Cambridge B2 First (FCE) — All Questions

After months of training, she managed to ___ first prize in the competition.

• a.win✓
• b.gain
• c.reach
• d.earn

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.get
• c.do
• d.make

The fixed collocation is 'take advantage of'. No other verb is used with 'advantage' in this idiom.

He was ___ disappointed when the trip was canceled.

• a.highly
• b.hardly
• c.bitterly✓
• d.strongly

'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.down
• b.out✓
• c.off
• 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.large
• b.detailed✓
• c.wide
• d.deep

An account full of details is a 'detailed account'. 'Deep' and 'wide' do not collocate with 'account' in this sense.