Read the text below and choose the correct answer for each gap. Robin Knox-Johnson

It’s 45 years since Sir Robin Knox-Johnson became the first person to sail non-stop around the world on his own. This November, aged 75, he will once again be competing alone in a 3,500-mile transatlantic race. Sir Robin talks about his feelings and experiences as he prepares to sail again:

I can’t get (1) ………… how excited I am about this race. Everything’s changed since I started out. These days, unlike 45 years ago, technology means you can check how everyone else is doing in the race, and this (2) ………… the choices you make. I keep a close eye on the race and, if I see a competitor has done better than me in the last six hours, it makes me more (3) ………… to succeed. If I have done better than them, it (4) ………… a positive effect on my attitude and my (5) ………… during the race. It’s important not to get (6) ………… away, though, as the situation can change quickly.

Sailing alone is (7) ………… − it really stretches you. You have to have the strength of mind and body to (8) ………… to do everything on your own. There’s always luck when you are racing but, in many ways, you are responsible (9) ………… your own luck. With ocean racing, it’s all about the weather: if you make a mistake with the wind patterns, for example, you can soon (10) ………… into trouble.

1. I can't get (1) ………… how excited I am about this race.

The correct answer for the first gap is "over". We can infer this from the phrase "I can't get over," which means the speaker is expressing a strong emotion or excitement about something.

2. These days, unlike 45 years ago, technology means you can check how everyone else is doing in the race, and this (2) ………… the choices you make.

The correct answer for the second gap is "affects." We can understand from the context that technology has an impact or influences the choices the speaker makes during the race.

3. If I see a competitor has done better than me in the last six hours, it makes me more (3) ………… to succeed.

The correct answer for the third gap is "determined." The word "determined" means having a strong desire or motivation to achieve something, which fits the context here.

4. If I have done better than them, it (4) ………… a positive effect on my attitude and my (5) ………… during the race.

The correct answer for the fourth gap is "has." The phrase "it has a positive effect" implies that the speaker's performance positively influences their attitude and approach during the race.

5. It's important not to get (6) ………… away, though, as the situation can change quickly.

The correct answer for the fifth gap is "carried." The phrase "get carried away" means to become excessively excited or lose control of one's emotions, which is not advisable in this context.

6. Sailing alone is (7) ………… − it really stretches you.

The correct answer for the sixth gap is "tough." The word "tough" means challenging or difficult, indicating that sailing alone presents various challenges.

7. You have to have the strength of mind and body to (8) ………… to do everything on your own.

The correct answer for the seventh gap is "manage." The phrase "to manage to do everything on your own" means to be able to handle or accomplish all tasks independently.

8. There's always luck when you are racing but, in many ways, you are responsible (9) ………… your own luck.

The correct answer for the eighth gap is "for." The phrase "responsible for your own luck" means that the speaker believes they determine their own luck through their actions and decisions.

9. If you make a mistake with the wind patterns, for example, you can soon (10) ………… into trouble.

The correct answer for the ninth gap is "get." The phrase "get into trouble" means to encounter difficulties or problems, suggesting that making a mistake with wind patterns can lead to trouble.