Plans for a West Virginia data center raise concerns about wilderness and dark skies
About this practice test
Listen to the B2 Daily News report “Plans for a West Virginia data center raise concerns about wilderness and dark skies” and answer 7 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:
7 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
- 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.
News lesson for this practice
Read the complete article and use its text or audio alongside these exercises: Plans for a West Virginia data center raise concerns about wilderness and dark skies.
Plans for a West Virginia data center raise concerns about wilderness and dark skies
Read a transcript excerpt
Plans for a large power plant and data center campus in Tucker County, West Virginia, are raising concerns in a mountain region known for its natural beauty and unusually dark skies. The proposed development would be near the Monongahela National Forest, which covers nearly one million acres across the state’s rugged eastern mountains. The forest connects several well-known attractions, including the ski slopes of Canaan Valley and the dark skies…
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Question 1 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What proportion of occupied campsites reportedly included someone using a telescope?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- About one in four
- About one in two
- Nearly three in four
- Almost every campsite
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- About one in four
The recording gives a specific estimate connected to summer new moons.
During summer new moons, a campground manager said that about one in four occupied campsites included someone using a telescope.
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Question 2 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What happened before the recording discusses the present development debate?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- The article explains earlier logging and mining
- The article reports that the campus opened
- The article describes a new telescope design
- The article announces a new ski competition
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- The article explains earlier logging and mining
The recording first describes natural attractions, then historical changes, before returning to current plans.
For some residents, the planned campus recalls earlier periods when logging and mining transformed the region.
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Question 3 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Why can visitors see a broad field of stars at Spruce Knob?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- The mountain receives very little artificial light
- The forest contains powerful searchlights
- The town operates a large observatory
- The area experiences permanent cloudless weather
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- The mountain receives very little artificial light
The stated cause is the unusually low amount of artificial light.
On clear nights, visitors can see a broad field of stars because the area has very little artificial light.
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Question 4 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What does the phrase “Stump Town” emphasize about Davis’s history?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- The importance of logging
- The popularity of astronomy
- The town’s ski industry
- The presence of modern technology
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- The importance of logging
The nickname reflects logging’s importance to the community during that period.
The town was once known as “Stump Town,” reflecting the importance of logging at the time.
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Question 5 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What result could the proposed campus produce according to the recording?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Changes to the region’s attraction and identity
- The immediate closure of every campground
- A complete end to historical research
- More natural darkness around industrial buildings
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Changes to the region’s attraction and identity
The project could alter the qualities that currently attract visitors and residents.
The current debate centers on what kind of development the region can support without changing the qualities that attract visitors and residents.
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Question 6 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What contrast does the speaker highlight between the proposed campus and current facilities?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Its scale would exceed existing local development
- Its workers would replace all visitors
- Its buildings would be smaller than campsites
- Its purpose would be entirely recreational
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Its scale would exceed existing local development
The campus would be industrial and substantially larger than existing communities and recreation sites.
A data center campus would represent a much larger industrial presence than the small communities and recreation facilities that currently define the area.
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Question 7 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Why are the nearby towns important to visitors?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- They provide access to regional recreation
- They contain the state’s largest power plants
- They preserve the area’s oldest mines
- They organize telescope manufacturing
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- They provide access to regional recreation
They function as access points for several outdoor activities connected to the landscape.
The nearby towns of Davis and Thomas serve as gateways for visitors who come for skiing, camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities.
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.