Use of English
Multiple Choice - Example 2

B2 First Exam

Part 1

For questions 1–8, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap.

There is an example at the beginning (0).

Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet.

Example:

0 A open B think C find D look

The importance of science

The aim of science is to (0) _______________ out how the world and everything in it, and beyond it, works. Some people, though, (1) _______________ that much of what is done in the name of science is a waste of time and money. What is the (2) _______________ in investigating how atoms behave or in studying stars billions of kilometres away? Science, they argue, is of (3) _______________ only if it has some practical use.

When the Scottish scientist James Clerk Maxwell (4) _______________ experiments with electricity and magnetism in the late 19th century, he had no particular end in (5) _______________ and was certainly not (6) _______________ to make money; he was simply trying to reveal more about how the world works. And yet his work laid the (7) _______________ for our modern way of life. Computers, the internet, satellites, mobile phones, televisions, medical scanners all owe their existence to the fact that a scientist (8) _______________ the need to understand the world a little better.

1 A claim B demand C tell D review

2 A basis B cause C point D sake

3 A gain B profit C advantage D value

4 A brought on B carried out C pulled out D set off

5 A plan B idea C mind D thought

6 A reaching B aiming C targeting D designing

7 A sources B origins C structures D foundations

8 A held B felt C chose D used

Answers

The aim of science is to (0) FIND out how the world and everything in it, and beyond it, works. Some people, though, (1) CLAIM that much of what is done in the name of science is a waste of time and money. What is the (2) POINT in investigating how atoms behave or in studying stars billions of kilometres away? Science, they argue, is of (3) VALUE only if it has some practical use.

When the Scottish scientist James Clerk Maxwell (4) CARRIED OUT experiments with electricity and magnetism in the late 19th century, he had no particular end in (5) MIND and was certainly not (6) AIMING to make money; he was simply trying to reveal more about how the world works. And yet his work laid the (7) FOUNDATIONS for our modern way of life. Computers, the internet, satellites, mobile phones, televisions, medical scanners all owe their existence to the fact that a scientist (8) FELT the need to understand the world a little better.

1. A  2. C  3. D  4. B  5. C  6. B  7. D  8. B