Unit 6: Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension - Practice Quiz

PEL545 — Intermediate Communication Skills 60 Questions
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1 What does the phrasal verb "give up" mean?

Commonly used phrasal verbs Easy
A. To continue
B. To move quickly
C. To begin again
D. To stop trying

2 What does "look after" mean?

Commonly used phrasal verbs Easy
A. To take care of
B. To look behind
C. To look quickly
D. To search for

3 Which sentence uses the phrasal verb "find out" correctly?

Use of phrasal verbs in day-to-day speaking and professional life Easy
A. I will find away the answer.
B. I will find over the answer.
C. I will find up the answer.
D. I will find out the answer.

4 In a professional email, what does "get back to you" mean?

Use of phrasal verbs in day-to-day speaking and professional life Easy
A. To contact you later
B. To leave the office
C. To change your decision
D. To return a document

5 In the sentence "The room was silent during the test," what does "silent" mean?

Contextual vocabulary Easy
A. Extremely warm
B. Very bright
C. Quite crowded
D. Completely quiet

6 In the sentence "The manager praised Ravi for his punctuality," what does "punctuality" mean?

Contextual vocabulary Easy
A. Being creative
B. Being on time
C. Being confident
D. Being polite

7 What is the meaning of the proverb "A stitch in time saves nine"?

Proverbs Easy
A. Clothes should be made carefully.
B. Nine people can solve one problem.
C. Time passes quickly during work.
D. Small repairs prevent bigger problems.

8 What does the proverb "Actions speak louder than words" suggest?

Proverbs Easy
A. People should avoid making promises.
B. Words are useful only in formal situations.
C. Speaking is always difficult.
D. What people do shows more than what they say.

9 What is the main purpose of skimming a text?

Skimming and scanning techniques Easy
A. To understand every detail
B. To memorize every sentence
C. To check spelling only
D. To get the general idea

10 Which reading technique is best for finding a specific date in a passage?

Skimming and scanning techniques Easy
A. Skimming
B. Reading aloud
C. Summarizing
D. Scanning

11 Read the sentence: "Regular exercise improves health, increases energy, and reduces stress." What is its main idea?

Identifying the main idea Easy
A. Health problems require medical care.
B. Energy is needed for daily work.
C. Stress is difficult to control.
D. Exercise can benefit overall health.

12 Which statement best describes the main idea of a paragraph?

Identifying the main idea Easy
A. An unfamiliar word in the paragraph
B. The central point of the paragraph
C. A minor supporting detail
D. The final punctuation mark

13 Read the sentence: "Maya carried an umbrella and wore a raincoat." What can you infer?

Inference-based comprehension Easy
A. Maya was preparing for a party.
B. The weather was probably rainy.
C. Maya was going swimming.
D. The day was extremely hot.

14 Read the sentence: "The lights were off, and no one answered the door." What can you infer?

Inference-based comprehension Easy
A. The visitors were expected inside.
B. The door was recently painted.
C. The house was probably empty.
D. The family was eating dinner.

15 Read the sentence: "The library opens at 9 a.m. from Monday to Friday." When does the library open on Tuesday?

Fact-based comprehension Easy
A. At 8 a.m.
B. At 7 a.m.
C. At 9 a.m.
D. At 10 a.m.

16 Read the sentence: "Arun bought three notebooks and one pen." What did Arun buy?

Fact-based comprehension Easy
A. Three pens and one notebook
B. Two notebooks and one pen
C. One notebook and three pens
D. Three notebooks and one pen

17 If an author explains how to prepare for an interview, what is the author's likely purpose?

Author's purpose and tone Easy
A. To criticize a company
B. To describe a holiday
C. To provide instructions
D. To entertain readers

18 Words such as "wonderful," "exciting," and "excellent" usually create what tone?

Author's purpose and tone Easy
A. A negative tone
B. A doubtful tone
C. A positive tone
D. A fearful tone

19 What is a useful way to recall the important points of a passage?

Read and recall Easy
A. Count the punctuation marks
B. Write a short summary
C. Ignore the title
D. Read only the last word

20 Which detail should a reader remember first when reading a short passage?

Read and recall Easy
A. The smallest punctuation mark
B. The central idea
C. The page number
D. The longest word

21 The outdoor event was called off because of heavy rain. What does called off mean?

Commonly used phrasal verbs Medium
A. Moved indoors
B. Cancelled
C. Announced
D. Delayed briefly

22 Choose the phrasal verb that best completes the sentence: "Please __ the application form before submitting it."

Commonly used phrasal verbs Medium
A. take after
B. turn over
C. bring up
D. fill out

23 During a meeting, a manager says, "We need to look into the customer's complaint." What is the manager asking the team to do?

