Cambridge B2 First - Use of English Part 4: Strategy for success
Last time, we had a look at the Cambridge B2 First exam, more specifically Part 4 of the Reading and Use of English paper, which is often an area of difficulty for students working towards their B2 certificate.
First of all, let’s remind ourselves of the essential information we discussed last time:
This exercise gives you six pairs of sentences, the second in each pair being incomplete. You are asked to fill the gap in the second sentence so that it accurately paraphrases the first.
You need to use a minimum of two and a maximum of five words.
A key word is provided, which you mustn’t change, and this is counted as one of your five words.
It sounds simple, but the questions are testing your grammar and vocabulary knowledge, and how well you can apply it. What’s more, each question is worth TWO POINTS, and the whole exercise counts for 12 out of a possible 28 points in the Use of English test: that’s nearly half!
So today, we’re going to teach you a 4-STEP STRATEGY that will break down a complex exercise into simple steps, a strategy that you can use with a wide variety of Use of English part 4 questions.
Let’s take an example:
They will announce the winners of the competition two weeks from now.
BE
The winners of the competition _______________ two weeks.
Step 1: What’s The Key Word?
A simple step, but nevertheless it’s important. This key word is often the key to answering the question: it’s a big clue to the grammar or vocabulary point that’s being tested.
The verb ‘BE’ can mean a lot of things, but in terms of B2 level grammar, the first thing on your mind is the passive. The structure of the two sentences suggests it’s the passive too: look how the object in the first sentence (‘the winners of the competition’) has become the subject in the second.
Remember the rule: every passive form includes a form of the verb ‘be’ and a past participle.
Step 2: Eliminate!
There’s a lot of information to digest in these questions, so it’s important to eliminate everything you don’t need, so you can isolate the key information.
First, delete any repeated words from the first sentence.
They will announce the winners of the competition two weeks from now.
This is the information we need to include in the gap.
Step 3: Synonyms and Opposites
Sometimes, the question might use similar words, not identical ones. In that case, you have to decide: is it a good enough synonym? If not, maybe we need to add something.
Let’s take another example question.
I can’t understand why he left so suddenly.
FIGURE
I can’t __________ he left so suddenly.
You can see all the words in the second sentence are repeated from the first, but the key word ‘figure’ doesn’t seem to be connected.
After we eliminate the repeated words, what’s left is ‘understand why’.
We know ‘understand’ and ‘figure’ can both be verbs, and so ‘figure’ must be a synonym. This is a really common question type at FCE level: the first sentence gives you a normal verb, but the second sentence needs a phrasal verb synonym.
Understand -> figure out
I can’t understand why he left so suddenly. -> I can’t figure out why he left so suddenly.
It’s also possible that one sentence will be affirmative and the other will be negative, in which case we have to consider opposites.
This is a good example:
This laptop is much faster than my old one.
AS
My old laptop _______________ this one.
The subject and object of the sentence are inverted, so we need the opposite. And of course, when it’s a comparative, we must use ‘not as… as…’
This laptop is much faster than my old one. -> My old laptop isn’t as fast as this one.
Remember that short forms like ‘isn’t’ count as two words, not one in this exercise.
Step 4: What’s Left?
Let’s go back to the original question. What do we know?
- It’s passive, so we need the verb ‘be’ and a past participle
- It’s in the future, using the ‘will’ form
So we can say:
They will announce the winners of the competition two weeks from now.
BE
The winners of the competition will be announced … two weeks.
All that’s left is to change ‘two weeks from now’ to ‘in two weeks’
The winners of the competition will be announced in two weeks.
And we’re done!
DON’T FORGET:
Although every question carries a maximum of 2 points, the examiner can still give 1 point for a mostly correct answer. So if you make a mistake with a preposition, if you put ‘on’ instead of ‘in’, they will still award you a point if the other part of your answer is correct.
Now that you’ve read these four simple steps, let’s try our strategy out with some more examples. To give you a clue, we’ve written the type of grammar or vocabulary the question is testing. Answers below!
I expected the concert to be very good.
LIVED
The concert __________________________ my expectations.
2. Conditionals
If you don’t leave now, you’ll miss the last train.
UNLESS
You’ll miss the last train __________________________ now.
3. Passive forms
People say that this restaurant serves the best seafood in town.
SAID
This restaurant __________________________ the best seafood in town.
4. Reported speech
“I didn’t take your keys,” John said to me.
NOT
John told me __________________________ my keys.
5. Past perfect
We finished dinner and then the guests arrived.
AFTER
The guests arrived __________________________ dinner.
6. Expressions / phrasal verbs
I can’t tolerate this noise any longer.
PUT
I can’t __________________________ this noise any longer.
7. Comparative form
This book is far more interesting than the one we read last term.
NEARLY
The book we read last term __________________________ interesting as this one.
8. Modal verbs (deduction)
I’m certain that Karen hasn’t left the office yet.
CAN’T
Karen __________________________ the office yet.
9. Be used to
This noise doesn’t bother me anymore because I’ve heard it for years.
USED
I __________________________ this noise now.
10. Purpose clause
Sarah took notes so that she would remember everything.
ORDER
Sarah took notes __________________________ everything.
1. lived up to
2. unless you leave
3. is said to serve
4. he had not taken
5. after we had finished
6. put up with
7. is not nearly as
8. can’t have left
9. am used to hearing
10. in order to remember