Language Skill Training Course Materials

READING
Part 1: 1 short passage, 10 gap-filling questions, 15 options
OVERVIEW Part 2: 1 long passage, 10 T/F/NI questions
OF THE Part 3: 2 long passages, 8 MCQs
READING Part 4: 1 long passage, 12 questions of 2 types (MCQs,
TEST Sentence Completion, Y/N/NG, T/F/NG, Short answer,
Matching)
Total: 40 Questions

PART 1 SHORT PASSAGE with gap-filling questions

The completion task tests the reader's ability to understand and identify specific details for each
piece of information in the text.
Words to fill in the gaps include names, numbers, qualities, features, actions, and adjectives that
describe a person or thing.

To choose the correct word for the question, you should:

 Skim to understand the overall content: the type of text, the subject of the text, some
salient features repeated in the text
 Make notes (underline or circle) any words around
 Identify the part of speech of words to fill in the gaps: nouns, verbs, adjectives, gerunds,
etc.
 Pay attention to the grammatical form of that word.
If the missing word is:
a noun, is it
- countable or uncountable?
- (If countable) plural or singular?
- need a number/an adjective before it?
a verb, is it
- in the past or present?
- simple or continuous?
- active or passive?
- used with “he/he/it” as the subject?
- before/after an adverb (e.g. always, soon)?
an adjective or adverb, is it
- before/after an adverb (e.g. very, highly)?
- possitive or negative (e.g. -ful/less)?

EXERCISE 1Identify the forms of the words below.

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ECONOMY FINANCE
downturn suy thoái kinh tế redeemable có thể chuộc lại
allocate phân chia cardholder chủ thẻ
wire transfer chuyển tiền trực tuyến
extract tách ra collateral thế chấp
balanced ổn định account balance số dư tài khoản
flourishing/ prosperous hưng thịnh corporate bond trái phiếu công ty
boost thúc đẩy coverage phạm vi bảo hiểm
ups and downs thăng trầm credit to gửi tiền cho
changeable dễ thay đổi exchange rate tỉ giá hối đoái
impose đánh thuế insure bảo hiểm
curtail cắt bớt forge làm giả
lavish lãng phí make a deposit gửi tiền
deplete dùng hết pay off trả …
money order phiếu chuyển tiền
premises cơ sở remittance gửi tiền
outstanding chưa trả
transact giao dịch

EXERCISE 2: Match the words with the definitions.

Topic 1: BUSINESS
Word Definition
beneficial người hưởng lợi
dismissal thuộc hành chính
benefitary có lợi, ưu đãi
administrative giờ làm việc linh hoạt
benefit package tiền trợ cấp
allowance gói lợi tức
flexible hours sa thải
job fair năng khiếu
aptitude phụ cấp ngoài
fringe benefit hội chợ việc làm
competitive salary trợ lý, thư ký, cố vấn
assistant mức lương cạnh tranh
coordinator chứng chỉ, giấy chứng nhận kinh nghiệm
in duty ca ngày
day shift điều phối viên, người tiến hành
appoint chỉ định
employee of the month nhân viên ưu tú của tháng
certificate đang làm nhiệm vụ

Topic 2: COMPANY
Word Definition

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impending sắp đến (kì hạn)

accounting year thông tin hàng hóa
information material nhiệm vụ, việc đảm nhiệm
assignment ưu thế cạnh tranh
janitor năm kế toán
backlog of orders tồn đọng đơn hàng
hallmark có trách nhiệm
be liable for dụng cụ văn phòng
office supplies dấu hiệu xác nhận tiêu chuẩn
be compatible with ngay khi nhận
on the receipt of tương thích với
be subordinated to người gác cổng, tạp vụ
operating expense phí vận hành
competitive edge dịch vụ chuyển phát nhanh
affiliate công ty chi nhánh
courier service dụng cụ, thiết bị điện tử
appliance bảo vệ người tiêu dung
consumer affairs thành phần
component xử lý đơn hàng
crude materials sáp nhập
consolidate cho vào thùng
file for bankruptcy nhóm thảo luận
due date ngày đến hạn thanh toán
fill the order nguyên liệu thô
encase chủ doanh nghiệp
focus group tuyên bố phá sản
entrepreneur địa vị kém hơn, phụ thuộc vào

EXERCISE 3: Write the definitions of the words below in Vietnamese.

Topic 1: TRAVEL Topic 2: MEDIA
accommodation amenity
customs quarterly
attraction cater
recipe rating
check in/out compile
souvenir synoposis
cuisine newsletter
admission fee bulletin board
circulation
out of print

EXERCISE 4: Skim the text and answer these questions without filling in the gaps.

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What kind of text (e.g. story, article) is it?

What is the text about?
Which parts of it are the sails and the balcony?
Which five of the points below are in the text?
1. The family built a windmill and they now live in it.
2. The Wraysbury windmill is four centuries old.
3. The windmill has the same kind of rooms as a house.
4. Living in a windmill is different from living in a house.
5. There are sometimes fires in the windmill.
6. The windmill has a fire exit.
7. The windmill will make its own power.
8. They used material from abroad to build the windmill.

Larcombe Teenager Charlie Larcombe lives in an amazing home: a wooden windmill. His
parents built the windmill in the pretty English village of Wraysbury, basing their design (1)
......... a 400-year-old mill in the same area. Inside, there are five levels. The (2) ……... floor is the
largest, containing the living room, dining room and kitchen. Upstairs, the first and second
floors have bedrooms, a tiny office and the bathroom. The Larcombes use the (3) ……. floor
for storing things, and the fourth, at the top of the mill, is the part that looks (4) ........... a boat
and holds the sails.
Living in a windmill brings a (5)...... changes to normal life. The family found the shape of their
new home a little strange at first. All the rooms are round, so there are no (6)... and the ceilings
seem quite small compared to the floors.
It has central heating and it's very cosy, but fire is a danger (7) .. .. it is made of wood. There is
a water system in each ceiling, so if there is a fire, the people inside can flood every level (8)
.......... seconds. Also, the balcony around the outside of the mill provides an escape route from
the upper floors.
The Larcombes used local materials to build the windmill, including pieces from old cottages
and farm buildings in the nearby area. The one last (9) .............. is to complete the 8-metre long
sails. They hope to use wind energy to create all the (10) ………..... the mill needs – and perhaps
also enough for ten other houses in the village.

EXERCISE 5: Read the text in Practice 4 more carefully and fill in the gaps with
these words.
as corners electricity few ground paper so economy
job like in on third though employer

EXERCISE 6: Read the definitions of the words below. Then complete the e-mail
message. Use each word once.
confession (n) a statement that you have done something bad, wrong, or unexpected
discover (v) to find or learn something new or unexpected
eventually (adv) in the end; after a long time
experiment (n) a scientific test that is done in order to prove something or get new knowledge

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lifestyle (n) the way that you live

occasion (n) a particular time when something happens
rare (adj) not done, seen, or happening very often
cell (n) mobile phone
regret (v) to feel sorry that you did something or that you did not do something
survive (v) to continue to exist, especially in or after a difficult situation

From: Megan Morris

To: Laura Jones
Subject: Goodbye cell phone!
Hey Laura,
You haven’t heard from me for a while. I’m emailing you because I have lost my cell phone.
But don’t worry! In fact, I have to make a(n) (1) ……………………. I don’t miss it at all! Losing it
allowed me to (2) …………………… that I am happier without it! At first, I didn’t think I could (3)
…………………… without having my cell phone always with me. I used to have it with me all the
time – even at the beach and at the movies. I used it to take photos at every special (4)
…………………… like my cousin’s wedding. I did consider buying a new one at first, but then I
thought it would be fun to be one of those (5) …………………… people who doesn’t own a cell
phone. It was my own little (6) ……………………. I wanted to test myself. (7) ……………………, I
found that I was happier – and safer – without it. I don’t drive and text anymore, and I have
more time for myself. I don’t (8) …………………… my decision to live cell-free. In fact, I love my
new (9) ……………………. Talk to you soon – just don’t call my (10) ……………………!
Miss you lots,
Megan

EXERCISE 7: Choose ONE of the given words to fill in each numbered gap in the
following passage. There are more words than needed.
of make then share who every frightening benefits
mistake little with amounts cause afterwards all
Cartoon films
Cartoon films have very (0)….little…. limits. If you can draw something, you can
(1)…………………..it move on the cinema screen. The use (2)…………………..new ideas and advanced
computer programs means that cartoons are becoming exciting again for people of
(3)…………………..ages.
By the (4)…………………..of the 1970s, the cinema world had decided that cartoons were only for
children. But soon (5)…………………..one or two directors had some original new ideas. They
proved that it was possible to make films in which both adults and children could
(6)…………………..the fun.
However, not (7)…………………..cartoon film was successful. The Black Cauldron, for example,
failed, mainly because it was too (8)…………………..for children and too childish for adults.
Directors learnt from this (9)………………….., and the film companies began to make large
(10)…………………..of money again.

