Noah Adams, longtime host of NPR’s All Things Considered, dies at 84

Study the questions and tasks

Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.

Practice level

B1. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.

Question formats

Fill in the blank (dropdown)

How to approach this practice

Read the complete sentence and notice the subject, verb form, time reference and word order before answering.

1. Question 1 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Adams ___ All Things Considered for 18 years.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. host
   2. hosts
   3. hosted
   4. hosting
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   hosted

   Use past tense for a completed period.

2. Question 2 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   He spent time in small towns ___ with people he met.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. speaking
   2. speak
   3. spoke
   4. to spoke
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   speaking

   Use a gerund after “spent time” for an activity.

3. Question 3 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Melissa Block, ___ worked with Adams, remembered his notebook.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. which
   2. who
   3. where
   4. when
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   who

   Use “who” for a person in a relative clause.

4. Question 4 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Before ___ radio, Adams worked several other jobs.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. enter
   2. entered
   3. entering
   4. to entering
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   entering

   Use a gerund after the preposition “before.”

5. Question 5 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   His stories allowed listeners ___ the character of a place.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. understand
   2. understood
   3. understanding
   4. to understood
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   understand

   Use the base verb after “allowed listeners.”

What to review next

After checking an answer, explain the rule in your own words and write a new sentence using the same pattern. Revisit any rules you could not explain.

A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.