Knowing a word family does not automatically tell you which member belongs in a sentence. A gap might need a noun, an adjective or an adverb, and the intended meaning may require a negative form.
The word-formation guidance in Strategic Cambridge B2 First Reading Skills Development for Top Performance recommends checking both grammar and meaning. The following examples make those two checks visible.
Use the surrounding structure
In “The instructions were very ____,” an adjective can describe the instructions. In “She explained the instructions ____,” an adverb can describe how she explained them. The related words “clear” and “clearly” serve different purposes.
Original word-family practice
Base word: care.
1. The assistant checked the figures ____.
2. The assistant was ____ and missed several obvious errors.
Choose and explain the forms
1 carefully: an adverb describing how the checking was done.
2 careless: an adjective describing the assistant, supported by the missed errors. “Careful” fits the grammatical position but conflicts with the intended contrast in this exercise.
A suffix is a clue, not a complete rule
Many adverbs end in “-ly,” but you should learn actual words and their uses rather than attach a suffix mechanically. Spelling can change, and not every plausible-looking combination exists. Record a word family with a sentence for each useful form.
Check beyond the gap
A later clause may explain whether a positive or negative meaning is required. Read it before deciding. Also check whether a noun needs a plural ending: the right word family can still produce the wrong number.
For your next practice session, sort errors into form, meaning and spelling. Rewrite one example from each category and explain the decision aloud. This creates a more useful revision record than copying isolated answers.
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Cambridge B2 First Reading — Course 2
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Source: Cambridge b2 159-1.epub, Jobins Training. Examples labelled original or illustrative were written for this article. Independent exam preparation; no affiliation with or endorsement by the examining body. Practice does not predict an official score.