A Strange Detector Signal Renews Questions About Dark Matter

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

B2. 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 “renewed” mean in the article?

   1. made active or important again after a period of less attention
   2. Removed from public discussion
   3. Proved through repeated testing
   4. Changed into a technical device
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   made active or important again after a period of less attention

   It means the blip made an existing question important again.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “theoretical” describe in the article?

   1. based on ideas or principles rather than practical testing or direct observation
   2. Designed for public entertainment
   3. Produced by accidental damage
   4. Limited to laboratory machinery
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   based on ideas or principles rather than practical testing or direct observation

   It describes knowledge based mainly on ideas and principles rather than direct observation.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “unusual” mean in the article?

   1. different from what is normal, expected, or commonly seen
   2. Widely accepted as accurate
   3. Repeated at regular intervals
   4. Easy to explain immediately
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   different from what is normal, expected, or commonly seen

   It means different from what is normal or expected.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “settle” mean in the sentence?

   1. to resolve a question or disagreement conclusively
   2. Record temporarily
   3. Discuss publicly
   4. Measure precisely
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   to resolve a question or disagreement conclusively

   Here, it means resolving the question conclusively.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “uncertainty” refer to?

   1. a lack of confidence about what is true or what will happen
   2. Agreement about a scientific result
   3. Confidence in a detector’s design
   4. Interest in a researcher’s career
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   a lack of confidence about what is true or what will happen

   It refers to a lack of confidence about the event’s true meaning.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “assess” mean in the article?

   1. to examine something carefully in order to judge its importance or quality
   2. Publish without checking details
   3. Ignore competing explanations
   4. Construct a new detector
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   to examine something carefully in order to judge its importance or quality

   It means examining the possibilities carefully before judging the event.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “convincing” mean in context?

   1. persuasive enough to make someone believe that something is true
   2. Too complex for scientists
   3. Based entirely on chance
   4. Unrelated to the recording
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   persuasive enough to make someone believe that something is true

   It describes an explanation persuasive enough to seem more believable.

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.