‘Fire amoeba’ sets a new thermal limit for complex life

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.

   In the article, what does “thermal” most nearly mean?

   1. Relating to heat, temperature, or the transfer of heat.
   2. Relating to cellular inheritance
   3. Relating to geographic distribution
   4. Relating to evolutionary age
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Relating to heat, temperature, or the transfer of heat.

   The word concerns heat and temperature.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   In context, what is an “organism”?

   1. An individual living entity, especially one considered biologically or functionally.
   2. A laboratory instrument
   3. A chemical threshold
   4. A scientific publication
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   An individual living entity, especially one considered biologically or functionally.

   Here, it denotes an individual living entity.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What do “capabilities” denote in the article?

   1. The abilities or capacities that enable something to perform particular functions.
   2. Environmental measurements
   3. Taxonomic labels
   4. Research locations
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   The abilities or capacities that enable something to perform particular functions.

   The term refers to distinct biological abilities.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “threshold” mean in this context?

   1. A specified point at which a condition, response, or process begins or changes.
   2. A species’ common name
   3. A temporary observation
   4. A research controversy
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   A specified point at which a condition, response, or process begins or changes.

   It marks a point associated with a particular biological function.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “eukaryotic” describe?

   1. Having cells with a nucleus and other membrane-bound internal structures.
   2. Living only in extreme heat
   3. Producing offspring asexually
   4. Moving without cellular structures
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Having cells with a nucleus and other membrane-bound internal structures.

   It describes organisms whose cells contain nuclei and complex internal structures.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “interchangeable” imply?

   1. Capable of being substituted for one another without a meaningful difference.
   2. Separated by a measurable threshold
   3. Limited to one biological category
   4. Observed at precisely identical temperatures
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Capable of being substituted for one another without a meaningful difference.

   Interchangeable abilities could substitute for one another without meaningful difference.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What is a “benchmark”?

   1. A standard or reference point against which performance or progress is assessed.
   2. A biological specimen
   3. A disputed hypothesis
   4. A descriptive nickname
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   A standard or reference point against which performance or progress is assessed.

   A benchmark provides a standard for comparison or assessment.

8. Question 8 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What does “consequently” signal?

   1. As a result of a preceding fact, condition, or line of reasoning.
   2. By contrast
   3. For example
   4. At first
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   As a result of a preceding fact, condition, or line of reasoning.

   It introduces a result arising from the preceding information.

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.