Has the economy gone C-shaped
About this practice test
Listen to the B1 Daily News report “Has the economy gone C-shaped?” 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: Has the economy gone C-shaped?.
Has the economy gone C-shaped?
Read a transcript excerpt
A new NPR discussion asks whether the economy has gone C-shaped. It compares this idea with the better-known image of a K-shaped economy. The two letters offer different ways to think about how rich and poor people are doing. In a K-shaped economy, the rich and poor are pulling apart. The image of the letter K suggests two lines moving in different directions. One group moves one way, while the…
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Question 1 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What does the letter K suggest?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Two lines moving in different directions
- Two groups joining together
- One group staying completely still
- A circle around the economy
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Two lines moving in different directions
The K image suggests two lines traveling away from each other.
The image of the letter K suggests two lines moving in different directions.
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Question 2 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What happens to the two sides in the C-shaped idea?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- They disappear from the economy
- They become closer again
- They move in opposite directions
- They remain exactly the same
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- They become closer again
The C-shaped idea presents the groups as becoming closer again.
Instead of moving farther apart, the two sides are described as becoming closer again.
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Question 3 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What does NPR do in the discussion?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- It chooses the K shape immediately
- It rejects both descriptions
- It presents one picture for everyone
- It compares the views without giving one answer
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- It compares the views without giving one answer
NPR presents both descriptions instead of choosing one as certain.
NPR does not present the issue as a single picture for everyone.
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Question 4 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Why may one person see a K while another sees a C?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- They hear different radio stations
- They focus on different parts of the economy
- They use different alphabets
- They study different historical periods
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- They focus on different parts of the economy
Each person may notice a different economic pattern.
A person who looks at a growing divide may see a K.
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Question 5 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What does the final question ask listeners to consider?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Which letter best describes the economy
- Which country has the richest people
- Why NPR created the letter K
- When the economy will stop changing
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Which letter best describes the economy
The ending directs listeners toward their own focus when judging the economy.
The question is therefore simple to ask but harder to answer: Which letter best describes the economy?
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.