Unit 3: Reading - Practice Quiz

PEL134 — Upper Intermediate Communication Skills-Ii 60 Questions
0 Correct 0 Wrong 60 Left
0/60

1 What does recalling information from a text mean?

read and recall Easy
A. Translating every sentence
B. Questioning the writer
C. Changing the main idea
D. Remembering key details

2 A passage states, "The library closes at 6 p.m." When does the library close?

read and recall Easy
A. At 7 p.m.
B. At 6 p.m.
C. At 5 p.m.
D. At 8 p.m.

3 Which question helps a reader evaluate a writer's claim?

reading critically Easy
A. Is the font large?
B. Is the title short?
C. Is the passage long?
D. Is evidence provided?

4 Which statement is an opinion?

reading critically Easy
A. The book has ten chapters.
B. Water freezes at 0°C.
C. The class begins at noon.
D. This novel is fascinating.

5 What is the theme of a text?

understanding themes Easy
A. Its chapter number
B. Its publication date
C. Its longest sentence
D. Its central message

6 A story shows two friends supporting each other through many difficulties. What is its likely theme?

understanding themes Easy
A. The history of cities
B. The danger of travel
C. The value of friendship
D. The importance of wealth

7 In the sentence "Mira was exhausted after the long journey," what does "exhausted" mean?

vocabulary in context Easy
A. Fully prepared
B. Quite angry
C. Deeply confused
D. Very tired

8 In the sentence "The glass vase is fragile, so handle it carefully," what does "fragile" mean?

vocabulary in context Easy
A. Easily broken
B. Carefully decorated
C. Brightly colored
D. Recently purchased

9 Read the sentences: "It rained heavily all night. Therefore, the football match was canceled." What relationship do they show?

inferring relationships between sentences Easy
A. General and specific
B. Question and answer
C. Problem and solution
D. Cause and effect

10 Read the sentences: "Ravi enjoys outdoor activities. For example, he often goes hiking." How does the second sentence relate to the first?

inferring relationships between sentences Easy
A. It gives an example.
B. It presents a result.
C. It asks a question.
D. It states a contrast.

11 A notice says, "Submit the form to Room 12 by Friday." Where should the form be submitted?

reading in detail Easy
A. Room 10
B. Room 13
C. Room 12
D. Room 11

12 Which reading method is most useful for finding a specific date in a long passage?

reading in detail Easy
A. Predicting the ending
B. Evaluating the writer
C. Summarizing the theme
D. Scanning the passage

13 Which part of an article usually tells readers what it is mainly about?

reading articles Easy
A. The writer's address
B. The headline
C. The photograph credit
D. The page number

14 What is the main purpose of an introduction in an article?

reading articles Easy
A. To repeat the conclusion
B. To introduce the topic
C. To list every source
D. To define every word

15 Which answer best matches the question "Why was the event postponed?"

matching questions and answers Easy
A. About two hundred people.
B. On Monday morning.
C. At the community hall.
D. Because of heavy rain.

16 Which question best matches the answer "The meeting starts at 9 a.m."?

matching questions and answers Easy
A. When does the meeting start?
B. Who will attend the meeting?
C. Where does the meeting happen?
D. Why was the meeting arranged?

17 Which word commonly signals a comparison between two similar ideas?

finding comparisons Easy
A. However
B. Similarly
C. Finally
D. Because

18 Read the sentence: "A train is faster than a bicycle." What is being compared?

finding comparisons Easy
A. Their colors
B. Their speeds
C. Their owners
D. Their prices

19 Read the sentence: "Please whisper because patients are resting nearby." Where is the speaker most likely?

understanding the context Easy
A. In a market
B. In a factory
C. In a stadium
D. In a hospital

20 Which is the best note for the sentence "Regular exercise improves physical health and reduces stress"?

making notes Easy
A. Exercise is a popular daily activity
B. Physical health has several meanings
C. Stress affects people in different ways
D. Exercise: better health, less stress

21 Read the passage:

Mira planned to study abroad after graduation, but rising travel costs made her reconsider. She accepted a six-month internship at a local publishing company instead. During the internship, she discovered an interest in editing and later enrolled in a professional editing course.

What did Mira do immediately after reconsidering her plan to study abroad?

read and recall Medium
A. She applied to study at a local university.
B. She began working abroad as an editor.
C. She joined a publishing company as an intern.
D. She enrolled in a professional editing course.