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EXERCISE 8: Choose ONE of the given words to fill in each numbered blank in the
following passage. There are more words than needed.
find stop increasing and never enter of stationary
attend would any all go like suggest manager
New opportunities with an open university degree
(0)…..Like…. any other university, the Open University can give you a degree. However, you
don’t have to (1)…………………working to study. It can also open up a whole variety
(2)…………………interests.
If you have (3)…………………studied before, you will enjoy the special, new pleasure of
(4)…………………your knowledge. You will make friends of (5)…………………kinds.
You may also (6)…………………that your qualification provides new career opportunities.
You don’t actually (7) ……………… to the Open University for lectures, but study at home, using
television, radio and computer software. You can (8) ……………… one class a month if you wish
at an Open University centre. Of course, there are exams to take, as in (9) ……………… university.
If you (10) ……………… like to know more, all you have to do is complete the form below. It could
be the start of a wonderful new period in your life.

EXERCISE 9: MINI TEST

Choose ONE of the given words to fill in each numbered blank in the following passage.
remembered by next than searching the returned
customers reminded had which trip tour

When Bo, the cat decided to explore a furniture van, she had a bigger adventure (0)….than… she
expected. She was discovered (1) ………………… the driver, after he had completed a (2)
……………………of over 500 kilometres. It was (3) …………………… end of a long day. The driver and
the cat were both hungry! He gave her some milk and started making enquiries. He telephoned
his last (4) ……………………, but they had not lost a cat. It was getting late, so he took Bo home for
the night and (5) …………………… morning delivered her to an animal hospital.
The cat’s owner (6) …………………… done some detective work too. After (7) ……………………
everywhere for the cat, he suddenly remembered the furniture van (8) …………………… had made
a delivery to a neighbour. Fortunately, he (9) …………………… the name of the company. He called
their office and in a short time Bo was (10) …………………… safely.

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PART 2 LONG PASSAGES with T/F/NI

In part 2, you have to read a text to decide whether the 10 statements are True, False or No
Information.
If the statement has the same meaning as a piece of information in the text, it is True.
If the statement has the different meaning from a piece of information in the text, it is False.
If you cannot find the information in the statement in the text, write NI.

1. Get an idea about the topic

 Read all the statements
2. Find the important information in the question
 Underline key words such as nouns (especially given names, capitalized on the first
letter), verbs, or adjectives
3. Locate the relevant section
 Find those key words in the reading passage, which are often repeated or restated.
 Write the question number next to the underlined information
4. Compare the information in the text with the information in the question.
 If the statement agrees with the information in the text, write T in the answer sheet.
 If the statement contradicts with the information in the text, write F in the answer sheet.
 If you cannot find the information in the text, write NI on the answer sheet.

EXERCISE 10: Underline the important information in the questions 1-10 below.
1. Borneo is larger than any other island in the world.
2. Temperatures rarely fall below 20°C on Borneo.
3. For the first part of this trip you will sleep in the city centre.
4. You'll be able to try water sports in the South China Sea.
5. There is an airport in Sukau.
6. The animals in the Sepilok animal centre are all sick or injured.
7. It's impossible to get near an orang-utan.
8. Orang-utans only eat meat.
9. This Borneo holiday includes a free trip to Mount Kinabalu.
10. You will have an opportunity to buy gifts after the sightseeing tour.

EXERCISE 11: Underline the important information in the text which corresponds
to the underlined information in the questions. Write the number of the question next to
each piece of key information in the text.

Discover the Island of Borneo

1 Introduction Borneo is one of the great islands of the world. Not quite as big as its
neighbour, the island of New Guinea, Borneo is still an amazing island. It's famous for
its jungles and wildlife, in particular the orang-utan. There are two seasons - expect

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heavy rain between October and March and a drier period for the rest of the year.
Temperatures are generally between 24° C and 30° C all year round.
Kota Kinabalu
Fly to Kota Kinabalu, Borneo's most important city. We'll pick you up from your
comfortable accommodation in the heart of this city and take you on several exciting
day trips over the next few days. See your first rainforest, go trekking in the national
park and spend a day on the shores of the South China Sea where you can go swimming
or snorkelling in its clear blue water.
Sukau
Leaving the city behind, we fly to the airport in the north of the island. From there, the
only way to continue our journey to Sukau, where you'll spend the next few days, is by
bus. During this part of your trip, you will visit the Sepilok Centre, which looks after
young orang-utans whose parents have died. Some of these animals arrive in very bad
condition. The centre helps them to recover but this can take time.
Visitor projects
There is no age limit here. All visitors are expected to take part in research activities to
understand and observe the orang-utans. Don't miss this extraordinary opportunity to
get close to these creatures. Once you have spent the morning watching wild orang-
utans, why not help collect the plants that are part of their diet?
Return to Kota Kinabalu
Once back in Kota Kinabalu some free time. For a small fee, book our day trip to Mount
Kinabalu. At over 4,000 metres, it is the highest mountain in South-East Asia. If you
prefer to look around the city, come on our morning tour which includes a visit to the
Sabah State Museum and the Tun Mustapha Tower. And when the tour is over, it's a
short ride to the modern shopping centres, local stores or markets for some last-minute
souvenirs.

EXERCISE 12: Compare the information in the questions with the underlined
information in the text. Next to each question, write T if the information is true, F if the
information is false, or NI if you cannot find the information in the text.

Questions T/F/NI

1. Borneo is larger than any other island in the world.

2. Temperatures rarely fall below 20° C on Borneo.
3. For the first part of this trip you will sleep in the city centre.
4. You'll be able to try water sports in the South China Sea.
5. There is an airport in Sukau.
6. The animals in the Sepilok animal centre are all sick or injured.
7. It's impossible to get near an orang-utan.
8. Orang-utans only eat meat.

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9. This Borneo holiday includes a free trip to Mount Kinabalu.

10. You will have an opportunity to buy expensive gifts after the sightseeing tour.

EXERCISE 13: Look at the sentences below about a club for stamp collectors. Read
the text to decide if each sentence is True, False or No Information.
Stamp collecting – it’s a hobby that can grow and grow
Millions of people of all ages enjoy a hobby which is both interesting and fun. And every year,
more and more people start a stamp collection of their own and discover an interest which can
last a lifetime. Starting your collection is easy because stamps are everywhere. Holiday
postcards from friends, birthday cards from favourite aunts and letters from penfriends can all
provide you with stamps from all over the world. But once you’ve started collecting seriously,
you will probably want to join the Stamp Collectors’ Club which exists to provide collectors with
new British stamps.
As a Club member you order the special sets of new stamps you want for your collection. You
can receive these in three different ways. We can either post you a complete set of stamps on an
envelope addressed to you, or send you the same stamps in a colourful information pack with
lots of interesting facts. Or, if you prefer, we can send you the individual stamps for you to
arrange in a special book of your own.
The Stamp Collectors’ Club has about 70,000 members and you could become a member too,
with a two – year membership costing just £5. You can even get a reduction if a group of you
join at the same time. We’re sure you’ll agree that this is great value for money.
And when you join, the Club sends you a Starter Pack at no extra cost. This contains 100 stamps
to begin your collection, together with an attractive box to keep them in. You also receive our
helpful 4-page guide to collecting, which has further suggestions on how to add to your
collection and includes useful addresses of shops and businesses that sell stamps.
Every two months you’ll get a copy of the club magazine, which is packed full of competitions
and quizzes, and gives you the chance to exchange stamps with members around the world.
Why not start on an adventure which will give you years of pleasure? You'll spend many happy
hours looking at the amazing variety of stamps in your collection or searching for unusual ones
which you know are out there somewhere just waiting to be found. So join the Stamp Collectors'
Club today and discover the fun and excitement of stamp collecting. To join the Club simply
complete the application form and send your membership fee. Your Starter Pack will be sent
within 28 days of receipt of your application.
Q Statement T/F/NI
1 The Stamp Collectors’ Club sends you special stamps from many different
countries.
2 The Club sends every member the same set of new stamps.
3 Information packs include a full set of stamps in a large box.
4 It cost £5 a year to join the Stamp Collectors’ Club.
5 It’s cheaper if several people join the Club together.
6 The Club sends each new member a hundred free stamps.

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7 The guide tells you where you may be able to buy cheap stamps.
8 A monthly magazine is sent to members of the Club.

