B2 First Reading & Use of English Part 6: Strategy, Examples and Practice
B2 First Exam Preparation · Reading & Use of English
Struggling with Reading & Use of English Part 6 in the B2 First exam? This guide walks you through a proven strategy, explains the four key language clues examiners use, and gives you a full practice text with detailed answer explanations.
What is B2 First Reading & Use of English Part 6?
In Part 6, you're given a text with six gaps (numbered 37–42), each of which needs to be filled with one of seven sentences (A–G) listed separately. One sentence is always a distractor — it won't fit any gap.
Worth knowing: With two points per correct answer, Part 6 makes up nearly 30% of your total Reading mark. The Reading and Use of English paper contains three long texts of around 500–600 words each (Parts 5–7), so aim to spend roughly 10–15 minutes on each one.
This part of the exam tests your ability to understand how a text is structured — how ideas connect, how writers avoid repetition, and how sentences lead logically from one to the next. Think of it as detective work: the writer has left clues, and your job is to find them.
Step-by-Step Strategy for B2 First Reading Part 6
It's tempting to jump straight into the gaps — but don't. Students who do this often waste time going back and forth without a clear plan. Here's the method that works:
- Read the whole text first. Get a feel for the topic, the writer's argument, and the overall structure before you touch the gaps.
- Read the first sentence of each paragraph. These "topic sentences" tell you what each paragraph is about, which makes it much easier to narrow down which missing sentence belongs where.
- Re-read the sentences around each gap and the missing sentences A–G. Highlight reference pronouns, substitution words, linkers and context clues (more on these below).
- Match the highlighted clues. Find the connections between the words you've marked in the main text and the words you've marked in A–G.
If you approach the task this way, you'll find you have some spare time left at the end to check your answers.
The Four Clue Types You Need to Know
The sentences before and after each gap are full of hidden connections to the missing sentence. Here are the four most common types of clue to look for.
1. Reference pronouns
Writers avoid repeating nouns by replacing them with pronouns — he, she, it, they, them — possessive adjectives like his, her, its, their, or demonstratives like this, that, these, those. When you spot one near a gap, trace it back: what noun earlier in the text is it standing in for? That connection will often point you straight to the right missing sentence.
2. Substitution
Similar to pronouns, but instead of replacing nouns, substitution words replace whole phrases. The most useful ones to know are to do so / doing so / did so (which replace a verb phrase), there and then (which replace a place and a time), and one (which replaces a countable noun, as in the last one). If you see any of these near a gap, look for the phrase they're substituting in the surrounding sentences.
3. Linkers
Always check the first word or two of the sentence after a gap — it will often reveal what kind of idea must come before it. Contrast linkers (however, although, nevertheless, on the other hand) tell you the missing sentence contains an opposing idea. Addition linkers (moreover, furthermore, also, what's more) tell you it extends the same idea.
4. Context clues
Any other connection counts — vocabulary from the same topic area, synonyms, or simply the logic of the argument. If a word in the gap sentence and a word in a missing sentence belong to the same world, that's a clue worth following.
Short Practice Examples with Answer Explanations
Before we tackle a long text, let’s look at four shorter example passages with one sentence removed from each. In both the texts and the missing sentences, I’ve highlighted the key words that will help you find the solution.
When Mia arrived in the village, she was surprised by how quiet it was compared to the city. [1] _______. As a result, she quickly realised that this was exactly the kind of place where she could finally relax.
Many experts worry that people using smartphones too much reduces face-to-face communication. [2] _______. However, this doesn’t mean that technology is always harmful, as it can also help people stay in touch over long distances.
The company announced plans to reduce waste across all its offices. [3] _______. These changes were welcomed by employees, who felt that such action showed real commitment to environmental responsibility.
Learning a foreign language can be challenging at first, especially for adults. [4] _______. Nevertheless, those who continue to practise regularly often discover that it becomes easier and more enjoyable over time.
