NPR Short Wave explores mysterious X-rays, movement and learning, and memory

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 meaning best matches “mysterious”?

   1. Difficult to understand or explain
   2. Easy to see and measure
   3. Ready to use immediately
   4. Connected to physical exercise
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Difficult to understand or explain

   Mysterious describes something difficult to understand or explain.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which meaning best matches “observations”?

   1. Careful things people notice or record
   2. Questions with no possible answers
   3. Movements used in sports
   4. Memories from childhood
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Careful things people notice or record

   Observations are careful things people notice or record.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which meaning best matches “connection”?

   1. A relationship between two things
   2. A tool for seeing X-rays
   3. A change in brain size
   4. A list of new skills
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   A relationship between two things

   A connection is a relationship between two things.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which meaning best matches “trigger”?

   1. To cause something to begin or happen
   2. To study something very carefully
   3. To keep information for years
   4. To move from one place to another
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   To cause something to begin or happen

   To trigger something means to cause it to begin or happen.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which meaning best matches “formation”?

   1. The process of creating or developing something
   2. The act of asking a simple question
   3. A method for studying space
   4. A physical activity during class
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   The process of creating or developing something

   Formation is the process of creating or developing something.

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.