WHO seeks more information after death at Russian plague research laboratory

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 purpose of the article?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. To explain the history of plague outbreaks
   2. To report a death and the WHO’s request for information
   3. To describe a new laboratory treatment
   4. To prove that an outbreak occurred
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   To report a death and the WHO’s request for information

   It reports confirmed facts and explains what remains unknown.

   For now, the confirmed account is limited.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Why does the article mention that the employee’s name was not given?

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   1. To identify her as a government leader
   2. To show that she worked for the WHO
   3. To show that some personal details are unavailable
   4. To explain why she studied plague
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   To show that some personal details are unavailable

   This shows that the available information about her is limited.

   The information identifies the person as a woman but does not give her name.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   In the sentence about “They,” what does “They” refer to?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. The reported facts
   2. The health officials
   3. The animals
   4. The research materials
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   Answer

   The reported facts

   The pronoun refers to the reported facts about the case.

   They also do not say that the death caused an outbreak or was connected to the laboratory’s research.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What relationship does the article present between the laboratory and the death?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. The laboratory definitely caused the death
   2. The laboratory had already reported an outbreak
   3. The death was proven to result from plague research
   4. The facts do not establish a research connection
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   The facts do not establish a research connection

   The article connects them in location, not through a proven cause.

   They also do not say that the death caused an outbreak or was connected to the laboratory’s research.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Why does the article explain the meaning of “of unknown origin”?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. To define an important phrase in Russia’s report
   2. To compare two kinds of pneumonia
   3. To describe the laboratory’s location
   4. To explain how plague spreads
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   To define an important phrase in Russia’s report

   It clarifies that the cause had not been identified.

   The phrase “of unknown origin” means that the cause had not been identified when Russia described the death.

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.