A – This is because they often spend more time looking at screens than talking to the people around them.
B – At the beginning, progress can seem slow, and learners may feel frustrated by their mistakes.
C – There were no cars on the roads, and the only sounds came from birds and the wind in the trees.
D – To do so, it introduced recycling points and reduced the amount of paper used in daily operations.
Have you worked out the answers yet? If you have, let’s check together and examine why.
1. C – context clues (‘the roads’ and ‘the trees’: we use the definite article ‘the’ to indicate these are the specific roads and trees found in the village) (there’s also a connection between ‘how quiet it was’ in the first sentence and the text describing ‘the only sounds’ in the next)
2. A – reference pronouns (‘this’ refers to the fact that ‘many experts worry’, and ‘they’ refers to ‘people using smartphones’), linkers (‘however’ in the third sentence shows a contrast between the disadvantages discussed in the previous sentence and the benefits in the last) and context clues (‘screens’ used as a synonym for ‘smartphones’)
3. D – substitution (using ‘to do so’ means the text doesn’t repeat the verb phrase ‘to reduce waste’) and reference pronouns (‘it’ refers to ‘the company’, and in the third sentence ‘these changes’ and ‘such action’ refer to the two examples of plans to reduce waste in the second sentence)
4. B – reference pronouns (‘those’ refers to ‘learners’), context clues (‘progress’ and ‘learning’ are words that can be associated with each other) and linkers (‘nevertheless’ links the concession in the second sentence that progress can be slow, to the long-term benefits in the third sentence)
When Mia arrived in the village, she was surprised by how quiet it was compared to the city. C – There were no cars on the roads, and the only sounds came from birds and the wind in the trees. As a result, she quickly realised that this was exactly the kind of place where she could finally relax.
Many experts worry that people using smartphones too much reduces face-to-face communication. A – This is because they often spend more time looking at screens than talking to the people around them. However, this doesn’t mean that technology is always harmful, as it can also help people stay in touch over long distances.
The company announced plans to reduce waste across all its offices. D – To do so, it introduced recycling points and reduced the amount of paper used in daily operations. These changes were welcomed by employees, who felt that such action showed real commitment to environmental responsibility.
Learning a foreign language can be challenging at first, especially for adults. B – At the beginning, progress can seem slow, and learners may feel frustrated by their mistakes. Nevertheless, those who continue to practise regularly often discover that it becomes easier and more enjoyable over time.
Full B2 First-Style Practice Text: Milano Cortina 2026
As this article was written, the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games were just weeks away — and they mark the 100th anniversary of the Winter Olympics (the first Games were held in Chamonix, France in 1924). So, let’s mark a hundred years of the Winter Olympics with a special text all about how this years’ Games were organised.
Six sentences have been removed from this article. Fill each gap (1-6) with one of the sentences A-G. There is one extra sentence which you don’t need to use.
A New Winter Story: Milano Cortina 2026
In February 2026, Italy will welcome the world to the Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina, an event that promises to combine top-level sport with culture, history and innovation. Unlike many previous Winter Games, these Olympics will not be centred on a single city but spread across a wide geographical area in northern Italy, from the fashion capital of Milan to the dramatic Dolomite mountains. GAP 1
One of the most distinctive features of Milano Cortina 2026 is its "distributed" model. Instead of building all-new venues in one place, organisers are using existing locations that already host international competitions. Alpine skiing will take place in Cortina d'Ampezzo, while ice sports such as figure skating and ice hockey will be held in Milan. GAP 2 As a result, athletes will compete in arenas with strong traditions rather than temporary structures.
Sustainability is another key theme of the Games. The organisers have promised to limit environmental impact by reusing facilities and improving transport links instead of creating unnecessary new infrastructure. GAP 3 This approach reflects a wider change in how the Olympic movement thinks about its responsibilities to host regions and future generations.
