The Collector's Itch

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.

drawn

held

put

kept

setback

drawback

fallback

throwback

imposing

inflicting

exerting

pressing

as

than

but

so

deflated

collapsed

punctured

subsided

put

bring

set

take

charge

spend

price

cost

observation

notice

regard

interest

Few human impulses are as widespread, or as hard to explain, as the urge to collect. Whether the objects in question are rare coins or (0) ___ bus tickets, the collector's devotion can seem baffling to outsiders. Psychologists have (1) ___ forward various explanations. Some regard the habit as a (2) ___ to a time when survival depended on gathering and storing; others see it as a way of (3) ___ order on an unpredictable world. What seems clear is that the pleasure lies less in possession (4) ___ in pursuit. Many collectors admit that the moment a set is finally complete can leave them feeling oddly (5) ___ , and more than a few promptly (6) ___ about finding something new to chase. Nor need the habit (7) ___ a fortune. Some of the most cherished collections consist of things that most people would consider beneath (8) ___ : matchboxes, sugar sachets, the labels from tins. For their owners, though, each one is a small trophy, and every gap on the shelf the promise of a future hunt.

The Collector's Itch

meek

humble

docile

mild

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

More C2 Proficiency Multiple Choice Cloze practice · All C2 Proficiency practice