Use of English
Multiple Choice - Example 1

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 closed B contained C surrounded D shut

Lighting a town

The Norwegian town of Rjukan lies along the floor of a narrow valley, (0) _______________ by sheer mountains. Because of its location, the town, with its 3,400 (1) _______________ , has in the past lived in shadow for half the year. During the day, from late September to mid-March, the town gets no direct natural sunlight at all. Its residents all agreed this (2) _______________ that the town was incredibly depressing during the winter months. 

However, that all changed in 2013 with the (3) _______________  of a system of mirrors whose design Martin Anderson, an artist, had first (4) _______________  up with some 12 years earlier. With financial (5) _______________ from the local government and from several prominent business people, Anderson’s idea became a (6) _______________  . Today, high on the mountain opposite the town, (7) _______________  three large solar-powered, computer-controlled mirrors (8) _______________ the precise movement of the sun across the winter sky, reflecting its rays onto the town’s market square and flooding it in bright sunlight.

1 A totals  B populations  C numbers D inhabitants

2 A meant B explained C showed D made

3 A ending B conclusion C completion D result

4 A brought B come C caught D got

5 A budget B cost C expense D investment

6 A reality B truth C principle D practicality

7 A find B sit C stay D hold

8 A passing B following C proceeding D continuing

Answers

The Norwegian town of Rjukan lies along the floor of a narrow valley, (0) SURROUNDED by sheer mountains. Because of its location, the town, with its 3,400 (1) INHABITANTS, has in the past lived in shadow for half the year. During the day, from late September to mid-March, the town gets no direct natural sunlight at all. Its residents all agreed this (2) MEANT that the town was incredibly depressing during the winter months. 

However, that all changed in 2013 with the (3) COMPLETION of a system of mirrors whose design Martin Anderson, an artist, had first (4) COME up with some 12 years earlier. With financial (5) INVESTMENT from the local government and from several prominent business people, Anderson’s idea became a (6) REALITY. Today, high on the mountain opposite the town, (7) SIT three large solar-powered, computer-controlled mirrors (8) FOLLOWING the precise movement of the sun across the winter sky, reflecting its rays onto the town’s market square and flooding it in bright sunlight.

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