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Linking Words Writing Exercises: Level B1-B2 (with Answers)

⏱ Time: 07:30 📝 Questions: 15 📊 Level: B1, B2 📚 Type: Writing ⭐ XP: up to +16 (on pass)

Track your Linking Words progress with 15 exercises at Level B1-B2. Take the quiz today, note your score, and retake it next week to see how much you have improved. Every question includes a full explanation so each attempt teaches you something new.

⏱ You have 07:30 to answer 15 questions. The timer only starts when you click Begin.

Q1  15
Q1 15

Question 1: Read the following sentence: 'The team worked hard all season; however, they did not win the championship.' What type of linking word is 'however' in this sentence?

Question 1 options
'However' is a contrast transition word because it introduces an idea that opposes or contradicts the first clause. It signals that the result was unexpected given the team's hard work.
Q2 15

Question 2: The company lost several major clients last quarter. ___, the board decided to replace the marketing director.

Question 2 options
'Consequently' is the correct choice because the sentence requires a cause-effect transition showing that the board's decision was a result of losing clients. 'Moreover' adds information, 'nevertheless' shows contrast, and 'meanwhile' shows time sequence.
Q3 15

Question 3: When the transition word 'however' joins two independent clauses, it should be preceded by a semicolon and followed by a comma.

Question 3 options
This is true. When 'however' connects two independent clauses as a conjunctive adverb, the correct punctuation pattern is: clause one + semicolon + however + comma + clause two (e.g., 'It rained all day; however, we still enjoyed the trip.').
Q4 15

Question 4: Which sentence correctly uses a contrast linking word?

Question 4 options
'Although the exam was difficult, most students passed' correctly uses 'although' to introduce a subordinate clause that contrasts with the main clause. The other options misuse the transitions: 'therefore' signals result (not contrast), 'because' signals cause, and 'furthermore' signals addition.
Q5 15

Question 5: Match each linking word to its correct function in writing.

Question 5 options
Furthermore
Nevertheless
Therefore
First of all
Shows a result or logical conclusion
Adds extra supporting information
Signals the beginning of a sequence
Introduces an opposing or contrasting idea

Select an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

'Furthermore' adds information, 'nevertheless' introduces contrast, 'therefore' shows result or consequence, and 'first of all' indicates sequence or order.
Q6 15

Question 6: Which sentence contains an error in how a transition word is punctuated?

Question 6 options
The sentence 'She studied hard, therefore she passed the exam' is incorrect because 'therefore' is a conjunctive adverb joining two independent clauses and requires a semicolon before it, not a comma. A comma alone creates a comma splice. The correct version is: 'She studied hard; therefore, she passed the exam.'
Q7 15

Question 7: The city has invested heavily in public transport. Buses now run every ten minutes, and two new tram lines have opened. ___, traffic congestion has decreased significantly in the past year.

Question 7 options
'As a result' is the best choice because the paragraph establishes a cause (investment in public transport, more buses, new tram lines) and the blank introduces the effect (decreased congestion). 'In addition' merely adds information, 'on the contrary' signals opposition, and 'for instance' introduces an example.
Q8 15

Question 8: The following sentence contains a transition error: 'The restaurant had excellent reviews, on the other hand we decided to eat there.' Which option correctly fixes the error?

Question 8 options
The sentence needs a cause-effect or result transition, not a contrast one. 'On the other hand' signals contrast, but the two ideas logically agree — good reviews led to the decision. Replacing it with 'so' correctly shows the cause-effect relationship and uses appropriate punctuation.
Q9 15

Question 9: Arrange the parts in the correct order to form a properly structured and punctuated sentence using a contrast transition:

Question 9 options
  • the rooms were worth
  • The hotel was expensive
  • ; nevertheless,
  • the price.

Drag items or use arrows to arrange them in the correct order.

The correct order forms the sentence: 'The hotel was expensive; nevertheless, the rooms were worth the price.' A semicolon precedes the conjunctive adverb 'nevertheless,' which is followed by a comma before the second independent clause.
Q10 15

Question 10: You are writing a formal report about declining sales figures and need to introduce a sentence explaining why sales dropped. Which option is most appropriate?

Question 10 options
'This decline is largely due to increased competition in the online market' uses the formal cause-effect transition 'due to,' which is appropriate for a business report. 'Basically, sales went down cos of online shops' is too informal, 'Also, online shops exist now' uses an addition word instead of cause-effect, and 'But online shops are popular' uses a contrast word incorrectly.
Q11 15

Question 11: What is the difference between using 'although' and 'however' to express contrast in writing?

Question 11 options
'Although' is a subordinating conjunction that must be used within a single sentence to connect a dependent clause to an independent clause. 'However' is a conjunctive adverb that typically connects two independent clauses or starts a new sentence, and it requires different punctuation (semicolon before, comma after when joining clauses).
Q12 15

Question 12: Which version of the following sentence is most appropriate for an academic essay? 'The experiment produced unexpected results ___.'

Question 12 options
'The experiment produced unexpected results; consequently, the hypothesis was revised' uses the formal conjunctive adverb 'consequently' with correct semicolon-comma punctuation, which is appropriate for academic writing. 'So' is too informal for an essay, 'and then' is conversational, and 'but' signals contrast rather than result.
Q13 15

Question 13: The linking word 'since' can only be used to show time relationships and cannot be used to show cause-effect relationships.

Question 13 options
This is false. 'Since' can function both as a time marker (e.g., 'I have lived here since 2010') and as a cause-effect transition similar to 'because' (e.g., 'Since the roads were icy, we stayed home'). Context determines which meaning applies.
Q14 15

Question 14: Read this passage: 'The village has no hospital or secondary school. Furthermore, public transport links are extremely limited.' Why does the writer use 'furthermore' in the second sentence?

Question 14 options
'Furthermore' is an addition transition used to build upon a previous point with extra supporting evidence. Here, the writer lists one problem (no hospital or school) and then uses 'furthermore' to add another problem (poor transport), strengthening the overall argument that the village lacks essential services.
Q15 15

Question 15: Which is the best revision of this weak sentence? 'The weather was bad and we stayed indoors and we played board games and we had a good time.'

Question 15 options
The best revision uses varied transitions to show logical relationships: 'Due to' shows cause-effect, 'so' shows result, and 'and as a result' connects to the conclusion. The original sentence overuses 'and,' which creates a monotonous, unclear structure. The improved version shows clear logical connections between the ideas.