Weddings are expensive. How about a grocery store cake

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 idea?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Couples are abandoning wedding celebrations because prices are rising.
   2. Grocery stores are replacing specialty bakeries in every wedding market.
   3. Some couples are reducing cake costs while preserving a traditional feature.
   4. Wedding guests increasingly prefer unusual desserts to traditional cakes.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Some couples are reducing cake costs while preserving a traditional feature.

   The article explains how couples balance wedding traditions with rising costs.

   Wedding celebrations can be costly, so some couples are looking for ways to reduce expenses without giving up familiar traditions.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What can be inferred about Anna Holleran’s experience?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. She regretted choosing a grocery store cake.
   2. She found the cake acceptable despite its lower price.
   3. She bought the most expensive cake available.
   4. She planned to open a specialty bakery.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   She found the cake acceptable despite its lower price.

   Her positive reaction suggests the lower price did not reduce her satisfaction.

   Anna Holleran, who married in California’s Bay Area this year, chose Costco for her cake and said she was pleased with the taste.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “The decision” refer to in paragraph three?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. The decision to increase wedding spending
   2. The decision to survey couples about desserts
   3. The decision to choose Costco for a wedding cake
   4. The decision to raise prices for wedding clothing
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   The decision to choose Costco for a wedding cake

   The phrase refers to the choice of buying a cake from Costco.

   The decision comes as the overall cost of weddings rises.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Why does the article mention the average wedding-cake slice price?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. To compare cake prices and illustrate possible savings
   2. To show that Publix offers fewer cake flavors
   3. To explain why wedding guests eat smaller portions
   4. To prove that all wedding cakes taste alike
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   To compare cake prices and illustrate possible savings

   The comparison demonstrates how grocery stores may offer meaningful savings.

   According to Zola, an average wedding-cake slice costs about $5.50, while a Publix slice costs about $1.50 less.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   How is the article organized?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. It presents a problem, gives financial context, and returns to an example.
   2. It describes one wedding chronologically from planning to reception.
   3. It compares two retailers and recommends one of them.
   4. It lists cake recipes before discussing wedding budgets.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   It presents a problem, gives financial context, and returns to an example.

   It moves from examples and costs to broader trends and a concluding example.

   The example shows how couples can preserve the ceremony’s traditional centerpiece while making a different financial choice.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What relationship does the article establish between cake and other wedding expenses?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Cake costs are rising faster than every other expense.
   2. Cake is a possible saving area while other priorities remain protected.
   3. Cake is usually the largest expense at a wedding.
   4. Couples spend less on cake because venues provide it free.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Cake is a possible saving area while other priorities remain protected.

   Cake is presented as an expense couples may reduce more readily.

   Cake is one category where couples may be more willing to save.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What is the article’s primary purpose?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. To teach readers how to decorate wedding cakes
   2. To advertise Publix and Costco products
   3. To explain a practical response to increasing wedding costs
   4. To argue that specialty bakeries should lower prices
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   To explain a practical response to increasing wedding costs

   The article informs readers about a cost-saving trend and its implications.

   Grocery stores can offer a traditional appearance at a lower price.

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.