Why here you say close and not shut

[Peter]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #10 "Close/Shut", question 9

The new musical that has had such bad reviews will ......... at the end of this week.

(a) close
(b) closed
(c) shut
(d) shuts

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #10 "Close/Shut", answer 9

The new musical that has had such bad reviews will close at the end of this week.

Correct answer: (a) close

Your answer was: incorrect
The new musical that has had such bad reviews will shut at the end of this week.
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hi! i would like to know why here you say close and not shut. I this shut/close test is really costing me! Else.. what does it means to "shut off"??

thank you
Peter

[Mister Micawber]

.
Close has this meaning which shut does not: finish or terminate (meetings, speeches, etc.).

Shut off = turn off.

Don't give up-- keep challenging our?? tests!
.
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Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber

[Alan]

Hi Peter,

The reason why I chose close in this sentence is because it has the sense of coming to an end whereas the more physical idea of shut would not work here. In this context the musical show is no longer going to run and so it is closing and if the theatre is not offering any more shows, you could say that the theatre is shutting - the doors will be shut.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Only Three Letters