Objective Proficiency p 67. The Need for Aged Buildings. Extra Multiple Choice Cloze

Cities need old buildings so (1)____________ it is probably impossible for vigorous streets and districts to grow without them. By old buildings I mean not museum-piece old buildings, not old buildings in an excellent  and expensive (2)__________ of repair – (3)____________ these make fine ingredients — but also a good lot of ordinary old buildings, including some (4)__________ ones. If a city area has only new buildings, the enterprises that can exist there are automatically (5)__________ to those that can support the high costs of new construction, such as chain stores and restaurants, supermarkets and banks. Neighbourhood bars, small grocery shops, good bookstores and antique shops seldom can. The only harm of aged buildings to a city district is the harm that eventually comes of nothing but old age- the harm that lies in everything being old and everything becoming (6)__________

1.  A seriously      B. badly            C. greatly      D. exceedingly
2   A mode           B case               C. state          D condition
3   A although      B let alone        C. whereas    D seeing as
4   A overrun        B downturned  C. rundown   D upheld 
5   A limited         B curbed           C. checked    D hampered. 
6   A let through   B worn out       C. pulled up   D filled in


KEY

1. B. badly (often collocates with need and means very much)



2.  C. state (a state of repair is a fixed phrase)

In good, bad, etc. repair. In a good, bad, etc. state of repair: in good, etc. condition. E.g. The house is not in good repair.

3. A although



4. C. rundown means dilapidated


Overrun: to fill or spread over an area quickly, especially in large numbers. Sp. Invadir. E.g. The house was completely overrun with mice.

Downturn (in something) a fall in the amount of business that is done; a time when the economy becomes weaker. E.g. a downturn in sales/ trade/ business. The economic downturn of 2008/2009. 

Uphold: to support something that you think is right and make sure that it continues to exist. Sp. Defender. E.g. We have a duty to uphold the law. The regime has been criticized for failing to uphold human rights.

Enterprise: a company or business. E.g. an enterprise with a turnover of $26 billion. State-owned/ public enterprises. Small and medium-sized enterprises.

5. A. limited takes the preposition to

Curb something: to control or limit something, especially something bad. E.g. He needs to learn to curb his temper. A range of policies have been introduced aimed at curbing inflation.  

Hamper somebody/something: to prevent somebody from easily doing or achieving something. Hinder. Sp. Dificultar. E.g. Our efforts were severely hampered by a lack of money. 


6. B. worn out
Wear out, wear something out: to become, or make something become, thin or no longer able to be used, usually because it has been used too much. E.g. He wore out two pairs of shoes last year.

Pull up: come to a halt after driving somewhere. E.g. He pulled up at the traffic lights.