Wisconsin congressman describes swimming to safety after small plane makes emergency landing in Lake Wausau

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

C2. 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 before the men entered the water?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. They reached the shoreline
   2. They stayed atop the floating plane
   3. They received medical treatment
   4. They identified the landing’s cause
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   They stayed atop the floating plane

   They first remained atop the floating aircraft and contacted emergency services.

   The two men initially stayed on top of the plane while it was still floating.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What did the 911 call accomplish?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. It brought the plane back to shore
   2. It reported the emergency without ending the danger
   3. It confirmed the pilot’s condition
   4. It prevented the aircraft from sinking
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   It reported the emergency without ending the danger

   It communicated the emergency but did not eliminate the continuing physical threat.

   The call allowed them to report the emergency, but it did not remove the immediate danger.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What physical change made staying aboard untenable?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. The shoreline moved farther away
   2. The aircraft began going under
   3. The phone stopped functioning
   4. The lake became unexpectedly shallow
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   The aircraft began going under

   The aircraft was descending into the water, making continued occupancy impossible.

   The aircraft was gradually going under, and remaining on it was becoming impossible.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What condition marked the men’s arrival at relative safety?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. They saw rescue lights
   2. They reached water shallow enough to stand in
   3. They climbed onto another aircraft
   4. They located a submerged exit
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   They reached water shallow enough to stand in

   They stopped when the water became shallow enough for them to stand.

   They continued until they reached water shallow enough to stand in.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does the recording explicitly withhold about the pilot?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. His identity
   2. Further details about his condition
   3. His involvement in the phone call
   4. His route toward shallow water
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Further details about his condition

   The supplied material gives no further information about the pilot’s condition.

   The supplied accounts do not establish what caused the landing or provide further details about the pilot’s condition.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What emotional response did Tiffany display while recounting the event?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Anger and silence
   2. Tears, laughter, and gratitude
   3. Confusion and denial
   4. Indifference and irritation
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Tears, laughter, and gratitude

   His account combined visible tears with laughter and gratitude.

   He wiped away tears and laughed as he explained how thankful he was to have survived.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   According to the recording, what did laughter provide?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. A factual correction
   2. An emotional release
   3. A signal to rescuers
   4. A dismissal of the danger
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   An emotional release

   The recording interprets laughter as an emotional release after frightening danger.

   The contrasting reactions suggest the difficulty of putting a frightening experience into words: laughter offered a release, while tears reflected the seriousness of the danger.

8. Question 8 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which three actions does Tiffany’s account emphasize?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Calling, leaving, and swimming
   2. Diving, repairing, and steering
   3. Waiting, signaling, and paddling
   4. Landing, refueling, and departing
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Calling, leaving, and swimming

   The closing summary identifies calling, leaving, and swimming as pivotal actions.

   Tiffany’s account focuses on a small number of decisive actions—staying on the aircraft long enough to call 911, leaving it as it sank, and swimming until standing became possible.

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.