The Games are also expected to bring economic and social benefits to local communities. Tourism in the Alps is likely to increase, and many smaller towns hope to gain long-term visibility on the international stage. GAP 4 If managed carefully, this attention could support local businesses well beyond 2026.
Of course, hosting an event of this scale is not without challenges. Coordinating competitions across such a large area requires complex planning, and there are concerns about travel times for athletes and spectators. GAP 5 Organisers, however, argue that Italy's existing transport network and experience with major events will help overcome these difficulties.
For Italy, Milano Cortina 2026 is also a chance to tell a modern national story. The country last hosted the Winter Olympics in Turin in 2006, an event that relied on a more traditional model, with most venues concentrated in a single region and many new facilities built specifically for the Games. GAP 6 By combining tradition with innovation, Italy hopes to deliver a Games that feel both authentic and forward-looking.
As the countdown continues, expectations are high. If successful, Milano Cortina 2026 could become a model for future Winter Olympics, showing that it is possible to celebrate sport on a global scale while respecting local identity and the environment.
Missing sentences
A. This means that the Games will rely on cooperation between regions rather than on one central Olympic village.
B. Moreover, this strategy also helps to reduce costs and avoid the problem of unused venues after the Games.
C. They believe that this will make the event more meaningful for people who live and work in these areas.
D. In contrast, the 2026 edition aims to be lighter, more flexible and better integrated into everyday life.
E. It is expected to attract millions of visitors from around the world during the two-week competition.
F. These locations are already familiar with large crowds and strict sporting requirements.
G. This has led some critics to question whether the experience will feel as unified as in past Olympics.
Solutions
- [1] → A
- [2] → F
- [3] → B
- [4] → C
- [5] → G
- [6] → D
Unused sentence: E
Gap 1 → A
Context clues & substitution: The paragraph introduces the idea of the Games being spread across a large area rather than concentrated in one place. Sentence A picks up this idea directly, explaining what that means in practice ('cooperation between regions'). The phrase 'one central Olympic village' contrasts neatly with the description of events spread from Milan to the Dolomites.
Gap 2 → F
Reference pronouns & context clues: 'These locations' in sentence F refers to the specific venues named in the sentences before the gap (Cortina d'Ampezzo and Milan). The sentence after the gap begins with 'As a result' — so sentence F must give the reason for why athletes will compete in venues with strong traditions. F provides that reason: the venues are already experienced with large events.
Gap 3 → B
Linkers & context clues: Sentence B begins with 'Moreover' — an addition linker — telling you it must extend an idea already introduced. The preceding sentences discuss reducing environmental impact; B adds a further benefit (reducing costs, avoiding unused venues). The vocabulary of 'strategy', 'costs' and 'venues' fits squarely within the sustainability theme of this paragraph.
Gap 4 → C
Reference pronouns: 'They' in sentence C refers to the organisers, and 'this' refers to the attention and visibility mentioned in the sentence before the gap. The sentence after the gap ('If managed carefully, this attention could support local businesses') also picks up the theme of local benefit introduced in C.
Gap 5 → G
Context clues & linkers: The paragraph introduces challenges of hosting events across a large area. Sentence G develops this by stating that the spread of venues has led critics to question whether the Games will feel unified. The word 'however' in the sentence after the gap then introduces the organisers' counter-argument — a contrast that requires a critical or negative sentence before it.
Gap 6 → D
Linkers & context clues: The sentences before the gap describe the 2006 Turin Olympics as a traditional model with concentrated venues and new-build facilities. Sentence D begins with 'In contrast' — a contrast linker — and then describes the 2026 edition as 'lighter, more flexible': a direct opposition to the traditional approach just described.
Why not E?
Sentence E ('It is expected to attract millions of visitors from around the world during the two-week competition') is plausible in several places, which is exactly what makes it a good distractor. However, it doesn't fit any gap precisely: no sentence immediately before or after any gap requires the specific detail of visitor numbers or the two-week timeframe as a necessary link.