Ebola response in Congo struggles amid limited data, budget cuts, and community fear

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

C2. 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 meaning best matches “outpaced” as used in the article?

   1. Was monitored closely by
   2. advanced faster than something else, leaving it unable to keep up
   3. Was temporarily postponed by
   4. Was medically diagnosed through
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   advanced faster than something else, leaving it unable to keep up

   Here, outpaced means the crisis is advancing faster than the response.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which meaning best matches “hindered” as used in the article?

   1. made progress or action more difficult or less effective
   2. Made publicly controversial
   3. Rendered completely impossible
   4. Made financially profitable
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   made progress or action more difficult or less effective

   Hindered describes obstacles that make effective action more difficult.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which meaning best matches “interconnected” as used in the article?

   1. Separated into unrelated categories
   2. linked to one another so that each affects or depends on the others
   3. Ranked according to medical severity
   4. Resolved through identical procedures
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   linked to one another so that each affects or depends on the others

   The problems are linked, with each affecting aspects of the others.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which meaning best matches “constraint” as used in the article?

   1. a limitation that restricts what can be done or achieved
   2. A formal request for additional funding
   3. A measurement of disease severity
   4. A method of coordinating transportation
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   a limitation that restricts what can be done or achieved

   A constraint is a limitation restricting available action.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which meaning best matches “sustained” as used in the article?

   1. Continuing steadily over a considerable period
   2. Occurring unexpectedly and without planning
   3. Restricted to one brief operation
   4. Supported by unverified information
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Continuing steadily over a considerable period

   Sustained describes effort continuing steadily over time.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which meaning best matches “reluctant” as used in the article?

   1. unwilling or hesitant to do something
   2. Eager and fully prepared
   3. Unable to communicate verbally
   4. Certain that cooperation is unnecessary
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   unwilling or hesitant to do something

   Reluctant means hesitant or unwilling to engage.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which meaning best matches “apprehension” as used in the article?

   1. anxious concern about a possible danger or future event
   2. Confidence in an official institution
   3. Technical knowledge of clinical procedures
   4. A disagreement about budget priorities
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   anxious concern about a possible danger or future event

   Apprehension denotes anxious concern about possible danger.

8. Question 8 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which meaning best matches “dependable” as used in the article?

   1. consistently trustworthy, accurate, or reliable
   2. Available only during emergencies
   3. Difficult to interpret accurately
   4. Collected from unfamiliar communities
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   consistently trustworthy, accurate, or reliable

   Dependable information can be trusted to remain accurate and reliable.

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.