Plans for a West Virginia data center raise concerns about wilderness and dark skies

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

B2. 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 article’s main purpose?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. To describe a completed industrial project
   2. To compare several West Virginia ski resorts
   3. To present concerns about a proposed development
   4. To explain how telescopes are manufactured
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   To present concerns about a proposed development

   It presents a development debate by connecting economic plans with environmental and community concerns.

   The plans therefore place economic development alongside concerns about scenery, darkness, and the long-term character of the region.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Why does the article mention Canaan Valley, Blackwater Falls, and Spruce Knob together?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. They are all proposed construction sites
   2. They are connected attractions in the same regional landscape
   3. They are historical names for Davis
   4. They all contain large data centers
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   They are connected attractions in the same regional landscape

   The examples show how one forest connects several attractions valued by visitors.

   The forest connects several well-known attractions, including the ski slopes of Canaan Valley and the dark skies of Blackwater Falls and Spruce Knob.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What can readers infer about tourism in Davis and Thomas?

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   1. It depends partly on the surrounding natural environment
   2. It has already disappeared because of mining
   3. It mainly serves industrial workers
   4. It is unrelated to outdoor recreation
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   It depends partly on the surrounding natural environment

   Their businesses and community life depend substantially on nearby outdoor attractions.

   Tourism and community life in the area are closely linked to the surrounding landscape.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “The town” refer to in the fourth paragraph?

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   1. Thomas
   2. Spruce Knob
   3. Davis
   4. Canaan Valley
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   Answer

   Davis

   The phrase refers back to Davis, the settlement discussed in the photograph.

   The town was once known as “Stump Town,” reflecting the importance of logging at the time.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Why does the article describe the campus as a larger industrial presence?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. To show that it would greatly exceed current development
   2. To prove that it would employ fewer people
   3. To explain why skiing is becoming popular
   4. To identify the region’s highest mountain
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   To show that it would greatly exceed current development

   This comparison emphasizes the possible scale of change relative to existing local development.

   A data center campus would represent a much larger industrial presence than the small communities and recreation facilities that currently define the area.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   How does the fourth paragraph contribute to the article’s organization?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. It provides historical background for current reactions
   2. It lists technical requirements for data centers
   3. It changes the topic to astronomy instruction
   4. It summarizes the project’s construction schedule
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   It provides historical background for current reactions

   It introduces historical context that helps explain present concerns about major development.

   For some residents, the planned campus recalls earlier periods when logging and mining transformed the region.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What relationship does the final paragraph establish?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Economic growth may conflict with environmental and cultural values
   2. Tourism has completely replaced local industry
   3. Dark skies are more important than every economic concern
   4. The project has already received universal approval
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Economic growth may conflict with environmental and cultural values

   It contrasts potential economic benefits with risks to the region’s established qualities.

   The plans therefore place economic development alongside concerns about scenery, darkness, and the long-term character of the region.

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.