15 Word Formation Practice Questions with Answers | Cambridge B2 First

Word Formation is Part 3 of the Reading and Use of English paper in Cambridge B2 First (FCE). You read a short text with eight gaps. Beside each gap there is a word in capitals, and you change it (for example by adding a prefix or suffix) to make the word that fits. It tests your vocabulary and word building. This post gives you 15 B2 First Word Formation practice questions with answers. Each text has a worked example (gap 0), and every answer comes with a short note that explains how the word changes. Try each text first, then open the answers to check your work.

Question 1

A Shelf for Unfinished Projects

Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals in brackets to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0).

The Makers' Exchange at Loomwell Centre has created a (0) SHARED [SHARE] shelf for craft work that cannot be finished in one session. Each storage box is (1) ______ [INDIVIDUAL] numbered, and its clear lid provides (2) ______ [PROTECT] against dust. Colour-coded labels keep the crowded room (3) ______ [ORGANISE], while an open front keeps frequently used tools easily (4) ______ [ACCESS]. Manager Tilda Cress says the sign-out sheet reduces the risk of accidental (5) ______ [LOSE]. Stored work is checked (6) ______ [REGULAR] so forgotten items do not occupy the shelf forever. Members must remove completed pieces, meaning only (7) ______ [FINISH] projects may remain overnight. Many users praise the (8) ______ [CONVENIENT] of leaving delicate work safely in place.

Question 2

A Garden Map Designed for Touch

Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals in brackets to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0).

A new (0) SENSORY [SENSE] map at Selwick Sensory Garden can be explored with the fingertips. The TouchTrail Project began with a formal (1) ______ [CONSULT] involving blind visitors. Designer Imani Cole used (2) ______ [RAISE] lines for the paths and created a clear (3) ______ [DISTINCT] between the textures for water, grass and stone. Every landmark was positioned (4) ______ [ACCURATE] in relation to the entrance. Users can follow the routes (5) ______ [SAFE] before walking into the garden itself. Braille labels remain (6) ______ [READ] even after frequent handling. Together, the symbols and labels provide practical (7) ______ [GUIDE] while giving visitors greater (8) ______ [INDEPENDENT] during their visit.

Question 3

Saving the Sound of Doorbells

Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals in brackets to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0).

Some old homes announce a visitor with a surprisingly (0) MUSICAL [MUSIC] sound. The Ring Archive in East Ketter is preserving a wide (1) ______ [VARY] of tones made by historic doorbells. Its oldest examples are mechanical, while later ones use (2) ______ [ELECTRIC] to produce the sound. Each bell is digitally (3) ______ [RECORD] before a building is renovated. Volunteers work quietly so that every bell can be heard (4) ______ [CLEAR] without traffic or conversation in the background. Historian Niall Mora also photographs the (5) ______ [ORIGIN] mechanism and asks residents what they remember about it. The growing (6) ______ [COLLECT] includes bells from shops, schools and private houses. Several would otherwise have disappeared (7) ______ [NOTICE] during repairs. Mora hopes the archive will awaken public (8) ______ [CURIOUS] about familiar sounds that are rarely studied.

Question 4

Messages across the Harbour

Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals in brackets to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0).

The most (0) COLOURFUL [COLOUR] event on Oakhaven Pier was also a lesson in maritime (1) ______ [COMMUNICATE]. FlagLine Day began with a discussion of why strong colour and clear shape improve (2) ______ [VISIBLE] at a distance. Instructor Runa Beck then introduced simple flag (3) ______ [COMBINE] and their accepted (4) ______ [MEAN]. Participants had to identify each message (5) ______ [ACCURATE] before raising their own flags. Similar patterns were kept apart to prevent (6) ______ [CONFUSE]. A short boat-based (7) ______ [DEMONSTRATE] showed how wind can change the appearance of a flag. By the end, beginners had enough (8) ______ [CONFIDENT] to send and read three basic messages from opposite sides of the harbour.

Question 5

Finding Salt before the Snow

Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals in brackets to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0).

