GRAMMAR

In the Grammar section, there are two question types:

• In questions 1-13, you must click on the circle next to the word or phrase that correctly
completes the sentence.
• In questions 14-25, you must click on the circle next to the incorrect word or phrase in
the sentence.

You will be shown one example before each of the two different question types. You have 10
minutes to review the examples and answer the 25 questions. During the 10 minutes, you may
use the "Back" button to return to any question and, if you wish, change your answer.

1. There ________ twenty-five grammar questions on the test yesterday.

a) is
b) are
c) were
d) was

2. The birthday party ________ last week.

a) had
b) is
c) will be
d) was

3. The children ________ their books as the class finished.

a) were reading
b) have read
c) are reading
d) reading

4. My neighbor has a blue car. ________ favorite color is blue.

a) Her
b) She's
c) Hers
d) She

5. Vegetables are ________ to eat than breads and desserts.

a) healthy
b) healthiest
c) health
d) healthier

6. I wanted to buy some ice cream, ________ I didn't have any money.
a) so
b) but
c) or
d) nor
7. That sandwich was terrible! I ________ sick since I ate it.
a) have been
b) would be
c) had been
d) am

8. I ________ to your office unless you're not in today.

a) came
b) could have come
c) will come
d) had come

9. If ________ TV is your hobby, you may be called a "couch potato".

a) to watch
b) watching
c) watch
d) watches

10. ________ his outstanding performance at the recital, he didn't win a prize.
a) Although
b) In spite
c) Despite
d) Since

11. If I ________, I would live in a castle and enjoy fabulous meals every day.
a) am a king
b) would be a king
c) were a king
d) had been a king

12. Look at the prices! Those imported fruits cost ________ those grown here.
a) twice as much as
b) twice much as
c) twice much than
d) twice more than

13. Slightly crumbly and pale yellow with blue-green veins, ________ in many recipes.
a) you can use the versatile favorite, Stilton cheese,
b) you can use Stilton cheese, the versatile favorite,
c) a versatile favorite that can be used is Stilton cheese
d) Stilton cheese is a versatile favorite that can be used
For questions 14-25, select the word or phrase that is NOT CORRECT in the sentence. Click "Next"
to Continue.

14. One of the greatest German composers is Beethoven, who wrote a often-performed
Symphony No. 5 in C minor.
a) of
b) the
c) who
d) a

15. Much doctors urge their patients to exercise more.

a) Much
b) urge
c) their
d) to exercise

16. Steve is driving his car to work every day, five days a week.
a) is driving
b) to
c) day
d) a week

17. The teacher is happy meanwhile the students do their homework.

a) The teacher
b) is
c) meanwhile
d) do

18. Once Tom and Melinda move into their new house, they celebrate with a party for their
friends.
a) Once
b) move
c) their
d) celebrate

19. I didn't hear the phone ring because I am just starting to take a shower.
a) didn't hear
b) ring
c) am just starting
d) take

20. The dog was played outside, and now he is covered with mud.
a) The
b) played
c) is
d) covered

21. You're sure to succeed if you keep in with your studies.

a) sure to
b) if
c) keep in
d) with
22. One of the obvious difference between living in an urban environment and a rural one
is the density of the population.
a) One of
b) the
c) difference
d) living

23. Although you read today's newspaper, you may come across an article about
tornados.
a) Although
b) read
c) today's
d) come

24. Buffalo, which once roam the United States by the millions, had been reduced to a
population of only 1,500 by the late 19th century.
a) which
b) roam
c) by
d) had been

25. Rarely do people take the time watching a sunset, look at the stars, or follow a rainbow.
a) Rarely do
b) watching
c) look at
d) follow
 LISTENING
The Listening section has 3 parts:

• Part 1. Four short conversations, each followed by 1 question.

• Part 2. One longer conversation, followed by 4 questions.
• Part 3. One lecture, followed by 6 questions.

You will hear each conversation or lecture only one time. However, you may take notes while
listening and use your notes when answering the questions. You must answer each question
before continuing. To continue to the next question, click the "Next" button. In this section, you
cannot use the "Back" button to return to an earlier question. The number of questions and the
amount of time you have to answer the questions will be shown separately for each section in
the "Question - Time Left" window on your screen. Time is not counted while you are listening to
the conversation or lecture.

