See how Big Tech is transforming Spain's landscape

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 main purpose of the article?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. To compare Spain's technology companies with American companies
   2. To explain Aragon's expansion and the debate surrounding it
   3. To describe how artificial intelligence systems process information
   4. To argue that drought has ended throughout northeastern Spain
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   To explain Aragon's expansion and the debate surrounding it

   The article presents investment opportunities alongside environmental and social concerns.

   The region must therefore balance possible economic benefits with concerns about water, energy, and the long-term impact on its landscape and inhabitants.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What can be inferred from the comparison with Virginia?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Aragon has copied Virginia's water policies
   2. Aragon already has more data centers than Virginia
   3. Officials want Aragon associated with technological concentration
   4. Virginia is located in southern Europe
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Officials want Aragon associated with technological concentration

   The comparison suggests officials want Aragon recognized as a major data center location.

   The regional government supports the expansion and describes Aragon as the “Virginia of southern Europe,” referring to the U.S. state known for having a high concentration of data centers.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “they” refer to in the sentence about residents and activist groups?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Regional authorities
   2. Technology companies
   3. Residents and activist groups
   4. Data center facilities
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Residents and activist groups

   The pronoun refers to residents and activist groups mentioned immediately beforehand.

   Many residents and activist groups say the developments could produce an environmental crisis and alter the character of local communities.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Why does the article mention the planned site's size?

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   1. To show the project's extensive land requirements
   2. To prove football is popular in Aragon
   3. To identify the exact location of Amazon's offices
   4. To compare American and Spanish sports facilities
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   To show the project's extensive land requirements

   The measurement emphasizes the unusually large physical scale of the proposed development.

   One planned site would cover an area comparable to 600 American football fields.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   How are the article's ideas organized?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Historical background, personal story, and prediction
   2. Project description, advantages, concerns, and policy tension
   3. Scientific explanation, financial table, and interview
   4. Geographical tour followed by unrelated company profiles
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Project description, advantages, concerns, and policy tension

   The article moves from development details to benefits, objections, and the policy challenge.

   The plans are controversial, however.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What relationship does the article establish between drought and data centers?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Drought makes data centers cheaper to construct
   2. Data centers are expected to end the drought
   3. Drought intensifies concern about resource consumption
   4. Data centers require water only during construction
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Drought intensifies concern about resource consumption

   Drought increases the significance of the facilities' energy and water requirements.

   Aragon is already suffering from drought, while data centers require significant amounts of energy and water to operate.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does the final paragraph imply about government decision-making?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. All levels of government completely agree
   2. Regional and national priorities may conflict
   3. National authorities have rejected every project
   4. Regional authorities no longer support investment
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Regional and national priorities may conflict

   Authorities face competing pressures rather than a simple choice between investment and regulation.

   Spain's national government is also considering new restrictions, while Aragon's regional authorities continue to welcome the investment.

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.