READING
PLACEMENT TEST
Placement Test Statement:
Students are to complete all test answers without help, without dictionaries, and within the allocated time framework. It is a requirement that our tests are completed under the correct exam conditions. It is imperative that the student’s English level stated in the visa documentation is an accurate reflection of their English language ability.
Student Name:
Date of Birth:
Nationality:
Date of Test:
Agency:
Supervised by:
There are 5 exercises (i) to (v) – sentences or texts.
For exercise (i), write your answer
For exercises (ii) to (v), choose one answer A, B, C or D.
Only one answer is correct.
You have 30 minutes to complete the reading test.
(i) WHAT IS EACH WORD?
The first letter’s already there. There’s one space for each other letter in it
(i) A DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME JOBS
1 I show customers the menu and bring them their food
w-----
2 People come to my shop to buy medicine
c------
3 I will repair your car for you
m------
4 If you want to change the colour of your room, I will do it for you
p------
5 I help my boss by answering the phone, making appointments and writing letters
s------
(i) B DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME THINGS YOU FIND IN A SCHOOL
6 Everyone has one of theses to sit on
c----
7 Sometimes this person gives you a lot of homework
t------
8 This is the place where people have lessons
c------
9 In some schools, all the students have to wear this
u------
10 At school, you can look for information on this or write your homework on it
c------
(ii) A GOING CAMPING
They (11) to go camping for their holiday
11 A decided B thought C felt
They wanted to (12) somewhere near the sea
12 A stand B put C stay
It (13) three hours to drive to the campsite
13 A had B took C got
They put their tent in a (14) of the field
14 A centre B corner C back
They (15) some postcards to their friends
15 A bought B chose C sent
(ii) B GOING TO A DISCO
Jane (16) Sarah outside the disco at 9.30
16 A met B arrived C came
Jane was (17) her new jeans
17 A dressing B wearing C putting
There is a special (18) for students on Thursdays
18 A price B cost C money
They danced to some very (19) music
19 A good B faster C nicest
Sarah (20) Jane home in her car
20 A went B took C travelled
(iii) CAMPING
Although some groups of people have always lived in tents, camping as we know it today only began to be (21) about 50 years ago. The increase in the use of cars and improvements in camping (22) have allowed more people to travel longer (23) into the countryside and to stay there in greater comfort.
Many campers like to be (24) themselves in quiet areas, so they (25) their tent and food and walk or cycle into the forests or the mountains. Others preferring to be near people, drive to a public or privately-owned campsite (26) has up-to-date facilities,
(27) hot showers and swimming pools.
Whether campers are (28) in the mountains or on a busy site, they should remember to (29) the area clean and tidy. In the forests, they must put out any fires and keep food hidden to avoid attracting (30) animals.
21 A famous B popular C favourite D current
22 A tools B baggage C equipment D property
23 A ways B directions C voyages D distances
24 A on B by C at D of
25 A take B make C pick D do
26 A where B who C which D when
27 A such B like C as D just
28 A lonely B single C separate D alone
29 A remain B stay C leave D let
30 A wild B natural C loose D free
(iv) LEARNING TO MAKE A PERFECT PIZZA
According to the European Pizza-Makers’ Association, making a good pizza is not a straightforward skill to learn. The ingredients seem very (31): flour, yeast, water and a bit of salt. But water and flour can easily make glue and anyone who has eaten a (32) quality pizza will know how bad it can make your stomach (33).
‘In Italy, 70 per cent of pizza makers could improve on their product, not to (34) all the pizza makers around the world who serve uneatable meals,’ says Antonio Primiceri, the Association’s founder. He has now started a pizza school in an attempt to (35) the reputation of this traditional dish. As part of an intensive course, the students at Mr. Primiceri’s school are taught to (36) common mistakes, produce a tasty topping and cook the pizza properly. ‘Test the finished pizza by breaking the crust,’ advises Mr. Primiceri. ‘ If the soft part inside is not white, clean and dry, the pizza will (37) your stomach.’
In Italy alone, the pizza (38) has an annual turnover of more than $12 billion. Mr. Primiceri (39) that there are 10,000 jobs in pizza restaurants waiting to be (40).
31 A simple B primary C pure D regular
32 A sad B poor C short D weak
33 A sense B do C feel D be
34 A state B mention C remark D tell
35 A save B provide C deliver D return
36 A pass B escape C miss D avoid
37 A worry B upset C ache D depress
38 A activity B body C industry D company
39 A computes B estimates C assesses D counts
40 A employed B filled C completed D covered
(v) HOLIDAYS IN SOUTH CAROLINA
Roaring across the bay in a motorised rubber boat, we were told by the captain to (41) our eyes open. With the engine turned off, it wasn’t long before half a dozen dolphins came up (42) beside the boat and popped their heads out of the water to give us a wide grin.
Dolphin watching is just one of the many attractions of a holiday in South Carolina, in the USA. The state has long been popular with golfers and, with dozens of (43) in the area, it is (44) a golfer’s paradise. But even the keenest golfer needs other diversions and we soon found the resorts had plenty to (45).
In fact, Charleston, which is midway along the (46), is one of the most interesting cities in the USA, and is where the first shots in the Civil War were (47). Taking a guided horse and carriage tour through the quiet back streets you get a real (48) of the city’s past. Strict regulations (49) to buildings so that original (50) are preserved.
41 A stand B keep C hold D fix
42 A direct B right C precise D exact
43 A courses B pitches C grounds D courts
44 A fully B truly C honestly D purely
45 A show B provide C offer D supply
46 A beach B coast C sea D shore
47 A thrown B aimed C pulled D fired
48 A significance B meaning C sense D comprehension
49 A apply B happen C agree D occur
50 A points B characters C factors D features