One Chesapeake resident is helping rebuild the oyster reefs that once shaped the bay

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 project would be more effective if local agencies ___ long-term monitoring requirements.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. establish
   2. established
   3. will establish
   4. had establish
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   established

   A hypothetical present condition requires the past subjunctive form “established.”

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Oyster shells, ___ irregular surfaces create shelter, provide habitat for numerous organisms.

   Choices for blank 1

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

   Blank 1

   whose

   The nonrestrictive relative pronoun “whose” appropriately indicates possession.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Only after the reefs had declined ___ researchers recognize the scale of the ecological consequences.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. researchers recognized
   2. did researchers recognize
   3. researchers had recognized
   4. had researchers recognizing
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   did researchers recognize

   Negative inversion after “only after” requires auxiliary-subject inversion.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The restoration initiative is believed ___ water quality over the next decade.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. improving
   2. improve
   3. to improve
   4. to improving
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   to improve

   The passive reporting construction requires a to-infinitive.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The scientists recommended that managers ___ oyster populations before expanding cultivation.

   Choices for blank 1

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

   Blank 1

   monitor

   Mandative “recommended that” takes the base-form subjunctive in formal English.

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Having ___ the oysters for three months, Consoli could assess their development.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. observe
   2. observing
   3. observed
   4. to observe
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   observed

   The perfect participle requires the past participle “observed.”

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The project’s success depends not only on cultivation but also on ___ habitat conditions.

   Choices for blank 1

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

   Blank 1

   monitoring

   Parallel structure requires a gerund after “on.”

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

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The reefs were so severely depleted that restoration efforts ___ sustained for decades.

   Choices for blank 1

   1. may need to be
   2. may needed to be
   3. may need being
   4. may to need be
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   may need to be

   The modal perfect passive expresses a likely continuing requirement resulting from past depletion.

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.