EXERCISE 14: MINI TEST

Look at the sentences below about Gallery news. Read the text to decide if each sentence is
True, False or No Information.
Gallery news
Easter quiz for children
During the Easter holidays young visitors can take part in a quiz on the subject of Surprises. The
free quiz sheets can be picked up from the desk at the Orange Street entrance. Children will be
directed to 14 surprising paintings and asked a variety of questions about them. The quiz sheets
will be available during normal gallery hours from 25 March until 9 April.
New picture
The Gallery now has a fine still life by the Dutch 18th century painter Jan van Os. This large
picture (89.1 x 71 cm) of flowers and fruit is painted in light, bright colours on wood. It is one of
the first pictures of this type in the Gallery. The picture is signed and dated 1777 and 1778. It is
not unusual for a picture like this to be dated in two years: the artist waited for particular
flowers to bloom in their different seasons in order to paint them. The picture was generously
given to the Gallery by Miss Violet Churchman in memory of her sister Ida Nancy. It is now on
display in Room 25.
Special exhibition
The exhibition Painting in Spain during the late 18th century opened in the Sunley Room on 15
March. Recently the Gallery has bought works by three Spanish painters of this period: Paret,
Melendez and Francisco Bayeu, who are the focus of the exhibition. These three artists are
joined by Francisco's brother Ramon, by Antonio Gonzalez, and by two Italians who worked in
Spain during these years - Corrado Giaquinto and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. The exhibition runs
until 31 May.
Lecture news
The series of lectures arranged to go with the special exhibition continues every Wednesday. On
5 April Lizzie Barker will discuss the work of Melendez, while on 12 April Sarah Symmons will
lecture on Luis Paret. On 19 and 26 April Juliet Wilson will talk about Francisco Bayeu.
On Tuesdays in April, Erika Langmuir will explain how artists often tell a story through their
pictures.
Gallery restaurant improvements
The Gallery is delighted to announce that an improved and expanded service is now available in
the Gallery restaurant. With its new kitchens the restaurant offers a wide choice of hot and cold
dishes at reasonable prices.
Information for visitors
Free guided tours of the Gallery take place every day at 11:00 am and 3.00 pm (except Sundays).
These tours introduce some of the Gallery's greatest pictures, and show the whole range of the
Gallery's collection of some of the most important European paintings from the 13th to the early
20th centuries.

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Q Statement T/F/NI
1 Children can answer quiz questions about some specially chosen pictures.
2 Parents can get the quiz papers for their kids online.
3 The Gallery has few pictures like their new one by Jan van Os.
4 It took Jan van Os a lot of effort to complete his picture.
5 The Gallery had to pay a lot for the new picture.
6 The special exhibition has pictures by Spanish artists and by other artists
who worked in Spain.
7 The Easter quiz is on for longer than the special exhibition.
8 In the Gallery on any Wednesday in April you can learn about 18th century
Spanish painters.
9 The Gallery has just opened a fast food restaurant for visitors.
10 People have to pay tour guides only a little amount of money.

PART 3 LONG PASSAGES with MCQs

In this part of the test, you need to read 2 longer passages, followed by 4 questions for each one.
There are numerous types of questions such as main ideas, organization of ideas, details,
unstated details, pronoun referents, implied detail questions, transition questions or
vocabulary.
You will read passages in the form of letters, ads, memos, faxes, schedules, etc. The questions
may be about the purpose of the text, passage implies or other specific details.

 Read the passage once to see what kind of text it is and to determine its main objective
 Examine the structure to locate important information.
 Read the questions, answer choices, and check the text again to find the answers.
 Use skimming skills for the general information (often find information about the main
idea of a text near the beginning or at the end of a passage)
 Use scanning skill for details (sometimes use headings, titles, captions, diagrams, etc., in
a text to help identify the section you need)

EXERCISE 15

 Letters and E-mails

FROM: Christopher Knight, Personnel Manager

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TO: All staff

This e-mail is to notify staff that all data contained in the personnel files is confidential. It
should only be shown to authorized executives. Reviewing or sharing any information you
find with a third party is strictly forbidden and could result in termination of employment. If
you are given access to a file by mistake, please report it to me immediately.

Question 1: What must one do if one receives a confidential accidentally?

A. Contact the technician
B. Send it to the supervisor
C. Inform Mr. Knight
D. Congratulate the manager

 Advertisements

Smith Falls Apartments have two spacious bedrooms, a sunny living room, bathrooms with
both a tub and shower, and a fully equipped kitchen. Our amenities include a swimming pool,
a fitness center, and a Laundromat. There is plenty of parking nearby. The maintenance costs
of the complex are included in the rent. In order to become a tenant a $2,000 security deposit
and a recommendation from a previous landlord are required

Question 2: What is being advertised?

A. A parking area
B. An apartment complex
C. A business space
D. A mobile phone

 Notices/ Announcements

The 23rd Annual Battleford Science Fair will take place at Riedel University from May 1 to 7.
The fair draws over 3,000 students, parents, and industry leaders from Riedel County each
year and is in need of volunteers. Volunteers will organize the awards ceremony. In addition,
we need a team to take responsibility for selling snacks and refreshments. If you are
interested in volunteering, contact Bob Marshall, Battleford Science Fair coordinator, for
further information.
Question 3: What is the purpose of this announcement?
A. To recruit volunteers for the science fair
B. To provide information on an awards ceremony
C. To draw students to the science fair
D. To advertise a product

 Memorandums

To all staff members:

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The company has decided to change our spending policy. Office operating costs must be kept
to a minimum. This is because the recent economic downturn has led to much lower profits
this year. All departments are encouraged to find ways to reduce spending. At the next staff
meeting, we would like a representative from each department to present cost-cutting
suggestions.

Question 4: What is the purpose of this memorandum?

A. To notify employees of a staff meeting
B. To inform employees of a new company policy
C. To report the annual profits of the company
D. To complain about a purchase

 Invitations

You are invited to the grand opening celebration of Honest Angie’s Furniture on February
1st. Bring this invitation for a special preview of our wide variety of home and office furniture,
from traditional handcrafted cabinets to contemporary computer desks. The event will be
held from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00p.m. for invited guests only. As a special gift to our valued
customers, Honest Angie’s is extending a 20 percent discount on any purchase made at the
party. Please RSVP in advance
Question 5: What does the invitation offer to customers?
A. A special price
B. Free delivery
C. A handmade basket
D. A book

 Invoices

This invoice is a confirmation that your order for the following items has been
10 boxes of Super Fine A4 paper ($10.50/box)
5 boxes of Black Gel pens ($6.95/box)
1 box of 3oz, paper cups ($3.00/box)
The total, including 10% sale tax, is $157,02. All orders of $100 and over are exempt from
shipping charges.
Question 6: According to the invoice, why is the delivery free?
A. It is free on the first order.
B. It has been paid already.
C. The order is above a certain amount.
D. It is free in the afternoon

 Schedules

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The 7th Annual Robotics Technology Convention will be held at the Imperial Palace Hotel
from February 2 to 9. The daily agenda for the convention will include information sessions
with individual companies in the morning, followed by speeches by leaders in the robotics
industry in the afternoons. On the weekend, practical workshops will take place for people
interested in learning about special topics related to robots. Please be aware that advance
registration is required in order to participate in the workshops.

Question 7: What must be done to participate in the workshops?

A. Participants must be leaders in the industry.
B. Participants must sign up ahead of time.
C. Participants must attend the morning exhibitions.
D. Participants must write a report

 Surveys

The purpose of this research, conducted by Gibbons Science Institute, is to better understand
how college students’ personalities develop. The research also seeks to find out how they
form relationships with friends and romantic partners. Participation is voluntary. You are
asked to complete 50 questions on a survey. Your information is confidential and will not be
shared with other individuals or organizations.

Question 8: What is NOT mentioned as a reason for the research?

A. To understand how young people’s personalities form
B. To improve college environment for students
C. To learn how students build relationships with peers
D. To find out how they build relationships with their girl/boyfriends

 Article
Internet shopping has become a multi-billion dollar industry over the past few years. The
following survey indicates what percentage of people use the World Wide Web in order to
purchase different things from particular categories. This survey was conducted by Web
Advertising Incorporated
Purchasing Percentage of Respondents Who Said They Used the Internet
Decision
Trips 21%
Music 19%
Event tickets 16%
Clothing 15%
Electronics 11%
Furniture 9%
Cars 5%

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Question 9: What was the purpose of this survey?