22 Read the passage:

The community library first opened on weekdays only. After a survey showed that many residents worked during those hours, the library began opening on Saturdays. Attendance increased by 30 percent within two months.

Which change occurred before attendance increased?

read and recall Medium
A. The library began opening on Saturdays.
B. The library introduced a membership fee.
C. The survey was repeated every weekend.
D. Residents started working shorter hours.

23 An advertisement states: "Nine out of ten users prefer BrightWash detergent," but it does not explain how many people were surveyed or how they were selected. Which response shows the most critical reading?

reading critically Medium
A. The claim proves BrightWash cleans every type of stain under all washing conditions.
B. The claim needs information about the survey sample.
C. The claim is reliable because it uses a statistic.
D. The claim is false because advertisements are always misleading.

24 Read the statement:

"City parks should receive more funding because every successful city has large parks."

Which weakness is most evident in the argument?

reading critically Medium
A. It explains the environmental and social benefits of public parks in excessive detail.
B. It compares park funding across several time periods.
C. It provides too many examples of successful cities.
D. It assumes large parks alone indicate success.

25 Read the passage:

Although Arun failed his driving test twice, he continued practising each morning. He asked his instructor for detailed feedback and focused on one weakness at a time. On his third attempt, he passed confidently.

Which theme is best expressed?

understanding themes Medium
A. Competition makes ordinary tasks more enjoyable.
B. Natural talent is more important than preparation.
C. Success often depends on persistence and reflection.
D. Rules prevent people from learning independently.

26 Read the passage:

A village replaced its old market with a modern shopping centre. The new building was cleaner and more convenient, but local craftspeople could not afford the higher rents. Within a year, most handmade goods had disappeared from the area.

Which theme is most strongly developed?

understanding themes Medium
A. Modernisation can bring benefits while causing cultural loss.
B. Economic development succeeds only when every old building is preserved in its original condition.
C. Traditional markets are always cleaner than shopping centres.
D. Craftspeople usually prefer producing goods for large companies.

27 Read the sentence:

"The manager's initial enthusiasm was tempered by concerns about the project's cost."

What does tempered most nearly mean here?

vocabulary in context Medium
A. Replaced or forgotten
B. Displayed or announced
C. Reduced or moderated
D. Strengthened through careful financial planning and extensive consultation

28 Read the sentence:

"The professor's explanation was so lucid that even students unfamiliar with the theory understood it."

What does lucid mean in this context?

vocabulary in context Medium
A. Technical and specialised
B. Brief and incomplete
C. Humorous and entertaining
D. Clear and easy to understand

29 Read the sentences:

"The train service added two morning departures. Consequently, commuters had more flexibility in choosing when to travel."

What relationship does the second sentence have to the first?

inferring relationships between sentences Medium
A. It gives an example of a complaint.
B. It contradicts the announced change.
C. It presents a result of the change.
D. It describes the historical development of the entire railway network.

30 Read the sentences:

"Online courses allow learners to study at convenient times. However, they require strong self-discipline."

How does the second sentence relate to the first?

inferring relationships between sentences Medium
A. It gives the main cause of flexible schedules.
B. It qualifies the advantage with a challenge.
C. It proves that classroom learning is ineffective.
D. It repeats the advantage in different words.

31 Read the notice:

The museum is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Guided tours begin at 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., except on Sundays, when only the afternoon tour is offered. Visitors must book group tours at least three days in advance.

Which statement is accurate?

reading in detail Medium
A. The museum is open from Monday morning through Sunday evening without interruption.
B. A guided tour is available at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.
C. Individual visitors must always book three days ahead.
D. The museum offers two guided tours every day.

32 Read the policy:

Employees may work remotely for up to three days per week after completing their probation period. Requests must be approved by a department head. New employees may work remotely only in exceptional circumstances.

Who may normally request up to three remote-working days each week?

reading in detail Medium
A. Only department heads
B. New employees who prefer to complete their probation from home
C. Employees who have completed probation
D. All employees in their first week

33 An article begins by describing a city struggling with traffic congestion, then examines bicycle-sharing data and interviews regular users. It ends by recommending additional cycle lanes. What is the article's main purpose?

reading articles Medium
A. To assess bicycle sharing as a transport solution
B. To explain how bicycles are manufactured
C. To entertain readers with stories about professional cyclists
D. To argue that every form of motorised transport should immediately be prohibited nationwide

34 A news article reports a proposed ban on single-use cups. It quotes a government official supporting the ban, a café owner concerned about costs, and an environmental researcher presenting waste data. Why does the writer most likely include these sources?

reading articles Medium
A. To present several perspectives and supporting evidence
B. To replace factual reporting with personal opinion
C. To show that government officials have conducted every scientific study themselves
D. To prove that café owners oppose all environmental policies

35 Choose the answer that best matches the question:

"Why did the research team repeat the experiment under colder conditions?"

matching questions and answers Medium
A. Cold conditions are described in the report's detailed introduction and reference section.
B. To determine whether temperature affected the results.
C. The laboratory was built near the main campus.
D. The experiment lasted approximately three weeks.

