Susan Collins Is Always Keeping Score

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 “delivered” mean in the article?

   1. gave or brought something to a person or place
   2. removed something from a public building
   3. asked someone to change a decision
   4. promised to return something later
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   gave or brought something to a person or place

   Here, “delivered” means brought or provided financial support.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “influence” mean in the article?

   1. the power to affect people or events
   2. a public place for political meetings
   3. a written record of past disagreements
   4. a payment made to local workers
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   the power to affect people or events

   Influence is the power to affect people or events.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What are “disagreements”?

   1. situations in which people have different opinions
   2. plans that local leaders fully support
   3. meetings between residents and senators
   4. financial gifts given to communities
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   situations in which people have different opinions

   Disagreements happen when people have different opinions.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “displeasure” mean?

   1. an unhappy or angry feeling about something
   2. a strong desire to help a community
   3. a careful plan for spending money
   4. a friendly connection between leaders
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   an unhappy or angry feeling about something

   Displeasure is an unhappy or angry feeling.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What are “expectations”?

   1. beliefs about what should happen or how someone should act
   2. official decisions made by a state government
   3. arguments between local political groups
   4. large amounts of money given to senators
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   beliefs about what should happen or how someone should act

   Expectations are beliefs about what should happen or how someone should act.

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.