Cambridge B2 First (FCE) — All Questions

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.