36 Choose the answer that best matches the question:

"How has the new appointment system affected patients?"

matching questions and answers Medium
A. It has reduced the average waiting time.
B. It was designed by the hospital's technical team.
C. It uses scheduling software that was purchased after a lengthy review of several suppliers.
D. It was introduced in early September.

37 Read the passage:

Both solar and wind power produce electricity without burning fossil fuels. Solar panels, however, can be installed on individual homes, while large wind turbines usually require more open space. Wind farms may generate power at night, whereas solar panels depend on daylight.

Which comparison is supported by the passage?

finding comparisons Medium
A. Solar power always produces more electricity than wind power.
B. Solar and wind power require exactly the same amount and type of land.
C. Wind power can operate when solar power cannot.
D. Wind turbines are easier to install on individual homes.

38 Read the passage:

The express bus costs more than the regular bus but reaches the city centre 20 minutes sooner. The regular bus stops in several residential areas, making it more useful for passengers travelling short distances.

Which statement correctly compares the two services?

finding comparisons Medium
A. The regular bus is faster and has fewer stops.
B. The express bus is faster but more expensive.
C. Both buses follow identical routes at equal prices.
D. The express bus serves every residential area before reaching the city centre.

39 Read the exchange:

Nadia: "The outdoor concert is scheduled for this evening."

Leo: "Have you seen those clouds? I would take an umbrella."

What does Leo imply?

understanding the context Medium
A. It may rain during the concert.
B. Nadia should avoid outdoor events entirely.
C. The performers require special equipment to protect every instrument from extreme heat.
D. The concert has already been cancelled.

40 Read the paragraph:

Urban trees lower street temperatures by providing shade, absorb some air pollutants, and reduce rainwater runoff. However, they require regular maintenance, especially during their first few years.

Which set of notes best captures the key information?

making notes Medium
A. Urban trees: cooling, cleaner air, less runoff; need maintenance
B. Urban trees: require water; first planted several years ago
C. Urban trees: attractive leaves; planted mainly beside streets
D. Urban trees: provide shade throughout every season and completely remove all pollution from cities

41 Read the passage:

A city library replaced overdue fines with temporary borrowing restrictions. During the first year, returned-item rates remained nearly unchanged, but membership among residents in low-income districts rose by 18 percent. The library later restored fines only for high-demand equipment, which represented less than 2 percent of all loans.

Which statement accurately combines the passage's key details?

read and recall Hard
A. Restricting borrowing caused an 18 percent decline in total loans.
B. Restoring book fines reduced membership in low-income districts.
C. Removing all fines increased return rates and demand for equipment.
D. Removing most fines expanded membership without substantially changing return rates.

42 Read the passage:

The research team first interviewed coastal farmers, then compared their accounts with satellite records from the previous decade. Because cloud cover obscured several crucial months, the researchers also examined port logs documenting crop shipments. Their final report treated the interviews as evidence of local experience, not as precise measurements of annual production.

Which sequence and use of evidence does the passage describe?

read and recall Hard
A. Interviews were followed by satellite data and supplemented with port records.
B. Interviews, satellites, and port records independently measured exact annual production.
C. Satellite records were collected before interviews and replaced incomplete port logs.
D. Port records were used first and later rejected in favor of farmer estimates.

43 Read the claim:

After an optional financial-literacy workshop, participating employees saved 12 percent more than nonparticipants. Therefore, requiring the workshop for all employees will increase everyone's savings by approximately 12 percent.

Which criticism most directly weakens the conclusion?

reading critically Hard
A. A 12 percent increase may be reported as a fraction or a percentage.
B. Financial-literacy workshops may discuss both saving and responsible borrowing.
C. Some employees may prefer workshops offered during regular working hours.
D. Volunteers may already have been more motivated to save than nonparticipants.

44 Read the extract:

A manufacturer advertises that its new packaging is greener because each container uses 30 percent less plastic. The advertisement does not mention that the container cannot be refilled and that the product is now sold in portions half the previous size.

