NPR Short Wave explores mysterious X-rays, movement and learning, and memory
About this practice test
Practice B1 English reading with 5 questions based on the Daily News article “NPR Short Wave explores mysterious X-rays, movement and learning, and memory”.
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: NPR Short Wave explores mysterious X-rays, movement and learning, and memory.
NPR Short Wave explores mysterious X-rays, movement and learning, and memory
NPR’s Short Wave has brought together three different science questions in one episode. Emily Kwong and Ari Daniel discuss mysterious X-ray objects, the connection between movement and learning, and the way a small part of the brain triggers memory formation. X-rays are a form of energy that people cannot see with their eyes. They are used in medicine, but scientists also study X-rays from objects in space. These observations can…
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Question 1 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What is the main purpose of the article?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- To explain how to use medical X-rays
- To introduce three connected science topics
- To compare two NPR presenters
- To describe one experiment in detail
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- To introduce three connected science topics
The article introduces three science topics and shows their shared research focus.
By placing these subjects together, Short Wave shows the wide range of modern science.
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Question 2 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What can readers infer about the X-ray objects?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- They are completely understood
- They cannot be studied
- They are not fully understood
- They are found only on Earth
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- They are not fully understood
The article says important questions about these objects still lack answers.
The episode describes some X-ray objects as mysterious, pointing to questions that still need answers.
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Question 3 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
In the sentence about “these observations,” what does “these” refer to?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Medical treatments
- Questions about education
- X-ray studies of space objects
- Simple physical actions
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- X-ray studies of space objects
The reference points to scientists’ study of X-rays from space objects.
These observations can raise questions about what the objects are and how they behave.
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Question 4 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Why does the article explain movement and learning?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- To define the two ideas for readers
- To prove movement is always helpful
- To describe a classroom lesson
- To explain how X-rays work
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- To define the two ideas for readers
The explanation gives readers a clear meaning for the second research topic.
Learning means gaining new knowledge or skills.
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Question 5 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
How is the article organized?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- It presents three topics one after another
- It tells one person’s life story
- It lists medical instructions
- It compares two competing programs
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- It presents three topics one after another
The article moves through the episode’s topics in a clear sequence.
The final topic is memory formation.
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.