Learner replaces repeated intensifiers with alternatives that fit the word they modify.
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A real Band 5 paragraph. Find every repetition before you read on.
You cannot swap these freely — what comes after decides which one you can use.
Most advice says: stop writing "very", use better words. Then it gives you a list.
That advice produces sentences like a large number of information and a great deal of students, which are worse than the very they replaced.
Because these words are not interchangeable. Each one demands a particular kind of word after it, and choosing wrongly is a grammar error, not a style one.
Three slots, and the word after the gap decides which one you are in.
Look at the word after the gap. It decides which slot you are standing in.
Twelve options. Sort them by what has to come next.
Sort each item into the correct category
One question settles all three: can you put a number in front of it?
Chain 1
Sentence: The report contains ______ information about rural schools.
Candidates: a large number of / a great deal of
The word after the gap is "information". Can you say "three information"?
So the answer is:
Chain 2
Sentence: ______ students now work part-time while studying.
Candidates: a large number of / a great deal of
The word after the gap is "students". Can you say "three students"?
So the answer is:
Chain 3
Sentence: The new timetable is ______ effective for evening classes.
Candidates: a great deal of / highly
The word after the gap is "effective", which is:
So the answer is:
Six repetitions. Replace four — and leave the two that are already the natural choice.
Traffic in my city
Traffic has become serious problem in my city. (was: a very big)
There are cars on the main roads every morning, and the journey to work now takes twice as long as it did five years ago. (was: a lot of)
The air quality is poor in summer, when it becomes difficult to breathe near the ring road. (was: very)
The city has spent money on new roads. (was: a lot of)
However, this has not been effective, because the new roads simply attracted more drivers. (was: very)
In my opinion, investing in public transport would be a better solution. (was: very)