A stretch of wetland beside a busy road is being restored by a partnership of residents, ecologists and local businesses. The work began after surveys (1) .......... up a sharp decline in several bird species. At first, some people feared that the project would (2) .......... in the way of plans for a new walking route, but the designers soon found a solution that served both aims.
The route now follows the edge of the site rather than cutting through the most sensitive areas. Visitors are asked to (3) .......... clear of reed beds during the nesting season and to (4) .......... an eye out for signs explaining temporary closures. The organisers have also planted vegetation that can (5) .......... up excess water after heavy rain.
The project has not been without setbacks. A dry spring meant that some young plants failed to (6) .......... root, and volunteers had to (7) .......... in extra watering. Nevertheless, the team believes that the site will eventually (8) .......... back its role as a refuge for wildlife and a quiet place for people to walk.
The route has been designed so that people can observe the site without feeling that they are being asked to keep away from it altogether. Benches and viewing points give visitors time to notice seasonal changes without entering sensitive ground.
Local residents are invited to join guided walks at the start of each season. These walks explain why the appearance of the site changes and why a restoration project cannot be judged solely by how tidy it looks.
A stretch of wetland beside a busy road is being restored by a partnership of residents, ecologists and local businesses. The work began after surveys (1) .......... up a sharp decline in several bird species. At first, some people feared that the project would (2) .......... in the way of plans for a new walking route, but the designers soon found a solution that served both aims.
The route now follows the edge of the site rather than cutting through the most sensitive areas. Visitors are asked to (3) .......... clear of reed beds during the nesting season and to (4) .......... an eye out for signs explaining temporary closures. The organisers have also planted vegetation that can (5) .......... up excess water after heavy rain.
The project has not been without setbacks. A dry spring meant that some young plants failed to (6) .......... root, and volunteers had to (7) .......... in extra watering. Nevertheless, the team believes that the site will eventually (8) .......... back its role as a refuge for wildlife and a quiet place for people to walk.
The route has been designed so that people can observe the site without feeling that they are being asked to keep away from it altogether. Benches and viewing points give visitors time to notice seasonal changes without entering sensitive ground.
Local residents are invited to join guided walks at the start of each season. These walks explain why the appearance of the site changes and why a restoration project cannot be judged solely by how tidy it looks.
Question 1
Exam guide & reading text▾
Wetland restoration project — Part 1: Multiple Choice Cloze
"Wetland restoration project" is a Cambridge C1 Proficiency Multiple Choice Cloze (Part 1) practice exam. This task tests your command of collocations, idiomatic expressions, phrasal verbs and fixed phrases in context. Read the full text carefully before choosing each option — the correct answer often depends on what naturally follows the surrounding words, not grammar alone. Eliminate distractors that are grammatically possible but semantically wrong, and watch for subtle register shifts between formal and informal usage.
A stretch of wetland beside a busy road is being restored by a partnership of residents, ecologists and local businesses. The work began after surveys (1) .......... up a sharp decline in several bird species. At first, some people feared that the project would (2) .......... in the way of plans for a new walking route, but the designers soon found a solution that served both aims.
The route now follows the edge of the site rather than cutting through the most sensitive areas. Visitors are asked to (3) .......... clear of reed beds during the nesting season and to (4) .......... an eye out for signs explaining temporary closures. The organisers have also planted vegetation that can (5) .......... up excess water after heavy rain.
The project has not been without setbacks. A dry spring meant that some young plants failed to (6) .......... root, and volunteers had to (7) .......... in extra watering. Nevertheless, the team believes that the site will eventually (8) .......... back its role as a refuge for wildlife and a quiet place for people to walk.
The route has been designed so that people can observe the site without feeling that they are being asked to keep away from it altogether. Benches and viewing points give visitors time to notice seasonal changes without entering sensitive ground.
Local residents are invited to join guided walks at the start of each season. These walks explain why the appearance of the site changes and why a restoration project cannot be judged solely by how tidy it looks.