U.S. Job Seekers Are Taking Longer to Find Work as Hiring Slows

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.

   In context, what does “likelihood” mean?

   1. the probability or chance that something will happen
   2. the official duration of an employment contract
   3. the amount of money received after taxation
   4. the process of comparing competing applications
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   the probability or chance that something will happen

   It refers to the probability that workers will exhaust benefits before receiving paychecks.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   In context, what does “equivalent” mean?

   1. equal in value, amount, meaning, or effect
   2. temporarily unavailable because of administrative delays
   3. distributed unevenly across different regions
   4. calculated according to a worker’s previous salary
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   equal in value, amount, meaning, or effect

   It indicates that the job ratio expresses the same quantity in another form.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   In context, what does “reassurance” mean?

   1. confidence or comfort that reduces worry about a situation
   2. evidence that an application has been formally rejected
   3. financial assistance provided after an interview
   4. a prediction about future employment levels
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   confidence or comfort that reduces worry about a situation

   It means comfort or confidence that might reduce people’s concerns about unemployment.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   In context, what does “numerous” mean?

   1. existing in large numbers; many
   2. requiring specialized professional qualifications
   3. offered exclusively through personal recommendations
   4. available only for a limited period
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   existing in large numbers; many

   It describes a large number of positions Smith applied for during his search.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   In context, what does “anonymous” mean?

   1. not identified or recognized by name
   2. legally responsible for a hiring decision
   3. temporarily excluded from an interview process
   4. publicly praised for professional expertise
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   not identified or recognized by name

   Smith feels indistinguishable because his identity is lost within the crowded applicant pool.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   In context, what does “prolonged” mean?

   1. continuing for a long time, especially longer than expected
   2. conducted through several unrelated employers
   3. completed successfully after repeated interviews
   4. restricted by a formal government regulation
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   continuing for a long time, especially longer than expected

   It describes a search continuing for longer than workers or households can comfortably sustain.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   In context, what does “conceal” mean?

   1. to hide something or prevent it from being noticed or understood
   2. to calculate a figure using several independent measurements
   3. to increase the visibility of a public problem
   4. to compensate workers for lost opportunities
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   to hide something or prevent it from being noticed or understood

   The rate may hide or prevent serious hardship from being recognized.

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.