Use of phrasal verbs in day-to-day speaking and professional life Medium
A. Reject the complaint
B. Forward the complaint
C. Record the complaint
D. Investigate the complaint

24 Which sentence uses bring up appropriately in a professional context?

Use of phrasal verbs in day-to-day speaking and professional life Medium
A. Rita brought up the report into three sections.
B. Rita brought up the budget issue during the meeting.
C. Rita brought up the email before sending it.
D. Rita brought up the office at six o'clock.

25 Read the sentence: "The instructions were ambiguous, so different employees interpreted them differently." What does ambiguous most nearly mean?

Contextual vocabulary Medium
A. Limited to one meaning
B. Open to multiple meanings
C. Arranged in proper order
D. Supported by clear evidence

26 Read the sentence: "Although the first proposal was rejected, Meera remained resilient and prepared a stronger one." What does resilient mean in this context?

Contextual vocabulary Medium
A. Ready to change careers
B. Able to recover quickly
C. Likely to avoid responsibility
D. Unwilling to accept advice

27 A student studies regularly throughout the term instead of waiting until the night before the examination. Which proverb best supports this approach?

Proverbs Medium
A. Barking dogs seldom bite.
B. Too many cooks spoil the broth.
C. A stitch in time saves nine.
D. All that glitters is not gold.

28 A company selected a cheaper supplier without checking product quality and later faced many customer complaints. Which proverb best applies?

Proverbs Medium
A. Practice makes perfect.
B. Every cloud has a silver lining.
C. Look before you leap.
D. Two heads are better than one.

29 You have one minute to decide whether a long article is relevant to your research topic. Which strategy should you use first?

Skimming and scanning techniques Medium
A. Skim the title, headings, and opening sentences.
B. Memorize the conclusion and supporting examples.
C. Scan every paragraph for dates and percentages.
D. Read each sentence and note unfamiliar words.

30 You need to find the departure time of Train 126 in a two-page timetable. What is the most efficient method?

Skimming and scanning techniques Medium
A. Skim the introductory note above the timetable.
B. Scan for the train number and read its row.
C. Summarize the timetable before locating the train.
D. Read all train entries from the beginning.

31 Read the passage: "Remote work reduces commuting time and may improve concentration. However, employees can feel isolated without regular interaction. Organizations therefore need policies that support both flexibility and communication." What is the main idea?

Identifying the main idea Medium
A. Organizations should replace offices with online meeting platforms.
B. Remote work requires a balance of flexibility and communication.
C. Remote employees are generally more productive than office staff.
D. Commuting is the main cause of poor workplace concentration.

32 Read the passage: "Many cities are adding bicycle lanes. These lanes can reduce traffic congestion, lower pollution, and give residents an affordable travel option. Their success, however, depends on safe design and proper maintenance." Which statement best expresses the main idea?

Identifying the main idea Medium
A. Well-designed bicycle lanes can provide several urban benefits.
B. City residents prefer cycling to every other travel option.
C. Bicycles are the least expensive vehicles in modern cities.
D. Traffic congestion occurs because roads receive poor maintenance.

33 Read the passage: "When Arjun entered the conference room, the presentation had already begun. He quietly took the nearest seat and avoided making eye contact with his supervisor." What can reasonably be inferred?

Inference-based comprehension Medium
A. Arjun planned to leave the presentation early.
B. Arjun disagreed strongly with his supervisor.
C. Arjun had been asked to observe the presentation.
D. Arjun was late and felt uncomfortable about it.

34 Read the passage: "The café introduced reusable cups at a small discount. Within three months, its weekly order for disposable cups had fallen by nearly half." What is the most reasonable inference?

Inference-based comprehension Medium
A. The discount encouraged customers to use reusable cups.
B. The supplier doubled the price of disposable cups.
C. The café stopped serving drinks in disposable cups.
D. Customers began purchasing fewer drinks each week.

35 Read the notice: "The library will remain closed on Friday for electrical maintenance. Books due that day may be returned on Saturday without a fine. The online catalogue will remain available." Which statement is supported by the notice?

Fact-based comprehension Medium
A. The online catalogue can be used on Friday.
B. Late fines have been removed permanently.
C. Electrical repairs will continue through Saturday.
D. All books are now due on Saturday.

36 Read the report: "The workshop began at 10:00 a.m. with 42 participants. After lunch, six participants left for another event. The final session ended at 4:30 p.m." How many participants remained after lunch?

