Joy English · Level B1 · Learning a new skilljoy-english.com
Test 4: Learning a new skill
Name:Date:
A mixed grammar and vocabulary test about learning something new: choose the right word, write missing words and build new words.
Part 1: Multiple-choice gaps
Choose the word or phrase that best completes each sentence.
- Ravi has always wanted to learn how to ___ the guitar.
- At first Mina found the lessons hard, but she soon ___ progress.
- Tomás signed ___ for an evening pottery course at the community centre.
- The teacher said that the best way to ___ a new skill is to practise a little every day.
- Aiko almost gave up after a week, but her friend ___ her to keep going.
- Learning a language takes time, ___ don't expect to be fluent in a month.
- Online videos are useful, but nothing can ___ the place of a real teacher.
- After six months of lessons, Sofia's piano playing has ___ a lot.
Part 2: Open gaps
Type one word in each gap.
- I wish I ___ started learning the piano when I was a child.
- It took Jamal three months ___ learn how to juggle with three balls.
- My grandmother taught me ___ to knit when I was eight.
- Lena has been taking dance classes ___ three years now.
- The more you practise, ___ easier it becomes.
- Ravi finally gave ___ trying to learn chess because he found it too slow.
- Mina practised every day ___ order to pass her driving test.
- There are lots ___ free courses on the internet for people who want to learn coding.
Part 3: Word formation
Use the word in CAPITALS at the end of each sentence to form a word that fits the gap. Type one word.
- Learning a new skill can give you a real sense of ___. (ACHIEVE)
- Mina's cooking teacher was very ___ and never got angry about mistakes. (PATIENCE)
- With regular practice, Tomás became more ___ at drawing. (SKILL)
- Don't worry about making mistakes; they are a ___ part of learning. (NATURE)
- At first Kofi was ___ to remember all the chess rules, so he kept a list beside the board. (ABLE)
- The course gives ___ advice on how to build simple furniture. (PRACTICE)
- Aiko's ___ of traditional calligraphy has grown over the years. (KNOW)
- The online lessons are ___ free, so there is no reason not to try them. (COMPLETE)
Answer key
Part 1: Multiple-choice gaps
- d) playWe play a musical instrument.
- b) madeThe collocation is make progress.
- c) upSign up for means put your name on a list to join a course or activity.
- a) masterMaster a skill means learn to do it very well. We win or beat a game, and earn money.
- b) encouragedEncourage somebody to do something is correct. Made and let are followed by the verb without to, and suggest is not followed by a person + to.
- d) soThe second part is a result of the first part, so we use so.
- a) takeTake the place of means replace.
- c) improvedImprove means get better. Raise and lift need an object, and rise is used for numbers and levels, not skills.
Part 2: Open gaps
- hadTo talk about a regret about the past, we use wish + past perfect: had started.
- toThe pattern is it took somebody time to do something.
- howTeach somebody how to do something.
- forWe use for with a period of time, such as three years.
- theThe pattern is the + comparative ..., the + comparative.
- upGive up means stop trying to do something.
- inIn order to shows the purpose of an action.
- ofThe phrase is lots of.
Part 3: Word formation
- achievementAfter sense of we need a noun. Achieve + -ment gives achievement.
- patientAfter very we need an adjective. The adjective from patience is patient.
- skilful / skillful / skilledWe need an adjective. Skilful (US skillful) and skilled both mean good at doing something.
- naturalBefore the noun part we need an adjective: natural.
- unableHe needed a list, so the meaning is negative: unable to remember.
- practicalBefore the noun advice we need an adjective. Practical advice is useful in real situations.
- knowledgeAfter Aiko's we need a noun. The noun from know is knowledge.
- completelyWe need an adverb before the adjective free: completely.