Adapted from Close-up (C2) Student’s Book.
For questions 1–10, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap.
Criminals are always seeking new ways to
1.
people off. The internet has provided very fertile ground for all manner of
2.
practices. From phishing and auction site fraud to identity theft and lottery scams, incidents of online fraud are
3.
. And though police forces now have dedicated cyber fraud departments to
4.
down on this type of theft, it seems they’re fighting an uphill battle.
Banks go to great 5.
to protect their customers’ accounts with sophisticated software
6.
is capable of tracking suspicious
7.
. Criminals know they
8.
little chance of defeating these systems online, so they focus on customers directly, particularly the elderly. Criminals phone them claiming to be from their bank. Everything seems
9.
, but the unsuspecting victims are tricked
10.
confidential information and are robbed. It is the cruelest of lessons for society’s most vulnerable members.
Explanation
Correct Answer: rip
The phrasal verb rip someone off means to to cheat somebody, by making them pay too much, by selling them something of poor quality, etc.
The phrasal verb rip someone off means to to cheat somebody, by making them pay too much, by selling them something of poor quality, etc.
Why others don’t fit: While rob, steal, and cheat share a similar meaning, none of them combine with the particle off to form a phrasal verb like rip.
Explanation
Correct Answer: shady
Shady means dishonest, suspicious, or illegal. It collocates with practices.
Shady means dishonest, suspicious, or illegal. It collocates with practices.
Why others don’t fit: Stingy means ungenerous with money. Lavish means luxurious or expensive. Cool means trendy or excellent. None of these describe criminal behavior.
Explanation
Correct Answer: soaring
Soaring is used metaphorically to describe figures, statistics, or incidents that are rising or increasing rapidly.
Soaring is used metaphorically to describe figures, statistics, or incidents that are rising or increasing rapidly.
Why others don’t fit: While jumping, flying, and leaping all involve movement off the ground, they are not commonly used to describe a sharp increase in numbers.
Explanation
Correct Answer: crack
The phrasal verb crack down on means to take severe measures against bad or illegal behavior.
The phrasal verb crack down on means to take severe measures against bad or illegal behavior.
Why others don’t fit: Break down means to collapse or analyze. Come down on means to punish harshly but typically applies to people rather than types of crimes. Bring down means to reduce.
Banks go to great 5.
Explanation
Correct Answer: lengths
The idiom go to great lengths means to try very hard or take a lot of trouble to achieve something.
The idiom go to great lengths means to try very hard or take a lot of trouble to achieve something.
Why others don’t fit: Extents, levels, and degrees do not fit this idiomatic expression.
Explanation
Correct Answer: which
Which is the correct relative pronoun used to introduce a non-defining relative clause modifying an inanimate object (sophisticated software).
Which is the correct relative pronoun used to introduce a non-defining relative clause modifying an inanimate object (sophisticated software).
Why others don’t fit: Who and whose are used for people. What cannot act as a relative pronoun directly following a noun.
Explanation
Correct Answer: transactions
In banking terminology, the transfer or movement of money within accounts is specifically called a transaction.
In banking terminology, the transfer or movement of money within accounts is specifically called a transaction.
Why others don’t fit: Dealings is too broad and casual. Operations refers to business functionalities. Markets refers to trade spaces.
Explanation
Correct Answer: stand
The collocation stand little chance means to have an incredibly small probability of success.
The collocation stand little chance means to have an incredibly small probability of success.
Why others don’t fit: Bear, set, and hold do not form a natural collocation with little chance in this context.
Explanation
Correct Answer: aboveboard
Aboveboard is an adjective meaning legitimate, honest, and open, typically used when describing business.
Aboveboard is an adjective meaning legitimate, honest, and open, typically used when describing business.
Why others don’t fit: Regular means normal. Open means accessible. True means accurate. None of these precisely with the underlying scam environment like aboveboard does.
Explanation
Correct Answer: into revealing
The phrasal verb trick somebody into something/into doing something means to make somebody do something by means of a trick.
The phrasal verb trick somebody into something/into doing something means to make somebody do something by means of a trick.
Why others don’t fit: Other options do not form a phrasal verb with trick.
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