A (0) USEFUL [USE] online map now shows where residents can find road salt before icy weather. More than forty (1) ______ [PARTICIPATE] joined the SaltSpot Survey for Merewick Council. They recorded each public grit bin's exact (2) ______ [LOCATE] and checked whether the bin remained (3) ______ [ACCESS] when cars were parked nearby. Each identification number was photographed (4) ______ [CLEAR]. Volunteers also noted any evidence of (5) ______ [DETERIORATE] around the lid and whether it could be lifted (6) ______ [SAFE]. Project leader Nadia Pell explained that the council had accepted (7) ______ [RESPONSIBLE] for refilling empty bins. Regular checks will keep the map (8) ______ [RELY] throughout the winter.

Question 6

Checking a Stage Floor with a Rolling Ball

Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals in brackets to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0).

Before a dance (0) PERFORMANCE [PERFORM] at Ormond Hall, floor manager Lyle Fen checks the stage with a smooth steel ball. The slightest (1) ______ [EVEN] can cause the ball to change (2) ______ [DIRECT]. To make the results (3) ______ [CONSIST], Lyle releases it from the same small guide at several marked points. He records how far the ball (4) ______ [DEVIATE] from a straight path, and doubtful areas are tested (5) ______ [REPEAT]. Repairs help prevent (6) ______ [ACCIDENT] slips when dancers turn quickly. After each repair, fluorescent tape increases the (7) ______ [VISIBLE] of the affected section until the surface has been checked again. Finally, Lyle is responsible for (8) ______ [REMOVE] all temporary tape before rehearsal begins.

Question 7

A Microscope to Take Home

Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals in brackets to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0).

A small (0) SCIENTIFIC [SCIENCE] instrument is now available from Meadowcross Library. Each LensBox microscope offers several levels of (1) ______ [MAGNIFY] and an (2) ______ [ADJUST] lamp. Written (3) ______ [INSTRUCT] explain how to prepare safe samples such as leaves or pond water. Registered (4) ______ [BORROW] can keep a kit for one week. Staff check the equipment's (5) ______ [CLEAN] before placing it inside a (6) ______ [PROTECT] case. Users may add their (7) ______ [OBSERVE] to a shared notebook, although no one is expected to identify every specimen. Librarian Isha Pern says that even one unexpected (8) ______ [DISCOVER] can encourage a family to look more closely at the natural world.

Question 8

Testing How High a Ball Bounces

Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals in brackets to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0).

Reliable (0) SPORTING [SPORT] equipment should behave consistently throughout a match. Staff at Kelton Sports Hall test each ball before an important (1) ______ [COMPETE]. A marked wall shows the exact drop (2) ______ [HIGH]. Several trials may reveal an unexpected (3) ______ [VARY] in the bounce. Technician Ravi Cole records every (4) ______ [MEASURE] on a simple form. He releases the ball (5) ______ [ACCURATE] without pushing it downwards. The test is particularly (6) ______ [USE] for balls that look undamaged but feel different during play. A direct (7) ______ [COMPARE] with a new ball helps staff make a fair decision. Equipment that repeatedly fails the standard is removed and sent for (8) ______ [REPLACE].

Question 9

Helping Frogs across the Road

Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals in brackets to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0).

NightStep Patrol is a (0) SEASONAL [SEASON] project on Fenlow Lane. In early spring, frog (1) ______ [MIGRATE] towards breeding ponds brings many animals across the road under cover of (2) ______ [DARK]. Volunteers wear clothing that makes them clearly (3) ______ [VISION] and work only from approved safe positions. Trained members carry frogs (4) ______ [SAFE] in clean buckets while another person warns approaching (5) ______ [MOTOR]. Everyone uses (6) ______ [PROTECT] gloves and follows the same handling limit. Coordinator Ossie Marr checks the nightly records (7) ______ [CARE] before sending totals to the conservation office. The group hopes its work will produce a measurable (8) ______ [REDUCE] in road deaths.

Question 10

Measuring Trees without Climbing Them

Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals in brackets to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0).

A (0) SUNNY [SUN] day allowed students to measure tall trees in Brindle Park without leaving the ground. Teacher Lea Forth began by checking the exact (1) ______ [LONG] of a measuring stick. She fixed the stick (2) ______ [VERTICAL] in level soil, then asked students to make a (3) ______ [COMPARE] between its shadow and the shadow of a tree. A simple (4) ______ [CALCULATE] produced an estimate of the tree's (5) ______ [HIGH]. If a cloud covered the sun, both shadow readings could become (6) ______ [ACCURATE]. Students therefore checked the result (7) ______ [REPEAT] until the light remained steady. The final figures from ShadowScale Morning proved surprisingly (8) ______ [DEPEND] when checked against professional survey data.

