A fossil feather from the age of dinosaurs may explain why only some birds survived

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

B1. 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 passage for its main idea, then return to the relevant sentence or paragraph for each question. Base answers on the passage.

1. Question 1 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What is the main idea of the article?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. The feather completely proves why some birds survived.
   2. The feather may offer a clue, but more evidence is needed.
   3. Scientists know where every ancient bird lived.
   4. The report mainly describes modern bird behavior.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   The feather may offer a clue, but more evidence is needed.

   The article presents the feather as useful but limited evidence.

   That makes the feather important not because it answers every question, but because it may add a new clue.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Why does the article repeat the word “may”?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. To show the finding is possible, not certain
   2. To explain when the fossil was discovered
   3. To prove the report is about modern birds
   4. To show that all birds survived
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   To show the finding is possible, not certain

   The repeated word shows that the report is careful and uncertain.

   The key word in the report is “may.”

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “these groups of birds” refer to?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Birds from two different museums
   2. Birds that survived and birds that did not
   3. Birds living in two modern countries
   4. Birds with different feather colors
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Birds that survived and birds that did not

   The phrase refers to birds that survived and birds that did not.

   Instead, the finding may help scientists understand the difference between these groups of birds.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What relationship does the third paragraph describe?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Small evidence can support larger historical study.
   2. Ancient birds were larger than modern birds.
   3. Fossils are difficult to find in museums.
   4. Feathers caused birds to change quickly.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Small evidence can support larger historical study.

   It connects fossil evidence with learning about ancient bird life.

   A feather can be a small object, but it may still be useful when people study how ancient birds lived and changed.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What can readers infer about the report’s conclusion?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. The cause of survival is fully known.
   2. The fossil has no scientific value.
   3. The report does not claim a final answer.
   4. The report rejects all fossil evidence.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   The report does not claim a final answer.

   The report leaves the explanation open because the evidence is incomplete.

   The report does not provide a final explanation in the available story package.

What to review next

Find the words that support each answer. For a mistake, compare the question with the evidence and identify the detail or inference you missed.

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

Look for evidence in the text. Separate what the writer says from what you already know about the topic.

The library normally closes at six, but on Fridays it stays open until eight. When does it close on Friday?

The answer is eight. But introduces an exception to the normal closing time, so the first time mentioned is not the answer.

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.