Archaeologists race to save artifacts in Alaska after storm damage

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

B2. 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 happened to the archaeological site last year?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. It was damaged by remnants of a typhoon.
   2. It was completely destroyed by an earthquake.
   3. It was closed because researchers found nothing.
   4. It was moved to a safer part of Alaska.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   It was damaged by remnants of a typhoon.

   The opening sentence identifies the storm damage as the starting event.

   Archaeologists in Alaska are racing to protect objects from an archaeological dig site after remnants of a typhoon caused damage last year.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What are the archaeologists trying to do before another storm arrives?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Remove as many objects as possible
   2. Repair every damaged road nearby
   3. Build homes for affected residents
   4. Predict the next typhoon’s exact path
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Remove as many objects as possible

   Their immediate goal is to remove as many objects as possible.

   The archaeologists are now trying to remove as many objects as possible before another storm arrives.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What may happen if severe weather returns?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Remaining objects may face further risk.
   2. The site will automatically become protected.
   3. Researchers will stop studying the objects.
   4. The original storm damage will disappear.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Remaining objects may face further risk.

   The recording warns that objects remaining onsite could face more danger.

   Their work is focused on recovery and preservation: objects that remain at the damaged site may face additional risk if severe weather returns.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What happened across several parts of the area at the same time?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Several kinds of damage occurred together.
   2. Researchers completed several examinations together.
   3. New homes were built beside the excavation.
   4. Multiple storms arrived during one afternoon.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Several kinds of damage occurred together.

   The narration lists damage to homes, infrastructure, and the archaeological site.

   Homes were damaged, infrastructure was harmed, and the archaeological site also suffered.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What time-related condition affects the researchers’ decisions?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. They must work before conditions worsen.
   2. They can wait until every object is catalogued.
   3. They are required to stop during good weather.
   4. They have unlimited time to choose methods.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   They must work before conditions worsen.

   They must act while current conditions still permit recovery.

   They must decide how to recover as many objects as possible while conditions allow.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What do archaeologists hope moving objects will achieve?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. It will preserve more evidence for future study.
   2. It will eliminate all effects of the previous storm.
   3. It will allow the site to remain completely untouched.
   4. It will make another storm impossible.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   It will preserve more evidence for future study.

   Relocation should keep more evidence available for later examination.

   By moving objects away from the vulnerable site, archaeologists hope to keep more of the evidence available for examination in the future.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What broader threat does the final paragraph emphasize?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Extreme weather threatens both communities and research.
   2. Archaeological research causes most infrastructure damage.
   3. Alaska has ended all archaeological investigations.
   4. Public infrastructure protects sites from every storm.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Extreme weather threatens both communities and research.

   The conclusion connects extreme weather with risks to research and communities.

   The work highlights how extreme weather can threaten not only homes and public infrastructure but also archaeological research.

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.