Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Preliminary Test - 2008

        
[Preliminary Test - 2008]

ECPE - Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English
Michigan ELI Testing

GRAMMAR, CLOZE, VOCABULARY, AND READING SECTION INSTRUCTIONS

There are 35 multiple-choice problems in this test: 10 grammar, 10 cloze, 10 vocabulary, and 5 questions about a reading passage. You will have 30 minutes to answer all 35 problems.

GCVR - GRAMMAR

1. "Didn't I see you at Moira's party?" "No. You must be __________ for somebody else."
a. mistook me
b. mistaking me
c. mistaken
d. mistaking her

2. "Wow, tuition went up 20 percent this year!" "Really? To what __________ will you have to cut down on your other expense?"
a. extensive
b. extension
c. extent
d. extends

3. __________ been to London before, I wasn't really interested in going again.
a. Had
b. To have
c. Having
d. If I had

4. The best we can do is __________ to resolve the problem as soon as possible.
a. Trying
b. having tried
c. tried
d. try

5. I was so upset, feeling __________ for what I had done.
a. regretted
b. regretful
c. regrettable
d. regretting

6. Chris __________ been informed of the new policy last week.
a. might not have
b. might haven't
c. might not had
d. might hadn't

7. When __________ playing violin, Jack is a natural.
a. he comes to
b. it comes to
c. coming to
d. it is coming to

8. Bill devotes a lot of his time__________ studying.
a. at
b. in
c. for
d. to

9. John's decision to retire __________ surprise.
a. was caught by my
b. caught me by
c. caught me in
d. was caught in my

10. The criminal can't escape. It's only __________ the police find him.
a. a matter of time if
b. the matter of time when
c. a matter of time before
d. the matter of time then

GCVR - CLOZE

Two eyes help us to see in three dimensions; and two ears allow us to hear in stereo. If recent research findings are ___(11)___, two nostrils function in ___(12)___ the same way. In the olfactory system, each nostril conveys to the brain a slightly different olfactory ___(13)___ upon smelling an odor. What is perceived in combination is ___(14)___ used by the brain to get a precise ___(15)___ of what the odor is.

The slight difference ___(16)___ the olfactory images seems to occur ___(17)___ the air flows at a different rate through each nostril, one of ___(18)___ has a low flow-rate and the other a high one. Odors that dissolve slowly have their maximum effet in the ___(19)___ that has a slow movement of air. Conversely,  those that dissolve quickly have their ___(20)___ effect when the air stream is moving rapidly. Thus, air drawn into the nose will give different responses in each nostril. Not yet well undersood is how the brain processes the disparate olfactory images as a single recognizable aroma. Future studies will be needed to completely explain this phenomenon.

11. a. incorrect b. accurate c. reported d. similar
12. a. so b. much c. as d. such
13. a. process b. where c. image d. once
14. a. which b. strongly c. earlier d. then
15. a. meaning b. location c. measurement d. sense
16. a. in b. to c. about d. when
17. a. before b. however c. then d. because
18. a. those b. each c. which d. such
19. a. nostril b. flow c. chemical d. other
20. a. personal b. negative c. strongest d. slowest

GCVR - VOCABULARY

21. The mother sang to the baby in an attempt to __________ her.
a. alleviate
b. soothe
c. enhance
d. compromise

22. Susan was __________ by the many compliments from her sister.
a. admired
b. appreciated
c. privileged
d. flattered

23. The chef __________ the cake in the refrigerator overnight so it would be cold.
a. thawed
b. simmered
c. seared
d. chilled

24. The thief __________ the money out of my hand.
a. clutched
b. gripped
c. resisted
d. snatched

25. He __________ the other runners in the last ten seconds and won the race.

a. overtook
b. overwhelmed
c. oversaw
d. overturned

26. In order to reduce crime, police must __________ the law at all times.
a. enact
b. repeal
c. ratify
d. enforce

27. Medical scientists are just now __________ the causes of this disease.
a. settling
b. probing
c. emerging
d. experimenting

28. Kate __________ from the horse and walked it into the stable.
a. discharged
b. dismounted
c. dispatched
d. dismissed

29. Jim had to overcome a great deal of __________ to finally achieve his academic goals.
a. differentiation
b. vigilance
c. adversity
d. endeavor

30. The owner of the business __________ the lates tax bill he received.
a. retaliated
b. vetoed
c. disputed
d. argued

GCVR - READING

Recognized as having the largest "green roof" in the world, the new Ford Truck Assembly Plant in Dearborn, Michigam, serves as a model for the 21st century. In this time of growing concern for environmental issues from global warming to urban sprawl, the For plant shows it's possible to reduce these concerns by means of well-designed "green architecture."

Green roofs are, as the name implies, gardens that are placed on the roof of a building. These roofs are composed of a waterproofing and root-repellant system designed to protect the underlying building structure, a drainage system, a lightweight growing medium, and plants selected based on characteristics such as drought tolerance. The gardens are designed to be self-sustaining, requiring little upkeep except for occasional weeding or fertilization.

In addition to supporting plant growth, the growing medium absorbs water. Experts cite the latter as the single most important advantage of green roof technology, because the plants store rainwater and return it to the atmosphere. It is predicted that the Ford Plant green roof will retain 447,000 gallons of water per year, conserving 50 percent of the rain that falls on the roof each year. Less rainwater also means less water that must pass through the city's water sewage treatment facilities.

What runoff there is has been filtered by the roof system. In addition, green roofs improve air quality by filtering the air above them and encouraging the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen through photosynthesis. Furthermore, they reduce the "heat island" effet in cities caused by the ever-increasing amount of hard surfaces that absorb solar radiation. Finally, green roofs are aesthetically appealing: they improve the appearance of barren urban and industrial sites.

31. What is the main idea of this passage?
a. Green roofs have a variety of environmental benefits.
b. Green roofs can solve the problem of global warming.
c. Green roofs need less maintenance than regular roofs.
d. Green roofs are becoming more common on automotive plants.

32. How often do roof gardens need to be planted?
a. annually each spring
b. when there is below-average rainfall
c. every time it rains
d. only once when created

33. According to the passage, what is the most significant benefit of a green roof?
a. It cools the building it is on.
b. It retains rainwater.
c. It supports plant life.
d. It absorbs solar radiation.

34. According to the passage, what is one way in which green roofs improve air quality?
a. by promoting gas exchange
b. by reflecting solar radiation
c. by reducing air temperature
d. by absorbing rainwater

35. How do green roofs reduce the "heat island" effect?
a. They retain a lot of rainwater.
b. They reflect the sun's heat.
c. They capture less heat from the sun than traditional roofs.
d. They increase the movement of air around the building.

***
     

1 comments:

  1. Answer Key:

    Grammar
    1.b 2.c 3.c 4.d 5.b
    6.a 7.b 8.d 9.b 10.c

    Cloze
    11.b 12.b 13.c 14.d 15.d
    16.a 17.d 18.c 19.a 20.c

    Vocabulary
    21.b 22.d 23.d 24.d 25.a
    26.d 27.b 28.b 29.c 30.c

    Reading
    31.a 32.d 33.b 34.a 35.c

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