Test 9 : Cloze Test

Buying at auction is quite different from buying something at a fixed price in a shop. At an auction, it is _______________ (1) to you to make an offer, called ‘a bid’, _______________ (2) what you want to buy.

You can bid in two ways. _______________ (3) you can attend yourself or you can leave your bids with a _______________ (4) of the salesroom staff.

There are two _______________ (5) in leaving bids: prospective purchasers need not _______________ (6) their working schedules, and, _______________ (7), the dangers of bidding unwisely are eliminated.

Auctions usually proceed at a fast _______________ (8) as the auctioneer uses his skills to control the bidding and identify _______________ (9) is participating.

Signals for bidding _______________ (10) from person to person, but _______________ (11) method is used, bids _______________ (12) be made in as clear and direct a _______________ (13) as possible.

When the bidding stops, the auctioneer may ask ‘Any more?’ before the hammer is brought down to _______________ (14) that the sale has been concluded.

After the sale it is normally possible to pay for and collect your _______________ (15) immediately.

Payments may be made _______________ (16) cash, by _______________ (17) and at some auction houses by credit card.

Buying at auction provides the collector with a rich _______________ (18) of objects, and represents an _______________ (19) to build a collection in a manner which can be _______________ (20) exciting and rewarding.