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Reading Part 2 — Gapped Text for the CPE Exam
CPE Reading Part 2 uses a longer text (approximately 700 words) with 7 removed paragraphs and 8 options (one extra). At C2 level, the textual cohesion that candidates must track is highly sophisticated: lexical chains, pronoun reference across multiple sentences, and logical development of complex arguments.
Locale-specific study guides
Pass-rate data, regulatory context, and study tips for Reading Part 2 — Gapped Text all change by candidate locale. Pick your context:
- Reading Part 2 — Gapped Text · United StatesCalibrated for American candidates
- Reading Part 2 — Gapped Text · United KingdomCalibrated for British candidates
- Reading Part 2 — Gapped Text · IndiaCalibrated for Indian candidates
- Reading Part 2 — Gapped Text · PhilippinesCalibrated for Filipino candidates
- Reading Part 2 — Gapped Text · NigeriaCalibrated for Nigerian candidates
Common failure modes
These are the patterns that cause most candidates to lose marks on this topic. Recognising them in advance is half the work.
- !Placing paragraphs based on topical overlap without checking the reference chains
- !Not confirming that the extra (unused) paragraph is genuinely incompatible with all gaps
- !Ignoring discourse markers that signal the expected paragraph type
Study tips
- 1Underline pronouns, demonstratives, and topic noun phrases at paragraph boundaries — these are the cohesion anchors.
- 2Read the base text first without the options to understand the overall argument structure.
- 3Check the extra paragraph against every gap systematically — being certain about the extra paragraph confirms other answers.
Sample CPE Reading Part 2 — Gapped Text questions
These sample items mirror the format and difficulty of real CPE questions. Practice with thousands more on the free Koydo question bank.
- 1
In CPE Reading Part 2, a gap is followed in the text by: "This, in itself, was remarkable." The inserted paragraph most likely ends with:
- AA factual statistic with no evaluative comment
- BA description of a surprising or notable event or achievementCorrect
- CA counter-argument to the main thesis
- DA general background statement
Why this answer?
"This, in itself, was remarkable" refers backward (anaphoric reference) to something that the previous paragraph described as noteworthy. The demonstrative "this" + evaluative "remarkable" requires a paragraph that described something worth noting — typically a specific surprising achievement or outcome.
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