📝 C1 Use of English: Paper 1 – Part 1 (Multiple Choice Cloze)

Your Complete Guide to Mastering Part 1 of the Exam

If you’re preparing for the C1 Advanced English Exam, you already know that Paper 1 is all about showing your control of grammar and vocabulary in real-world contexts. In this blog post, we’re diving into Part 1: Multiple Choice Cloze—what it tests, how to tackle it, and the kinds of structures and expressions you need to master to boost your score.

Let’s break it down!

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✨ What is Part 1: Multiple Choice Cloze?

This section of the Use of English paper tests your knowledge of:
• Collocations
• Phrasal verbs
• Idiomatic expressions
• Fixed phrases
• Word choice and nuance
• Verb patterns
• Register and connotation

You’ll be given a short text with 8 gaps, each followed by four multiple-choice options (A, B, C, D). Your job is to choose the one word or phrase that best completes the sentence in context.

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🔑 Key Areas to Study

Here are the core categories that regularly come up in Part 1—and examples to help you learn them:

1. Collocations

Words that naturally go together.
➡️ gain trust, make progress, take part

2. Phrasal Verbs

Verb + preposition/adverb combinations with idiomatic meanings.
➡️ care for, give in, come across

3. Idioms & Fixed Phrases

Set expressions that often have figurative meanings.
➡️ under no illusion, at odds with, contrary to popular belief

4. Verb Patterns

Certain verbs are followed by specific grammar structures.
➡️ deny doing, hope to win, insist that…

5. Register & Connotation

Some words are more formal, emotional, or neutral than others.
➡️ dispute (formal), childish (negative), assertive (positive)

6. Nuance & Word Choice

Being able to tell the difference between words with similar meanings.
➡️ claim vs state vs assert

7. Discourse Markers

Useful linking words and expressions that connect ideas.
➡️ however, despite this, on the other hand

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🧠 Tips for Tackling the Test

✅ Read the whole text first to understand the tone and context.

✅ Think in chunks—many correct answers are part of fixed expressions or collocations.

✅ Use elimination to cross off options that sound unnatural or too informal/formal for the tone of the passage.

✅ Be alert for subtle differences in meaning, grammar patterns, and tone.

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📝 Practice Activities

🔹 Activity 1: Collocation Match-Up

Match the verb with its natural noun pair(s). Example:
• make → a decision, an effort
• take → a risk
• gain → trust, insight
• build → trust
• earn → respect

🗣️ Example sentence:
She worked hard to gain trust from her team.
Trabajó duro para ganarse la confianza de su equipo.

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🔹 Activity 2: What’s the Difference?

Choose the best word, then explain why the others are wrong.

Question 1:
He didn’t want to ___ the argument further.
A) argue B) dispute C) debate D) prolong
✅ Correct: D – prolong
No quería alargar más la discusión.

Question 2:
She tends to ___ her opinions strongly.
A) claim B) assert C) dispute D) state
✅ Correct: B – assert
Suele afirmar sus opiniones con fuerza.

Question 3:
The CEO refused to ___ the details.
A) reveal B) disclose C) explain D) expose
✅ Correct: B – disclose
El director ejecutivo se negó a revelar los detalles.

Question 4:
The decision was completely ___.
A) unjustified B) unfair C) unreasonable D) wrong
✅ Correct: A – unjustified
La decisión fue completamente injustificada.

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🔹 Activity 3: Mini Cloze Practice

Try your hand at a mini version of the actual test!

Question 1:
Contrary to popular ___, cats are social animals.
A) opinion B) belief C) view D) perspective
✅ Correct: B – belief
Contrario a la creencia popular…

Question 2:
The politician attempted to ___ the claims.
A) deny B) dispute C) object D) argue
✅ Correct: B – dispute
Intentó refutar las afirmaciones…

Question 3:
The documentary gave viewers rare ___ into the artist’s life.
A) perception B) vision C) insight D) understanding
✅ Correct: C – insight
Una visión poco común de la vida del artista.

Question 4:
The team worked late to meet the ___ deadline.
A) strict B) narrow C) harsh D) severe
✅ Correct: A – strict
Para cumplir con el plazo estricto.

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🔹 Activity 4: Idiom of the Day Challenge

Each day, learn one idiom or fixed expression. Try defining it, using it in a sentence, and translating it.
• To be under no illusion (about)
No hacerse ilusiones
➡️ I’m under no illusion about how hard this will be.
• Contrary to popular belief
Contrario a la creencia popular
➡️ Contrary to popular belief, not all introverts are shy.
• To be at odds with someone
Estar en desacuerdo con alguien
➡️ She’s often at odds with her brother over politics.

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🎯 Final Thoughts

Part 1 of the C1 Use of English paper is all about precision—choosing the right word for the context. You can’t just rely on grammar—you need to build a strong sense of natural English usage through reading, listening, and practice.

By mastering collocations, phrasal verbs, idioms, and fine-tuned word choices, you’ll gain the confidence and awareness to pick the best answer every time.

Stay tuned for our next blog post:
👉 Part 2: Open Cloze – How Grammar Really Works in Context

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