‘Fire amoeba’ sets a new thermal limit for complex life

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

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 article’s meaning using an inverted conditional?

   1. Were the organism unable to move, the claim would weaken.
   2. Was the organism unable to move, the claim weakens.
   3. Had the organism unable to move, the claim would weaken.
   4. If unable the organism moved, the claim would weaken.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Were the organism unable to move, the claim would weaken.

   The inversion formally replaces “if” while preserving the hypothetical relationship.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the sentence with the correct restrictive relative clause.

   1. The measurements, that establish the record, are distinct.
   2. The measurements which establish the record are distinct.
   3. The measurements establishing that the record are distinct.
   4. The measurements what establish the record are distinct.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   The measurements which establish the record are distinct.

   “That” appropriately introduces a restrictive clause identifying the measurements.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which sentence uses a concessive participial clause correctly?

   1. Despite remaining mobile, the amoeba cannot necessarily reproduce.
   2. Despite it remains mobile, the amoeba cannot necessarily reproduce.
   3. Despite remain mobile, the amoeba cannot necessarily reproduce.
   4. Despite of remaining mobile, the amoeba cannot necessarily reproduce.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Despite remaining mobile, the amoeba cannot necessarily reproduce.

   “Despite remaining” correctly expresses concession before the main clause.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Select the most precise nominalization of the sentence.

   1. The distinction between movement and reproduction is significant.
   2. The distinguishing movement and reproduction is significant.
   3. The distinction movement from reproduction is significant.
   4. The distinction of movement reproducing is significant.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   The distinction between movement and reproduction is significant.

   “The distinction between” creates a formal, grammatically complete noun phrase.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which option correctly uses a mandative subjunctive construction?

   1. Researchers recommend that the distinction be preserved.
   2. Researchers recommend that the distinction is preserved.
   3. Researchers recommend that the distinction was preserved.
   4. Researchers recommend the distinction preserving.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Researchers recommend that the distinction be preserved.

   Formal mandative clauses use the base verb after “recommend that.”

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which sentence correctly uses a fronted negative adverbial for emphasis?

   1. Only then did the distinction become clear.
   2. Only then the distinction became clear.
   3. Only then became the distinction clear did.
   4. Only then had the distinction becoming clear.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Only then did the distinction become clear.

   Fronted “only then” triggers inversion with the auxiliary verb.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the grammatically correct mixed conditional.

   1. If scientists had conflated the limits, the conclusion would now be misleading.
   2. If scientists conflated the limits, the conclusion would now have been misleading.
   3. If scientists had conflated the limits, the conclusion is now misleading.
   4. If scientists have conflated the limits, the conclusion would now mislead.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   If scientists had conflated the limits, the conclusion would now be misleading.

   The past condition plausibly produces a present consequence.

8. Question 8 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which sentence correctly uses a cleft construction for emphasis?

   1. It is the temperatures that provide the scientific significance.
   2. It is the temperatures which provides the scientific significance.
   3. It are the temperatures that provide the scientific significance.
   4. It is temperatures what provide the scientific significance.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   It is the temperatures that provide the scientific significance.

   The cleft correctly foregrounds the temperature as the basis of significance.

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.