Catherine Breed Completes Historic Swim Along the Length of California

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. Breed completed a long and difficult swim along California.
   2. Breed learned to swim in a short local race.
   3. California has unusually cold water all year.
   4. Sharks stopped Breed before she reached Mexico.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Breed completed a long and difficult swim along California.

   The article describes Breed’s achievement and the challenges of her long swim.

   Breed’s achievement stands out because it combined distance, time, and difficult natural conditions.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “These dangers” refer to?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Waves and cold water
   2. Sharks and storms
   3. Distance and patience
   4. Planning and support
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Sharks and storms

   The phrase points back to the sharks and storms mentioned immediately before.

   These dangers made the challenge more difficult and required her to continue through changing conditions.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Why does the article mention waves, weather, and cold water?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. To explain the demands of open-sea swimming
   2. To describe Breed’s swimming equipment
   3. To compare California with Mexico
   4. To show that storms are harmless
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   To explain the demands of open-sea swimming

   These examples explain why open-sea swimming demands preparation and effort.

   Swimmers must deal with waves, weather, cold water, and the need to rest and recover.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What can readers infer about Breed’s preparation?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. She probably prepared carefully for the journey.
   2. She avoided all changing weather.
   3. She traveled without anyone’s help.
   4. She trained only for short races.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   She probably prepared carefully for the journey.

   The article connects coastline swimming with planning and support.

   A journey that follows a coastline also requires careful planning and support.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   How is the final paragraph organized?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. It compares two types of swimming, then describes the result.
   2. It lists several places Breed visited.
   3. It explains how sharks find swimmers.
   4. It gives instructions for planning a race.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   It compares two types of swimming, then describes the result.

   It contrasts long-distance swimming with short racing and then describes Breed’s change.

   Her journey also shows why long-distance swimming is different from a short race.

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.