Layered Clauses with Clear Reference

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

C1. 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

Sentence reordering

How to approach this practice

Read the complete context. Check both the meaning and the grammar, including word forms, collocations and links between sentences.

1. Question 1 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • The assumption
   • is
   • on which the argument depends
   • precisely the one
   • that remains untested.
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   The assumption on which the argument depends is precisely the one that remains untested.

   The relative modifies assumption; the second relative modifies one.

2. Question 2 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • The report,
   • was nevertheless
   • were acknowledged at the outset,
   • whose limitations
   • widely cited.
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   The report, whose limitations were acknowledged at the outset, was nevertheless widely cited.

   Whose limitations were acknowledged at the outset is the non-defining relative clause. Was nevertheless widely cited is the main predicate.

3. Question 3 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • Having
   • considered the alternatives,
   • recommended the option
   • that imposed the fewest constraints.
   • the panel
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   Having considered the alternatives, the panel recommended the option that imposed the fewest constraints.

   The opening participle refers to panel; the final relative defines option.

4. Question 4 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • The extent
   • depends
   • how representative the sample is.
   • on
   • to which the result can be generalised
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   The extent to which the result can be generalised depends on how representative the sample is.

   The extent-relative forms the subject; depend on introduces the indirect question.

5. Question 5 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • Those
   • among the first
   • to endorse the compromise.
   • were
   • who had objected most strongly
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   Those who had objected most strongly were among the first to endorse the compromise.

   The relative defines those; among the first takes a to-infinitive.

6. Question 6 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • The evidence
   • available at the time
   • insufficient
   • to justify intervention.
   • was
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   The evidence available at the time was insufficient to justify intervention.

   The reduced modifier defines evidence; insufficient takes to justify.

7. Question 7 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • The claim,
   • did
   • not amount
   • qualified as it was by several caveats,
   • to a firm prediction.
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   The claim, qualified as it was by several caveats, did not amount to a firm prediction.

   The concessive inserted clause modifies claim; amount to takes a noun phrase.

8. Question 8 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • What
   • the authors failed to establish
   • the effect would persist.
   • was
   • whether
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   What the authors failed to establish was whether the effect would persist.

   The what-clause is the subject; whether introduces the unresolved question.

9. Question 9 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • The decision
   • one
   • that the board later regretted.
   • to proceed despite the uncertainty
   • was
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   The decision to proceed despite the uncertainty was one that the board later regretted.

   The to-clause modifies decision; the final relative defines one.

10. Question 10 · Sentence reordering

    Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

    Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

    Sentence parts

    • Any
    • interpretation that ignores the context
    • overstating
    • risks
    • what the evidence supports.
    Check answers and explanations

    Correct order

    Any interpretation that ignores the context risks overstating what the evidence supports.

    The relative defines interpretation; risks takes an ing form with a what-clause object.

What to review next

Explain why each answer fits the meaning and structure. Record useful phrases and write a new example using each pattern you found difficult.

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.