Now prepare to listen to 4 short conversations, and to answer 1 question after each.

You will have a total of 80 seconds to answer the 4 questions. This time will be shown in the
"Time Left" window

1. What will the woman do tonight?

a) Take a physics exam
b) Go to the movies
c) Study physics
d) Write a history report

2. What did Sharon tell the man about her history class?
a) She did not attend it.
b) She thought it was over.
c) She thought it was silly.
d) She thought it was too long.

3. What will the woman probably do next?

a) Call her grandfather.
b) Call her mother.
c) Order flowers.
d) Visit her grandfather.

4. In what class does Tara have a quiz?

a) Math
b) History
c) Writing
d) Biology
Now prepare to listen to 1 longer conversation, and to answer 4 questions about the
conversation.

You will have a total of 2 minutes to answer the 4 questions. This time will be shown in the "Time
Left" window.

Warning: Back not allowed

5. What does the man need from Professor Land?

a) Permission to take his course
b) A telephone call
c) A study of public opinion
d) Transcripts

6. Why does the man want to take Professor Land's class?

a) He thinks the class will be easy.
b) He needs this course in order to transfer to another college.
c) Dr. Land is an expert in the subject.
d) Professor Land is a popular teacher.

7. Why does the woman need to see the student's transcripts?

a) Because he is transferring from another college
b) Because he is enrolled in Sociology 512
c) Because he hasn't taken any sociology classes
d) Because he hasn't been accepted to the college

8. What is the main reason the assistant says this:

a) He wants to make sure that you'll be motivated to do that.
b) All the students taking the class have to work together.
c) A student must have the ability to work alone.
d) There is a lot of reading for the class.
e) The course includes a lot of interviewing.
Now prepare to listen to a lecture, and to answer 6 questions about the lecture.

You will have a total of 3 minutes to answer the 6 questions. This time will be shown in the "Time
Left" window.

9. What is the talk mainly about?

a) Advantages of being the oldest sibling in a family
b) The role of birth order in parenting style
c) The influence of birth order on personality and career choice
d) Relationships among siblings

10. What is a typical characteristic of a first-born or only child?

a) Strong leadership abilities
b) Strong interest in outdoor activities
c) Strong attention to other people's needs
d) Strong value placed on non-traditional roles

11. The professor mentions the early astronauts to provide an example of:
a) Why careers such as astronaut and pilot are highly esteemed by society
b) Why the astronauts' experience failed to support the birth order hypothesis
c) How birth order may have influenced the astronauts' decision to become pilots
d) How first-born children are more likely to pursue non-traditional careers

12. Why are later-born children often employed in sales or performing arts?
a) Their parents expect them to pursue traditional careers.
b) They are exceptionally interested in excelling in academics.
c) Their parents encourage them to follow the example of their older siblings.
d) They are often drawn to careers that involve a high level of interaction with people.

13. What is one hypothesis about how parenting styles change as additional children are
born into a family?
a) Parents want later-born children to remain at home.
b) Parents allow later-born children to take more risks.
c) Parents desire that later-born children enter prestigious careers.
d) Parents become more nervous about the safety of later-born children.

14. Now, what's an application of this research that we can make? Well, it's useful for
people who do career counseling. But it shouldn't be thought of as a deterministic thing
- there are plenty of people who don't fit the pattern. The last thing we want is someone
saying, "You can't do that job because it doesn't match your birth order." What does
the professor imply?

a) The field of career counseling is especially attractive to first-born children.

b) Some people may misapply the results of the research on birth order.
c) Birth order should be the primary consideration for choosing a career.
d) Birth order has little relevance to a person's eventual career path.
 READING
The Reading section has 2 parts:

• Part 1. The first passage is approximately 250 words in length, and is followed by 4
questions.
• Part 2. The second passage is approximately 450 words in length, and is followed
by 6 questions.

In this section you will have 20 minutes to read two passages and answer comprehension
questions about them. While there is time remaining, you may use the "Next" and "Back" buttons
to move forward and backward between both passages and all of the questions, and you may
change your answers if you wish.

Prepare to begin Part 1.

