Cambridge B2 First (FCE) — All Questions
22 questions
If I ___ you, I would apologise before it's too late.
- a.am
- b.were✓
- c.would be
- d.had been
The second conditional describes an unreal present situation and uses the past subjunctive 'were' for all persons: 'If I were you'. 'Would be' cannot go in the if-clause.
We regret to inform you that your application ___.
- a.rejected
- b.has rejecting
- c.is rejecting
- d.has been rejected✓
The application receives the action, so a passive is needed. 'Has been rejected' (present perfect passive) fits a recent decision with present relevance.
She finally admitted ___ the vase, though she blamed her brother at first.
- a.breaking✓
- b.to break
- c.break
- d.broke
The verb 'admit' is followed by the gerund: 'admit breaking'. It does not take the infinitive.
I wish I ___ more attention in class; now I don't understand this topic.
- a.pay
- b.have paid
- c.had paid✓
- d.would pay
'Wish' + past perfect ('had paid') expresses regret about a past action. The present result ('now I don't understand') confirms the regret is about earlier study.
That's the colleague ___ advice completely changed my career.
- a.who
- b.whose✓
- c.which
- d.that
'Whose' shows possession, linking the colleague to 'advice'. 'Who' would be the subject, and 'which' cannot refer to a person.
After months of training, she managed to ___ first prize in the competition.
- a.earn
- b.gain
- c.win✓
- d.reach
You 'win' a prize or a competition. 'Earn' is used for money or respect through work, not for a prize.
The company decided to ___ advantage of the new tax rules.
- a.take✓
- b.make
- c.do
- d.get
The fixed collocation is 'take advantage of'. No other verb is used with 'advantage' in this idiom.
He was ___ disappointed when the trip was cancelled.
- a.strongly
- b.highly
- c.hardly
- d.bitterly✓
'Bitterly disappointed' is a strong collocation. 'Strongly' and 'highly' do not naturally combine with 'disappointed'.
Let's not fall ___ over such a small disagreement.
- a.off
- b.out✓
- c.down
- d.through
'Fall out (with someone)' means to quarrel and stop being friends. The other particles give unrelated meanings.
The witness gave a ___ account of exactly what had happened.
- a.deep
- b.wide
- c.detailed✓
- d.large
An account full of details is a 'detailed account'. 'Deep' and 'wide' do not collocate with 'account' in this sense.
The negotiations were completely ___, and no deal was reached. (SUCCESS)
- a.successful
- b.success
- c.succeed
- d.unsuccessful✓
The context 'no deal was reached' needs the negative adjective: prefix 'un-' + 'success' + suffix '-ful' → 'unsuccessful'.
Regular exercise can improve both your fitness and your mental ___. (STRONG)
- a.stronger
- b.strength✓
- c.strongly
- d.strengthen
A noun is needed after 'mental'. 'Strong' becomes the noun 'strength' with an internal spelling change.
She answered every question with remarkable ___. (CONFIDENT)
- a.confidence✓
- b.confidently
- c.confident
- d.confide
After 'remarkable' a noun is required. The adjective 'confident' becomes the noun 'confidence'.
The instructions were written so ___ that nobody could follow them. (CLEAR)
- a.clear
- b.clearly
- c.unclearly✓
- d.clearness
An adverb is needed to describe 'written', and the context (nobody could follow) requires a negative meaning: 'unclearly' (un- + clear + -ly).
Despite the difficulties, they finally succeeded ___ finishing the project.
- a.to
- b.in✓
- c.on
- d.at
The verb 'succeed' is followed by 'in' + gerund. 'Succeed to' is a common error.
The manager accused the intern ___ leaking confidential data.
- a.for
- b.with
- c.on
- d.of✓
'Accuse someone of (doing) something' is the fixed pattern. Note the contrast with 'blame someone for'.
After the accident he had to go to ___ hospital for a week.
- a.(no article)✓
- b.the
- c.a
- d.that
For the purpose of treatment we say 'go to hospital' with no article (British usage). 'The hospital' would refer to a specific building as a place, not the patient's stay.
I'm not sure she's capable ___ handling so much pressure.
- a.to
- b.for
- c.of✓
- d.in
The adjective 'capable' is followed by 'of' + gerund/noun. 'Capable to' is incorrect.
Which sentence is correct?
- a.He suggested to go to the cinema.
- b.He suggested going to the cinema.✓
- c.He suggested us to go to the cinema.
- d.He suggested go to the cinema.
'Suggest' is followed by a gerund ('suggested going') or a that-clause, but never by 'to'-infinitive or an object + infinitive.
Which sentence is correct?
- a.She said me that she was tired.
- b.She told that she was tired.
- c.She said me she is tired.
- d.She told me that she was tired.✓
'Tell' takes a direct object ('told me'), while 'say' does not ('said that'). The reported verb also backshifts to 'was'.
Which sentence is correct?
- a.I'm not used to getting up so early.✓
- b.I'm not used to get up so early.
- c.I didn't used to getting up so early.
- d.I'm not use to getting up so early.
'Be used to' (be accustomed to) is followed by a gerund: 'used to getting up'. It is different from 'used to + infinitive' for past habits.
Which sentence is correct?
- a.If I would have known, I would have helped.
- b.If I have known, I would help.
- c.If I had known, I would have helped.✓
- d.If I knew, I would have helped.
The third conditional uses 'If + past perfect' in the if-clause and 'would have + past participle' in the main clause. 'Would have' never appears in the if-clause.