Cambridge B1 Preliminary

B1 Preliminary - Gapped Text Exercise 14

Five sentences have been removed from the text below. For each question, choose the correct answer and write the letter in the box. There are three extra sentences which you do not need to use.


Growing Up An Only Child

Growing up an only child was a unique experience for me. A lot of people think it must be lonely, but I never felt that way. _____1_____ I was the sole focus of my parents' attention, which had its pros and cons. _____2_____ They always had time to help me with my homework or play games with me. However, it also meant I was under constant scrutiny. Whatever I was doing, whatever I was thinking of doing, there were two pairs of eyes on me at all times!

Another advantage of being an only child was that I had a lot of time for myself. I didn't have to share my toys or fight over the TV remote. _____3_____ But at the same time, it also made me value friendship more since I didn't have siblings to play with at home. I built up a good strong group of friends that I am close to even today.

As an only child, I was often perceived as being spoilt. _____4_____ This was a stereotype I constantly had to fight against. But honestly, I was just like any other kid, my parents set boundaries and expected me to follow rules.

Finally, being an only child helped me to become independent at a young age. _____5_____ This helped me a lot when I left home to go to university.

Looking back, being an only child has shaped who I am today. While there were challenges, I enjoyed my childhood and wouldn't change it for anything.

Sentences

A. I often had to entertain myself and this led to a strong sense of imagination.

B. Yes, I had all the toys I wanted, but it didn't mean I was spoilt.

C. The house was always quiet, which was nice, but could also be a bit lonely.

D. In my case, it wasn't lonely at all.

E. Even something simple like a birthday became a problem for me.

F. I was the only one they cheered for at school events.

G. They also had high expectations for me.

H. Since I had no siblings, I often had to do things on my own.

1. Sentence

2. Sentence

3. Sentence

4. Sentence

5. Sentence

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