Virginia preschoolers embark on their very first day of school

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 option best defines “elemental” as used in the article?

   1. fundamental and basic, especially in a way that precedes more developed forms
   2. Highly technical and specialized
   3. Temporarily fashionable
   4. Physically difficult to perceive
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   fundamental and basic, especially in a way that precedes more developed forms

   Here, it describes significance at a fundamental developmental level.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

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

   1. A recurring administrative procedure
   2. a significant stage or event marking progress in a person’s development or history
   3. A disputed institutional policy
   4. A geographical boundary marker
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   a significant stage or event marking progress in a person’s development or history

   It denotes a significant stage marking developmental progress.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

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

   1. Delaying an anticipated activity
   2. beginning a significant undertaking, experience, or course of action
   3. Repeating a familiar procedure
   4. Evaluating an completed experience
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   beginning a significant undertaking, experience, or course of action

   The word means beginning a significant experience or undertaking.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

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

   1. Entirely separate in subject matter
   2. partly coinciding in scope, time, or meaning without being identical
   3. Increasing steadily in numerical size
   4. Arranged according to strict chronology
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   partly coinciding in scope, time, or meaning without being identical

   The narratives coincide partly in scope without becoming identical.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

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

   1. a point of transition marking entry into a new stage, condition, or experience
   2. A formal measurement of academic ability
   3. A temporary interruption of routine
   4. A physical location outside a city
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   a point of transition marking entry into a new stage, condition, or experience

   It metaphorically marks entry into a new stage of experience.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

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

   1. Combines two otherwise unrelated events
   2. marks or identifies a difference that separates one thing from another
   3. Predicts an outcome with certainty
   4. Questions the reliability of evidence
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   marks or identifies a difference that separates one thing from another

   It identifies the difference separating first attendance from returning.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

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

   1. broad in scope, range, or contextual reach
   2. Limited to one physical classroom
   3. Focused exclusively on personal emotion
   4. Restricted by a precise geographical boundary
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   broad in scope, range, or contextual reach

   It characterizes context that is broad in scope and reach.

8. Question 8 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

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

   1. Commonplace and institutionally repetitive
   2. distinctive, exceptional, or uniquely individual
   3. Shared equally by every participant
   4. Difficult to distinguish from surrounding events
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   distinctive, exceptional, or uniquely individual

   It describes a distinctive, uniquely individual moment.

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.