A. To inform people about what can be bought on-line
B. To present percentages of how many people use the Internet
C. To find out why people shop through the Internet
D. To illustrate what percentage of people shop on-line for different things
Question 10: What percentage of respondents buy things like armchairs on-line?
A. 15 percentage
B. 11 percentage
C. 9 percentage
D. 5 percentage

 Instructions

Sticky Hooks
To put a Sticky Hook up, follow the steps below:
Clean the wall or surface with a damp cloth and let it dry. Do not use any household cleaning
solutions. They can affect the adhesive.
Remove the red piece of paper covering the hook’s adhesive.
Push and hold the hook firmly on the wall for 3 minutes.
Do not hang anything on the hook for 1 hour.
Do not hang anything on the hook that weighs more than 2 pounds.
Question 11: What is the proper order given in these instructions?
A. Clean, wait, push and hold
B. Push and hold, remove, wait
C. Clean, remove, push and hold, wait
D. Clean, remove, hang, wait
Question 12: What was NOT mentioned in the instructions?
A. Apply the adhesive
B. Hold for 3 minutes
C. Wait for 1 hour
D. Do not use cleaning solutions

EXERCISE 16
Questions 1 -2 refer to the following advertisement.
CARLO'S PIZZERIA
Founded in 1983, Carlo’s PIZZERIA, Restaurant & Caterers is a family operated
establishment serving gourmet pizzas, salads, sandwiches, dinners and catered foods in New
York and the surrounding area. With nearly 25 years of satisfying customers in and around
the New Yolk area, Carlos, Sal, Sally, Maria, Estel and the entire Carlo's staff pride themselves
in serving only the finest selection of Italian cuisine.
Ocean Avenue Branch
1247 Ocean Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11270
(718) 578-1878 / (718)578-4798

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Hours of operation:
Monday - Thursday: 11 A.M. - 10 P.M.
Friday: 11 A.M. 11 P.M.
Saturday: 11 A.M. - Midnight
Sunday: CLOSED
Visit our website for our lunch and dinner menus!

1. On what day does the business stay open longer than usual?
A. Monday B. Thursday C. Saturday D. Sunday
2. What is indicated about the menu?
A. Menu items are different everyday.
B. Prices are higher on Saturdays.
C. Discounts are available upon request.
D. Menu items vary according to the time of day.

Questions 3-4 refer to the following article.

JERSEY WEEKLY
MARCH 28
Robert Schwartz, director of Parking and Transportation Services, has announced his
decision to retire from Hudson University. His last day will be June 13, 2011.
Under Mr. Schwartz's leadership, the university's parking and transportation operations
have improved significantly over the past 10 years. Mr. Schwartz was instrumental in the
introduction of the New Terrytown Shuttle to help reduce the number of cars on the New
Terrytown/Piscataway campuses and in the university's preparations for the Route 18
construction and road widening projects. Mr. Schwartz previously served as the assistant
director for parking and transportation and worked in various capacities in the housing
division.
Mr. Schwartz has done a great job establishing positive working relationships with students,
deans, administrators, staff, and local communities. His leadership, loyalty to Hudson
University, and tireless energy will be missed.
3. What is the purpose of the article?
A. To promote a new company B. To announce a retirement
C. To advertise a job opening D. To discuss a newly hired employee
4. What was Mr. Schwartz's prior position?
A. University spokesperson B. Chief executive officer
C. Director D. Assistant director

Questions 5 -7 refer to the following notice.

Following up its successful Sushi Workshop in July, the Japan-America Society of Greater
Long Island presents sushi chef Maksui from Kenichi for an advanced sushi workshop on
Sunday, October 25th at the Tri-fold Clubhouse (410 Guadalupe St.) from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30
p.m. This workshop will allow attendees of the previous workshop to build on their sushi-
making skills.
This is not a free event. The cost for current JGA members is $35. If you are a non-member,
the cost is $40 (Please bring exact change in cash). Although the cost includes all the
ingredients necessary to make sushi, you will need to bring your own knife and a towel or
cloth of some sort.

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Please note that registration is required in order to attend this class. Space is limited. Send a
registration request to jga-events@jga.org by Thursday, October 22. 48 hours' notice is
required in order to cancel.
5. What is the main purpose of the notice?
A. To inform readers of a useful website
B. To describe the Japan-America Society of Greater Long Island
C. To teach people how to write poetry
D. To announce an upcoming workshop
6. What information is NOT given in the notice?
A. The workshop instructor's name
B. Late registration instructions
C. Cancellation instructions
D. Things to bring to the workshop
7. According to the notice, what is the fee for nonmembers of JGA?
A. 35$ B. 40$ C. 50$ D. 65$

Questions 8 -10 refer to the following notice.

The Cooper Museum
Members enjoy unlimited free entry all year long to the Cooper Museum's exciting special
exhibition, which opens on June 19, and the world-renowned permanent collection galleries.
Other benefits include preview receptions, gallery talks and tours, family programs, and
hands-on art workshops for adults and children. For more information on Membership
levels and benefits, including discounts for older adults, educators, and artists, or to purchase
a membership by phone, call the Membership Department at (718) 501-6326 or e-mail
mernbership@cooperrnuseum.org.
View a printable version of the Member Events Chart for 2010-2011.
Individuals: $55 (fully tax-deductible)
Enjoy preview receptions, discounts, and much more!
Family and Friends: $85 (fully tax-deductible)
Receive discounts on educational offerings for adults and children!
Contributors: $150 ($135 tax-deductible)
Receive reciprocal privileges to 31 art museums and free tickets to Art Facts and Meet the
Museum.
8. What will happen on June 19?
A. The cost of admission to the museum will increase.
B. The museum will hold weekly gallery talks.
C. A new membership discount program will be introduced.
D. There will be an exciting exhibition
9. What is NOT mentioned as a reason to call the Membership Department?
A. Get membership level information
B. Purchase family programs
C. Purchase memberships
D. Price reductions for seniors
10. Which privilege is extended to Friends and Family members of the museum?
A. Discounts on educational family events
B. Preview receptions and discounts
C. Discounts at the museum restaurant
D. Free tickets to Art Facts

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EXERCISE 17
Questions 1-3 refer to the following memo.
To: All employees of TWDB
From: Joseph Green
Re: Survey Results
Date: April 19
Customer Survey
In an initiative to determine the effectiveness of TWDB's programs and services, our agency
regularly conducts surveys to measure customer satisfaction and rate TWDB's performance
in service delivery.
You can make a difference by taking the time to complete a survey online. Results are
analyzed, especially the comments section, to identify possible process improvements or
areas in the agency which need increased education or marketing efforts. Program areas use
the information to review and implement any necessary program/process changes that will
benefit customers or save money. Previous survey results have led to significant
improvements to TWDB's programs.
The Tennessee Water Development Board Intends to use this information to improve its
products and service delivery and to increase customer education and awareness regarding
agency products and services.
Survey Results: 2010 Customer Survey
The most frequently cited suggestions for improvement included:
- Increasing personal contact with customers
- Increasing interdepartmental and interagency cooperation
- Further improving the agency's websites
- Improving the scope and accuracy of information provided
- Increasing funding opportunities.
Results: In summary, customers rated TWDB highly, with 94.8% of all respondents giving
the agency an excellent (52.8%) or good (42.0%) rating. Furthermore, the specific
departments evaluated consistently received satisfaction ratings of at least 96%. A detailed
report of the results will be posted on the company website in two weeks.
1. What is the main purpose of the survey?
A. To help an organization decide which agencies to use
B. To improve service efficiency
C. To assess how many new clients the agency gained last year
D. To determine client satisfaction and agency performance
2. What is likely to happen next month at TWDB?
A. TWDB will make a presentation on the state of the department.
B. Employees can see more survey results.
C. Suggestions for changes will be implemented.
D. Additional employees will be hired to improve customer satisfaction.
3. Which of the following is NOT a suggestion made by customers?
A. Increasing personal communication with customers
B. Increasing cooperation with other agencies
C. Making the company webpage better
D. Quicker responses to client emails

Questions 4-6 refer to the following information.

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PUBLIC LECTURE SERIES

President Shirley Hughes established the Public Lecture Series in the fall of 2001 to give Ivy
Brook's faculty an opportunity to learn about the work of their colleagues in other disciplines
and to share their research with the university community.
Lectures are free and open to the public. These lectures are in Hall 50 and begin at 6:30 p.m.
Mary Nest and David Keller, with Rita R Smith
Professor in the Department of Food Studies and Public Health at New York College;
Professor of Pediatrics and Biostatistics at the University of Florida's School of Science; food
writer and author, respectively
Tuesday, November 12, 2010
The Politics of Food and Health Care
Mike Tells and Josie Tate
Contributing editor, Rolling Rock, and U.S. managing editor, Brook Times, respectively
Tuesday, December 1, 2010
The Current State of the Economy
(NOTE: 8 p.m. in Hall 10)
Danny Masterson
Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs at Birmingham College
Thursday, December
America's War on Immigrants: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions
Question 4: What is the main topic of the lecture at Hall 10?
A. To learn about other members of the university community
B. To explore American immigration
C. To investigate food and health care
D. To discuss economic issues
Question 5: Which topic will NOT be addressed in the lecture series?
A. The effect of immigrants on healthcare
B. The underlying causes of immigration
C. Current issues in the American economy
D. Political aspects of healthcare in the U.S
Question 6: Who has the earliest scheduled lecture?
A. Shirley Hughes
B. Rita R. Smith
C. Josie Tate
D. Danny Masterson

Questions 7-9 refer to the following information.

