Use of English
Open Cloze - Example 1

Part 2

For questions 9-16, 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).

Write your answers IN CAPITAL LETTERS on the separate answer sheet.

My First Paddle-Boarding Lesson

Here I am in a cold, windy city, (0) _______________ a very grey sky. I ask myself (9) _______________ I'm standing on an oversized surfboard in the middle of a river with nothing to help me (10) _______________ a paddle. I'm about to have my first lesson in paddle-boarding, which is a bit (11) _______________ canoeing but with only one paddle and, being upright, you can enjoy the views on offer. The teacher reassures me it's easy, which (12) _______________ nothing to reduce the pressure. I desperately try to keep (13) _______________ balance and concentrate on not falling in. I wonder if I've left it too late to back out and head for solid ground, but before I can change my mind I'm (14) _______________ the move, but not going where I want to. I hear my teacher shouting 'Paddle paddle': I try but, (15) _______________ my best efforts, I don't make much progress. You need to paddle on both sides,' he says, 'because (16) _______________ you'll go around in circles. Copy me.' And finally I'm moving in the same direction as everyone else and it feels amazing.