Meaning: "years" means many past years.

Wrong options:

• yaers: Two letters are in the wrong order. Check the letters: "years". A small spelling mistake loses the mark.
• year: "year" has no "s" at the end. The speaker says "years", so write the "s".

Correct answer: gatherings

Explanation: On the recording you hear "illustrious gatherings". The word needs an s for more than one event.

Meaning: "gatherings" means many formal meetings or social events.

Wrong options:

• gathrings: It leaves out the "e". The right spelling is "gatherings". Every letter must be correct to get the mark.
• gathering: "gathering" has no "s" at the end. The speaker says "gatherings", so write the "s".

Correct answer: preserved

Explanation: Listen again to "manuscripts, meticulously preserved". This already happened, so the word ends in ed.

Meaning: "preserved" means kept safe and unchanged over time.

Wrong options:

• presrved: It leaves out the "e". Check the letters: "preserved". A small spelling mistake loses the mark.
• preserve: "preserve" is missing the ending. The speaker says "preserved", with "d" at the end.

Correct answer: flooring

Explanation: Here you hear "ballroom with its parquet flooring". It comes after parquet, so you need a word for a surface, ending in ing.

Meaning: "flooring" means the wooden surface of the room.

Wrong options:

• floring: It leaves out the "o". Write "flooring". Only the exact spelling gets the mark.
• floor: "floor" is missing the ending. The speaker says "flooring", with "ing" at the end.

Correct answer: estate

Explanation: The speaker says "views of the estate". It comes after "the", so you need a word for a place or property.

Meaning: "estate" means the large property around the house.

Wrong options:

• estat: It leaves out the "e". Check the letters: "estate". A small spelling mistake loses the mark.
• estates: "estates" has an extra "s" at the end. The speaker says "estate", with no "s".