Which additional evidence is most necessary for evaluating the environmental claim?

reading critically Hard
A. The percentage of employees who approved the advertising campaign.
B. The total packaging waste produced per equal quantity of product sold.
C. The average time customers spend choosing among package designs.
D. The number of colors printed on each version of the container.

45 Read the extract:

For thirty years, Mara repaired the station clock without payment. When the railway closed, officials offered her the clock as a souvenir, but she refused. Instead, she wound it one final time and left it above the empty platform, where its bell continued announcing trains that would never arrive.

Which theme is most strongly developed?

understanding themes Hard
A. Technological progress inevitably corrects attachment to outdated customs.
B. Devotion can preserve meaning even after its practical purpose disappears.
C. Public recognition is the most reliable reward for unpaid service.
D. Personal possessions become valuable only when institutions abandon them.

46 Read the extract:

At first, Arun carefully erased every correction his mentor made on his drawings. Years later, when teaching apprentices, he displayed those same marked pages beside his finished designs. He told no story about them; he simply left both versions open on the table.

Which thematic interpretation is best supported?

understanding themes Hard
A. Mastery includes acknowledging the revisions through which skill develops.
B. Criticism becomes useful only after the critic is no longer present.
C. Teachers communicate effectively only when they avoid verbal explanations.
D. Successful artists must preserve every early work for future sale.

47 Read the sentence:

Although the committee's report was presented as definitive, its conclusions were qualified by repeated references to incomplete records and shifting definitions.

What does qualified most nearly mean here?

vocabulary in context Hard
A. Certified by experts
B. Improved through editing
C. Organized into categories
D. Limited by reservations

48 Read the sentence:

The mayor's apology was less a concession than a strategic pause: she admitted that the schedule had failed but continued to defend every decision that produced it.

What does concession mean in this context?

vocabulary in context Hard
A. A benefit awarded through formal negotiation
B. An acknowledgment granted to an opposing view
C. A reduction offered in the original price
D. A service operated by a private contractor

49 Read the sentences:

(1) The archive's new search tool returns results in seconds rather than minutes. (2) Speed, however, has not eliminated the need for specialist knowledge. (3) A search for the historical term consumption, for example, retrieves records about both economic use and tuberculosis. (4) Researchers must still distinguish meanings that the software treats as identical.

What is the primary relationship of sentence (3) to sentence (2)?

inferring relationships between sentences Hard
A. It contradicts the generalization made in sentence (2).
B. It illustrates the limitation asserted in sentence (2).
C. It proposes a technical solution to the issue in sentence (2).
D. It identifies the cause of the speed noted in sentence (1).

50 Read the sentences:

(1) Remote work reduced the company's spending on office space. (2) Several managers therefore described the policy as an immediate financial success. (3) Employee turnover, however, rose sharply in teams required to attend online meetings across multiple time zones. (4) Recruitment and training costs appeared only in the following year's accounts.

How do sentences (3) and (4) relate to the judgment in sentence (2)?

inferring relationships between sentences Hard
A. They confirm it by separating staffing from property expenses.
B. They complicate it by identifying delayed and indirect costs.
C. They explain it by showing why online meetings reduced turnover.
D. They dismiss it by proving that office spending remained unchanged.

51 Read the passage:

Applicants may submit revised proposals until 5 p.m. Friday, provided the original proposal was received by Monday. Supporting budgets may be corrected after Friday only when the review panel requests clarification; applicants cannot initiate such changes. Proposals submitted for the first time after Monday are not considered, even if they respond to a panel request concerning another application.

Which action is permitted?

reading in detail Hard
A. Submitting a first proposal on Friday after correcting its supporting budget.
B. Changing a budget after Friday without receiving a request from the panel.
C. Submitting a late proposal because the panel queried a different application.
D. Revising by Friday a proposal that was originally submitted on Monday.

52 Read the passage:

In Trial A, seedlings received six hours of direct light and were watered daily. In Trial B, they received six hours of filtered light and were watered every second day. Trial C matched B's light conditions but used daily watering. Growth in C exceeded growth in B but remained below A. Leaf damage appeared only in A.

Which conclusion is fully supported?

reading in detail Hard
A. Daily watering improved growth under filtered light, while direct light coincided with leaf damage.
B. Direct light reduced growth despite producing healthier leaves than filtered light.
C. Watering frequency alone explains every growth difference among the trials.
D. Filtered light caused leaf damage unless seedlings were watered every second day.

