Southwest Floods Bring a Rare Boost to Reservoirs, Including Lake Powell
About this practice test
Listen to the B2 Daily News report “Southwest Floods Bring a Rare Boost to Reservoirs, Including Lake Powell” 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: Southwest Floods Bring a Rare Boost to Reservoirs, Including Lake Powell.
Southwest Floods Bring a Rare Boost to Reservoirs, Including Lake Powell
Read a transcript excerpt
Floods across the U.S. Southwest have brought a rare increase in water to reservoirs and underground aquifers strained by years of drought. The storms also caused disruption: hundreds of people were told to evacuate, and floodwaters blocked access to some areas. In late October and early November, heavy rain sent normally small or dry creeks over their banks and into nearby communities. Much of the water is expected to flow…
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Question 1 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
How many people were affected by the restrictions that officials lifted in Pagosa Springs?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- More than 10,000 people
- About 3,000 people
- Exactly 17,000 people
- More than 20,000 people
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- More than 10,000 people
The reported figure includes residents in town and surrounding communities.
In Pagosa Springs, Colorado, about seven inches of October rain helped prompt officials to lift water restrictions that had applied to more than 10,000 people in the town and surrounding communities.
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Question 2 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What share of Flagstaff’s water can Upper Lake Mary supply?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Up to 40%
- About 10%
- More than 60%
- Exactly 25%
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Up to 40%
The recording gives the lake’s maximum contribution as a percentage.
In Northern Arizona, Upper Lake Mary, which supplies Flagstaff with up to 40% of its water, has received more than 3 billion gallons since early October.
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Question 3 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
How much water has Upper Lake Mary received since early October?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- More than 3 billion gallons
- About 300 million gallons
- Exactly 1 billion gallons
- More than 10 billion gallons
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- More than 3 billion gallons
The recording states a quantity measured in billions of gallons.
In Northern Arizona, Upper Lake Mary, which supplies Flagstaff with up to 40% of its water, has received more than 3 billion gallons since early October.
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Question 4 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
When was Lake Powell’s rise measured from?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Its mid-September low
- The beginning of October
- The start of last winter
- The previous year’s high
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Its mid-September low
The reference point was its lowest level in mid-September.
Lake Powell, the country’s second-largest reservoir, has risen more than 20 feet from its mid-September low.
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Question 5 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What did the weak snowpack fail to do effectively?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Replenish water sources
- Cause creeks to overflow
- Raise Lake Powell by 20 feet
- Lift restrictions in Pagosa Springs
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Replenish water sources
Snowmelt did not restore the water sources as usual.
Snowmelt usually gives water sources a major seasonal increase, but last winter’s weak snowpack did little to replenish them.
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Question 6 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What did the storms force some people to do?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Evacuate
- Repair boat launches
- Move to Northern Arizona
- Limit their snowfall
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Evacuate
The recording reports that residents were directed to leave.
The storms also caused disruption: hundreds of people were told to evacuate, and floodwaters blocked access to some areas.
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Question 7 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What result did the rain have for water restrictions in Pagosa Springs?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Officials lifted them.
- Officials expanded them.
- Residents ignored them.
- They remained unchanged.
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Officials lifted them.
Local officials responded by removing the existing limits.
In Pagosa Springs, Colorado, about seven inches of October rain helped prompt officials to lift water restrictions that had applied to more than 10,000 people in the town and surrounding communities.
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.