Plans for a West Virginia data center raise concerns about wilderness and dark skies

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 “concerns” mean in the article?

   1. worries about possible problems or harmful effects
   2. plans for future celebrations
   3. methods for measuring distance
   4. reports about successful construction
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   worries about possible problems or harmful effects

   The word describes worries about possible negative effects of the proposed development.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “rugged” mean in the article?

   1. rough, wild, and difficult to travel across
   2. flat, urban, and heavily populated
   3. warm, cultivated, and easy to cross
   4. modern, crowded, and brightly lit
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   rough, wild, and difficult to travel across

   It describes mountains that are rough, wild, and difficult to travel across.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “gateways” mean in the article?

   1. places that provide access to another area or activity
   2. buildings used to store scientific equipment
   3. paths that prevent visitors from entering
   4. companies that organize mining operations
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   places that provide access to another area or activity

   Davis and Thomas provide access to the region’s outdoor attractions.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “artificial” mean in the article?

   1. made or produced by people rather than occurring naturally
   2. visible only during summer evenings
   3. caused by distant mountain weather
   4. created by stars and other celestial objects
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   made or produced by people rather than occurring naturally

   Artificial light is produced by people rather than occurring naturally.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “occupied” mean in the article?

   1. being used or filled by someone
   2. closed because of dangerous weather
   3. reserved for future construction
   4. located far from public roads
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   being used or filled by someone

   Occupied campsites are being used or filled by campers.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “transformed” mean in the article?

   1. changed something greatly in appearance, character, or condition
   2. protected something from all outside influence
   3. measured something with unusual accuracy
   4. visited something for recreational purposes
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   changed something greatly in appearance, character, or condition

   Logging and mining changed the region greatly in earlier periods.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “define” mean in the article?

   1. to establish the main qualities or identity of something
   2. to remove people from a protected area
   3. to calculate the cost of a project
   4. to describe a temporary weather pattern
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   to establish the main qualities or identity of something

   The communities and facilities establish the area’s main qualities and identity.

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.