53 An article opens with a commuter's delayed journey, then presents national transport data, interviews a railway economist and a disability advocate, and concludes by evaluating three funding models. What is the article's most likely organizing strategy?

reading articles Hard
A. Comparing two biographies before rejecting all available statistical evidence
B. Presenting events chronologically before offering a single personal reflection
C. Listing technical definitions before narrating an unrelated local incident
D. Moving from an individual case to evidence, perspectives, and policy analysis

54 Read the excerpt from an article:

The headline declares, "City Trees Cut Summer Temperatures." The study discussed below found lower afternoon temperatures on tree-lined streets, but researchers did not randomly assign trees. Wealthier neighborhoods in the sample also had wider streets, less traffic, and newer buildings.

Which revised headline best reflects the evidence?

reading articles Hard
A. Tree-Lined Streets Associated with Lower Afternoon Temperatures
B. City Trees Proven to Prevent All Forms of Summer Heat
C. Researchers Randomly Confirm Cooling Benefits of New Buildings
D. Wealth Alone Determines Temperatures on Every City Street

55 A researcher asks, "To what extent did the museum's free-entry policy change who visited, rather than simply how many people visited?" Which answer responds most directly?

matching questions and answers Hard
A. Operating costs increased because additional guards were scheduled on weekend afternoons.
B. Visitors rated the permanent collection more highly than the temporary exhibition.
C. Attendance rose 22 percent, with the largest proportional gains among first-time and low-income visitors.
D. The museum introduced free entry after a six-month advertising campaign across the city.

56 Which answer best matches the question, "Why might the apparent decline in workplace injuries be misleading?"

matching questions and answers Hard
A. Reporting rules changed, so minor injuries formerly counted are now excluded.
B. The company expanded its safety training to include temporary employees.
C. Managers reviewed injury reports at monthly health and safety meetings.
D. Most injuries occurred near machinery installed during the previous decade.

57 Read the passage:

Both translation systems performed similarly on formal legal documents. System X was more accurate on informal dialogue, whereas System Y processed long documents twice as quickly. After both systems were retrained on medical records, Y's accuracy improved more, but X still made fewer errors overall.

Which comparison is accurate?

finding comparisons Hard
A. X and Y differed equally in speed, dialogue accuracy, and medical accuracy.
B. Y was initially superior on legal documents and remained superior medically.
C. X processed long documents faster, although Y handled dialogue better.
D. Y gained more from medical retraining, although X remained more accurate.

58 Read the data summary:

Town P reduced household water use from 180 to 150 liters per person daily. Town Q reduced use from 140 to 119 liters. Town R reduced use from 200 to 164 liters.

Which statement correctly compares the reductions?

finding comparisons Hard
A. Q had the smallest absolute reduction and the smallest percentage reduction.
B. P and R had equal absolute reductions, while R had the largest percentage reduction.
C. P had the largest absolute reduction, while Q had the largest percentage reduction.
D. R had the largest absolute reduction, while P and Q had equal percentage reductions.

59 Read the exchange:

Nadia: "The report says the bridge is safe under normal conditions."

Leo: "And the forecast says tomorrow will be perfectly normal, I suppose."

Heavy rain has been forecast, and the bridge inspection excluded flood conditions.

What does Leo imply?

understanding the context Hard
A. The weather forecast confirms that the bridge needs no restrictions.
B. The inspection proved that flooding cannot affect the bridge's safety.
C. The safety conclusion may not apply under the forecast conditions.
D. The report defines heavy rain as an ordinary operating condition.

60 Read the source:

Mangrove restoration can reduce wave energy and provide fish habitat, but survival rates vary with tidal flow, sediment type, and species selection. Projects that merely plant large numbers of seedlings without restoring water movement often fail. Community monitoring improves maintenance, though it cannot compensate for an unsuitable site.

Which set of notes best preserves the source's hierarchy and qualifications?

making notes Hard
A. Restoration: fish numbers determine tides; seedling quantity controls sediment; communities should replace site assessment.
B. Mangroves: benefits = wave reduction, fish habitat; success depends on tidal flow, sediment, species; planting alone often fails; monitoring helps but cannot fix poor sites.
C. Coastal projects: benefits are uncertain; species selection is irrelevant; monitoring matters only when water movement is absent.
D. Mangroves: always stop waves; any sediment works; plant maximum seedlings; community monitoring guarantees survival.