Saving for a Starter Home Now Takes Twice as Long

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 “household” mean in the article?

   1. all the people living together in one home
   2. A company selling homes
   3. A government housing office
   4. A person working in healthcare
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   all the people living together in one home

   A household includes people living together in one home.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “inflation” mean?

   1. A fall in household income
   2. a general rise in prices over time
   3. A rule for first-time buyers
   4. A plan for saving money
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   a general rise in prices over time

   Inflation means that prices generally rise over time.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “required” mean in the article?

   1. needed because of a rule or condition
   2. Chosen by a family
   3. Paid after retirement
   4. Expected to become cheaper
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   needed because of a rule or condition

   Required means needed because of a rule or condition.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “pace” mean in “kept pace”?

   1. the speed at which something happens or changes
   2. The size of a home
   3. The cost of insurance
   4. The location of a neighborhood
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   the speed at which something happens or changes

   Here, pace means the speed of change or growth.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “timeline” mean in the final paragraph?

   1. A record of home prices
   2. the amount of time planned or expected for something
   3. A list of loan fees
   4. A measure of family income
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   the amount of time planned or expected for something

   A timeline is the expected amount of time for 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.