Running Across the Sand

B2 First · 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.

covers

walks

travels

reaches

at

over

by

on

arrive

get

reach

achieve

most

last

less

least

give

take

let

put

excitement

interest

boredom

pleasure

lend

borrow

take

loan

became

gone

come

turned

Every spring, hundreds of runners travel to North Africa to (0) ___ in a race across the desert. The event lasts six days and (1) ___ about 250 kilometres of sand dunes, rocky plains and dry riverbeds. Competitors have to carry everything they need for the week (2) ___ their backs, apart from water and a tent, which the organisers provide. Temperatures can (3) ___ 50°C in the afternoon, but nights can be surprisingly cold. Not surprisingly, preparation is essential. Most runners train for at (4) ___ a year, often running in heavy clothes to get used to the heat. Even so, many suffer from blisters, and some are forced to (5) ___ up before the finish. Those who complete the race say the hardest part is not the distance but the (6) ___ of hours with nothing to look at but sand. What keeps them going, they say, is the support of other runners, who are always willing to (7) ___ a hand. For many, crossing the finish line is a dream (8) ___ true.

Running Across the Sand

contest

fight

compete

combat

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

More B2 First Multiple Choice Cloze practice · All B2 First practice