B1 Preliminary (PET) Reading Test 2 – Part 5

Complete a short text about a screen-free day at school. Choose the right word for each gap and practise collocations, phrasal verbs and fixed phrases.

Questions 21–26Multiple-choice cloze (A–D)6 marks
Read the text below and choose the correct word for each gap. For each question, choose the correct answer: A, B, C or D.

A day without screens

Last month, my school asked all the students to 21 part in a ‘screen-free day’. For twenty-four hours, we weren’t allowed to use our phones, tablets or computers. Most of us thought it would be impossible, and some of my classmates even 22 about it to the head teacher.

On the day itself, I woke up and automatically reached for my phone, but it was locked in a drawer in the kitchen. At breakfast, my family actually talked to each other 23 of looking at our screens.

At school, the teachers had organised lots of activities to 24 us busy, such as board games, sports and a quiz. In the afternoon, I went to the park with some friends. It was the first time in months that we had spent time together without 25 photos or checking our messages.

I’m not going to 26 up my phone completely, but I’ve decided to leave it in another room when I do my homework.

21Choose the word for gap 21

We say take part in something, meaning to join an activity. We don’t say have / make / do part in.

22Choose the word for gap 22

complain about something to someone is the correct pattern. We say argue with someone, disagree with someone and object to something, so the other options don’t fit about it to the head teacher.

23Choose the word for gap 23

instead of + -ing means ‘in place of doing something’. in place of needs in before it, rather is followed by than, and except isn’t followed by of.

24Choose the word for gap 24

keep someone busy means to give someone enough to do. stay and remain can’t have an object (us), and we don’t say hold someone busy.

25Choose the word for gap 25

In English we take photos. Make / do / have photos are not natural collocations.

26Choose the word for gap 26

give up something means to stop using or doing it. take up means to start a hobby, and put up / make up have different meanings that don’t fit here.
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About Reading Part 5

In Part 5 you read a shorter text with six gaps and choose the correct word for each gap from four options. The task mainly tests vocabulary, such as collocations, phrasal verbs and words that go with particular prepositions. There is one mark for each correct answer. Source: Cambridge English – B1 Preliminary exam format.

  • Look at the words on both sides of the gap: often only one option fits the pattern (for example take part in).
  • All four options may have similar meanings, so think about grammar as well as meaning.
  • Read the sentence again with your answer before moving on.

More B1 Preliminary Reading practice