English a language skills assessment

Reading practice test 1

Part 1

(Suggested maximum time: 8 minutes)

Instructions

In part 1, you will read 12 sentences. Each sentence contains a black space, with a choice of 4 words of phrase (a, b, c or d) to fill the space.

Choose the correct word of phrase, and mark your choice.

1. According to our records, our _____ number XPT 1035 of 16^th August remains unpaid.

1. note

2. receipt

3. invoice

4. delivery

2. Sales have _____ dramatically since the introduction of our new product line.

1. gone

2. risen

3. made

4. received

3. Orders received by 4 pm Friday will be _____ on Monday.

1. sailed

2. flown

3. organised

4. dispatched

4. Patients who _____ appointments less that 24 hours in advanced will be charged a $25.00 rescheduling fee.

1. cancel

2. refuse

3. delay

4. meet

5. Under the new rules, millions of taxpayers can _____ to be paying more than $100 a month extra by next year.

1. expect

2. charge

3. result

4. demand

6. Your home is at _____ if you do not keep up loan repayments.

1. danger

2. risk

3. Loss

4. Sale

7. A _____ of the functions of the new photocopier on the second floor will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2.00.

1. show

2. training

3. conference

4. demonstration

8. Analysts predict that nuclear power plants will account for 23% of the nation’s total generating _____ by the end of the decade.

1. size

2. amount

3. capacity

4. production

9. In order to _____ the local economy a new employment creation plan will be introduced later this year.

1. add

2. prepare

3. stimulate

4. complete

10. On-line sales have had a dramatic _____ on the bottom line of several publishing companies this year.

1. rise

2. result

3. impact

4. increase

11. The financial director of communications company Globalcom is being questioned by fraud investigators because of suspected business _____

1. details

2. issues

3. dealings

4. irregularities

12. Friday’s Jenifer Merino benefit concert at Central Arena _____ an estimated 24,000 fans and raised over $300,000 for the National Cancer Fund.

1. drew

2. played

3. enjoyed

4. attended

Part 2

(Suggested maximum time: 10 minutes)

Instructions

In Part 2, you will read 3 passages. Each passage has 5 numbered blank spaces, with 4 choices (a,b,c or d) for each space printed below the passage.

Choose the correct word or phrase, and mark your choices.

Questions 13 to 17 refer to the following passage:

A good way of reducing long-term stress is to take _____(13)____ a relaxing sport or hobby in your own time. If you ___(14)___ all your working day competing or stressed, ____(15)___ it is very pleasant to be non-competitive for part of your free time. Slow physical activities such as sailing or walking can be very pleasant, ___(16)____ can others where there is little or no pressure for performance. Similarly you can reduce stress by making a routine period of time for yourself every day for undirected ___(17)___ such as: reading a novel, watching television or listening to music, meditating, having a long bath or having a massage.

13.

(A) in

(B) up

(C) off

(D) over

14.

(A) sit

(B) stand

(C) think

(D) spend

15.

(A) then

(B) even

(C)which

(D) because

16.

(A) so

(B)as

(C)and

(D)since

17.

(A) plans

(B)sports

(C)activities

(D) freedoms

Questions 18 to 22 refer to the following passage:

The Brazilian beverage giant Cola de las Americas, or CoAm, increased its profits more ___(18)___ 1,000per cent last year. The massive increase was ___(19)___ strong beverage sales supplemented by cost savings from the merger of the country’s two largest soft drinks makers. Only a year ___(20)___ a merger between Bravo and Hola Cola ___(21)___ CoAm, now the world’s eight largest beverage maker, this year the company announced a net profit of $88,2 million, compared with last year’s $4,36 million. Among plans for the future is an aggressive attempt to ___(22)___ a share of the lucrative North American market.

18.

(A) to

(B)by

(C)than

(D) less

19.

(A) given to

(B) based on

(C) believed to

(D) improved to

20.

(A) ago

(B) after

(C) before

(D) behind

21.

(A) created

(B) entered

(C) supplied

(D) combined

22.

(A) buy

(B) sell

(C) gain

(D) profit

Questions 23 to 27 refer to the following passage:

Macau is a great place to find ___(23)___ with different types of cuisine: Portuguese, Macanese, Chinese, Shanghainese, European, Japanese and more. Traditional dishes from Portugal include bacalhau , the country’s beloved cod, ___(24)___ baked, grilled, stewed or boiled; rabbit prepared in various delicious ways; and soups ___(25)___ as caldo verde and sopa a alentejana both rich with vegetables, meat and olive oil. In Africa and India the Portuguese ___(26)___ how to use the local spices with the ___(27)___ that Macau’s most popular dishes include African and Goanese chicken and spicy prawns, all baked or grilled with papers and chilies.

23.

(A) meals

(B) dishes

(C) eating

(D) restaurants

24.

(A) made

(B) served

(C) cooked

(D) offered

25.

(A) so

(B) such

(C) that

(D) those

26.

(A) learn

(B) learned

(C) to learn

(D) were learning

27.

(A) idea

(B) food

(C) result

(D) meaning

Part 3

(Suggested maximum time: 10 minutes)