How U.S. Courts Handle Claims of Postpartum Psychosis
About this practice test
Practice B1 English reading with 5 questions based on the Daily News article “How U.S. Courts Handle Claims of Postpartum Psychosis”.
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:
5 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
- 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.
News lesson for this practice
Read the complete article and use its text or audio alongside these exercises: How U.S. Courts Handle Claims of Postpartum Psychosis.
How U.S. Courts Handle Claims of Postpartum Psychosis
A New York Times report looks at how courts in the United States have dealt with cases involving defendants who claim to have had postpartum psychosis. The report focuses on the legal question that follows such a claim: whether it meets the state’s definition of insanity. A defendant who makes this claim must meet that definition to be found not guilty. In other words, the claim alone is not enough…
-
Question 1 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What is the main idea of the article?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Courts use one national insanity rule.
- State rules affect how courts handle these claims.
- Medical experts decide every criminal case.
- Postpartum psychosis claims always succeed.
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- State rules affect how courts handle these claims.
The article explains how state insanity rules affect these legal claims.
That standard is not the same everywhere in the United States.
-
Question 2 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What does “That standard” refer to?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- The medical report
- The court decision
- The state’s definition of insanity
- The defendant’s personal claim
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- The state’s definition of insanity
It refers to the state’s definition of insanity mentioned earlier.
A defendant who makes this claim must meet that definition to be found not guilty.
-
Question 3 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Why does the article discuss several states?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- To compare hospital treatments
- To explain different legal standards
- To identify one successful defendant
- To describe national elections
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- To explain different legal standards
Different state rules can change the legal path for similar claims.
It shows how the same general claim is connected to different state rules.
-
Question 4 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What can be inferred about a postpartum psychosis claim?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- It automatically ends a trial.
- It has no legal importance.
- It must be tested under state law.
- It is accepted by every court.
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- It must be tested under state law.
The claim matters legally only when it satisfies the state’s standard.
In other words, the claim alone is not enough to produce a not-guilty finding.
-
Question 5 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What is the article’s purpose in its final paragraph?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- To explain a medical treatment
- To emphasize the meeting of medicine and law
- To announce a court victory
- To criticize all state courts
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- To emphasize the meeting of medicine and law
The final paragraph connects medical claims with differing legal rules.
The report presents postpartum psychosis cases as an example of how medical claims and legal definitions can meet in court, while stressing that insanity rules are not uniform across the country.
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.