‘Life-threatening’ Hurricane Isaias Begins Affecting the Gulf Coast

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 “affect” mean in the article?

   1. to produce a change in someone or something
   2. To leave a dangerous place
   3. To check something repeatedly
   4. To make something firmly fixed
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   to produce a change in someone or something

   Here, affect means to produce an impact on the Gulf Coast.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “urging” mean in the article?

   1. strongly encouraging someone to do something
   2. Officially measuring
   3. Quietly postponing
   4. Carefully repairing
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   strongly encouraging someone to do something

   Officials are strongly encouraging residents to take warnings seriously.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “evacuate” mean in the article?

   1. to leave a dangerous place for safety
   2. To enter a damaged building
   3. To observe changing weather
   4. To predict a storm’s path
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   to leave a dangerous place for safety

   To evacuate means to leave a dangerous place for safety.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “abnormal” mean in the article?

   1. different from what is usual or expected
   2. Located far from the coast
   3. Expected at a particular time
   4. Connected with official advice
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   different from what is usual or expected

   Abnormal describes a rise that differs from the usual sea level.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “monitor” mean in the article?

   1. to watch or check something carefully over time
   2. To remove from a building
   3. To cause a sudden change
   4. To strengthen a storm
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   to watch or check something carefully over time

   Residents should watch official updates carefully over time.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “secure” mean in the article?

   1. to make something safe or firmly fixed
   2. To describe a storm accurately
   3. To encourage immediate travel
   4. To measure coastal flooding
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   to make something safe or firmly fixed

   Residents should make essential belongings safe or firmly fixed.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “confirmed” mean in the article?

   1. officially shown to be true or certain
   2. Likely to become dangerous
   3. Difficult to reach safely
   4. Different from ordinary conditions
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   officially shown to be true or certain

   A confirmed location would be officially established as certain.

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.