Part 2

For questions 9-16, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0). In the exam, write your answers IN CAPITAL LETTERS on the separate answer sheet.

Example: BACK

Audiobooks

A quite common thing, audiobooks actually started in the early seventies. 0 _____ then, they would be recorded on cassette tapes, also 9 audio tapes. Initially, libraries were the only place to have them, primarily for the needs of disabled people. As technology progressed, audiobooks have been getting increasingly popular 10 with the wider adoption of the Internet.

One thing that made audiobooks popular is that they allowed you to do something else 11 listening to the narrator. It is also favoured by people with long commutes. When you are listening to something interesting, time passes 12 than when you are doing something boring, like sitting in a traffic 13 .

Another obvious benefit is that audiobooks are more accessible. Blind people, as well as 14 with poor sight, could finally get access to masterpieces of the literary world. This is also true 15 those who have not developed any reading skills, either due to lack of formal education or any other reason.

Finally, the audiobook format has the advantage of sped-up playback. What this means 16 that you can listen to it at an increased speed, which is very difficult or even impossible when reading.

Click to download this FCE Use of English Part 2 Worksheet in PDF.

For this task: Answers with explanations