works

Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).

On some canals, a large water-filled tank (0) THAT carries boats can replace a long flight of locks. Once a boat is inside, a gate closes behind it and prevents it (1) ______ moving sideways. The gate is sealed so (2) ______ water cannot escape while the lift is operating.

Many systems use two tanks that travel side (3) ______ side, with one rising as the other descends. They move steadily rather (4) ______ racing along the rails. Electric motors provide only the small amount of force needed in order (5) ______ overcome friction. As soon (6) ______ the upper tank reaches the next level, its gate lines up with the canal entrance. Neither passengers (7) ______ crew need to leave the boat during the journey. By the (8) ______ the gate opens again, the boat may be many metres higher, although it has remained floating throughout.