First Certificate in English (FCE) 2 Open Cloze Practice Test 2026 - Free FCE Practice Questions and Study Guide

The idea being tested is using a simile to express how extreme or unfair the work feels. After a causative like “they’ve got me,” the verb is often followed by a present participle to show ongoing action, and a comparison phrase completes the meaning. Saying “working like a slave” uses a common expression that communicates being made to work very hard, as if you were enslaved. The word like is the natural choice here because it introduces a vivid comparison to slavery, rather than assigning a role or identity (which would sound odd with as), or adding a word that would change the tone (such as rather or just). So the best fit is the one that neatly conveys the intensity of the effort described.