English C-Test B2: Artificial light at night
An English C-Test at B2 level: longer sentences with clauses and the passive, topics from study and society.
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25 gaps: 13 on grammar, 12 on vocabulary. Complete the second half of each word, then check; every answer with its explanation is under the text.
Answers and explanations: Artificial light at night
- lamps Vocabulary
"street lamps" = lights along a road; "lamps" = lights.
- signs Vocabulary
"illuminated signs" = signs with lights in them.
- lit Grammar
"lit" = with the lights on; participle of "light" used as an adjective. "large" also fits.
Also correct: large
- buildings Vocabulary
"office buildings" = buildings full of offices.
- glow Vocabulary
"glow" = a soft, steady light.
- can Grammar
"can be seen": modal passive, "can" + "be" + participle; "could" is also possible.
Also correct: could
- seen Grammar
Past participle of "see" (see – saw – seen) in the passive.
- far Grammar
"from far away" = from a great distance.
- and Grammar
Conjunction joining two parts of equal rank.
- large Vocabulary
"large cities" = big cities.
- only Grammar
"only the brightest stars"; "not only" = not just.
- brightest Grammar
Superlative of "bright": "the brightest".
- remain Vocabulary
"remain visible" = stay visible; plural, no -s.
- This Grammar
"This light pollution" points back to what was just described.
- pollution Vocabulary
"light pollution" = too much artificial light at night.
- not Grammar
"not only … (but also)".
- problem Vocabulary
"a problem for" someone.
- astronomers Vocabulary
"astronomers" = scientists who study the stars.
- insects Vocabulary
"insects" = small animals such as flies and moths.
- attracted Grammar
Passive "are attracted to" = are pulled towards.
- lamps Vocabulary
"street lamps" = lights along a road; "lamps" = lights.
- circle Vocabulary
"circle around" = fly round and round.
- them Grammar
Object pronoun "them" for the lamps (plural).
- they Grammar
Subject pronoun "they"; it refers to the insects.
- of Grammar
"die of" = die because of.
Tips for B2
- At B2 you meet the passive, relative clauses and linking words such as "however" or "although" more often.
- Watch the word class: adjective or adverb, noun or verb. The start of the word alone is often not enough.
- Keep to about 6 minutes per text, as in the University of Münster C-Test.
More practice texts
B1: The semester ticket · Volunteering in your free time · Food waste in the canteen
B2: How vaccines are tested · Citizen science
C1: The printing press · The economics of streaming · The decline of handwriting
Three more texts (B1, B2, C1) on one page →