Fact-based comprehension Medium
A. 48 participants
B. 42 participants
C. 36 participants
D. 38 participants

37 Read the sentence: "By replacing single-use bottles with refill stations, the college can reduce waste significantly. Students and staff should support this practical change." What are the author's purpose and tone?

Author's purpose and tone Medium
A. To describe, with a nostalgic tone
B. To persuade, with an encouraging tone
C. To criticize, with a bitter tone
D. To entertain, with a humorous tone

38 Read the passage: "The software update includes stronger password protection, faster search results, and a redesigned dashboard. Existing users will receive the update automatically on Monday." What are the author's purpose and tone?

Author's purpose and tone Medium
A. To entertain, with a playful tone
B. To persuade, with an urgent tone
C. To inform, with a neutral tone
D. To complain, with a frustrated tone

39 Read the message: "The client meeting has moved from Room 3 to Room 8 and will begin at 2:15 p.m. Bring the revised sales report, but leave the product samples at reception." Which action correctly follows the message?

Read and recall Medium
A. Take the product samples to Room 3 at 2:15 p.m.
B. Take the revised report to Room 8 at 2:15 p.m.
C. Leave the revised report at reception before the meeting.
D. Bring the revised report to Room 3 at 2:00 p.m.

40 Read the instructions: "Submit the printed form to the administration office by Wednesday. Attach one photograph and a copy of your identity card. Keep the original identity card with you." Which set of items should be submitted?

Read and recall Medium
A. The online form, one photograph, and an identity-card copy
B. The printed form, two photographs, and the original identity card
C. The printed form, one photograph, and an identity-card copy
D. The printed form, one photograph, and the original identity card

41 In the sentence "The committee decided to put off the vote until more evidence was available," what does "put off" mean?

Commonly used phrasal verbs Hard
A. To conduct the vote
B. To cancel the vote
C. To postpone the vote
D. To announce the vote

42 Which sentence uses "look into" correctly?

Commonly used phrasal verbs Hard
A. The manager will look into the missing invoices.
B. The manager looked into the report to distribute it.
C. The manager looked into the deadline after approving it.
D. The manager will look into the conference room.

43 Which replacement is most appropriate for the formal workplace sentence: "We need to find out why the shipment was delayed"?

Use of phrasal verbs in day-to-day speaking and professional life Hard
A. We need to bring up why the shipment was delayed.
B. We need to stumble upon why the shipment was delayed.
C. We need to determine why the shipment was delayed.
D. We need to turn down why the shipment was delayed.

44 A colleague says, "Could you go over the revised figures before the meeting?" What action is being requested?

Use of phrasal verbs in day-to-day speaking and professional life Hard
A. Review the revised figures
B. Replace the revised figures
C. Approve the revised figures
D. Summarize the revised figures

45 Read the sentence: "The auditor's report was circumspect, acknowledging irregularities without assigning blame before the investigation concluded." What does "circumspect" most nearly mean?

Contextual vocabulary Hard
A. Optimistic and informal
B. Angry and accusatory
C. Cautious and guarded
D. Detailed and statistical

46 In the sentence "The policy was intended to mitigate the effects of rising costs," what does "mitigate" mean?

Contextual vocabulary Hard
A. Measure the frequency of
B. Accelerate the development of
C. Reduce the severity of
D. Explain the origin of

47 A team repeatedly ignores minor software defects, and a major system failure eventually occurs. Which proverb best captures the lesson?

Proverbs Hard
A. A stitch in time saves nine.
B. The pen is mightier than the sword.
C. Every cloud has a silver lining.
D. Where there is smoke, there is fire.

48 A supervisor advises an employee not to criticize a colleague for an error because the supervisor made the same error last month. Which proverb is most appropriate?

Proverbs Hard
A. People in glass houses should not throw stones.
B. Too many cooks spoil the broth.
C. Necessity is the mother of invention.
D. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

49 You have three minutes to decide whether an article contains evidence about the effect of remote work on employee retention. Which strategy is most efficient initially?

Skimming and scanning techniques Hard
A. Read every sentence closely before identifying the article's subject.
B. Scan only the conclusion and assume it represents the whole article.
C. Skim headings and topic sentences, then scan for retention-related terms.
D. Memorize the introduction before searching for numerical evidence.

50 Which task is primarily a scanning task rather than a skimming task?

Skimming and scanning techniques Hard
A. Determining the article's overall argument
B. Identifying the writer's general attitude
C. Understanding how the sections develop
D. Locating the date of a policy revision

51 Read the paragraph: "Many cities install public charging stations to encourage electric-vehicle use. However, adoption also depends on reliable electricity, affordable vehicles, clear billing systems, and convenient station locations. Without these supporting conditions, additional stations may have limited impact." Which statement best expresses the main idea?

