Has the economy gone C-shaped

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.

   Which word means “a talk or conversation about a subject”?

   1. A talk or conversation about a subject
   2. Space between two things
   3. A difference between groups
   4. Careful notice given to something
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   A talk or conversation about a subject

   The article uses this word for NPR's talk about economic shapes.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which word means “the amount of space between two people or things”?

   1. Words explaining something
   2. The amount of space between two people or things
   3. A conversation about a subject
   4. A direction of movement
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   The amount of space between two people or things

   The article says this space between groups is growing.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which word means “words that explain what someone or something is like”?

   1. A careful look at information
   2. words that explain what someone or something is like
   3. A growing separation
   4. A return to an earlier place
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   words that explain what someone or something is like

   The article uses this word for the two economic pictures.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which word means “careful thought or notice given to something”?

   1. Careful thought or notice given to something
   2. A space between groups
   3. A written economic plan
   4. A conversation between friends
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Careful thought or notice given to something

   The article asks listeners to consider what they notice.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which word means “a difference or separation between people or groups”?

   1. A return toward one another
   2. A picture made with lines
   3. a difference or separation between people or groups
   4. A careful explanation of a subject
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   a difference or separation between people or groups

   The article connects this word with rich and poor people moving apart.

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.