Reading

Level B2

Part 6 - Missing Paragraphs

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A few paragraphs have been removed from the text below. For questions 1-6, choose the correct answer. There is one extra paragraph you don't need to use.

Connected Words

A century ago, communication was mostly slow and local. News travelled by letter, telegram or newspaper, and families often waited days or weeks for a reply. Today, many of us expect answers within minutes, and we feel surprised—sometimes even offended—when a message is left unread. (1) .......... This shift has changed not only how quickly we speak to each other, but also what we choose to say. When sending a message is effortless, we communicate more often, in smaller pieces, and with less planning. That can be useful, but it can also make conversations feel rushed. One important change is the way tone is interpreted. In face-to-face talk, we rely on voice, facial expression and body language. In a short message, those signals disappear. (2) .......... As a result, people have invented new ways to show emotion. Emojis, GIFs and voice notes are not just playful extras; they are tools that try to replace what technology removed. Still, misunderstandings happen, especially when people come from different age groups or cultures. Workplaces have also been transformed. Companies used to depend on formal letters, scheduled meetings and phone calls. (3) .......... However, being reachable all the time has a downside. Many employees feel pressure to answer quickly, even outside working hours. The line between professional and private life becomes harder to defend when the same device contains both. Technology has also changed who gets heard. In the past, publishing an opinion required access to a newspaper, a TV studio or a radio station. (4) .......... This has had positive effects, such as giving visibility to small businesses and social causes. Yet it also means false information can spread fast. A convincing post can travel further than a careful correction, particularly if it triggers strong emotions. At the personal level, the biggest question may be what happens to relationships. Some people argue that online contact is shallow because it replaces real meetings. (5) .......... The truth is that technology is not a single force pushing us in one direction. The same tools that distract us can also bring comfort, education and support. Much depends on habits: whether we choose to listen carefully, to check facts, and to give people time rather than demand instant answers. Looking ahead, new developments like AI translation, augmented reality and more realistic video calls will probably make digital communication feel even closer to being in the same room. (6) .......... So the challenge is not to reject innovation, but to use it thoughtfully. If we remember that every message is still a human interaction, then faster communication can also become better communication.

What to do

In this part, you have to choose the correct paragraph to fill each gap from a list. There is one extra paragraph you do not need.

This part of the exam tests your understanding of how a text is organised and, in particular, how paragraphs relate to each other.

Underline the names of people, organisations or places. Also, underline reference words such as ‘this’, ‘it’, ‘there’, etc. They will help you see connections between sentences and paragraphs.

Sometimes there won’t be a clue in the sentence immediately before or after the gap.

You really do need to read the whole text to get its meaning – sometimes the ‘clue’ is the entire paragraph.

Strategy

  1. Read the main text through first to get an idea of what it is about and how the writer develops his or her subject matter.
  2. Use clues in the paragraphs before and after the gaps to help you choose the ones that fit.
  3. Clues may lie in the grammar, punctuation and/or vocabulary.
  4. Try to guess the sort of information that might be missing.
  5. Check any phrases/short sentences which you have not used to see if they could fit in the gap.
  6. When you have finished the task, read through the completed text to make sure it makes sense.

Instructions

A few paragraphs have been removed from the text below. For questions 1-6, choose the correct answer. There is one extra paragraph you don't need to use.

Exercise Details

Author

oksana zvir

@oksana-zvir

User Prompt

"Create an exercise about the impact of technological innovation on communication"

Tone: Standard
Level: B2

Created on:

Jun 23, 2026

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