Catherine Breed Completes Historic Swim Along the Length of California
Listen to the B1 Daily News report “Catherine Breed Completes Historic Swim Along the Length of California” and answer 5 comprehension questions.
About this practice test
Listen to the B1 Daily News report “Catherine Breed Completes Historic Swim Along the Length of California” and answer 5 comprehension questions.
What you’ll practice
Understanding detail
Follow specific information and examples.
Interpreting ideas
Identify main points and inferences.
Evaluating arguments
Assess claims, evidence, and limitations.
What to expect:
5 questions with explanations to review after submission.
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
- B1. 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 questions, then listen before opening the transcript. Notice names, numbers and any corrections the speaker makes.
News lesson for this practice
Read the complete article and use its text or audio alongside these exercises: Catherine Breed Completes Historic Swim Along the Length of California.
Catherine Breed Completes Historic Swim Along the Length of California
Read a transcript excerpt
Catherine Breed has completed a historic swim along the length of California. Her journey ended near the Mexico border on Monday, after nearly four months in the water and on the coast. The swim was not a simple trip from one place to another. Breed faced sharks and storms during the journey. These dangers made the challenge more difficult and required her to continue through changing conditions. After finishing, Breed…
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Question 1 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What happened after Breed finished the swim?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- She described the moment as surreal.
- She immediately began another swim.
- She returned to the starting point.
- She explained how to avoid storms.
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- She described the moment as surreal.
After finishing, she described the moment and reflected on the journey.
After finishing, Breed described the moment as surreal.
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Question 2 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Why can open-sea swimming be difficult?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Conditions can change quickly.
- The water always stays warm.
- Swimmers never need to rest.
- Coastlines are always straight.
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Conditions can change quickly.
The sea presents changing conditions and physical demands for swimmers.
Swimming long distances in the open sea can be demanding because conditions can change quickly.
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Question 3 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What does a coastline journey require besides swimming?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Careful planning and support
- A short race and new equipment
- A return trip and a large boat
- Only speed and strong waves
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Careful planning and support
The recording directly states that coastline journeys need planning and support.
A journey that follows a coastline also requires careful planning and support.
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Question 4 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What marked the end of Breed’s personal challenge?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- The final point near the Mexico border
- The first storm near California
- Her decision to rest and recover
- The beginning of her preparation
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- The final point near the Mexico border
The final point near Mexico marked the completion of her major challenge.
The swim was completed despite the risks from storms and sharks, and its final point near the Mexico border marked the end of a major personal challenge.
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Question 5 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What change did reaching the end bring for Breed?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- It brought a clear change after months of effort.
- It made the journey begin again.
- It removed every danger from the sea.
- It changed the length of California.
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- It brought a clear change after months of effort.
Reaching the end changed her situation after months of preparation and effort.
For Breed, reaching the end brought a clear change after months of preparation and effort.
What to review next
Listen again to difficult sections, then open the transcript to check what you heard. Repeat a useful phrase aloud and try the recording once more without the text.
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.
Before you practise: a worked example
Listen for the final information, especially when a speaker corrects or changes an earlier statement.
Example transcript: “Let’s meet at five — actually, half past five would be better.” What is the final suggested time?
The final suggested time is 5:30. Actually signals a correction; the first time is replaced by the later suggestion.
This teaching example is separate from the scored questions. After your test, compare any mistakes with the explanation and revisit the topic before trying again.