Chicago entrepreneur turns empty downtown office space into vertical gardens

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

B2. 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.

   By the time visitors arrived, the empty office ___ into a garden.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. had been converted
   2. was converting
   3. has convert
   4. had convert
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   had been converted

   Past perfect passive shows the earlier completed change.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The project, ___ connects workplace changes with urban gardening, is still experimental.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. which
   2. what
   3. where
   4. whose
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   which

   The nonrestrictive relative clause requires “which.”

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   If more offices ___ unused, cities may consider similar projects.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. remain
   2. remained
   3. will remain
   4. would remained
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   remain

   The first conditional uses present simple after “if.”

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The entrepreneur wants the building ___ a useful new role.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. to have
   2. having
   3. has
   4. had
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   to have

   The verb pattern “want something to do” requires an infinitive.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The plants ___ at different levels can fit into a small indoor area.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. grown
   2. growing
   3. grow
   4. are grow
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   grown

   A reduced relative clause uses the present participle “grown.”

6. Question 6 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The project would not have started if work patterns ___ unchanged.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. had remained
   2. have remained
   3. would remain
   4. remained
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   had remained

   Third conditional clauses use past perfect for unreal past conditions.

7. Question 7 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The article suggests that empty offices ___ used in more creative ways.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. could be
   2. could being
   3. could have
   4. could been
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   could be

   A modal passive combines “could” with “be” and a past participle.

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.