A fossil feather from the age of dinosaurs may explain why only some birds survived

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

B1. 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

Use the surrounding sentence to identify the meaning and word form needed. Check which words naturally go together.

1. Question 1 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “fossil” mean in the article?

   1. A modern bird nest
   2. the remains or mark of a plant or animal from a very long time ago
   3. A tool for measuring feathers
   4. A written scientific report
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   the remains or mark of a plant or animal from a very long time ago

   A fossil is preserved evidence from a very ancient plant or animal.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “clue” mean in the article?

   1. a piece of information that helps explain something
   2. A complete scientific answer
   3. A kind of ancient bird
   4. A place where fossils are found
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   a piece of information that helps explain something

   A clue is information that helps scientists understand a question.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “preserve” mean in the article?

   1. To destroy slowly
   2. to keep something safe or in its original condition
   3. To move far away
   4. To compare two groups
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   to keep something safe or in its original condition

   Preserve means to keep something safe or in its original condition.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “distant” mean in the article?

   1. Very close
   2. Recently discovered
   3. Far away in time or place
   4. Easy to understand
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Far away in time or place

   Distant means far away in time or place.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “confirmed” mean in the article?

   1. Shown to be true or certain
   2. Suggested without evidence
   3. Forgotten over time
   4. Found inside a feather
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Shown to be true or certain

   Confirmed means shown to be true or certain.

What to review next

Keep a short list of unfamiliar words with their meanings and example sentences. Practise recalling them later, then use them in a sentence of your own.

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

Read the whole sentence before choosing a word. Check both its meaning and the words it naturally combines with.

Please make an appointment before visiting the clinic.

Make an appointment is a natural word combination. Knowing a dictionary meaning alone may not tell you which verb fits.

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.