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Descriptions and Samples by:
Reading Comprehension
This test is designed to measure how well you understand what you read. It contains 20
questions. Some ask you to decide how two sentences are related. Other questions ask you
questions about reading passages of various lengths. You will be asked to interpret and
draw conclusions from what you have read..
Sample Questions for Reading Comprehension
1.) Every sip of milk contains 59 different bioactive hormones according to
endocrinologist Clark Grosvenor. Imagine taking 59 different hormone pills every morning,
afternoon and evening. These hormones cause mood swings, irritability and depression.
Imagine the devastation that is created in your body by the cumulative effect of taking
those powerful drugs? What is the gross effect on the total behavior of a society, so
dosed? As we drink more and more milk and increase the amount of genetically engineered
milk and cheese and ice cream products containing increased levels of naturally occurring
milk hormones, we most certainly have influenced the way we act as a society.
The author's argument is that:
a) Many people are drug addicts
b) Milk has an effect on the way our society acts
c) Women need to take hormones
d) Everyone should drink more milk
2.) Television can have a detrimental effect on children. Those who watch two or more
hours of television per day tend to be more aggressive and overweight. A child's time
would be better spent socializing, reading, playing outside or participating in creative
activities.
According to the passage:
a) aggressive children enjoy watching television
b) children should decide their time between television and other activities
c) watching television is not the best way to spend your time
d) children who watch television are not good readers
3.) In 1860 riders were hired for the first overland mail courier service connecting the
eastern States with California, the Pony Express.
About 80 young riders were in use at any one time in this ambitious enterprise of
delivering the mail cross-country in 10 days – the Pony Express. In addition, some
400 other employees included station keepers, stock tenders and route superintendents.
Riders were paid $100 to $125 per month. Though small in stature, their untarnished record
proved them to have hearts of lions. History would record that they were among the most
durable horsemen ever.
The author suggests that the Pony Express riders:
a) were too young for the job
b) were paid much more than the other employees
c) did not deliver the mail quickly enough
d) were strong and brave
4.) The rain froze as it touched the ground. Roads were slippery and dangerous. How are
the two sentences related?
a) the second sentence contradicts the first
b) the two sentences set up a comparison
c) the second sentence shows a direct result of the first
d) the second sentence states what dangerous means
5.) The two-level George Washington Bridge crosses the Hudson River between upper
Manhattan and Fort Lee, New Jersey and forms part of Interstate Highway I-95. This
suspension bridge was designed by Othmar H. Ammann. Ground was broken for the original
six-lane bridge in October 1927. The Port Authority opened the bridge to traffic on
October 25, 1931. In 1946, two additional lanes were provided on the upper level. The
lower level was opened on August 29, 1962. This increased the capacity of the bridge by 75
percent, making the George Washington Bridge the world's only 14-lane suspension bridge,
and it is now one of the world's busiest bridges.
The passage states that the George Washington Bridge:
a) is 75 percent larger than most suspension bridges
b) is the world's only six lane bridge
c) needed additional lanes to increase its capacity
d) is the world's busiest tri-level bridge
Answers
1. b
2. c
3. d
4. c
5. c
Sentence Skills
Two kinds of questions are given in this test. You will be asked to correct a sentence by
choosing a word or phrase to substitute for an underlined portion of a sentence. In the
other type of question, you will be asked to rewrite a sentence in a specific way without
changing the meaning. You will be presented a total of 20 questions.
Sample Questions for Sentence Skills
Sentence Correction Question:
Select the best version of the underlined part of the sentence. The first choice is the
same as the original sentence. If you think the original sentence is best, choose the
first answer.
Ms. Rose planning to teach a course in biology next summer.
a) planning
b) are planning
c) with a plan
d) plans
Construction Shift Question:
Rewrite the sentence in your head, following the directions given below. Keep in mind that
your new sentence should be well written and should have essentially the same meaning as
the sentence given you.
Being a female jockey, she was often interviewed.
Rewrite, beginning with; She was often interviewed...
The next words will be:
a) on account of she was
b) by her being
c) because she was
d) being as she was
Answers
Sentence Correction
d
Construction Shift
c
The section below is for ESL Students Only
Descriptions and Samples by: 
Levels of English Proficiency
Sample Question for English Proficiency
Reading Skills
You will read passages of 50 to 90 words and then answer questions about your reading. The
reading passages will be about a variety of different topics. You may read about the arts,
or science, or history. Half of the test questions ask about information that is stated in
the passage. The other half will ask you to identify the main ideas, or fact vs. opinion,
or the author's point of view.
Read each passage below, then answer the question or questions that follow it. Some
passages have one question and some have two.
My cousin lived in the city from 1984 to 1989.
When did my cousin live in the city?
a) after 1989
b) before 1984
c) between 1984 and 1989
d) neither in 1984 nor in 1989
Sentence Meaning
You will be asked to fill-in a blank with a word or phrase, or combine two sentences. The
skills covered are writing skills including the proper use of nouns and verbs.
Each sentence below has a blank space. Choose the word or phrase that makes the sentence
meaningful and correct.
Mr. Swoboda grows roses, tomatoes, and carrots. That is why his friends say that he is a
good_______?
a) gardener
b) builder
c) painter
d) florist
Each problem below contains one or two sentences followed by a question. Choose the
correct answer to the question.
The teacher called on Joe in class. What did the teacher do?
a) shouted to Joe
b) asked Joe a question
c) telephoned Joe
d) visited Joe
Language Use
This test measures your understanding of English vocabulary. The sentences come from a
variety of different subject areas. You will be asked questions about basic and important
idioms, particularly terms of beauty, age, greatness, and size, adverbs such as before,
after, during, and prepositions of direction and place (from, to, at, etc).
Each problem consists of two sentences followed by four possible sentences for answers.
Choose the sentence that best combines the first two sentences. The combined sentence must
be grammatically correct. It must also express the same thought as the first two sentences
do.
I sang in the choir. I enjoyed it.
a) In the choir singing, I enjoyed.
b) In the choir to sing, I enjoyed.
c) I enjoyed to sing in the choir.
d) I enjoyed singing in the choir.
Each sentence below has a blank space. There are four words or phrases under each
sentence. Choose the word or phrase that makes a grammatically correct sentence.
They _____________ the newspaper everyday.
a) reads
b) is reading
c) read
d) does read
Answers to the Sample Questions for ESL Students Only
Reading Skills
1. c
Sentence Meaning
1. a
2. b
Language Use
1. d
2. c
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Testing & Assessment
