Departamento de Educacin

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Escuela Oficial de Idiomas n 2

de Zaragoza

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INGLS

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11

COMPRENSIN
ESCRITA

AULA DE
AUTOAPRENDIZAJE
MULTIPLE CHOICE CLOZE TEST: THE POWER OF NATURE
Read the text below and fill in the blanks with the most suitable word or phrase, A, B, C or D.
You can read some tips on how to complete a multiple choice cloze test if you turn the page. Be
careful not to read the answers to the exercise.
The wind controls our planet's weather and climate, but how much do we understand about this
complex force, which can kill and spread fear?
On the night of 15 October 1987, the south of England was struck by the (1) . winds it
had known for over two hundred years. (2) . of over 130 km/h blew through the region.
Nineteen people were killed, 1.5 billion-worth of (3) . was caused and 19 million trees
were (4) . in just a few hours.
Although people thought of this as a hurricane, the winds of 1987 were only (5) . storm
force. They are far better known than the much more serious storms of 25 January 1990, when
most of Britain was hit by daytime winds of up to 173 km/h. On this (6) ., 47 people
were killed, even though, unlike in 1987, the weather forecasters issued accurate (7) .
(8) . weather events such as these are dramatic reminders of the power of the wind. It
is one part of the weather that people generally do not (9) . a second thought to, but
across the world the wind (10) . a crucial role in people's lives.
1 A
B
C
D

heaviest
fastest
strongest
quickest

4 A
B
C
D

blown down
cut down
knocked down
blown up

7 A
B
C
D

threats
warnings
news
signs

2 A
B
C
D

Blows
Hits
Clouds
Gusts

5 A
B
C
D

powerful
severe
serious
dangerous

8 A
B
C
D

Extreme
Excessive
Extravagant
Exaggerated

3 A
B
C
D

hurt
injury
destruction
damage

6 A
B
C
D

occasion
event
accident
incident

9 A
B
C
D

have
make
put
give

10 A
B
C
D

has
makes
plays
does

From New First Certificate Masterclass Workbook, S. Haines & B. Stewart, OUP, p. 14

SOME TIPS ON HOW TO COMPLETE MULTIPLE CHOICE CLOZE TESTS

Read the text slowly and carefully. Do not try to choose any of the options until you
have fully understood what the text is about.

Then read the text again and fill in the blanks with the most suitable word or phrase,
A, B, C or D.

Do not choose the first word which seems to fit. Some of the alternative answers are
meant to mislead you.

Try to eliminate three of the four alternatives. The grammar or the vocabulary which
all the options demand may help you.

KEY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

If you still can't decide on the correct answer, make a sensible guess.

C
D
D
A
B
A
B
A
D
C

For further practice in selective cloze tests you can consult in the library
Fowler First Certificate Use of English, W.S. Fowler, Longman, pp. 5-33