San Francisco expands access to an antibiotic pill that may prevent some bacterial STIs

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.

   Doxy PEP is taken ___ sex.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. after
   2. during
   3. since
   4. until
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   after

   After correctly indicates that the action follows sex.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The research showed that Doxy PEP ___ highly effective.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. is
   2. was
   3. be
   4. being
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   was

   The past reporting verb requires the past form “was” here.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Doctors worry that frequent antibiotic use ___ resistant infections.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. could encourage
   2. could encourages
   3. could encouraging
   4. could encouraged
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   could encourage

   A singular clause subject takes “could encourage” after “that.”

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Toler began ___ Doxy PEP after sex.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. take
   2. to taking
   3. taking
   4. took
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   taking

   The verb “began” is followed by a gerund in this sentence.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Some bacteria can survive, ___ medicines may no longer work as well.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. although
   2. so
   3. unless
   4. whereas
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   so

   “So” expresses the result of bacterial survival.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The benefits must be considered alongside the need ___ antibiotics effective.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. protect
   2. protecting
   3. to protect
   4. protected
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   to protect

   The infinitive expresses the purpose of protecting antibiotics.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   If bacteria become resistant, infections ___ more difficult to treat.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. become
   2. will become
   3. would became
   4. becoming
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   will become

   The first conditional uses “will become” for a likely result.

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.