Questions about a Community Energy Meeting
About this practice test
A report of residents planning practical ways to reduce energy use at a shared community centre.
What you’ll practice
Finding detail
Locate specific information and evidence.
Interpreting ideas
Connect main points and inferences.
Evaluating arguments
Assess claims, evidence, and limitations.
What to expect:
10 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
- 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
- Short answer
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.
Questions about a Community Energy Meeting
In March, the Green Street Community Centre held a meeting about electricity costs. Twenty-eight residents came, and the room was full before the chairs were in place. People arrived with notebooks because the hall felt chilly after sunset, and some had come straight from work. The chair, Mr. Lewis, opened the meeting because the centre's winter bill had doubled. He explained that the aim was to use less energy without making the hall less useful for clubs and homework sessions. He also said any plan should be realistic, because the building was used by both children and older neighbours. Sara Khan, who runs the youth club, said lights were often left on after eight o'clock. She suggested motion sensors in the corridors and asked volunteers to make a reminder poster for the noticeboard. Tom Evans from the local library said the roof was suitable for solar panels, but the group should first repair a leak above the kitchen. He added that the repair would stop wasted heat and protect books nearby. When someone asked why the bill had risen so fast, Mr. Lewis said the building had old bulbs, poor insulation, and a heater that stayed on too long. By the end, the residents agreed on three actions. First, they would replace old bulbs with LED ones before July. Second, they would invite a company to give a free quote for solar panels. Third, they would ask the council for a small grant. Mr. Lewis said the grant request should mention that the hall is used five days a week and helps older people stay warm during the day. Several people offered to help with the poster and collect solar quotes the next week. One resident said the hall mattered most in winter, when some older people stayed there to read or talk while their own flats cooled down. Mr. Lewis wrote each idea on a large sheet so no one would forget the order. Everyone left with a clear list and a stronger feeling that small changes could make a real difference.
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Question 1 · Short answer
Write a short answer to the question.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage. How many residents came to the meeting?
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- twenty-eight / 28
Twenty-eight residents came to the meeting. The passage gives the number in words; 28 is an acceptable numeral equivalent.
Twenty-eight residents came
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Question 2 · Short answer
Write a short answer to the question.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage. What had doubled?
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- centre's winter bill / winter bill
The passage says the centre's winter bill had doubled, so both the full phrase and the shorter phrase 'winter bill' are acceptable. Nothing else is described as doubling.
the centre's winter bill had doubled
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Question 3 · Short answer
Write a short answer to the question.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage. What was the aim of the meeting?
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- use less energy
Mr. Lewis said the aim was to use less energy. This is the meeting's stated purpose, not one of the later decisions.
the aim was to use less energy
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Question 4 · Short answer
Write a short answer to the question.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage. What time were lights often left on?
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- after eight o'clock
Sara said the lights were often left on after eight o'clock. No other time is mentioned in the passage.
lights were often left on after eight o'clock
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Question 5 · Short answer
Write a short answer to the question.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage. What did Sara suggest in the corridors?
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- motion sensors / sensors
Sara suggested motion sensors in the corridors. “Sensors” is also accepted because it identifies the suggested equipment; the poster was a separate request.
She suggested motion sensors in the corridors
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Question 6 · Short answer
Write a short answer to the question.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage. What should volunteers make?
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- a reminder poster / reminder poster / poster / the poster
Volunteers were asked to make a reminder poster. “Poster” is also accepted because it identifies what they were asked to make.
asked volunteers to make a reminder poster
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Question 7 · Short answer
Write a short answer to the question.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage. What part of the building was suitable for solar panels?
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- the roof / roof
Tom said the roof was suitable for solar panels. The shorter answer 'roof' is also correct, and no other part of the building is named in that role.
the roof was suitable for solar panels
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Question 8 · Short answer
Write a short answer to the question.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage. What would the repair stop?
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- wasted heat
The repair would stop wasted heat. The passage also says it would protect books nearby, but that is not the specific answer to this question.
the repair would stop wasted heat
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Question 9 · Short answer
Write a short answer to the question.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage. Who would they ask for a small grant?
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- the council / council
They would ask the council for a small grant, and the shorter answer 'council' is also correct. The company was for a free quote, not for funding.
ask the council for a small grant
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Question 10 · Short answer
Write a short answer to the question.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage. What did everyone believe could make a real difference?
Return to the passage, recording or visualCheck answers and explanations
- Accepted answers
- small changes
The final sentence says small changes could make a real difference. This shows the group's shared view at the end of the meeting.
small changes could make a real difference
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.