Mastering Cambridge B2 Reading and Use of English Part 1: Multiple Choice Cloze Practice

Autor: Altus Team

Enhance your skills for Cambridge B2 Reading and Use of English Part 1 with targeted multiple-choice cloze exercises and expert tips.

Understanding Part 1 of the Cambridge B2 Reading and Use of English Exam

🌳 Mastering Cambridge B2 First – Reading & Use of English: Part 1

1. Introduction: Let’s Learn Together

Hey there! 👋
If you’re here, you’re probably getting ready for the Cambridge B2 First exam — and maybe a little nervous about Reading and Use of English – Part 1. I get it. It looks like a tricky mix of vocabulary and logic… but don’t worry. With a little practice and the tips in this lesson, you’ll feel much more confident.

In this lesson, we’ll explore:

✅ What you need to do in Part 1
✅ A real example from a Cambridge exam
✅ Common mistakes to avoid
✅ My best tips and strategies to succeed
✅ A step-by-step solution to one real question
✅ Grammar and vocabulary you should review
✅ Final advice to boost your score

Let’s dive in — and remember, with enough practice, this part can become one of your strongest! 💪

2. What do you have to do in Part 1?

Part 1 is called a Multiple Choice Cloze. You’ll read a short text (around 150–170 words) with eight gaps. For each gap, you choose the correct word from four options (A, B, C, or D). Only one is correct.

Here’s an example from the real Cambridge B2 First exam (Sample Paper 1, 2022):

What is genealogy?
Genealogy is a (0) …….. of history. It concerns family history,
(1) …….. than the national or world history studied at school.

1. A. instead
B. rather
C. except
D. sooner

You’ll do this for eight questions in one single text. The goal is to test how well you understand collocations, word meanings, phrasal verbs, and fixed expressions — all essential parts of English vocabulary.

3. Problems and Common Mistakes

Here are a few mistakes many students make (don’t worry if you recognize yourself here!):

❌ Guessing without reading the full sentence
❌ Not understanding the context or topic
❌ Getting confused by similar-looking words
❌ Spending too much time on one question
❌ Leaving blanks (never do this! You’ll see why later)

The good news? All of these are fixable with strategy and practice. 😎

4. Tips for Success and Strategies

Here’s a strategy I use with my students — and it works!

🧠Read the full text quickly → This gives you the general idea. Gain a general understanding before focusing on individual gaps
🔍Look at each gap carefully → Focus on the grammar and vocabulary around the gap. Consider the context, collocations, and grammatical structures.
✅Look at the four options → Eliminate wrong ones and think about collocations and meaning. Narrow down choices by discarding options that don’t fit the context or grammar.
🔁Read the sentence again → Does it make sense? Does it sound natural? Choose the option that best fits the overall meaning of the sentence and text.
💬After finishing all 8, read the full text again → Helps you check for consistency and spot errors. Ensure each choice fits seamlessly into the text both grammatically and contextually.

5. Let’s Solve Question 1 Together

Let’s go back to this question from the real Cambridge B2 paper:

1. Genealogy is a (0) …….. of history. It concerns family history,
(1) …….. than the national or world history studied at school.

Options:
A. instead
B. rather
C. except
D. sooner

Let’s solve it step by step.

🧠Step 1: Read the full sentence again
“It concerns family history, (1) ___ than the national or world history studied at school.”

📌Step 2 Clue: The sentence is comparing family history with national/world history.

🧐Step 3 Let’s look at the options:

A. instead – “instead than” is not a natural structure ❌
B. rather – “rather than” is a fixed expression to show contrast ✅
C. except – “except than” is incorrect ❌
D. sooner – not about preference or contrast ❌

🎯Step 4 Correct answer: B. rather

So the sentence becomes:
“It concerns family history, rather than the national or world history studied at school.” ✅

💡 Nice and natural! That’s how you know you’ve got it right.

6. Essential Grammar and Vocabulary Knowledge

To succeed in Part 1, here’s what you need to review:

📘Common collocations: Words that frequently appear together (e.g., \’make a decision\’, \’take a risk\’).
📘Phrasal verbs: Verb phrases that have specific meanings (e.g., \’give up\’, \’run out of\’).
📘Fixed expressions and idioms: Set phrases with meanings not deducible from individual words (e.g., \’under the weather\’, \’piece of cake\’).
📘Prepositions following certain verbs/adjectives: (e.g., \’interested in\’, \’good at\’).
📘Synonyms and nuanced differences: Words with similar meanings but different usages (e.g., \’begin\’ vs. \’commence\’).
📘Word families: (e.g., success – succeed – successful).

💡 Pro tip: Keep a vocabulary notebook with examples in full sentences!

7. Conclusion: You’ve Got This! 🌟

Before you go, remember these two golden rules:

🎯 Never leave an answer blank! Cambridge doesn’t subtract points for wrong answers — guessing gives you a chance!
🎯 Each correct answer in Part 1 = 1 point. That’s 8 points total in this section!

Final words:

This part of the exam is all about smart reading, strong vocabulary, and good habits. Now that you understand the logic behind the task, it’s time to practice. And remember: every time you practice, you become faster and more confident.

You’re not just memorizing words — you’re building the kind of English that real speakers use. And I’m proud of you for that. 💛

Approach to Multiple Choice Cloze Exercises

Skim the text: Understand the general idea to help predict missing words.
Examine each gap: Determine what part of speech is missing (noun, verb, adjective, etc.).
Consider surrounding words: Look for clues in the words before and after the gap.
Evaluate all options: Read each choice in the context of the sentence and the entire text.
Select the best fit: Choose the option that is grammatically correct and contextually appropriate.
Re-read the completed text: Ensure the text flows naturally with your chosen words.

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Understanding Part 1 of the Cambridge B2 Reading and Use of English Exam

🌳 Mastering Cambridge B2 First – Reading & Use of English: Part 1

1. Introduction: Let’s Learn Together

2. What do you have to do in Part 1?

3. Problems and Common Mistakes

4. Tips for Success and Strategies

5. Let’s Solve Question 1 Together

6. Essential Grammar and Vocabulary Knowledge

7. Conclusion: You’ve Got This! 🌟

Final words:

Approach to Multiple Choice Cloze Exercises

What is Genealogy?

The Significance of Cultural Heritage Preservation

The Rise of Remote Work

The Evolution of Renewable Energy

The Importance of Sleep

The Impact of Social Media on Communication

The Benefits of Learning a Second Language

Vamos Allá.

¡Vamos a prepararnos para el examen!

Instrucciones Para Exámenes De Idiomas.

Instrucciones Para Exámenes De Ciencias.