El-Sayed and Stevens Trade Sharp Comments in Michigan Senate Race

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.

   Which meaning best matches “rivalry” as used in the article?

   1. A period of private cooperation
   2. a situation in which two people or groups compete strongly with each other
   3. A formal request for an apology
   4. A confirmed election result
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   a situation in which two people or groups compete strongly with each other

   A rivalry is strong competition between people or groups.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which meaning best matches “demanded” as used in the article?

   1. asked for something forcefully and without accepting refusal
   2. Explained something cautiously
   3. Refused to discuss something
   4. Received something unexpectedly
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   asked for something forcefully and without accepting refusal

   To demand something is to request it forcefully.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which meaning best matches “disagreement” as used in the article?

   1. A shared political objective
   2. a difference of opinion between people or groups
   3. A successful compromise
   4. A public election result
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   a difference of opinion between people or groups

   A disagreement is a difference of opinion between people or groups.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which meaning best matches “distinguish” as used in the article?

   1. To combine separate groups
   2. to recognize or show the difference between people or things
   3. To avoid answering a question
   4. To repeat an earlier argument
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   to recognize or show the difference between people or things

   To distinguish means to recognize or show a difference.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which meaning best matches “cooperation” as used in the article?

   1. the act of working together toward a shared purpose
   2. Competing for the same position
   3. Criticizing an opponent publicly
   4. Changing an election timetable
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   the act of working together toward a shared purpose

   Cooperation means working together toward a shared purpose.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which meaning best matches “established” as used in the article?

   1. Privately discussed but uncertain
   2. accepted as true or confirmed by reliable information
   3. Recently rejected by voters
   4. Difficult to explain clearly
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   accepted as true or confirmed by reliable information

   Established information is accepted as true or confirmed.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which meaning best matches “pivotal” as used in the article?

   1. extremely important because it can influence what happens next
   2. Unrelated to the main campaign
   3. Likely to remain politically private
   4. Based on a minor personal preference
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   extremely important because it can influence what happens next

   Pivotal describes something extremely important to later events.

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.