PRACTICE TEST 1: READING
PART ONE
Questions 1 - 5
How to approach Reading Test Part One
1. In this part of the Reading Test you read five very short texts and choose the best
answer to five multiple-choice questions.
2. First read each short text for general meaning.
3. Then look at the three possible answers and decide which one is correct.
4. Make sure you read each text for overall meaning. Do not choose an answer just because
you can see the same words in the text.
Look at questions 1 - 5,
In each question, which sentence is correct?
For each question, mark one letter (A, B or C).
1.
Experienced personal assistant required
for marketing firm. Training in database management provided.
Knowledge of marketing preferred.
Call: 345634
Successful applicants for the job must have
A received database training,
B worked as a PA before.
C gained a marketing qualification.
2.
Time Destination Train Departure
11.15 Wolverhampton Slight delay
11.17 London Expected at 12.05
11.25 Exeter Due at 11.28
Which sentence describes the situation with the trains?
A The train to London is running an hour late,
B The train to Wolverhampton will arrive on time.
C The train to Exeter is a few minutes behind schedule.
3.
To let
New offices in former factory building in popular suburb of city.
24-hour entry with security.
Tel: 76234546
Which sentence describes the offices?
A They are open all night.
B They are in a modern building,
C They are in the city centre.
4.
There will be a meeting at 14.00 tomorrow for all staff to discuss
payment procedures.
Sue Baker
What does Sue Baker plan to do?
A speak to employees at 2 pm
B discuss arrangements for a meeting
C inform staff of a salary increase
5.
Sam
Janice called about the delayed sales report and is sorry she missed you.
Please return her call.
Jonathon
What did Janice do?
A She promised to telephone Sam again.
B She apologised for handing in the report late,
C She left a message for Sam to contact her.
keys:1 B 2 C 3 A 4 A 5 C
PRACTICE TEST 1: READING
PART TWO
Questions 6 - 10
How to approach Reading Test Part Two
l In this part of the Reading Test you match five people with items in a list.
l First read all the information. Note all the possible answers.
l Look for overall meaning; do not choose an answer just because you can see
the same words in the text.
l Go back and decide which is the final answer.
l Check that you have not used any letter more than once.
Look at the list below. It shows areas in a factory.
For questions 6 - 10, choose the area (A - H) each person should go to.
For each question, mark one letter (A - H).
Do not use any letter more than once.
FACTORY AREAS
A Factory canteen
B Production
C Finance
D Delivery yard
E Human Resources
F Packing area
G Training rooms
H Warehouse
6. Janet Tomlinson, who currently works for a packaging company, has just arrived for a job interview.
7. Sue Jones, an auditor, has come to count the goods stored at the factory.
8. Jeremy Baker has been called out of a course to deal with a problem with the assembly line.
9. Jo Scott has arranged to meet up with a colleague for a quick meal before their shift starts.
10. Kevin Smith, a truck driver, has got a problem with a customer’s invoice.
Key: 6 E 7 H 8 B 9 A 10 C
PRACTICE TEST 1: READING
PART THREE
Questions 11 - 15
How to approach Reading Test Part Three
1. This part of the Reading Test tests your understanding of the language of graphs and
charts.
2. Read the five sentences about the graphs.
3. Then look at all eight graphs. Try to describe each one in your own words. (You can do
this in your own language at first so that you are clear about what is happening in
each graph.)
4. Match each sentence with a graph. Note all the possible answers.
5. Go back to the sentences for which more than one answer seems possible. Carefully
compare the graphs and decide which is the correct answer.
6. Check that you have not used any letter more than once.
Look at the graphs blew. They show sales in the first quarter of the year in 1990 and
2000 across eight companies.
Which graph does each sentence (11 - 15) describe?
For each sentence, mark one letter (A - H).
Do not use any letter more than once.
11 There was a steady rise in sales in 1990, while in 2000 sales decreased considerably
during the first half of the period before levelling off
12 Sales in 1990 fluctuated before dropping sharply, whereas in 2000 sales remained
constant throughout the period.
13 There was a steady fall in sales during 1990, while in 2000 sales dipped slightly
before recovering towards the end of the quarter
14 In 1990, the first half of the period saw a significant growth in sales followed by a
sharp drop, while sales in 2000 remained stable.
15 Sales reached a peak in the middle of the quarter in 1990 before decreasing slightly,
whereas in 2000 sales fluctuated throughout the quarter.
Keys: 11 E 12 A 13 G 14 C 15 H
PRACTICE TEST 1: READING
PART FOUR
Questions 16 - 22
How to approach Reading Test Part Four
1. In this part of the Reading Test you read a short text and decide if seven sentences
are ‘Right’, ‘Wrong’ or ‘Doesn’t Say’ (not mentioned in the text).
2. First read the complete text. Then read the seven sentences and possible answers.
3. Note any answers which are clear. For others, write down all possible answers.
4. Look for overall meaning. Do not decide a sentence is ‘Right’ just because you can
see the same words in the text.
5. Be very careful about the difference between ‘Wrong’ and ‘Doesn’t Say’. Choose
‘Wrong’ if the facts in the text are different from the facts in the sentence. Choose
‘Doesn’t Say’ only if there is no definite information in the text,
6. Go back and check your final answers.
A. Read the newspaper article below about business in a small town.
B. Are sentences 16 - 22 on the opposite page ‘Right’ or ‘Wrong’? If there is
not enough information to answer ‘Right’ or ‘Wrong’, choose ‘Doesn’t
Say’.
C. For each sentence 16- 22, mark one letter (A, B or C).
Littleton News Update
The rate of unemployment in Littleton, a small town in the south west of England, has reached a record high this week. According to Helen Santer of Littleton Business Association, there are currently over 4,000 people registered as unemployed. This represents almost a quarter of the town’s working population and is an increase of 5% compared to the previous year.
The main reason for this rise was the closure of the last remaining factory in the town, LKS. The company, which manufactured a number of parts for use in the computer industry, finally closed its doors in August, leaving over 150 people without work.
Another major employer in Littleton, the Victoria Hotel, was recently bought by the well-known hotel chain Mount Clark, which fought off an attempted takeover by the health club operators Health Check.
Although staff had feared that they would lose their jobs in the resulting reorganisation, hardly any employees have in fact been made redundant. The company’s management has recently announced ambitious plans for the improvement of the building’s guestrooms.
16 More people are without work in Littleton than ever before,
A Right B Wrong C Doesn’t say
17 Five per cent of Littleton’s working population do not have jobs.
A Right B Wrong C Doesn’t say
18 There are still a number of factories in the area around Littleton,
A Right B Wrong C Doesn’t say
19 The company LKS used to make computers in the town,
A Right B Wrong C Doesn’t say
20 The Victoria Hotel has now become a health club.
A Right B Wrong C Doesn’t say
21 A Few jobs have been lost at the Victoria Hotel.
A Right B Wrong C Doesn’t say
22 The Victoria Hotel will become similar to other hotels in the chain,
A Right B Wrong C Doesn’t say
Keys: 16 A 17 B 18 C 19 B 20 B 21 A 22 C