Spiders

There are more than 37,000 species of spiders in the world. In general, spiders pose very little
risk to humans. Only about 25 species are believed to have venom that can harm people. Their
venom is used mostly to paralyze prey. Each spider eats an average of 2,000 insects per year.
They use their ability to jump to hunt down prey, and then pounce on it. Some spiders can jump
as much as 50 times their body length. If a human had similar ability, he could jump 90 meters.

Not only can spiders jump far, but they can also walk upside down on smooth surfaces. Their
feet are covered with tiny hairs that enable them to hold 170 times their body weight before
coming unstuck. That is equivalent to a children's super-hero carrying 170 people from danger
while clinging to the side of a building with his fingers and toes.

Spiders can also spin as many as seven different kinds of silk. Some of the silk is so strong that it
rivals the strength of steel. Spiders use the silk for many different purposes, such as catching
insects in webs and then wrapping them up so that they cannot escape. They also use silk to
travel from place to place and to form egg sacs.

Spiders come in a wide variety of sizes. The largest known spider is the Goliath bird eater
tarantula. This South American spider can be as big as a dinner plate. The smallest known spider
is the mygalomorph spider from Borneo. Its body is the size of a pinhead.

1. The word "pose" as used in the passage means:

a) accept
b) endanger
c) show
d) present

2. According to Paragraph 2, what permits spiders to walk upside-down on smooth

surfaces?
a) The shape of their body
b) A sticky substance that comes out of their feet
c) Small hairs on their feet
d) Toes that can grasp tiny irregularities in the surface
3. According to the passage, spiders make silk for all of the following purposes EXCEPT:
a) Catching water to drink
b) Spinning webs
c) Making sacs for their eggs
d) Traveling from one place to another

4. It has been known to snatch young birds from their nests.

Click on a circle [ ] to insert the new sentence into the passage. To change your
answer, click on a different circle.

“Spiders come in a wide variety of sizes. The largest known spider is the Goliath bird
eater tarantula. This South American spider can be as big as a dinner plate. The
smallest known spider is the mygalomorph spider from Borneo. Its body is the size of a
pinhead. ”
 Franchising

A franchise allows an independent business to operate under the name of an established

brand. For example, many brand name gas stations, such as Mobil, chain restaurants, such as
McDonald's, and convenience stores, such as Qwik Stop, are independently owned, but
whether they are on the east coast or the west coast, they have the same name, the same
signs, the same look, and they sell the same products.

The franchisor is the company that owns the established brand name. The franchisee is the
person who wants to set up business. The franchisor grants to the franchisee the right to sell or
produce the brand name product. For example, an independent bottling company, owned
by a local entrepreneur, can produce a brand name soft drink, such as Coca-Cola, in return
for an initial fee and ongoing royalties paid to the franchisor. The franchisee gains the use of a
well-known trademark and has the right to use the franchisor's system of doing business and
selling its products or services.

Buying a franchise instead of setting up an independent company can help the would-be
entrepreneur avoid many of the difficulties and mistakes that inexperienced owners face when
trying to start a company from scratch. The franchisee gets a proven system of operation,
training in how to use it, and on-going support. Reputable franchisors conduct market research
before selling a new outlet, so the franchisee can be confident that there is a demand for the
product or service. Franchisees enjoy the benefit of strength in numbers. By comparison,
independent operators have to negotiate on their own, usually getting less favorable terms.

It has been estimated that within the next decade over 50% of the U.S. retail economy will be
in franchising. One factor contributing to the growth of franchising is the professional reputation
and regulation of the industry. In the 1970's, franchisors recognized that unscrupulous business
practices were jeopardizing the franchise business model, and they established the
International Franchise Association (IFA) to set standards of ethics for the industry. On the
governmental regulatory side, the United States Federal Trade Commission and at least 15
states established standards that ultimately led to the creation of the Uniform Franchise Offering
Circular(UFOC). The UFOC requires that franchisors provide full disclosure of all of the rights,
obligations, and costs associated with establishing the franchise. The document must reveal
detailed information about the franchisor and its officers; litigation history; and professionally
audited financial statements. The establishment of the IFA, coupled with U.S. state and federal
regulations, has helped to ensure the future of franchising as a viable business format.

