Southwest Floods Bring a Rare Boost to Reservoirs, Including Lake Powell

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.

   In the article, what does “increase” mean?

   1. A rise in amount, size, or number.
   2. A sudden interruption to normal activity.
   3. A rule that limits public behavior.
   4. A protective step that reduces a risk.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   A rise in amount, size, or number.

   The word describes water levels becoming greater.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “disruption” mean in the article?

   1. A situation in which normal activity is interrupted or prevented.
   2. A gradual improvement in quality
   3. A supply that has been restored
   4. A prediction about future conditions
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   A situation in which normal activity is interrupted or prevented.

   Flooding interfered with ordinary movement and activity.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “depleted” mean when describing lakes and aquifers?

   1. Reduced in amount because some or most has been used or lost.
   2. Filled beyond their normal capacity
   3. Protected from future environmental change
   4. Measured with unusual accuracy
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Reduced in amount because some or most has been used or lost.

   Their available water had been reduced over time.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   In the sentence about regional supplies, what is a “boost”?

   1. An increase or improvement that helps something become stronger or more successful.
   2. A limit on how much people can use
   3. A temporary interruption to a service
   4. A process that removes unwanted material
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   An increase or improvement that helps something become stronger or more successful.

   It is a helpful increase in the amount available.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “replenish” mean in the article?

   1. To fill or restore something that has been used or reduced.
   2. To block access to a particular place
   3. To measure a change over time
   4. To reduce the effect of a problem
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   To fill or restore something that has been used or reduced.

   The weak snowpack did little to restore water sources.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What are “restrictions” in the Pagosa Springs example?

   1. Official rules that limit what people can do or use.
   2. Benefits that improve public services
   3. Changes in the amount of rainfall
   4. Areas that remain difficult to reach
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Official rules that limit what people can do or use.

   They were official limits on local water use.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “buffer” mean in the final paragraph?

   1. Something that reduces the harmful effect of a problem or change.
   2. A supply that has been completely exhausted
   3. A rule that prevents future rainfall
   4. A sudden change in weather conditions
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Something that reduces the harmful effect of a problem or change.

   The added water may soften the effects of future shortages.

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.