Scientists Move Toward a New Way to Keep Official Time

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 “unlikely” mean in the article sentence?

   1. Not expected to happen or be true
   2. Certain to happen very soon
   3. Difficult to measure accurately
   4. Already completed successfully
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Not expected to happen or be true

   It describes something that is not expected to happen or be true.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “precise” mean in the article sentence?

   1. Exact and carefully measured
   2. Old and difficult to repair
   3. Fast but unreliable
   4. Common and inexpensive
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Exact and carefully measured

   Here, precise clocks measure time with great exactness.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “rotation” mean in the article sentence?

   1. the movement of something around a central point or axis
   2. A sudden change in temperature
   3. A device for recording sound
   4. A method of arranging meetings
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   the movement of something around a central point or axis

   It means the Earth's movement around its central axis.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “abandon” mean in the article sentence?

   1. to stop using, supporting, or continuing something
   2. Improve something through careful testing
   3. Explain something to a large audience
   4. Move something to another location
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   to stop using, supporting, or continuing something

   The member states decided to stop using the previous system.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “concept” mean in the article sentence?

   1. an idea or principle, especially one used to explain something
   2. A precise instrument for measuring time
   3. An official meeting held in France
   4. A small unit of physical distance
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   an idea or principle, especially one used to explain something

   The word identifies the idea of using a leap hour.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “gradually” mean in the article sentence?

   1. Slowly over a period of time
   2. Immediately and without warning
   3. Accurately according to instructions
   4. Separately from all other objects
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Slowly over a period of time

   The watches move apart slowly over a period of time.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “adapt” mean in the article sentence?

   1. to change in order to work better in new conditions
   2. Remain exactly the same despite difficulties
   3. Measure an object using a mechanical device
   4. Remove a system from official records
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   to change in order to work better in new conditions

   Scientists change standards so they fit the natural world's conditions.

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.