CPE Use of English Grammar 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does CPE Use of English Part 1 (multiple choice cloze) primarily test?
- Spelling of common words
- Vocabulary knowledge including collocations, phrasal verbs, and idioms (Correct answer)
- Punctuation rules
- Sentence structure transformation
Correct answer: Vocabulary knowledge including collocations, phrasal verbs, and idioms
CPE Part 1 multiple choice cloze tests lexical knowledge, including collocations, fixed phrases, phrasal verbs, and idiomatic expressions.
Question 2: In CPE Use of English Part 2 (open cloze), how many words can be written in each gap?
- Any number of words
- Exactly one word only (Correct answer)
- Two to three words
- A full phrase from a given list
Correct answer: Exactly one word only
CPE Part 2 open cloze requires exactly one word per gap, testing grammatical and lexical knowledge without multiple-choice options.
Question 3: What does CPE Use of English Part 4 (key word transformation) require candidates to do?
- Write a new sentence from scratch on a given topic
- Rewrite a sentence using a given key word without changing the meaning (Correct answer)
- Identify errors in a piece of writing
- Match sentence halves to form complete sentences
Correct answer: Rewrite a sentence using a given key word without changing the meaning
Part 4 tests the ability to express the same meaning using different grammatical structures, with a given key word that must be used unchanged.
Question 4: Which of the following is an example of an 'inversion' structure tested in CPE grammar?
- I like apples.
- Not only did she pass, but she also topped the class. (Correct answer)
- He went to the store quickly.
- They have been working all day.
Correct answer: Not only did she pass, but she also topped the class.
Inversion involves placing an auxiliary verb before the subject for emphasis, as in 'Not only did she pass…' — a structure commonly tested in CPE.
Question 5: What is the 'subjunctive mood' in English, sometimes tested at CPE level?
- A tense used only for future events
- A mood used to express hypothetical or wished-for situations (Correct answer)
- The past tense of irregular verbs
- A structure used only in questions
Correct answer: A mood used to express hypothetical or wished-for situations
The subjunctive expresses wishes, recommendations, or hypotheticals, as in 'It is essential that he be informed immediately.'
Question 6: In CPE grammar, what is a 'cleft sentence' used to achieve?
- To shorten long sentences for clarity
- To emphasize a particular element of a sentence (Correct answer)
- To form questions in indirect speech
- To create passive voice constructions
Correct answer: To emphasize a particular element of a sentence
Cleft sentences (e.g., 'It was the manager who made the decision') are used to place special emphasis on one particular part of a sentence.
CPE Use of English Grammar 1
What does CPE Use of English Part 1 (multiple choice cloze) primarily test?