Before the Day Begins

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.

tow

draw

haul

heave

pegging

posting

staking

fixing

keeps

bears

carries

holds

use

purpose

avail

practice

save

spare

lend

keep

with

for

by

from

remains

rests

abides

lasts

put

lay

place

set

Of all nature's spectacles, the dawn chorus is perhaps the most accessible, requiring (0) ___ more than an open window and a willingness to rise early. As the days (1) ___ out in spring, the first notes can be heard well before sunrise, and within an hour the air is thick with song. Most of the singing is done by males, (2) ___ a claim to territory and advertising for a mate. Why dawn should be the favoured hour is less obvious. One theory (3) ___ that sound carries further in the still, cool air of early morning; another, that it is still too dark to find food, so the birds might as well put the time to good (4) ___ . There may also be an element of showing off: a bird that sings loudly at first light is announcing that it has survived the night with energy to (5) ___ . Sadly, in many places the chorus is said to be growing fainter (6) ___ the year. Even so, it (7) ___ one of the few wonders that do not require us to (8) ___ foot outside our own homes.

Before the Day Begins

few

less

small

little

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

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