Noah Adams, longtime host of NPR’s All Things Considered, dies at 84

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.

1. Question 1 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   According to the report, who confirmed the day of Adams’s death?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Melissa Block
   2. His wife, Neenah Ellis
   3. An NPR producer
   4. A town official
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   His wife, Neenah Ellis

   His wife provided the information about when he died.

   According to his wife, Neenah Ellis, Adams died Friday at his home in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What did Adams carry while reporting?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. A train map
   2. A camera
   3. A reporter’s notebook
   4. A stack of newspapers
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   A reporter’s notebook

   The remembered object helped him capture details during his work.

   She remembered him carrying a reporter’s notebook and capturing details in clear, vivid language.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which event happened during Adams’s time as host?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. The opening of NPR
   2. The fall of the Berlin Wall
   3. Adams’s move to Ohio
   4. His first job in car sales
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   The fall of the Berlin Wall

   The recording names several major events from his hosting years.

   During that time, he guided listeners through important events, including Ronald Reagan’s electoral victories, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the September 11 terrorist attacks.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What happened before Adams entered radio?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. He hosted All Things Considered.
   2. He traveled by train for NPR.
   3. He worked in construction and car sales.
   4. He became a voice in public radio.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   He worked in construction and car sales.

   The recording first describes his work in construction and car sales.

   Before entering radio, he worked a number of jobs, including construction and car sales.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What result did Adams’s reporting have on listeners?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. They helped listeners understand people and places.
   2. They encouraged listeners to become broadcasters.
   3. They taught listeners to travel by train.
   4. They helped listeners find construction jobs.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   They helped listeners understand people and places.

   His stories helped audiences understand the character of people and places.

   His stories helped listeners understand the character of a place or a person.

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.