El Niño is intensifying heavy rain and flash-flood risks in the Southwest, scientists say

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

C1. 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.

   Which option best defines “phenomenon” as used in the article?

   1. an observable event or process, especially one studied scientifically
   2. A permanent administrative boundary
   3. A precautionary evacuation procedure
   4. A measurement of atmospheric pressure
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   an observable event or process, especially one studied scientifically

   Here, phenomenon means an observable natural process studied scientifically.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which option best defines “precipitation” as used in the article?

   1. water that falls from the atmosphere as rain, snow, sleet, or hail
   2. Moisture stored exclusively beneath the ground
   3. Wind moving across a mountain range
   4. Heat retained by coastal infrastructure
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   water that falls from the atmosphere as rain, snow, sleet, or hail

   The term refers broadly to water falling from the atmosphere.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which option best defines “catastrophic” as used in the article?

   1. causing extremely serious damage, destruction, or suffering
   2. Occurring at predictable seasonal intervals
   3. Remaining below an established average
   4. Developing gradually without consequences
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   causing extremely serious damage, destruction, or suffering

   The adjective describes potentially extremely serious damage or destruction.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which option best defines “subjected” as used in the article?

   1. caused someone or something to experience an unpleasant or difficult condition
   2. Protected from an approaching weather system
   3. Measured against a historical average
   4. Directed toward a safer geographical region
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   caused someone or something to experience an unpleasant or difficult condition

   The verb indicates that states were made to experience prolonged flooding.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which option best defines “baseline” as used in the article?

   1. a standard or initial level used for comparison
   2. A temporary warning issued by officials
   3. A narrow route followed by storms
   4. A record of previous evacuations
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   a standard or initial level used for comparison

   Baseline denotes a reference level used to assess change or intensity.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which option best defines “vulnerable” as used in the article?

   1. especially exposed to harm, danger, or adverse effects
   2. Scientifically certain to avoid disruption
   3. Located far from any river system
   4. Responsible for calculating precipitation totals
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   especially exposed to harm, danger, or adverse effects

   Vulnerable residents are especially exposed to danger or adverse effects.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which option best defines “evacuation” as used in the article?

   1. the organized removal of people from a dangerous place
   2. Measurement of atmospheric moisture
   3. Prediction of a storm’s peak intensity
   4. Comparison between regional climate cycles
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   the organized removal of people from a dangerous place

   Evacuation is the organized removal of people from a dangerous area.

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.