MARCH FOR KIDS ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2011!
When you take part in the March for Kids, you give hope to the more than half a million
babies born too soon each year. The money you raise supports programs in your community
that help moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies. It also funds research to find answers
to problems that threaten our kids. We have been walking since 1980 and have raised an
incredible $1.5 billion to benefit all children.
March for Kids is America's favorite walking event! You will be joining 1 million people
walking with their families or co-workers in more than 900 communities. Expect to run into
some old friends and make new ones.
The Mardi Organization spends 79 cents of every dollar you raise in March for Kids to
support research and programs that help babies begin healthy lives.

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Join more than 20,000 companies, both big and small, which walk in March for Kids each
year. From senior management to individual team members, everyone in your organization
can feel good about helping babies. Participating as a company creates special connections
that carry over into the workplace.
Question 7: What is the purpose of March for Kids?
A. It provides food for all children.
B. It encourages people to walk.
C. It raises 79 cents from each walker.
D. It helps babies born before term.
Question 8: What is listed as a benefit of joining the walk as a company?
A. It helps create ties that transfer into the workplace.
B. Employees will receive a bonus for their participation.
C. It gives hope to more than half a million orphans.
D. People qualify to participate in other marches
Question 9: How long has the March Organization been in existence?
A. 10 years
B. 20 years
C. 30 years
D. 100 years

Question 10-12 refer to the following article.

Food Mart Abandoning Move to Organic?
May 21, 2010 — Last fall, Peter Roger got an order from Food Mart Stores for organic apples
that was the biggest he had ever seen. "I’m talking trailer truckloads," says the 34-year-old,
eighth-generation apple farmer in Maine. Roger had heard of the giant retailer's push into
organics, and he thought the order could be the beginning of a surge in demand. But that
wasn't the case. While most retailers place orders with Roger Hill Orchards once a week,
Food Mart never came back.
He's hardly alone. A number of organic farmers across the country say that Food Mart has
backed off aggressive plans to offer foods that are more organic. After placing large orders
for organic apples and juices last year, the retailer is cutting back or stopping orders
altogether. Wade Hirsch, president at the Florida juice producer, Lake Citrus Products, says
he stopped shipping his organic orange-tangerine blend to Food Mart after a few months.
"Food Mart claimed that their sales just weren't enough to justify their costs of packing and
shipping," he says.
Farmers like Roger are now dealing with the fallout from Food Marts faltering demand. He
has decided to pare back his organic apple farm, from 150 acres to 120 acres. He says
organics are just tough to grow. Without pesticides, insects and disease attack his McIntosh,
Gala, and Honey crisp apples. Production per acre dropped about 30% when he switched
from regular farming methods 10 years ago. Now he plans to switch back. "The grocery
stores want the perfect, blemish-free apple," he says, "and that's difficult to produce."
Question 10: What is implied about Peter Roger?
A. Food Mart is one of his biggest clients.
B. He sells many different fruits and vegetables.
C. His father was an apple farmer.
D. He is very rich

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Question 11: What is NOT stated in the article as difficulties in growing organic fruits?
A. They are vulnerable to insects.
B. They are expensive to produce.
C. Organic farms suffer from decreased efficiency.
D. It is hard to grow organic fruits without pesticides.
Question 12: What does the author indicate about Food Mart?
A. They sell products a lot cheaper than other stores.
B. Their profits from organic products did not cover incurred costs.
C. They are not a profitable business.
D. They used to be very small stores.

Questions 13-15 refer to the following document.

TARTAN EDITORIAL SERVICES
365-530-9627 - info@tartan-editorial.com - www.tartan-editorial.com
Date: January 2, 2011
To: Sarah James, TWL Association
From: Kelly Bilowitz, Tartan Editorial Services
Re: Consumer resource kit
Thank you for the opportunity to present a quote for this project, which consists of the
following tasks:
1. Editing the files of TWL's consumer resource kit for clarity, style, grammar/spelling, and
accuracy as compared to source documents provided by TWL
2. Preparing two versions - for online and for printed (PDF) media - with relevant language,
links, and repetition
Editing is to be completed by Friday, January 27, 2011. Source files will be available
immediately on an FTP site for which TWL will supply password access.
Estimate
This price quote is presented as an estimate. If the files are in particularly good shape, the
final charges may be less. Actual charges will not exceed this estimate by more than 15%
unless you are otherwise notified.
Editing content 30.0 hours
Hourly rate $80.00
Total project rate $2,400.00
Terms of Agreement
Tartan Editorial Services is to be retained as an independent contractor for the duration of
this project. The final product will be the sole property of TWL Association. Tartan reserves
the right to display representative work done on behalf of its client as part of Tartan's
portfolio unless specified otherwise. Payment is due 30 days from the date of the invoice.
Unpaid balances may result in late fees.
Accepted by:_______________________________
Date: ______________________________
Please electronically sign this document and return it by e-mail to inlo@tartan-editorial.com.
Question 13: What type of document is this?
A. A newspaper advertisement B. A work proposal
C. A work schedule D. A work order form
Question 14: What type of work is being proposed?
A. Adding graphics B. Editing resource files

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C. Setting up a website D. Editing a portfolio

Question 15: What is NOT stated in the document?
A. Payment is due 30 days from the date of the invoice.
B. The total amount must be paid by check.
C. The document must be signed and returned.
D. The price may change.

EXERCISE 18: MINI TEST

In this part you will read a selection of texts, such as magazine and newspaper articles, e-
mails, and instant messages. Each text or set of texts is followed by several questions. Select
the best answer for each question and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet.
Questions 1-5 refer to the following letter.
Apex PC Inc.
12 Garter's Way
Erving, TX 75782
To Whom It May Concern.
I am writing today to thank you for an excellent customer service experience. I recently
started a new job as the administrative director for a nonprofit agency that, like most
organizations and businesses, cannot function without a computer. This morning when I
arrived at work, my Apex Dimension 5000 would not boot up properly. After exhausting my
own fairly extensive knowledge about how to get a misbehaving computer to work properly,
and consulting my agency's tech department in vain, I called Apex PC Technical Support.
Gary, the tech support professional who answered my call, spent two hours on the phone
with me, walking me through processes ranging from diagnostics to rebooting in various
command prompt modes. Gary was wonderful to work with. I was delighted to be on the
phone with someone whose knowledge, respect, and sense of humor (particularly
important, in my opinion, when dealing with potential computer disasters) made this ordeal
much less challenging.
Although your automated answering system is frustrating — I got many "I'm sorry. I don't
understand" responses although I speak quite clear and articulate English, and I got cut off
at one point — I very much appreciate the excellent customer service your human staff
members give. As a result of the help I got today, I elected to extend our Gold Service Contract
so that if I have such a problem again. I will have access to your staff.
Again, thank you.
Sincerely,
Mark Matthews
1. What is the main purpose of this letter?
A. To otter an award loan Apex employee
B. To praise an employee of the company
C. To report a problem related to a purchased product
D. To order an item that is backordered
2. Why was Mr. Matthews having a problem?
A. He could not get in contact with an Apex employee.
B. He could not understand what the automated system was saying.
C. He could not extend the Gold Service Contract plan.
D. He could not get his computer to start properly.
3. What did Mr. Matthews do before calling Apex?
A. He tried to change his computer.

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B. He contacted his supervisor about the problem.

C. He asked his company's computer division for help.
D. He contacted someone in his office about the company service plan.
4. What action was NOT taken by Gary?
A. He solved the problem through the automated system first.
B. He ran diagnostics step by step with Mr. Matthews.
C. He rebooted the computer in different modes.
D. He used humor so the long call is not boring.
5. The word 'exhausting' is closest in meaning to
A. tiring
B. failing
C. making use of
D. fatiguing

Questions 6-9 refer to the following news article.

If you're looking to treat someone — or yourself — with natural and organic body care
products, look no farther than Ranch Bernard.
Located in the Bernardo Winery village shops, Natures Perfect Scents offers products that
relax you while awakening the senses with aromatherapy-based lotions, soaps, oils, bath
products and more.
Everything in the store is natural, with no plastics, dyes or artificial ingredients — ideal for
those with allergies or those inclined to use chemical-free products. In addition, the store
also features post- and prenatal products, including naturally made children's toys.
"It's for anybody who's looking for natural and organic products," said Bianca Smith, a Ranch
Bernard resident and Mt. Bernardo High School alumnus who opened the store last
December. "A lot of people are leaning toward good quality natural and organic products."
Nearly all products are from small businesses across California, Ms. Smith added. There's an
organic line of lotions, body oils and scrubs from the Napa Valley company NV Organics. In
addition to personal care products, the store features products for babies and their mothers,
in line with Ms. Smith's business Pregnatique, a baby health and wellness boutique. Ms.
Smith, who also assists new mothers as a birth and post-birth counselor, offers products for
babies and infants by companies such as Bébé and Moby Wrap.

