U.S. employers added just 29,000 jobs in September as hiring slowed

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.

   The report ___ expectations about another rate increase.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. influenced
   2. influence
   3. influencing
   4. has influence
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   influenced

   A past event requires the past-tense verb “influenced.”

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The figures ___ by investors before markets responded.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. had been examined
   2. had examine
   3. have examining
   4. were examine
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   had been examined

   The passive past perfect shows the figures were considered earlier.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Because prices rose faster than pay, purchasing power ___.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. has been declining
   2. has decline
   3. is declined
   4. had declining
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   has been declining

   The present perfect continuous describes an ongoing decline with present results.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The report makes another increase ___ later this month.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. less likely to occur
   2. less likely occur
   3. less likely occurring
   4. less likely occurred
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   less likely to occur

   After “makes” plus an adjective, the infinitive correctly completes the phrase.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Although hiring slowed, most industries continued ___ employees.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. adding
   2. add
   3. added
   4. to adding
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   adding

   “Continue” is followed here by the gerund form “adding.”

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The unemployment rate rose, ___ finding work more difficult.

   Choices for blank 1

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

   Blank 1

   potentially making

   The participle clause expresses a possible result of the rising rate.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Investors expected that the central bank ___ rates again.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. would raise
   2. will raised
   3. would raising
   4. raised to
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   would raise

   Reported expectations about a future past action use “would raise.”

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.