Part 1: Reading Assessment (30 minutes)
You will read three texts. Read the text and answer the questions.
Read as many selections as you can.
Answer all the questions in complete sentences.
If you cannot understand the text, stop reading and go to the next one.
Improve your reading skills - 5 tips
Try to read at the right level. Read something that you can more or less understand. If you need to stop every three words to look in a dictionary, it is not interesting for you and you will soon be discouraged. Make a note of new vocabulary. If there are four or five new words on a page, write them in your vocabulary book - but you don't have to write them while you read. Instead, try to guess their meaning as you read; mark them with a pen; then come back when you have finished reading to check in a dictionary and add them to your vocabulary book.
Try to read regularly. For example, read for a short time once a day. Fifteen minutes every day is better than two hours every Sunday. Fix a time to read and keep to it. For example you could read for fifteen minutes when you go to bed, or when you get up, or at lunchtime.
Read what interests YOU. Choose a magazine or book about a subject that you like.
1) What should you make a note of when you are reading?
2) How often should you read?
3) What should you read?
4) When should you write down new vocabulary words?
5) What can make you discouraged when you are reading?
Employment in Canada
Many jobs in Canada depend on our natural resources. Almost a hundred years ago, more than half of Canada's population lived on farms or in rural communities. The primary (natural resource) industries in their areas provided jobs for people living there. For example, a miner, his son, and his grandson could work for the same mining company. However, there is a disadvantage to living in a community that depends on a single natural resource. If the mining company closes, all family members who work for that company lose their jobs.
In the late 1800's and early 1900's, more and more people left the rural areas and moved to cities, or urban areas. The manufacturing industries in the cities needed workers. Many Canadians started to move to the cities to work in factories.
Jobs in service industries also drew people to cities. Finance, government, entertainment and stores are examples of service industries.
Many people work in the communication and information industries, mostly in urban areas.
6) What type of employment did 50% of Canadians have a hundred years ago?
7) What is the disadvantage to living in a community that depends on one resource?
8) Why did many Canadians move from rural communities to urban areas?
9) What is the main idea of the article?
10) What is the difference between the service industry and the manufacturing industry?
Internet Chaos in Asia
The Internet in Asia is still experiencing problems following the earthquake off southern Taiwan last week. Although the quake caused little damage to buildings and roads, it broke six of seven undersea Internet cables. As a result, millions of people in the Asia-Pacific region could not use the Internet. The damaged cables linked countries in North and Southeast Asia to each other, and to North America and Australia. The powerful magnitude 6.7 quake showed how easily Mother Nature can bring chaos to international communication. Banking services across the region were badly hit and millions of people could not even use an ATM to withdraw cash. Financial markets escaped serious damage as many traders were on holidays ahead of the New Year.
Several ships are now on their way to repair the cables. One damaged cable is the North Asian Loop - a 38,000 kilometre link that stretches from South Korea around India to Holland. Repairing it could be a very difficult job because the ends of the cables may be buried or washed away. Earthquakes can create a lot of damage on the seabed. They can cause things to move long distances under the sea. Taiwanese officials have warned it could take several days or even a week to fix the problems. This means Internet access across most of Asia will not return to normal for a week or so. The cost of repairs for Asian telecommunication companies could be half a billion dollars. They are using more expensive satellite technology to make sure as many people as possible are connected.
11) How has the earthquake affected the people of Asia?
12) Where are the cables?
13) What is the function of the cables?
14) Why will the repairs be difficult?
15) When will Internet access return to Asia?
Part 2: Integrated Skills (30 minutes)
Questions 16 - 20 select the correct answer.
Questions 21 - 35 In this section you must choose the word which best fits each space in the text below.
Questions 36 - 55 In this section you must choose the word or phrase which best completes each sentence.
Where can you see these notices?
16)
in a shop
in a hotel
in a taxi
17)
in a library
in a bank
in a police station
18)
outside a theatre
outside a supermarket
outside a restaurant
19)
at a travel agent's
at a music school
at a restaurant
20)
at a cinema
in a hotel
on a camp-site
Choose the word which best fits.
