Early morning explosion at Mississippi chemical plant brings emergency response

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.

   Emergency crews ___ to the plant after the explosion.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. go
   2. went
   3. have go
   4. were go
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   went

   The past simple describes a completed response in the report.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The smoke ___ above the facility when responders arrived.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. rose
   2. was rising
   3. has rising
   4. is risen
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   was rising

   The past continuous describes an action in progress then.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The article says the plume may quickly ___ attention.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. draw
   2. draws
   3. drawing
   4. to drawing
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   draw

   After the modal “may,” use the base form of the verb.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Responders arrived ___ the sudden emergency.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. in response to
   2. in response for
   3. in response at
   4. in response with
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   in response to

   The preposition “in response to” correctly expresses reaction.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The article describes the explosion as ___ visible event.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. a
   2. an
   3. the a
   4. one an
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   a

   The singular count noun “event” requires the article “a” here.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Emergency crews can include personnel ___ respond to urgent concerns.

   Choices for blank 1

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

   Blank 1

   who

   The relative pronoun “who” refers to people performing the action.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The response followed the explosion, ___ made the plume visible above the plant.

   Choices for blank 1

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

   Blank 1

   which

   The nonrestrictive relative pronoun “which” refers to the preceding event.

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.