6. What is indicated about Natures Perfect Scents?

A. It only carries baby products.
B. It only makes organic personal care products intended for babies.
C. Its products are available only through the website.
D. It carries organic products in addition to baby products.
7. The word 'inclined' in paragraph 3, line 2, is closest in meaning to
A. leaning B. tilted C. unlikely D. willing
8. What is suggested about Natures Perfect Scents products?
A. They are very popular with men.
B. They are not good for women
C. They are only made with natural ingredients.
D. They are cheaper than most non-organic products.
9. What is NOT stated about Bianca Smith?
A. She attended a nearby high school.

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B. She has lived in Ranch Bernard all her life.

C. She opened her store last year.
D. She also sells naturally made toys for children.

LONG PASSAGE with 2-3 question

PART 4
types
In this part, you will read a long passage (about 700-800 words) and answer questions related
to the content of the text. There are some kinds of questions:
1. Multiple-Choice Questions
2. Completion Questions (Note/ Sentence / Summary / Table/ Form/ Flow Chart/ Diagram)
3. True, False, Not Given (T/F/NG) / Yes, No, Not Given (Y/N/NG) Questions
4. Short-Answer Questions
5. Matching Questions (Matching headings, matching opinions)

1. MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
There are three types of MCQs
 Type 1: Where there is one possible answer

Questions 1-3: Choose the appropriate letters A-D and write them in boxes 1-3 on your
answer sheet.
1. According to information in the text, asparagine
A. is poisonous.
B. can cause cancer.
C. is harmless unless heated.
D. should only be eaten in small amounts.
2. According to information in the text, acrylamide
A. has been found in lots of fried food.
B. has been found in snacks in Sweden.
C. is only found in western cooking.
D. is in water.
3. According to information in the text, process foods
A. should be avoided
B. are cheaper
C. are full of chemicals
D. are the most tasty foods

 Type 2: Where there are multiple answers for only one mark.

Question 4: Write TWO letters A-F in box 4 on your answer sheet.

4. Which TWO examples of food is asparagine found in?
A. peanuts
B. rice
C. French fries
D. asparagus

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E. chocolate
F. bananas

 Type 3. Where there are multiple answers and one mark for each.

Questions 5 – 7: The list below gives some of the problems for dieters raised by Dr Jones.
Which THREE of these problems are mentioned by the writer of text?
A. Accessible junk food
B. Coffee bars and after-work drinks
C. Partners
D. Stress & emotional situations
E. Saboteurs and false friends
F. Weakened resolve

Also note that you may be asked to circle ONE, TWO, THREE or FOUR letters.

 Read the instructions carefully and check how many letters you need to circle.
 Skim all the questions and the answer choices quickly. As you do this,
 underline the key words (the words that give you the most information).
 try to get an idea of the topic you will be reading about from the vocabulary of
the questions.
 look at any illustrations or diagrams that go with the text.
 Go back to the first question. Decide if you are looking for specific information or whether
the question requires you to understand the whole text. Then either scan or skim the
text, as appropriate, to find the answer.
 Read the relevant part of the text very carefully.
 Don’t leave any questions unanswered.

2. COMPLETION QUESTIONS
These questions ask for specific information. There are two types:
 Type 1. With a selection of possible answers.
Words or phrases provided will be different from the words in the text. There will be more
words than gaps.

Questions 1 -5: Complete the table below using the words from the box.
Health Problem Food
High blood pressure & cholesterol (1) ………..
Cancer of the colon (2) ………..
Heart Disease (3) ………..
Infections (4) ………..
Diabetes (5) ………..
A. oats & rice B. honey C. corn & wheat D. spices E. nuts & seeds F. herbs G. oils

 Type 2. Without a choice of possible answers.

Questions are similar to the short answer questions in that they will tell you to write your
answers in NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS. So you can answer with one word, two words or
three words but no more.

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Questions 6 –8: Complete the notes below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from
the reading passage for each answer.
Some foods like shellfish, meats and ….6… may cause food poisoning if they have been
infected by …7… . One of the most common types of food poisoning is …8…

 Read the instructions carefully.

 Look at the table or form etc. carefully:
 examine any headings or subheadings.
 try to get an idea of the topic.
 decide what section of the passage the exercise covers.
 anticipate grammatical form as well as vocabulary.
 if a box of answers is given, see if you can guess any of the matches &eliminate
unlikely answers.
 if the question is in the form of a table, work out which way it is best to read it –
horizontally or vertically.
 If the question is in the form of a summary, read through it first and see if you can
guess any of the missing words.
 Take each gap one by one and search the text for the best word(s) to fill the gap.

3. YES, NO, NOT GIVEN or TRUE, FALSE, NO INFORMATION

These tasks either ask you to identify the writer’s views or claims in the text or identify
information in the text. There are two types:
 Type 1: Decide whether statements are the opinions of the writer or not or not given in
the text

Questions 1-3: Do the following statements reflect the situation as described by the
writer in the reading passage?
YES if the statement reflects the situation as described by the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to know what the situation is from the passage
1. Increasing the tunnel toll of the new tunnel will result in more people using the other
tunnels.
2. The congestion at peak hours was worse before the new tunnel was built.
3. The cost of running a car does not deter purchasing.

 Type 2: Decide whether statements are true, false or not given in the text
Questions 4-6: Do the following statements agree with the information given in the
reading passage?
TRUE if the statement is true according to the passage
FALSE if the statement is false according to the passage
NOT GIVEN if the information is not given in the passage

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4. Most people spend about two hours a day traveling to and from work.
5. The problems of road rage have doubled in the last 10 years.
6. More road accidents happen where drivers are familiar with the roads.

 Read the instructions carefully.

 Quickly read through all the statements to get an idea about the topic.
 Read the first statement more carefully. Underline the key words so you understand the
main point.
 Search for the section of the text which deals with the idea or fact.
 Once you have found the relevant section, read it carefully. For type 1, if the statement
disagrees with the writer’s opinion, then select ‘no’ and if the author doesn’t give an
opinion, select ‘not given’. For type 2, if the statement is the opposite to the information
in the text, then select ‘false’ and if there is no mention of it, select ‘not given’.
 Continue with the rest of the statements.

4. SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

 Type 1: Questions

Questions 1 and 2: Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS, answering the following
questions.
1. How old was Spencer when he did his first degree?
2. Which teacher was instrumental in Spencer’s success?

 Type 2: Lists
Questions 3 – 5: List FOUR reasons for Spencer being a child prodigy. Write NO MORE
THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
3 ……………………………………………….
4 ……………………………………………….
5 ………………………………………………..

 Read the instructions carefully.

 Skim all the questions quickly. As you do this:
- underline the key words.
- decide what information you need to find in the text.
- look out for question words like ‘where’ and ‘who’ which indicate you should listen
for specific things like places and people.
 Go back to the first question and decide what part of the text you need to read.
 Read the part carefully to find the answer.

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 You may use your own words. You don’t have to write a complete sentence but it does
have to be grammatically correct.

5. MATCHING QUESTIONS
 Type 1: Choosing headings for paragraphs or sections of a text
Type 1 questions require you to sum up the meaning of a paragraph in order to match it to a
bank of possible headings. You may be asked to match every paragraph or section of the text or
just a selection of paragraphs.

Questions 1- 3: Reading Passage 2 has six paragraphs A-F. From the list of headings below
choose the most suitable heading for paragraphs A, B and C from the list of headings
below.
List of Headings 1 Section A
i A global problem 2 Section B
ii A study into factory emissions 3 Section C
iii The responsibility of citizens
iv Legislation
v The limits of federal law
vi Clean air

 Type 2: Choosing a heading for the whole text

Type 2 questions require you to sum up the whole text.

Question 4: From the list below choose the most suitable title for Reading Passage 2.
A Legislation to reduce harmful emissions
B Problems of air pollution.
C Air pollution – a global problem.
D Clean Air
E Reducing harmful emissions

 Read the instructions carefully.

 Make sure you know which paragraphs or sections you have to sum up.
 Read the first paragraph or section and try to sum up, in your own words, what it is about.
 Then search through the bank of headings for the best answer.
 Make sure the heading you have chosen sums up the entire paragraph and not just one
idea within it.
 If you have to sum up the entire text. Read the whole text before looking at the bank of
headings. Try to think of your own heading and then look at the options

 Type 3: Matching a list of opinions to sources

These questions are used with texts which present a number of different people’s opinions. The
sources are usually numbered and the opinions are given a letter each. There could be more
opinions than sources.

