Days of Patience in the Rescue of an Orphaned Walrus in Alaska

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

C1. 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.

   Had the rescuers ___ earlier, the walrus might have remained undiscovered.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. arrived
   2. arrive
   3. had arrived
   4. would arrive
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   arrived

   Third conditional inversion requires past perfect after “had.”

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The rescue, ___ over several days, required considerable patience.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. taking place
   2. taken place
   3. which take place
   4. which taking place
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   taken place

   A past participle clause modifies the rescue.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The article avoids details ___ the account does not establish them.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. although
   2. unless
   3. because
   4. despite
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   because

   “Because” correctly introduces the reason for withholding details.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The circumstances were so stark ___ sustained attention was necessary.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. for
   2. which
   3. as
   4. that
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   that

   “That” completes the result construction “so ... that.”

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Not until the rescue had taken several days ___ the extent of the challenge.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. did readers appreciate
   2. readers appreciated
   3. readers had appreciate
   4. had readers appreciated
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   did readers appreciate

   Fronted “not until” requires subject–auxiliary inversion.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The article reports only details ___ can be established from its account.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. whose
   2. that
   3. whom
   4. where
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   that

   The relative pronoun “that” introduces the defining clause.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The animal was found alone, ___ from its mother.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. having separated
   2. to separate
   3. having been separated
   4. was separating
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   having been separated

   “Having been separated” correctly expresses prior passive action.

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.