Understanding pneumonic plague after Russian lab worker’s death

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 “monitoring” as used in the article?

   1. systematic observation intended to detect developments, changes, or signs of danger
   2. Immediate treatment of a confirmed illness
   3. Public denial of a possible emergency
   4. Permanent isolation of exposed individuals
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   systematic observation intended to detect developments, changes, or signs of danger

   Monitoring denotes systematic observation intended to detect developments or danger.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

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

   1. Retrospective explanations of an incident
   2. preventive measures adopted to reduce the likelihood or consequences of harm
   3. Official diagnoses based on laboratory evidence
   4. Public statements minimizing potential danger
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   preventive measures adopted to reduce the likelihood or consequences of harm

   Precautions are preventive measures designed to reduce harm or risk.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

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

   1. periods or arrangements of enforced isolation intended to prevent disease transmission
   2. Informal consultations among medical specialists
   3. Laboratory procedures for identifying pathogens
   4. Reports describing an individual’s symptoms
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   periods or arrangements of enforced isolation intended to prevent disease transmission

   Quarantines involve enforced isolation to prevent possible disease transmission.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

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

   1. Rapid removal of a medical restriction
   2. close, critical examination of actions, evidence, or circumstances
   3. Confidential treatment of laboratory personnel
   4. Broad transmission across a population
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   close, critical examination of actions, evidence, or circumstances

   Scrutiny means close, critical examination of evidence or circumstances.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

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

   1. clearly different in nature, characteristics, or implications
   2. Uncertain because evidence is incomplete
   3. Dangerous because symptoms are severe
   4. Related through a common laboratory source
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   clearly different in nature, characteristics, or implications

   Distinct describes something clearly different in nature or characteristics.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

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

   1. The confirmation of a laboratory diagnosis
   2. the passing of an infectious agent from one host, person, or place to another
   3. The restriction of contact during quarantine
   4. The evaluation of an uncertain report
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   the passing of an infectious agent from one host, person, or place to another

   Transmission is the movement of an infectious agent between hosts or locations.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

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

   1. the act of restricting or controlling the spread or effects of something harmful
   2. Verification of a suspected medical condition
   3. Comparison of different disease forms
   4. Reassurance delivered to a concerned public
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   the act of restricting or controlling the spread or effects of something harmful

   Containment involves restricting the spread or effects of something harmful.

8. Question 8 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

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

   1. Widely circulated but unexamined
   2. confirmed as accurate, reliable, or supported by available evidence
   3. Tentatively suggested by public officials
   4. Potentially dangerous in laboratory settings
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   confirmed as accurate, reliable, or supported by available evidence

   Verified facts have been confirmed as accurate or supported by evidence.

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.