Steinem and Parton’s Deaths Leave Feminists Grieving Two Influential Voices

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 “unusual” mean?

   1. different from what is normal or expected
   2. widely accepted by nearly everyone
   3. carefully planned in advance
   4. connected to a specific profession
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   different from what is normal or expected

   The word describes a shared loss that differs from ordinary expectations.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “forefront” mean in the article?

   1. a private position away from attention
   2. the leading or most important position in an activity or movement
   3. a temporary place for new members
   4. the final stage of a public debate
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   the leading or most important position in an activity or movement

   It refers to the leading position in women’s rights advocacy.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “intensified” mean in the article?

   1. made something weaker
   2. made something stronger or more serious
   3. made something less understandable
   4. made something occur more slowly
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   made something stronger or more serious

   The timing made the feeling of loss stronger and more noticeable.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “collective” mean in the article?

   1. shared by a group of people rather than belonging to one person
   2. hidden from the public
   3. limited to one family
   4. based on personal competition
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   shared by a group of people rather than belonging to one person

   The grief is shared by a wider group, not limited to individuals.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “authority” mean in the article?

   1. the power to avoid responsibility
   2. the confidence, influence, or expertise to be respected and believed
   3. the ability to remain anonymous
   4. formal membership in an organization
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   the confidence, influence, or expertise to be respected and believed

   Here, authority means respected influence and credibility in public discussion.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “continuity” mean in the article?

   1. a sudden disagreement
   2. the preservation of connection or stability over time
   3. a movement’s complete replacement
   4. a public celebration after success
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   the preservation of connection or stability over time

   It concerns maintaining connection and stability as leadership changes.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “prominent” mean in the article?

   1. important, well-known, or easily noticed
   2. new and inexperienced
   3. quiet and privately focused
   4. uncertain and frequently changing
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   important, well-known, or easily noticed

   The word describes voices that are important, famous, and publicly noticeable.

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.