Fed Keeps Interest Rates Steady as Inflation Remains High
Listen to the B1 Daily News report “Fed Keeps Interest Rates Steady as Inflation Remains High” and answer 5 comprehension questions.
About this practice test
Listen to the B1 Daily News report “Fed Keeps Interest Rates Steady as Inflation Remains High” 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: Fed Keeps Interest Rates Steady as Inflation Remains High.
Fed Keeps Interest Rates Steady as Inflation Remains High
Read a transcript excerpt
The Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged on October 28, even as officials acknowledged that inflation remains elevated. The decision leaves borrowing costs at their current level while the central bank continues to deal with price increases in the economy. The Federal Reserve is the central bank of the United States. Its benchmark rate affects the cost of many loans, including some business loans and consumer credit. When…
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Question 1 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
On what date did the Federal Reserve make its decision?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- October 8
- October 18
- October 28
- December 28
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- October 28
The report gives October 28 as the date of the decision.
The Federal Reserve kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged on October 28, even as officials acknowledged that inflation remains elevated.
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Question 2 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What does the central bank continue to deal with?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Court hearings
- Price increases
- Cruise schedules
- Passenger names
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Price increases
The report says the bank continues dealing with price increases.
The decision leaves borrowing costs at their current level while the central bank continues to deal with price increases in the economy.
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Question 3 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What information did the report not provide about the passengers?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- The fuel price
- The ship's name
- Their meal choices
- Their remaining time there
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Their remaining time there
The report did not say how long they would remain there.
The report did not provide further details about how long the passengers would remain there or what arrangements would be made for their travel.
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Question 4 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Why can higher rates create difficulties for borrowers?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- They can make borrowing more expensive.
- They can cancel legal cases.
- They can lower fuel prices.
- They can name federal judges.
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- They can make borrowing more expensive.
Higher rates increase the cost of borrowing money.
However, higher rates can also make borrowing more expensive.
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Question 5 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What detail about the judge was missing from the report?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- The judge's age
- The judge's country
- The judge's name
- The judge's legal role
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- The judge's name
The report mentioned the judge's role but not the judge's name.
The report did not identify the judge by name.
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.