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Questions 1-4: Look at the following writers (Questions 1-4) and the list of their opinions
below. Match each person with their opinion.
NB You may use any of the writers’ names more than once.

1 Anna Blair 2 Dr Ian Sampson 3 Dean Frazer 4 Jane Langton

List of opinions
A Life experience is essential for a writer.
B Anyone who has a story can write.
C Discipline and organization are just as important as creativity.
D A writer has to be content to work alone.
E The first novel is the easiest to write.
F A good working relationship with ones’ editor is essential for a writer.

 Read the instructions carefully.

 Take the names of the sources one by one and find them in the text and underline them.
 When you have located a name, read carefully to see what is said about his/her opinions.
 Look at the list of opinions and see if you can make a match.
 Remember that the text is not likely to use the same words as the questions, so look for
synonyms and parallel expressions.
 Also, be aware that the sources may be referred to in more than one place in the text.
 The opinions in the task are not listed in the same order as they appear in the text.
 Phrases like ‘he said’ or ‘in his opinion’ should help you locate the arguments.

EXERCISE 19
Questions 1-5: Complete the following statements using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS.
European Settlement of Australia
European settlement of Australia began in 1788 when a British penal colony was established
on the east coast. From this starting point Australia grew rapidly and continually, expanding
across the entire continent.
A number of reasons contributed to Britain's decision to colonize Australia. The most
important factor was Britain's need to relieve its overcrowded prisons. Several violent
incidents at overcrowded prisons convinced the British government of the need to separate
unruly elements from the rest of the prison populace.
Additionally, Australia was of strategic importance to Britain, and it provided a base for the
Royal Navy in the eastern sea. Also, Australia could be used as an entry point to the economic
opportunities of the surrounding region. All these points figured in the decision by Lord
Sydney, secretary of state of home affairs, to authorize the colonization.
To this affect, on May 13, 1787, Captain Arthur Phillip, commanding eleven ships full of
convicts, left Britain for Australia. He successfully landed a full fleet at Botany Bay on January
18, 1788. However, they left the bay eight days later because of its openness and poor soil,

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and settled instead at Port Jackson, a few kilometers north. The ships landed 1,373 people,
including 732 convicts, and the settlement became Sydney. Australia Day is now celebrated
on 26 January each year, to commemorate this first fleet landing.
1. Australia was originally founded as a …………………..
2. The major consideration in colonizing Australia was Britain’s …………………
3. It was thought that ……………………could be gained in that part of the world due to the access
provided via Australia.
4. Lord Sydney took every factor into account when he gave official permission for
the…………………………. of Australia.
5. Botany Bay was abandoned by the settlers due to the lack of cover and …………….

Questions 6-10: Choose the suitable words in the list to complete the summary below

Air Rage
The first recorded case of an airline passenger turning seriously violent during a flight, a
phenomenon now widely known as “air rage”, happened in 1947 on a flight from Havana to
Miami. A drunk man assaulted another passenger and bit a flight attendant. However, the
man escaped punishment because it was not then clear under whose legal control a crime
committed on plane was, the country where the plane was registered or the country where
the crime was committed. In 1963, at the Tokyo convention, it was decided that the laws of
the country where the plane is registered take precedence.
The frequency of air rage has expanded out of proportion to the growth of air travel. Until
recently few statistics were gathered about air rage, but those that have been indicate that
passengers are increasingly likely to cause trouble or engage in violent acts. For example, in
1998 there were 266 air rage incidents out of approximately four million passengers, a 400%
increase from 1995. In the same period American Airlines showed a 200% rise. Air travel is
predicted to rise by 5% internationally by 2010 leading to increased airport congestion. This,
coupled with the flying public’s increased aggression, means that air rage may become a
major issue in coming years.
Aside from discomfort and disruption, air rage poses some very real dangers to flying. The
most extreme of these is when out of control passengers enter the cockpit. This has actually
happened on a number of occasions, the worst of which have resulted in the death and injury
of pilots or the intruder taking control of the plane, almost resulting in crashes. In addition,
berserk passengers sometimes attempt to open the emergency doors while in flight, putting
the whole aircraft in danger. These are extreme examples and cases of air rage more
commonly result in physical assaults on fellow passengers and crew such as throwing
objects, punching, stabbing or scalding with hot coffee.

Summary
predicted rose incident passenger found assault
established occurring hoped increased injury passengers

The first time that an (6) ……………….. of air rage was recorded was in the 1940’s, but the
passenger was never actually charged for an offence because there were no clear rules in place
to specify where to prosecute. It was later (7) ……………… that it would be the country where the
plane is registered. Air rage has (8) ……… ………significantly since this time, growing by a
staggering 400% from 1995 to 1998. Air rage is (9) …………………. to be a major problem in the
future as air travel increases, as do levels of aggression. Angry (10) ………………. can put

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everyone in danger including the pilots, the crew and the other passengers, with some form
of (11) ……………… being the most common consequence.

EXERCISE 20
Questions 1-5
The largest thing in the universe
More than ten years ago, while taking the temperature of the universe, astronomers found
something odd. They discovered that a patch of sky, spanning the width of 20 moons, was
unusually cold.
The astronomers were measuring the thermal radiation that bathes the entire universe, a
glowing relic of the big bang. To gaze at this cosmic microwave background, or CMB, is to
glimpse the primordial1 universe, a time when it was less than 400,000 years old.
The CMB blankets the sky, and looks pretty much the same everywhere, existing at a feebly
cold temperature of 2.725 kelvins - just a couple degrees warmer than absolute zero. But
armed with the newly launched WMAP satellite, the astronomers had set out to probe
temperature variations as tiny as one part in 100,000. Born from the quantum froth that was
the universe a half-moment after the big bang, those random fluctuations help scientists
understand what the cosmos is made of and how it all came to be.
And standing out amidst those fluctuations was a cold spot. Over the years, astronomers
have come up with all sorts of ideas to explain it, ranging from instrumental error to parallel
universes. But now, they're homing in on a prime suspect: an enormous cavern of emptiness
called a cosmic supervoid, so big that it might be the largest structure in the universe.
According to theory, such a vast void, in which nary a star or galaxy exists, can leave a frigid
imprint on the CMB. The answer to the mystery, then, might simply be a whole lot of nothing.
Yet puzzles remain, and the case is far from closed.
primordial1 - ancient, existing a very long time.
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage?
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
1. Astronomers often find something odd on the sky.
2. The CMB is the thermal radiation across the entire universe.
3. The CMB varies from extremely low to very high temperatures.
4. Investigation of fluctuations of temperature in the space help scientists to understand what
the cosmos is made of.
5. The cosmic super void is the largest structure in the universe.

Questions 6-10
Is there such a thing as Canadian English? If so, what is it?
The standard stereotype among Americans is that Canadians are like Americans, except they
say ‘eh’ a lot and pronounce ‘out and about’ as ‘oot and aboot’. Many Canadians, on the other
hand, will tell you that Canadian English is more like British English, and as proof will hold
aloft the spellings colour and centre and the name zed for the letter Z.
Canadian does exist as a separate variety of British English, with subtly distinctive features
of pronunciation and vocabulary. It has its own dictionaries; the Canadian Press has its own
style guide; the Editors’ Association of Canada has just released a second edition of Editing
Canadian English. But an emblematic feature of Editing Canadian English is comparison

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tables of American versus British spellings so the Canadian editor can come to a reasonable
decision on which to use… on each occasion. The core of Canadian English is a pervasive
ambivalence.
Canadian history helps to explain this. In the beginning there were the indigenous people,
with far more linguistic and cultural variety than Europe. They’re still there, but Canadian
English, like Canadian Anglophone society in general, gives them little more than desultory
token nods. Fights between European settlers shaped Canadian English more. The French,
starting in the 1600s, colonized the St Lawrence River region and the Atlantic coast south of
it. In the mid-1700s, England got into a war with France, concluding with the Treaty of Paris
in 1763, which ceded ‘New France’ to England. The English allowed any French to stay who
were willing to become subjects of the English King.
At the time of the Treaty of Paris, however, there were very few English speakers in Canada.
The American Revolution changed that. The founding English-speaking people of Canada
were United Empire Loyalists – people who fled American independence and were rewarded
with land in Canada. Thus Canadian English was, from its very beginning, both American –
because its speakers had come from the American colonies – and not American, because they
rejected the newly independent nation.
Just as the Americans sought to have a truly distinct, independent American version of
English, the loyalists sought to remain more like England… sort of. These were people whose
variety of English was already diverging from the British and vice versa: when the residents
of London and its environs began to drop theirs and change some of their vowels people in
certain parts of the United States adopted some of these changes, but Canadians did not.
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage?
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
1. Canadian English is considered more like British English by Canadians.
2. According to the second paragraph, Canadian English is pretty similar to British, with some
minor differences.
3. The St Lawrence River was colonized by Canadians in 1600.
4. Canadian English is considered neither American nor not American.
5. The fifth paragraph states that many English-speaking countries adopted changes in
pronunciation.

