Chicago River Bridge Stays Raised for More Than Four Hours, Disrupting Downtown Traffic

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 immediately after the bridge lifted?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. The boat turned around on the river.
   2. The bridge failed to return to its normal position.
   3. Traffic immediately returned to normal.
   4. Officials permanently closed downtown roads.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   The bridge failed to return to its normal position.

   The bridge failed to return to its normal position after rising.

   After lifting, however, it did not return to its normal position.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What did the raised bridge interrupt?

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   1. The usual movement of vehicles
   2. The boat’s access to the river
   3. The city’s water supply
   4. Construction near the bridge
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   The usual movement of vehicles

   Its position interrupted the usual movement of vehicles in central Chicago.

   That extended delay created problems in central Chicago, where the bridge’s raised position interrupted the usual movement of vehicles.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What broader issue did the incident highlight?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. The shortage of boats in Chicago
   2. The competing demands on shared infrastructure
   3. The danger of traveling through downtown
   4. The need to build roads outside Illinois
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   The competing demands on shared infrastructure

   The incident revealed tension between road traffic and waterway access.

   The same bridge must support road traffic while opening when a vessel needs to use the river.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   According to the recording, what did the bridge become for travelers?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. A useful shortcut
   2. A barrier to movement
   3. A temporary parking area
   4. A route for emergency boats
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   A barrier to movement

   The malfunction changed the bridge from transportation equipment into an obstacle.

   For drivers and other travelers, the bridge was no longer simply part of the city’s transportation system.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What made the short-term traffic change become a major problem?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. The boat traveled unusually slowly.
   2. The bridge stayed raised for an extended period.
   3. Drivers ignored every alternative route.
   4. The city expected the bridge to remain open permanently.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   The bridge stayed raised for an extended period.

   The structure stayed raised for more than four hours.

   In this case, the structure stayed raised for more than four hours, transforming that short-term change into a major downtown traffic problem.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What result did the bridge’s condition have across downtown?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. It improved traffic flow.
   2. It contributed to snarled traffic.
   3. It redirected boats toward highways.
   4. It reduced the need for road travel.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   It contributed to snarled traffic.

   The raised structure contributed to traffic becoming severely tangled across downtown Chicago.

   It became a barrier that contributed to snarled traffic across downtown Chicago.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does the final paragraph establish despite missing details?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. The exact mechanical cause of the failure
   2. The identities of responsible officials
   3. The delay’s starting point and significant traffic impact
   4. The precise time normal movement resumed
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   The delay’s starting point and significant traffic impact

   It confirms the sequence and significant traffic impact without explaining the malfunction’s cause.

   It establishes, however, that the delay began after the bridge lifted for a boat and significantly affected traffic in Chicago’s downtown.

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.