The Art of Saying Sorry

C2 Proficiency · Multiple Choice Cloze · Cambridge Ready original exercise

For questions 1–8, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap. There is an example at the beginning.

floor

land

ground

earth

goes

counts

stands

passes

empty

vacant

void

hollow

fencing

hedging

walling

edging

amends

amendments

mends

emends

across

through

about

round

foster

fester

fluster

falter

head

cheek

face

front

Saying sorry may be one of the first social (0) ___ we are taught, yet genuinely effective apologies are surprisingly thin on the (1) ___ . All too often, what (2) ___ for an apology is in fact an attempt to shift the blame: 'I'm sorry you feel that way' acknowledges the other person's hurt while conceding nothing. Researchers who have studied the subject identify several ingredients without which an apology rings (3) ___ . The speaker must take responsibility without (4) ___ or excuse, show that they understand the harm caused, and, where possible, offer to make (5) ___ . Timing matters, too. An apology delivered too hastily may come (6) ___ as glib, while one delayed for too long risks seeming grudging. Interestingly, people consistently overestimate how humiliating it will be to apologise, and underestimate the relief it brings. That miscalculation may explain why so many disputes are allowed to (7) ___ for years. Perhaps the greatest obstacle is pride: admitting fault feels like a loss of (8) ___ , when in reality it is often the surest way to regain respect.

The Art of Saying Sorry

favours

graces

gifts

mercies

Available as a free printable PDF worksheet with an optional answer key.

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