EXERCISE 21
Questions 1-7 Choose the correct heading from the list below (i - x)
i) Town facilities 1. Paragraph A ......
ii) Colonisation
2. Paragraph B ......
iii) Urban divisions
iv) Architectural home styles 3. Paragraph C ......
v) Types of settlements
4. Paragraph D ......
vi) Historical foundations
vii) Domestic arrangements 5. Paragraph E ......
viii) City defenses
6. Paragraph F ......
ix) The residences of the rulers
x) Government buildings 7. Paragraph G ......

Yoruba Town

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A. The Yoruba people of Nigeria classify their towns in two ways. Permanent towns with their
own governments are called “ilu”, whereas temporary settlements, set up to support work in
the country are “aba”. Although ilu tend to be larger than aba, the distinction is not one of size,
some aba are large, while declining ilu can be small, but of purpose. There is no “typical” Yoruba
town, but some features are common to most towns.
B. In the 19th century most towns were heavily fortified and the foundations of these walls are
sometimes visible. Collecting tolls to enter and exit through the walls was a major source of
revenue for the old town rulers, as were market fees. The markets were generally located
centrally and in small towns, while in large towns there were permanent stands made of
corrugated iron or concrete. The market was usually next to the local ruler’s palace.
C. The palaces were often very large. In the 1930’s, the area of Oyo’s palace covered 17 acres,
and consisted of a series of courtyards surrounded by private and public rooms. After
colonisation, many of the palaces were completely or partially demolished. Often the rulers built
two storey houses for themselves using some of the palace grounds for government buildings.
D. The town is divided into different sections. In some towns these are regular, extending out
from the center of the town like spokes on a wheel, while in others, where space is limited, they
are more random. The different areas are further divided into compounds called “ile”. These
vary in size considerably from single dwellings to up to thirty houses. They tend to be larger in
the North. Large areas are devoted to government administrative buildings. Newer
developments such as industrial or commercial areas or apartment housing for civil servants
tends to be built on the edge of the town.
E. Houses are rectangular and either have a courtyard in the center or the rooms come off a
central corridor. Most social life occurs in the courtyard. They are usually built of hardened mud
and have roofs of corrugated iron or, in the countryside, thatch. Buildings of this material are
easy to alter, either by knocking down rooms or adding new ones. And can be improved by
coating the walls with cement. Richer people often build their houses of concrete blocks and, if
they can afford to, build two storey houses. Within compounds there can be quite a mixture of
building types. Younger well-educated people may have well-furnished houses while their older
relatives live in mud walled buildings and sleep on mats on the floor.
F. The builder or the most senior man gets a room either near the entrance or, in a two storied
house, next to the balcony. He usually has more than one room. Junior men get a room each and
there are separate rooms for teenage boys and girls to sleep in. Younger children sleep with
their mothers. Any empty room are used as storage, let out or, if they face the street, used as
shops.
G. Amenities vary. In some towns most of the population uses communal water taps and only
the rich have piped water, in others piped water is more normal. Some areas have toilets, but
bucket toilets are common with waste being collected by a “night soil man”. Access to water and
electricity are key political issues.

EXERCISE 22
How should reading be taught?
A
Learning to speak is automatic for almost all children, but learning to read requires elaborate
instruction and conscious effort. Well aware of the difficulties, educators have given a great deal
of thought to how they can best help children learn to read. No single method has triumphed.
Indeed, heated arguments about the most appropriate form of reading instruction continue to
polarize the teaching community.
B
Three general approaches have been tried. In one, called whole-word instruction, children learn
by rote how to recognise at a glance a vocabulary of 50 to 100 words. Then they gradually

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acquire other words, often through seeing them used over and over again in the context of a
story.
Speakers of most languages learn the relationship between letters and the sounds associated
with them (phonemes). That is, children are taught how to use their knowledge of the alphabet
to sound out words. This procedure constitutes a second approach to teaching reading –
phonics.
Many schools have adopted a different approach: the whole-language method. The strategy here
relies on the child’s experience with the language. For example, students are offered engaging
books and are encouraged to guess the words that they do not know by considering the context
of the sentence or by looking for clues in the storyline and illustrations, rather than trying to
sound them out.
Many teachers adopted the whole-language approach because of its intuitive appeal. Making
reading fun promises to keep children motivated, and learning to read depends more on what
the student does than on what the teacher does. The presumed benefits of whole-language
instruction – and the contrast to the perceived dullness of phonics – led to its growing
acceptance across American during the 1990s and a movement away from phonics.
C
However, many linguists and psychologists objected strongly to the abandonment of phonics in
American schools. Why was this so? In short, because research had clearly demonstrated that
understanding how letters related to the component sounds in words is critically important in
reading. This conclusion rests, in part, on knowledge of how experienced readers make sense of
words on a page. Advocates of whole-language instruction have argued forcefully that people
often derive meanings directly from print without ever determining the sound of the word.
Some psychologists today accept this view, but most believe that reading is typically a process
of rapidly sounding out words mentally. Compelling evidence for this comes from experiments
which show that subjects often confuse homophones (words that sound the same, such as rose
and rows). This supports the idea that readers convert strings of letters to sounds.
D
In order to evaluate different approaches to teaching reading, a number of experiments have
been carried out, firstly with college students, then with school pupils. Investigators trained
English-speaking college students to read using unfamiliar symbols such as Arabic letters (the
phonics approach), while another group learned entire words associated with certain strings of
Arabic letters (whole-word). Then both groups were required to read a new set of words
constructed from the original characters. In general, readers who were taught the rules of
phonics could read many more new words than those trained with a whole-word procedure.
Classroom studies comparing phonics with either whole-word or whole-language instruction
are also quite illuminating. One particularly persuasive study compared two programmes used
in 20 first-grade classrooms. Half the students were offered traditional reading instruction,
which included the use of phonics drills and applications. The other half were taught using an
individualised method that drew from their experiences with languages; these children produce
their own booklets of stories and developed sets of words to be recognised (common
components of the whole-language approach). This study found that the first group scored
higher at year’s end on tests of reading and comprehension.
E
If researchers are so convinced about the need for phonics instruction, why does the debate
continue? Because the controversy is enmeshed in the philosophical differences between
traditional and progressive (or new) approaches, differences that have divided educators for
years. The progressive challenge the results of laboratory tests and classroom studies on the
basis of a broad philosophical skepticism about the values of such research. They champion

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student-centred learned and teacher empowerment. Sadly, they fail to realise that these very
admirable educational values are equally consistent with the teaching of phonics.
F
If schools of education insisted that would-be reading teachers learned something about the
vast research in linguistics and psychology that bears on reading, their graduates would be more
eager to use phonics and would be prepared to do so effectively. They could allow their pupils
to apply the principles of phonics while reading for pleasure. Using whole-language activities to
supplement phonics instruction certainly helps to make reading fun and meaningful for
children, so no one would want to see such tools discarded. Indeed, recent work has indicated
that the combination of literature-based instruction and phonics is more powerful than either
method used alone.
Teachers need to strike a balance. But in doing so, we urge them to remember that reading must
be grounded in a firm understanding of the connections between letters and sounds. Educators
who deny this reality are neglecting decades of research. They are also neglecting the needs of
their students.

Questions 1-5: Reading Passage has six sections, A-F. Choose the correct heading for
sections B-F from the list of headings below.
List of Headings
i Disagreement about the reading process
ii The roots of the debate
iii A combined approach
iv Methods of teaching reading
v A controversial approach
vi Inconclusive research
vii Research with learners
vii Allowing teachers more control
ix A debate amongst educators
Example
Section A ix
1. Section B
2. Section C
3. Section D
4. Section E
5. Section F
Questions 6-10: Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading
Passage?
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
6. The whole-language approach relates letters to sounds.
7. Many educators believe the whole-language approach to be the most interesting way to teach
children to read.
8. Research supports the theory that we read without linking words to sounds.
9. Research has shown that the whole-word approach is less effective than the whole-language
approach.
10. Research has shown that phonics is more successful than both the whole-word and whole-
language approaches.
Questions 11-14: Complete the summary of sections E and F using the list of words, A-G,
below.

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In the teaching community, 11 ………. question the usefulness of research into methods of
teaching reading. These critics believe that 12 ……….. is incompatible with student-centred
learning. In the future, teachers need to be aware of 13 ……….. so that they understand the
importance of phonics. They should not, however, ignore the ideas of 14 ……… which make
reading enjoyable for learners.
A the phonics method
B the whole-word method
C the whole-language method
D traditionalists
E progressives
F linguistics
G research studies

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