"Scotland is the north part of the island of Great Britain. The Atlantic Ocean is on the west and the North Sea on the east. Some people 21)
on
in
at
Scotland speak a different language called Gaelic. There are 22)
about
between
among
five million people in Scotland, and Edinburgh is 23)
his
your
its
most famous city. Scotland has many mountains; the highest one is called 'Ben Nevis'. In the south of Scotland, there are a lot of sheep. A long time ago, there 24)
is
were
was
many forests, but now there are only a 25)
few
little
lot
. Scotland is only a small country, but it is quite beautiful."
Choose the word which best fits.
"Alice Guy Blaché was the first female film director. She first became involved in cinema whilst working for the Gaumont Film Company in the late 1890s. This was a period of great change in the cinema and Alice was the first to use many new inventions, 26)
bringing
including
containing
supporting
sound and colour. In 1907 Alice 27)
moved
ran
entered
transported
to New York where she started her own film company. She was 28)
next
once
immediately
recently
successful, but, when Hollywood became the centre of the film world, the best days of the independent New York film companies were 29)
after
down
behind
over
. When Alice died in 1968, hardly anybody 30)
remembered
realised
reminded
repeated
her name."
Choose the word which best fits.
"UFO is short for 'unidentified flying object'. UFOs are popularly known as flying saucers, 31)
because
therefore
although
so
that is often the 32)
look
shape
size
type
they are reported to be. The 33)
last
next
first
oldest
"flying saucers" were seen in 1947 by an American pilot, but experts who studied his claim decided it had been a trick of the light. Even people experienced at watching the sky, 34)
like
that
so
such
as pilots, report seeing UFOs. In 1978 a pilot reported a collection of UFOs off the coast of New Zealand. A television 35)
cameraman
director
actor
announcer
went up with the pilot and filmed the UFOs. Scientists studying this phenomenon later discovered that in this case they were simply lights on boats out fishing."
Choose the word which best completes each sentence.
36) The teacher encouraged her students
should write
write
wrote
to write
to an English pen-friend.
37) They spent a lot of time
looking
for looking
to look
to looking
at the pictures in the museum.
38) Shirley enjoys science lessons, but all her experiments seem to
turn
come
end
go
wrong.
39)
Except
Other
Besides
Apart
from Michael, all the group arrived on time.
40) She
accused
complained
blamed
denied
her neighbour's children for the broken window.
41) As I had missed the history lesson, my friend went
by
after
over
on
the homework with me.
42) Whether she's a good actress or not is a
matter
subject
point
case
of opinion.
43) The decorated roof of the ancient palace was
built
carried
held
supported
up by four thin columns.
44) Would it
agree
suit
like
fit
you if we came on Thursday?
45) This form
doesn't need
doesn't have
needn't
hasn't got
be handed in until the end of the week.
46) If you make a mistake when you are writing, just
cross
clear
do
wipe
it out with your pen.
47) Although our opinions on many things
differ
oppose
disagree
divide
, we're good friends.
48) This product must be eaten
by
before
within
under
two days of purchase.
49) The newspaper report contained
many
another
an
a lot of
important information.
50) Have you considered
move
to move
to be moving
moving
to London?
51) People who lead an active life should increase their
upturn
input
upkeep
intake
of vitamins.
52) I thought there was a
piece
part
shadow
touch
of jealousy in his reaction to my good fortune.
53) Why didn't you
advise
mention
remark
tell
that you were feeling ill?
54) James was not sure exactly where his best interests
stood
rested
lay
centred
.
55) He's still getting
across
by
over
through
the shock of losing his job.
Part 3: Writing Assessment (30 minutes)
In the space below, write in proper paragraph format the extent to which you agree or disagree with one statement below. You will be assessed on the organization, grammar and use of examples and not your opinion: (You must write a minimum of 200 words, in your own words. Plagiarism and use of AI will not be accepted)
"All employees should help decide how the profits of their company should be used."
OR
"All companies should heavily invest in advertising because high-quality advertising can sell almost any product or service."
