Scientists Move Toward a New Way to Keep Official Time
Listen to the B2 Daily News report “Scientists Move Toward a New Way to Keep Official Time” and answer 7 comprehension questions.
About this practice test
Listen to the B2 Daily News report “Scientists Move Toward a New Way to Keep Official Time” 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: Scientists Move Toward a New Way to Keep Official Time.
Scientists Move Toward a New Way to Keep Official Time
Read a transcript excerpt
Scientists have voted to change how the world keeps official time, although most people are unlikely to notice the difference. The decision concerns the small gap between highly precise clocks and the Earth's natural rotation. A full turn of the Earth is often described as 24 hours. In reality, the planet's spin changes slightly, and it has slowed down by a very small amount. As a result, one rotation can…
-
Question 1 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What does one Earth rotation sometimes include beyond 24 hours?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- A number of microseconds
- Several complete minutes
- One additional hour
- A full extra day
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- A number of microseconds
The recording specifies that the additional time is measured in microseconds.
As a result, one rotation can take 24 hours plus a number of microseconds, or millionths of a second.
-
Question 2 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What did member states decide to do at the conference?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- End the leap-second system
- Increase the length of every day
- Replace quartz watches with mechanical ones
- Move the conference away from Paris
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- End the leap-second system
The states chose to end leap seconds and introduce a longer adjustment concept.
However, member states at the General Conference on Weights and Measures, which recently met in Versailles near Paris, decided to abandon that system.
-
Question 3 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Who explained the decision in an interview?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Philippe Richard
- Scott Simon
- A Versailles timekeeper
- An unnamed conference member
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Philippe Richard
Philippe Richard discussed the idea with NPR host Scott Simon.
Philippe Richard, director of Switzerland's Federal Institute of Metrology, explained the idea in an interview with NPR host Scott Simon.
-
Question 4 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What does the mechanical watch represent in Richard's comparison?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- The Earth
- Modern timekeeping
- Scientific measurement
- The international conference
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- The Earth
The mechanical watch stands for Earth's natural movement.
He compared the situation with two watches: an old mechanical watch representing the Earth and a very precise quartz watch representing modern timekeeping.
-
Question 5 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Why could a longer adjustment period help technical systems?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- It could simplify their management
- It would eliminate all precise clocks
- It would change meeting arrangements
- It would make Earth's rotation constant
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- It could simplify their management
Fewer frequent adjustments could make systems easier to manage.
A longer adjustment period could make those systems easier to manage, while ordinary activities such as checking a clock or arranging a meeting should remain unchanged.
-
Question 6 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What should remain unchanged for ordinary people?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Checking a clock or arranging a meeting
- Measuring Earth's exact rotation
- Adding a leap second every year
- Comparing mechanical and quartz watches
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Checking a clock or arranging a meeting
The recording specifically mentions checking clocks and arranging meetings.
A longer adjustment period could make those systems easier to manage, while ordinary activities such as checking a clock or arranging a meeting should remain unchanged.
-
Question 7 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What broader idea does the decision demonstrate?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Standards can change to reflect natural conditions
- Natural conditions can always be controlled
- Official time is unrelated to science
- Measurement standards never require revision
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Standards can change to reflect natural conditions
The conclusion presents the change as an example of scientific adaptation.
The decision shows how scientists continue to adapt measurement standards to the natural world.
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.