Question 11

Cooking with Sunshine

Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals in brackets to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0).

A (0) SUNNY [SUN] day gave Larkwell School ideal conditions for its SunBox Trial. Careful (1) ______ [CONSTRUCT] began with the same size cardboard box for every group. Students covered one flap with (2) ______ [REFLECT] material and pointed it (3) ______ [DIRECT] towards the sun. A clear lid trapped enough (4) ______ [WARM] to heat a small cup of water. The temperature rose (5) ______ [GRADUAL], so groups recorded repeated (6) ______ [MEASURE] rather than only the final result. Science teacher Priya Kest asked which design was most (7) ______ [EFFECT] and what evidence supported that choice. Each team then proposed one (8) ______ [IMPROVE] to test on another day instead of changing several features at once.

Question 12

Waking Up Clockwork Toys

Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals in brackets to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0).

The TickTock Toys display at Harrowby Museum contains (0) MECHANICAL [MECHANIC] objects from several periods. The (1) ______ [COLLECT] includes animals, cars and tiny musicians. Their different (2) ______ [MOVE] are produced by springs and gears hidden inside. Because some parts are extremely (3) ______ [FRAGILITY], volunteers never force a key that feels stiff. A modern (4) ______ [REPLACE] key is used when an original one is missing. Curator Felix Cairn checks the (5) ______ [ORIGIN] mechanism before approving any public (6) ______ [DEMONSTRATE]. Each toy is operated (7) ______ [SAFE] behind a clear screen. Visitors gain great (8) ______ [ENJOY] from seeing an object move, while the strict limits protect it from unnecessary wear.

Question 13

Patterns That Float

Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals in brackets to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0).

A (0) COLOURFUL [COLOUR] workshop at Letham Arts Room introduced visitors to paper marbling. The technique creates a single (1) ______ [DECORATE] on each plain sheet by transferring paint from a shallow tray. Tutor Faye Orlin first prepared a thick (2) ______ [MIX] of water and plant gum. Drops of paint were placed (3) ______ [CARE] on the surface and moved (4) ______ [GENTLE] with a small comb. When Faye was satisfied with the final (5) ______ [ARRANGE] of the colours, she laid a sheet of paper on the tray (6) ______ [IMMEDIATE]. A (7) ______ [SUCCESS] print captured the entire design without leaving empty areas. Every result made during PaperCurrent Day was valued for its (8) ______ [ORIGINAL], since the floating pattern could never be repeated exactly.

Question 14

Bringing the Station Piano Back into Tune

Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals in brackets to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0).

A (0) MUSICAL [MUSIC] instrument in Orford Station Hall sounded much better after KeyBalance Morning. A trained (1) ______ [TECHNIQUE] opened the piano case (2) ______ [CARE] and listened for the smallest (3) ______ [DIFFER] between related notes. Milo Erden then made a tiny (4) ______ [ADJUST] to the tension of each affected string. He played the same key (5) ______ [REPEAT] and used an electronic meter for greater (6) ______ [PRECISE]. When the work was complete, a student gave a short (7) ______ [PERFORM] for waiting passengers. The piano will now remain in the hall for the (8) ______ [ENJOY] of anyone who can play it respectfully.

Question 15

A Small Window Made from Coloured Glass

Read the text below. Use the word given in capitals in brackets to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0).

A (0) COLOURFUL [COLOUR] window hanging was the goal of Prism Day at Bellmere Craft Room. Every participant received (1) ______ [PROTECT] glasses and chose from a safe (2) ______ [SELECT] of prepared glass pieces. Tutor Enid Orr showed the group how to handle each section (3) ______ [CARE] because even a smooth-looking edge can retain some (4) ______ [SHARP]. The planned (5) ______ [ARRANGE] was traced onto paper before assembly began. Copper foil had to be measured (6) ______ [ACCURATE] around every edge. Each joined line needed enough (7) ______ [STRONG] to hold the sections before the tutor approved it. Once cleaned, each finished piece became a wall (8) ______ [DECORATE] that could be hung in front of natural light.