Higher borrowing costs make homes, cars and education harder for many households to afford

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.

   Mortgage rates have reached their highest level in almost three years, ___ it more difficult to buy a home.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. making
   2. made
   3. to make
   4. make
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   making

   The present participle expresses the result of higher mortgage rates.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Goldstein became interested in living in a neighborhood ___ older homes and nearby shops.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. with
   2. by
   3. at
   4. from
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   with

   The preposition with correctly introduces accompanying features.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   They focused on Rocky River because it ___ a small downtown.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. offered
   2. offer
   3. offering
   4. has offer
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   offered

   The singular subject it requires the past-tense verb offered.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The area does not make it easy ___ useful destinations on foot.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. to reach
   2. reaching
   3. reach
   4. reached
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   to reach

   The structure make it easy is followed by a to-infinitive.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Bond yields have risen to levels ___ in decades.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. not seen
   2. not seeing
   3. not see
   4. not has seen
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   not seen

   The passive relative clause requires the past participle seen.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The Federal Reserve raised interest rates after bond yields ___ considerably.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. had risen
   2. have rise
   3. rising
   4. has risen
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   had risen

   The past perfect shows the earlier rise happened before the rate increase.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   If borrowing costs remain high, households ___ major purchases.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. may delay
   2. may delayed
   3. may delaying
   4. may to delay
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   may delay

   The first conditional requires will plus the base verb.

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.