Three scientists win Nobel medicine prize for research on brain activity

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 “individual” mean in the article?

   1. Very large
   2. single and separate from others
   3. Difficult to study
   4. Found underground
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   single and separate from others

   Individual means one separate nerve cell.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “focuses” mean in the article?

   1. gives special attention to something
   2. Moves very quickly
   3. Changes location
   4. Stops completely
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   gives special attention to something

   The work gives special attention to two research areas.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “announced” mean in the article?

   1. officially told people about something
   2. Secretly changed
   3. Carefully measured
   4. Personally invented
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   officially told people about something

   The prize was officially told to the public.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “examine” mean in the article?

   1. look at something carefully to understand it
   2. Travel away from
   3. Pay money for
   4. Hide from others
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   look at something carefully to understand it

   Researchers look at the brain carefully to understand it.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “scheduled” mean in the article?

   1. planned to happen at a particular time
   2. Already forgotten
   3. Recently canceled
   4. Difficult to explain
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   planned to happen at a particular time

   The prize is planned to happen on a particular date.

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.