Exercises C1 : practise recounting a detailed experience

These exercises are designed to sharpen your ability to recount detailed experiences in English at C1 level, focusing on mixed tenses, discourse markers, and emotionally rich narrative structures.

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Exercice 1 — Mixed Tenses in Narrative

Complete each sentence by filling in the blank with the correct tense form of the verb in brackets. Write the full sentence as your answer.

1. By the time we ___ (arrive) at the summit, the storm had already swept through the valley below.
2. She ___ (recount) the event with such precision that the entire room fell silent, as though experiencing it themselves.
3. I ___ (walk) through the old neighbourhood for nearly an hour before I finally recognised the street where I had grown up.
4. Looking back, I realise that what ___ (seem) like a minor setback at the time would ultimately shape the course of my career.

Exercice 2 — Discourse Markers and Narrative Coherence

Each sentence contains one grammatical or discourse error related to narrative structure or tense use. Identify the error and rewrite the full sentence correctly.

1. Despite of the chaos unfolding around us, she managed to keep a remarkably calm demeanour throughout the ordeal.
2. Not only she had prepared meticulously for the presentation, but she had also anticipated every possible objection from the panel.
3. What struck me the most was the fact that nobody has said a word as the final results were announced.
4. Having been exhausted from the journey, nevertheless, we decided to explore the city before checking into our hotel.

Exercice 3 — Choosing the Right Narrative Structure

Choose the option that best completes each sentence to produce a vivid, well-structured narrative at C1 level. Write the full completed sentence as your answer.

1. It was only ___ I stepped outside that I truly grasped the scale of the destruction left by the storm.
   A) when
   B) until
   C) unless
   D) whereas
2. The atmosphere in the room was electric; ___, not a single person dared to interrupt the speaker's flow.
   A) therefore
   B) consequently
   C) indeed
   D) yet
3. ___ having rehearsed the speech countless times, she still felt a wave of anxiety wash over her as she approached the podium.
   A) As a result of
   B) In spite of
   C) Due to
   D) Provided that
4. The moment he realised what had happened, a profound sense of regret ___ over him, one he would carry for years to come.
   A) washed
   B) was washing
   C) had washed
   D) washes