El Niño is intensifying heavy rain and flash-flood risks in the Southwest, scientists say

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.

   The unusually warm seawater ___ additional moisture into the atmosphere.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. release
   2. releases
   3. releasing
   4. to release
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   releases

   The singular subject requires the present-tense third-person form releases.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Researchers say that higher baseline temperatures can ___ El Niño conditions more intense.

   Choices for blank 1

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

   Blank 1

   make

   After the modal can, the bare infinitive make is required.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Although the event is extreme, it ___ the sole cause of recent storms.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. are not
   2. not be
   3. is not
   4. not is
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   is not

   The present-tense singular subject requires is, followed by not.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The region experienced flooding ___ another wet storm had affected southwestern states the previous week.

   Choices for blank 1

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

   Blank 1

   because

   The past perfect marks the earlier event relative to the later experience.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   By December, the El Niño is expected ___ its peak.

   Choices for blank 1

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

   Blank 1

   to reach

   The passive construction expected is followed by the to-infinitive.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Experts advised residents ___ forecasts and prepare in advance.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. monitor
   2. monitoring
   3. to monitor
   4. monitored
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   to monitor

   Advise takes an object followed by the to-infinitive in this construction.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The floods, ___ prompted evacuations, affected several Southwestern communities.

   Choices for blank 1

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

   Blank 1

   which

   The nonrestrictive relative clause requires which for the preceding floods.

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.