Long Sentences with Unambiguous Structure

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

C2. 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 inference ultimately rests
   • one
   • that the study leaves untested.
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   The assumption on which the inference ultimately rests is one that the study leaves untested.

   The first relative modifies assumption; the second defines 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

   • What
   • is
   • not that it is inevitable.
   • that the effect is possible,
   • the evidence permits us to conclude
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   What the evidence permits us to conclude is that the effect is possible, not that it is inevitable.

   The what-cleft contrasts two that-clauses with different modal force.

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

   • The account,
   • close examination.
   • does
   • not withstand
   • plausible though it may appear,
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   The account, plausible though it may appear, does not withstand close examination.

   The inserted concession qualifies account before the main predicate.

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

   • Having
   • distinguished possibility from necessity,
   • limits the claim
   • the author
   • to the former.
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   Having distinguished possibility from necessity, the author limits the claim to the former.

   The opening participle refers to author; former refers to possibility.

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

   • The claim
   • is
   • stronger than
   • that the exception invalidates the rule
   • the evidence warrants.
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   The claim that the exception invalidates the rule is stronger than the evidence warrants.

   The that-clause specifies claim before the comparative predicate.

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

   • Those
   • first establish
   • must
   • that such a reading is justified.
   • whose objections depend on an absolute reading
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   Those whose objections depend on an absolute reading must first establish that such a reading is justified.

   Whose defines those; must takes establish and its that-complement.

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 extent
   • depends
   • on
   • to which the concession affects the argument
   • which premise it qualifies.
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   The extent to which the concession affects the argument depends on which premise it qualifies.

   The subject's extent-relative precedes depends on and an embedded question.

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

   • The report,
   • a useful record.
   • nevertheless
   • provides
   • the conclusions of which remain contested,
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   The report, the conclusions of which remain contested, nevertheless provides a useful record.

   Of which introduces the relative about report before provides.

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

   • Any
   • assuming
   • interpretation that treats silence as consent
   • risks
   • what the procedure expressly requires to be stated.
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   Any interpretation that treats silence as consent risks assuming what the procedure expressly requires to be stated.

   The relative defines interpretation; risks takes assuming and its what-object.

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

    • The distinction
    • between what the claim entails and what it merely suggests
    • is
    • precisely what
    • the response overlooks.
    Check answers and explanations

    Correct order

    The distinction between what the claim entails and what it merely suggests is precisely what the response overlooks.

    The between-phrase forms part of the subject; the what-clause is its complement.

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.