A Personalized mRNA Vaccine Offers Hope Against Pancreatic Cancer—But Researchers Still Seek Answers

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

C2. 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 vaccine was designed ___ mutant proteins distinctive to her cancer cells.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. to identify
   2. identifying
   3. identified
   4. identify
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   to identify

   The infinitive expresses the vaccine’s intended purpose.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Had researchers understood the mechanism earlier, they ___ the trial differently.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. would have designed
   2. will design
   3. would design
   4. had designed
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   would have designed

   This mixed conditional requires a modal perfect construction.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The evidence, ___ encouraging, remains insufficient for broad clinical claims.

   Choices for blank 1

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

   Blank 1

   although

   A concessive participial clause appropriately modifies the evidence.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The researchers are investigating why some trials fail, ___ others produce striking outcomes.

   Choices for blank 1

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

   Blank 1

   whereas

   The contrastive conjunction links two opposing trial results.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Only after the long-term follow-up ___ the significance of the result become clearer.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. did
   2. has
   3. was
   4. would
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   did

   Fronted negative adverbials require subject–auxiliary inversion.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The study’s findings are too preliminary ___ a universal recommendation.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. to support
   2. supporting
   3. supported
   4. support
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   to support

   The pattern “too adjective to” expresses insufficient degree.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Researchers regard the patient’s survival as evidence ___ further investigation is warranted.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. that
   2. what
   3. which
   4. whether
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   that

   The noun evidence takes a that-clause in this construction.

8. Question 8 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The trial participants, most of ___ received additional treatment, were monitored closely.

   Choices for blank 1

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

   Blank 1

   whom

   The preposition requires the relative pronoun whom.

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.