Identifying the main idea Hard
A. Electric vehicles are more affordable than conventional vehicles.
B. Charging stations alone cannot guarantee widespread electric-vehicle adoption.
C. Cities should stop investing in public charging stations.
D. Reliable electricity is the only condition needed for adoption.

52 Read the passage: "Although digital textbooks reduce printing costs, they can create new barriers. Students without dependable devices may struggle to access them, and prolonged screen use can affect concentration. Effective adoption therefore requires both technological access and thoughtful instructional design." What is the author's central claim?

Identifying the main idea Hard
A. Digital textbooks require access and careful educational planning.
B. Students generally prefer printed textbooks to digital textbooks.
C. Screen use has no meaningful effect on student concentration.
D. Digital textbooks are always cheaper than printed textbooks.

53 Read the passage: "When the town announced free evening classes, registration filled within hours. Yet attendance fell sharply after the first week. Interviews revealed that many participants could not afford transportation home after class." What can reasonably be inferred?

Inference-based comprehension Hard
A. Residents preferred online classes to evening classes.
B. Most participants disliked the instructors' teaching methods.
C. The classes were cancelled because registration was too low.
D. Initial demand did not guarantee sustained participation.

54 Read the passage: "The proposal promises faster processing, but it provides no estimate of implementation costs, staffing needs, or transition time. Its supporters describe these omissions as details to be settled later." What is the strongest inference?

Inference-based comprehension Hard
A. The supporters have already calculated the missing expenses.
B. The proposal is intended mainly to reduce staff numbers.
C. The proposal will certainly reduce processing time.
D. The proposal's feasibility cannot yet be evaluated confidently.

55 Read the passage: "The community library introduced weekend workshops in March. During the first month, 84 people attended; in April, attendance rose to 112. The workshops covered résumé writing, basic coding, and interview practice." Which statement is directly supported by the passage?

Fact-based comprehension Hard
A. The library offered workshops every weekday in April.
B. Interview practice attracted more participants than coding.
C. Attendance increased by 28 people from March to April.
D. The workshops began because employers requested them.

56 Read the passage: "The survey included 600 respondents from four departments. It was conducted anonymously over two weeks in September. Respondents rated communication clarity on a five-point scale." Which detail is factual according to the passage?

Fact-based comprehension Hard
A. The ratings used a ten-point numerical scale.
B. The survey was conducted anonymously.
C. The survey measured employee productivity directly.
D. The respondents came from six departments.

57 Read the passage: "The campaign's colorful advertisements celebrate convenience, but they say little about the program's recurring fees or cancellation rules. Consumers should examine those conditions before interpreting the advertised savings as genuine." What are the author's purpose and tone?

Author's purpose and tone Hard
A. To caution consumers in a skeptical tone
B. To praise the campaign in an enthusiastic tone
C. To summarize the program neutrally without evaluation
D. To entertain readers through playful exaggeration

58 Read the passage: "The pilot project did not meet its original target, but it revealed which neighborhoods lacked reliable transport and which services residents used most. These findings provide a stronger basis for redesigning the next phase." What are the author's purpose and tone?

Author's purpose and tone Hard
A. To present unrelated statistics in a detached tone
B. To advertise the project enthusiastically without qualification
C. To condemn the project angrily as a complete failure
D. To interpret a setback constructively in a measured tone

59 Read the passage: "A school replaced printed notices with a messaging application. Notices reached families faster, but some parents missed updates because they had limited internet access. The school therefore continued posting urgent information on a physical board while expanding digital support." Which sequence accurately recalls the passage?

Read and recall Hard
A. The school added a messaging application, cancelled urgent notices, and reduced support.
B. Digital notices reduced communication, families rejected them, and the board was removed.
C. Digital notices improved speed, access remained unequal, and a mixed system followed.
D. Printed notices improved speed, internet access expanded, and digital notices ended.

60 Read the passage: "At first, the research team attributed the low response rate to survey length. After comparing groups, it found that responses were lowest among night-shift workers, who rarely received invitations during their working hours. The team changed the delivery schedule and shortened the survey." Which detail is essential for an accurate recall?

Read and recall Hard
A. The team abandoned the survey after discovering it was too long.
B. Night-shift workers submitted the highest number of responses.
C. The original survey was distributed only to daytime managers.
D. Night-shift workers were underrepresented because of invitation timing.