English C-Test C1: The printing press
An English C-Test at C1 level: academic style, abstract nouns and less common words.
Last checked:
25 gaps: 16 on grammar, 9 on vocabulary. Complete the second half of each word, then check; every answer with its explanation is under the text.
Answers and explanations: The printing press
- his Grammar
"his invention": possessive for Gutenberg (male, singular).
- books Vocabulary
"books".
- to Grammar
"had to be copied": "have to" + passive infinitive.
- copied Grammar
Past participle of "copy" (y → -ied) in the passive "be copied".
- hand Vocabulary
"by hand" = without a machine.
- made Grammar
"which made them scarce": "make" + object + adjective; past tense "made".
- scarce Vocabulary
"scarce" = available only in small numbers.
- expensive Vocabulary
"expensive" = costing a lot.
- texts Vocabulary
"texts".
- accumulated Vocabulary
"accumulate" = gather more and more; past simple here.
- with Grammar
"with each copy" = each time a copy was made.
- copy Vocabulary
"copy" = a reproduction of a text.
- dramatically Grammar
Adverb of "dramatic" (ending -ally); it describes the verb "reduced".
- the Grammar
"the cost of reproduction", "the book trade": definite article before a defined noun.
- of Grammar
"the cost of reproduction".
- and Grammar
"and" joins the verbs "reduced" and "spread", which share the subject "Printing".
- few Grammar
"within a few decades": "a few" = some, a small number.
- spread Grammar
"spread" is irregular: spread – spread – spread.
- over Grammar
"over two hundred" = more than two hundred.
- hundred Grammar
"two hundred": no -s on "hundred" after a number.
- across Grammar
"across Europe" = in many places throughout Europe.
- consequences Vocabulary
"consequences" = results or effects.
- far Grammar
"far beyond" = much further than.
- the Grammar
"the cost of reproduction", "the book trade": definite article before a defined noun.
- trade Vocabulary
"the book trade" = the business of making and selling books.
Tips for C1
- At C1 the gaps are often nominalisations and fixed phrases; read on until the meaning is clear.
- Only the exact word counts here: two letters swapped is marked wrong. So practise the spelling too.
- If you stay under 15 gaps here, practise B2 texts first; that is where most points are.
More practice texts
B1: The semester ticket · Volunteering in your free time · Food waste in the canteen
B2: How vaccines are tested · Citizen science · Artificial light at night
C1: The economics of streaming · The decline of handwriting
Three more texts (B1, B2, C1) on one page →