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Exam guide & reading text

Composting at the Edge of TownPart 2: Open Cloze

"Composting at the Edge of Town" targets the Open Cloze (Part 2) of the Cambridge C1 Proficiency exam. Unlike Part 1, no options are provided — you must supply single words (articles, prepositions, auxiliaries, pronouns, conjunctions or discourse markers) that complete the text grammatically and logically. Scan each gap for the grammatical slot it occupies: is it linking clauses, marking reference, or completing a fixed structure? Small words carry heavy weight at C2 level.

Read the full Part 2: Open Cloze strategy guide →

Reading text

Composting works best when it is treated as a process rather than a bin people forget. In a shared scheme, volunteers explain (9) .......... advance what can be added and what should stay out. A mix of dry leaves and food waste, (10) .......... breaks down at different speeds, creates air pockets that help the material change. The pile (11) .......... not need constant attention, but it benefits from being turned occasionally. The pile breaks down faster (12) .......... warm weather; in colder months, patience matters more. A clear sign can prevent (13) .......... surprising amount of contamination, especially when residents are uncertain (14) .......... what counts as compostable. The aim is not to produce perfect soil overnight, (15) .......... to build a habit that improves gradually, (16) .......... the material itself does.