A housing association has transformed several flat roofs into small food-growing spaces. The scheme was originally set (1) .......... to provide herbs for a shared kitchen, but it soon began to (2) .......... in people who had never grown anything before. Residents say that the gardens have given them a reason to (3) .......... together more often, particularly during the warmer months.
The organisers were keen to (4) .......... away from the idea that every roof should look identical. Some plots contain vegetables, while others are used for flowers that attract pollinators. The only rule is that gardeners must (5) .......... to a safety plan, since tools and water containers have to be stored carefully.
The project has also helped residents (6) .......... up with practical skills. A retired chef runs sessions on preserving herbs, and a local builder explains how to (7) .......... out simple repairs to containers. The association hopes that the gardens will eventually (8) .......... off some of the cost of buying fresh produce for community meals.
Several residents have said that the gardens have changed their view of the buildings they live in. A roof that once seemed inaccessible is now seen as a shared resource, provided that it is managed responsibly and with attention to safety.
The association has arranged occasional visits from growers who work in other parts of the city. Their advice helps residents experiment responsibly and shows that food-growing can be adapted to many different kinds of shared space.
A housing association has transformed several flat roofs into small food-growing spaces. The scheme was originally set (1) .......... to provide herbs for a shared kitchen, but it soon began to (2) .......... in people who had never grown anything before. Residents say that the gardens have given them a reason to (3) .......... together more often, particularly during the warmer months.
The organisers were keen to (4) .......... away from the idea that every roof should look identical. Some plots contain vegetables, while others are used for flowers that attract pollinators. The only rule is that gardeners must (5) .......... to a safety plan, since tools and water containers have to be stored carefully.
The project has also helped residents (6) .......... up with practical skills. A retired chef runs sessions on preserving herbs, and a local builder explains how to (7) .......... out simple repairs to containers. The association hopes that the gardens will eventually (8) .......... off some of the cost of buying fresh produce for community meals.
Several residents have said that the gardens have changed their view of the buildings they live in. A roof that once seemed inaccessible is now seen as a shared resource, provided that it is managed responsibly and with attention to safety.
The association has arranged occasional visits from growers who work in other parts of the city. Their advice helps residents experiment responsibly and shows that food-growing can be adapted to many different kinds of shared space.
Question 1
Exam guide & reading text▾
Rooftop food-growing project — Part 1: Multiple Choice Cloze
"Rooftop food-growing 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 housing association has transformed several flat roofs into small food-growing spaces. The scheme was originally set (1) .......... to provide herbs for a shared kitchen, but it soon began to (2) .......... in people who had never grown anything before. Residents say that the gardens have given them a reason to (3) .......... together more often, particularly during the warmer months.
The organisers were keen to (4) .......... away from the idea that every roof should look identical. Some plots contain vegetables, while others are used for flowers that attract pollinators. The only rule is that gardeners must (5) .......... to a safety plan, since tools and water containers have to be stored carefully.
The project has also helped residents (6) .......... up with practical skills. A retired chef runs sessions on preserving herbs, and a local builder explains how to (7) .......... out simple repairs to containers. The association hopes that the gardens will eventually (8) .......... off some of the cost of buying fresh produce for community meals.
Several residents have said that the gardens have changed their view of the buildings they live in. A roof that once seemed inaccessible is now seen as a shared resource, provided that it is managed responsibly and with attention to safety.
The association has arranged occasional visits from growers who work in other parts of the city. Their advice helps residents experiment responsibly and shows that food-growing can be adapted to many different kinds of shared space.