5. The word "unscrupulous" as used in the passage means:

a) unprofitable
b) entrepreneurial
c) secret
d) dishonest

6. What is the purpose of the "Uniform Franchise Offering Circular" mentioned in Paragraph
4?
a) To protect purchasers of franchises
b) To advertise franchising opportunities
c) To ensure that all franchises establish similar startup fees
d) To encourage international investment in franchises
7. All of the following are benefits of franchising that are mentioned in the passage
EXCEPT:
a) Receiving training
b) Obtaining legal advice
c) Avoiding common errors
d) Using an established trademark

8. They realize significant pricing discounts by joining together with many others to buy
materials, supplies, and services, such as advertising.

Click on a circle [ ] to insert the new sentence into the passage. To change your
answer, click on a different circle.

“Buying a franchise instead of setting up an independent company can help the

would-be entrepreneur avoid many of the difficulties and mistakes that inexperienced
owners face when trying to start a company from scratch. The franchisee gets a proven
system of operation, training in how to use it, and on-going support. Reputable
franchisors conduct market research before selling a new outlet, so the franchisee can
be confident that there is a demand for the product or service. Franchisees enjoy the
benefit of strength in numbers. By comparison, independent operators have to
negotiate on their own, usually getting less favorable terms. ”

9. Why does the passage mention "the east coast" and "the west coast"?
a) To indicate places where franchising first began
b) To explain that franchising has been profitable in the most heavily populated areas
c) To emphasize that franchises that are distant from one another are nevertheless
similar
d) To give examples of places where franchising has been dominated by large,
powerful companies

10. Following is a sentence that begins a summary of the main points of the passage:

"Franchising has been increasing in popularity as a business format for several decades."

Continue the summary by choosing 3 of the 6 sentences below that best represent
MAIN points in the passage. Mark your 3 answers by selecting the appropriate
checkboxes. To change an answer, click again on that checkbox to remove the check
mark.

Possible Answers:

a) A franchise allows people who want to start a business to escape many of the pitfalls
of being an independent owner.
b) Franchising is less risky than it used to be, thanks to ethical standards developed by
the industry and regulations established by the government.
c) Franchisors research various aspects of the market to determine the demand for
the product.
d) A number of states set up standards for business practices that led to the Uniform
Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC).
e) ) Mobil, McDonald's, Qwik Stop, and Coca-Cola are well known brand names.
f) A franchisee benefits from the brand name of the franchisor and from various types
of help that the franchisor offers in exchange for fees paid.
 WRITING
The Writing section has 2 parts:

• Part 1. In this part, you will write a short note or letter.

• Part 2. In this part, you will write a longer essay.

Topics will be given to you for both the note and the essay.

Please note that once you click the "Next" button you may not return to an earlier topic.

Warning: Back not allowed

Using the topic given on the next screen, write a short note or letter. You will have 5 minutes.
Your note should be 50-75 words long (maximum length is 100 words).

Topic:

You are thinking about attending an English language school in Canada. Write a note
introducing yourself to the school's director, asking some specific questions about the school.

You will have 20 minutes to write an essay expressing your opinion on the topic given on the
next screen. Give reasons and specific examples to support your opinion. Your essay should
be 175-225 words long (maximum length is 250 words).

Warning: Back not allowed

Topic:

In some societies, families expect their children to leave home and live on their own as soon as
they finish high school. In other societies, children live with their families until they get married -
and sometimes even after they are married. Explain which approach you prefer, and why.
 SPEAKING
The Speaking section has two parts:

• In the first part, you will both hear the question and see it printed on your screen.
• In the second part, you will hear a statement that presents two differing opinions, or
points of view, on a topic. You will only hear the statement - it will not be shown on
your screen. After you hear the statement, you will be asked to express your
thoughts on the topic.

In both Parts 1 and 2, you may take notes and use them to help you with your spoken responses.

Part 1:

In this section, you will warm-up with a short conversation. You will have 40 seconds to answer
a series of short questions. The timer will count down as you speak. This section will not be
graded.

Part 2:

You will both hear and read a question. Answer the question giving specific reasons and
examples that support your answer. After you hear the question, you will have 30 seconds to
prepare your answer, and 45 seconds to speak.

Topic: Describe the teacher who has made the biggest difference in your life.

Part 3:

Listen to a short statement presenting two differing opinions on a topic. Then express your
thoughts on the topic, giving specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

You will only hear the statement -- it will not appear on your screen. After you hear the
statement, you will have 45 seconds to prepare, and 60 seconds to speak. Remember, you
may take notes.