Short Wave explores ancient sea monsters, long COVID and elephant carcasses

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.

   What does the episode say about the organisms in the microbiome?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. They live only in oceans
   2. Many are in the digestive system
   3. They cause every infection
   4. They come from fossils
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Many are in the digestive system

   Many microbiome organisms are located in the digestive system.

   Many of these organisms are found in the digestive system.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What follows an initial COVID-19 infection for people with long COVID?

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   1. Their health problems continue
   2. Their fossils are examined
   3. Their bodies replenish land
   4. Their microbiomes disappear
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Their health problems continue

   Their health problems continue after the first infection.

   Long COVID is a condition in which health problems continue after an initial COVID-19 infection.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Why can elephant remains help the savannah?

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   1. They remove all nutrients
   2. They provide food and nutrients
   3. They stop animals from eating
   4. They protect ancient oceans
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   They provide food and nutrients

   The remains add food and nutrients to the ecosystem.

   In this way, the remains of a large animal can help replenish the land.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does the final paragraph emphasize about the three stories?

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   1. Science studies only human illness
   2. The stories are unrelated
   3. Science examines many parts of life
   4. Ancient animals are most important
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Science examines many parts of life

   The stories connect different forms of life and natural processes.

   Together, the three stories show how science can study very different parts of life: animals from the distant past, microscopic life inside the human body and the movement of nutrients through nature.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Where do the topics begin and end in the recording’s movement?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Human health to ancient oceans
   2. The savannah to human health
   3. Ancient oceans to the savannah
   4. Fossils to modern people
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Ancient oceans to the savannah

   The discussion begins with ancient oceans and ends with the African savannah.

   The topics move from ancient oceans to human health and the African savannah.

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.