English C-Test B1: Volunteering in your free time
An English C-Test at B1 level: short sentences, everyday life at university and in town, words you know from school English.
Last checked:
25 gaps: 13 on grammar, 12 on vocabulary. Complete the second half of each word, then check; every answer with its explanation is under the text.
Answers and explanations: Volunteering in your free time
- help Vocabulary
"help at" = work at; no -s, because "some" (students) is plural.
- local Vocabulary
"local" = in the area where you live.
- bank Vocabulary
"food bank" = a place that gives free food to people in need.
- they Grammar
Subject pronoun "they"; it refers to the volunteers.
- donations Vocabulary
"donations" = things given for free to help others.
- hand Vocabulary
"hand out" = give to each person.
- bread Vocabulary
"bread" (uncountable).
- vegetables Vocabulary
"vegetables" = plants you eat, usually plural.
- families Grammar
Plural of "family": consonant + y becomes -ies.
- little Grammar
"little money": "little" before uncountable nouns, "few" before countable ones.
- Others Grammar
"Some … Others …": "others" stands alone, without a noun.
- free Vocabulary
"free lessons" = lessons that cost nothing.
- to Grammar
"give lessons to children": "to" before the person who receives something.
- who Grammar
Relative pronoun "who" for people: "children who need …".
- extra Vocabulary
"extra support" = more help than usual.
- with Grammar
"support with maths": "support" and "help" take "with".
- or Grammar
"or" joins two school subjects.
- The Grammar
"The work": definite article, because it is the work just described.
- is Grammar
"the work is": "is", because "work" is singular.
- always Grammar
"not always": the adverb of frequency follows "is not".
- but Grammar
Conjunction "but" introduces a contrast.
- volunteers Vocabulary
"volunteers" = people who work without pay.
- they Grammar
Subject pronoun "they"; it refers to the volunteers.
- lot Vocabulary
"a lot" = much.
- return Vocabulary
"in return" = as something given back.
Tips for B1
- At B1, small words often decide: articles, prepositions and the -s ending after he, she and it.
- Read the whole sentence before you fill a gap; the verb at the end often gives away the tense.
- If you get more than 20 of 25 gaps right here, try a B2 text next.
More practice texts
B1: The semester ticket · Food waste in the canteen
B2: How vaccines are tested · Citizen science · Artificial light at night
C1: The printing press · The economics of streaming · The decline of handwriting
Three more texts (B1, B2, C1) on one page →