English C-Test B2: Citizen science

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: 14 on grammar, 11 on vocabulary. Complete the second half of each word, then check; every answer with its explanation is under the text.

Citizen science

B2

Science is usually done by professionals, but some research projects depend on help from thousands of ordinary people. In th citizen sci projects, volun count bi in th gardens, rec when t first flo appear i spring o measure t quality o water i streams. Oth sort ima on th computers a classify gala that ha been photog by teles. Because amat make mist, several peo check ev image. In this way, researchers collect far more data than a small team could ever gather, and some volunteers have even discovered unusual objects that professional astronomers had overlooked.

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Answers and explanations: Citizen science
  1. these Grammar

    "these projects": "these" (plural of "this") points back to the projects just mentioned.

  2. science Vocabulary

    "citizen science" = research done with the help of the public.

  3. volunteers Vocabulary

    "volunteers" = people who help without pay.

  4. birds Vocabulary

    "count birds".

  5. their Grammar

    "their gardens", "their computers": possessive for the volunteers (plural).

  6. record Vocabulary

    "record" = write down (a verb here).

  7. the Grammar

    "the first flowers" (ordinal number), "the quality of water" (defined by "of").

  8. flowers Vocabulary

    "flowers" = the coloured parts of plants.

  9. in Grammar

    "in spring" (season), "in streams" (place).

  10. or Grammar

    "or" adds the last option in a list.

  11. the Grammar

    "the first flowers" (ordinal number), "the quality of water" (defined by "of").

  12. of Grammar

    "the quality of water".

  13. in Grammar

    "in spring" (season), "in streams" (place).

  14. Others Grammar

    "Others" = other volunteers; a pronoun without a noun.

  15. images Vocabulary

    "images" = pictures.

  16. their Grammar

    "their gardens", "their computers": possessive for the volunteers (plural).

  17. and Grammar

    Conjunction joining two parts of equal rank.

  18. galaxies Vocabulary

    "galaxies", plural of "galaxy" (y → -ies).

  19. have Grammar

    "have been photographed": present perfect passive; "have", because "galaxies" is plural.

  20. photographed Grammar

    Past participle of "photograph" in the passive.

  21. telescopes Vocabulary

    "telescopes" = instruments for looking at distant objects.

  22. amateurs Vocabulary

    "amateurs" = people who are not professionals.

  23. mistakes Vocabulary

    "make mistakes" (not "do").

  24. people Vocabulary

    "several people": "people" is plural.

  25. every Grammar

    "every image": "every" + singular noun.

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