B2 Use of English Test 23 – Writing the missing word in gaps

For questions 1-9, read the text below and think of the word which best fits the gap. Use only one word in each gap.

The homing instinct

The homing instinct is what makes certain animals, birds and fish return (1)…………… the place they consider home. Cats often have this instinct. It was particularly strong in an American cat called Ninja, which disappeared shortly (2)…………… its owners had taken it to their new home; a year later the cat turned up at its old home even (3)…………… this was 1,360 kilometres away from (4)…………… its owners were now living. Other cats may not travel so far but many (5)…………… on going back to their old home. Pilsbury, an English cat, made a 13-kilometre journey back to its former home 40 times in spite of having to cross several busy roads to (6)…………… so.

Pigeons also have the homing instinct and, ever (7)…………… ancient times, human beings have used them to carry messages back home. However, cat owners, (8)…………… have to keep returning to their old address in (9)…………… to bring their cat home, tend to find the homing instinct simply irritating rather than useful or interesting!