Q11
1 markFill in the BlankSection A

2.(ii) Fill in the blank with an appropriate word/phrase. Costa Rica has large expanses of land into national parks to preserve the areas.

Reading Comprehension
Passage 2 (Eco-tourism), Paragraph 2
Official Answer

converted (accept: turned / transformed / made) — fits 'has _ into national parks', referring to Costa Rica preserving vast protected areas (Paragraph 2).

convertedturnedtransformedinto national parkspast participleprotected areasCosta Rica

Marking Scheme

  • 11 mark: a transformation verb in correct past-participle form — 'converted' (also accept 'turned', 'transformed', 'made').
  • 2Verb must agree with 'has' (past participle) and collocate with 'into'; forms like 'convert'/'converting' are incorrect.
  • 3Non-transformational verbs (preserved, protected) that do not fit 'into national parks' earn 0.

Hint

The preposition 'into' after the blank signals change — think of a verb meaning 'changed X into Y,' in the past-participle form after 'has.'

Quick Oral Answer

The word is 'converted' — Costa Rica has converted large expanses of land into national parks to preserve the areas, as stated in Paragraph 2.

Analysis & Explanation

A 1-mark vocabulary-in-context fill-in based on Paragraph 2's Costa Rica example.


Concept

  • Paragraph 2: Costa Rica used eco-tourism to preserve vast protected areas — over 21% of its land is now national parks and reserves.
  • The blank needs a transformation verb agreeing with 'has _' and collocating with 'into'.

Key points to include

  • 'converted' (or 'turned'/'transformed') in the correct past-participle form.

Common mistakes

  • Non-transformational verbs like 'preserved'/'protected', which don't fit grammatically with 'into national parks'.
  • Wrong verb form, e.g. 'convert'/'converting' instead of 'converted' after 'has'.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1Writing 'preserved' or 'protected,' which does not grammatically fit 'has ___ land into national parks.'
  2. 2Using the wrong verb form ('convert' or 'converting') instead of the past participle 'converted' after 'has.'
  3. 3Guessing an unrelated word without checking that it collocates with the preposition 'into.'

Previously Asked

2025Section AQ111 mark

Fill in the blank with an appropriate word/phrase. The phrase 'driven by' in paragraph (2) suggests that the choice of holiday destination ___________ people's experiences.

Interesting Facts

Costa Rica protects over a quarter of its land in national parks and reserves and reversed severe deforestation from the 1980s, doubling its forest cover largely through eco-tourism revenue.

Costa Rica generates a large share of its GDP from eco-tourism, showing how converting land into protected areas can be both green and economically rewarding.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'converted' the best answer?

The preposition 'into' signals transformation, and 'converted…into' is the natural collocation; it is also the correct past participle after 'has.'

Would 'preserved' be accepted?

No. 'Preserved…into national parks' is ungrammatical. The blank needs a transformation verb like converted, turned or transformed.