Federal Reserve raises benchmark interest rate to confront stubborn inflation

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

Single choice

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 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which revision best preserves the meaning using a concessive clause?

   1. Although the decision concerns broad policy, it has practical effects.
   2. Although the decision concerns broad policy, but it has practical effects.
   3. Despite the decision concerns broad policy, it has practical effects.
   4. The decision concerns broad policy, although however it has effects.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Although the decision concerns broad policy, it has practical effects.

   “Although” correctly introduces a contrast between scope and practical effect.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the most suitable inversion for formal emphasis.

   1. Not only the rate affects lenders, but also consumers.
   2. Not only does the rate affect lenders, but it also affects consumers.
   3. Not only the rate does affect lenders, but consumers also.
   4. Not only affecting lenders, but the rate consumers also affects.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Not only does the rate affect lenders, but it also affects consumers.

   Negative-fronted “not only” requires auxiliary inversion in formal prose.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which sentence correctly uses a reduced relative clause?

   1. Consumers borrowing money may face higher costs.
   2. Consumers borrowed money may face higher costs.
   3. Consumers are borrowing money may face higher costs.
   4. Consumers who borrowing money may face higher costs.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Consumers borrowing money may face higher costs.

   “Borrowing money” correctly reduces “who borrow money.”

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Select the most precise modal construction for a possible consequence.

   1. Borrowing costs must became more expensive.
   2. Borrowing costs may become more expensive.
   3. Borrowing costs should becoming more expensive.
   4. Borrowing costs can became more expensive.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Borrowing costs may become more expensive.

   “May become” appropriately expresses a possible future change.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which option correctly uses a noun clause after “establish”?

   1. The report establishes what the policy affects consumers.
   2. The report establishes what does the policy affect consumers.
   3. The report establishes what affects the policy consumers.
   4. The report establishes what the policy affecting consumers.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   The report establishes what the policy affects consumers.

   The embedded clause requires normal subject-verb order.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the grammatically correct participial opener.

   1. Responding to inflation, the Federal Reserve raised rates.
   2. Responded to inflation, the Federal Reserve raised rates.
   3. Having respond to inflation, the Federal Reserve raised rates.
   4. Responding inflation, rates were raised by the Federal Reserve.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Responding to inflation, the Federal Reserve raised rates.

   The opener logically modifies the Federal Reserve as the subject.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which sentence uses a correctly formed mixed conditional?

   1. If rates had remained unchanged, borrowing would be cheaper now.
   2. If rates remained unchanged, borrowing would have been cheaper now.
   3. If rates have remained unchanged, borrowing would be cheaper yesterday.
   4. If rates had remain unchanged, borrowing will be cheaper now.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   If rates had remained unchanged, borrowing would be cheaper now.

   The past condition explains a present consequence through “would be.”

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.