Back to PART 1 with Reading practice tests

Listening Practice Set 1

Retirement Party

Listen to a conversation between a student and a professor.

 

 

Now answer the questions.

1. Why does the man go to see the professor?

A. To hand in a late assignment
B. To find out about jobs in the department
C. To discuss Dean Adams’ current research
D. To volunteer to help organize an event

2. How did the man learn about Dean Adams’ retirement?

A. He read about it in an e-mail message.
B. It was posted on a bulletin board.
C. He heard other students discussing it.
D. Dean Adams announced it in her class.

3. Why does the professor refuse the man’s offer to help with a party? [Choose 2 answers.]

• A. Two people are already working on it.
• B. She prefers that he spend his time on another project.
• C. The party does not require much preparation.
• D. Dean Adams is not permanently leaving the department.

A, C
B, D
B, C
A, D

4. Why does the professor talk about speciation?

A. To describe the main focus of the work she needs help with
B. To tell the man about a new research area in ethnology
C. To explain what Dean Adams chose to work on in Indonesia
D. To demonstrate how varied Dean Adams’ research has been

 

5. Why does the professor say this: "I hesitate to mention it, but I don’t suppose this is something you would..."

A. To express doubt about the man’s qualifications for the project
B. To ask the man if he would be willing to work on the project
C. To ask the man to recommend someone for the project
D. To apologize for not being able to offer the project to the man

 

Total Questions: 0

Incorrect Answers: 0

 

Listening Practice Set 2

Bat Acoustics

Listen to part of a lecture in a biology class.

 

 

Now answer the questions.

1. What is the lecture mainly about?

A. How animals emit ultrasonic pulses
B. How bats use acoustical signals
C. A comparison of echolocation and radar
D. Variations among bats in the use of ultrasound

2. Why does the professor decide NOT to add more information to the diagram on the board?

A. She wants students to complete the diagram themselves as an assignment.
B. She needs to look up some information in order to complete the diagram accurately.
C. The additional information is not relevant to the topic that she wants to discuss next.
D. Students already have the additional information in their textbook.

3. According to the professor, what are two ways in which a moth might react when it detects the presence of a bat? [Choose 2 answers.]

• A. The moth might stop beating its wings.
• B. The moth might emit high-frequency sounds.
• C. The moth might leave the area.
• D. The moth might change its color to match its surroundings.

A, D
B, D
A, C
B, C

4. What surprising information did a recent experiment reveal about lesser spear-nosed bats?

A. They filter out echoes from some types of trees.
B. They can analyze echoes from stationary objects with complex surfaces.
C. They cannot analyze “jagged” echoes.
D. They cannot analyze echoes from certain types of small moving objects.

5. According to the professor, why does a pine tree produce a “smooth” echo?

A. Because it has a smooth trunk
B. Because it has large branches spaced at regular intervals
C. Because it has many small, densely packed needles
D. Because it remains stationary in all types of weather

 

6. Why does the professor say this: "Now, before I go on, let me just respond to something Carol was saying".

A. To answer a question that Carol asked
B. To correct a statement that Carol made
C. To praise Carol for an example that she gave
D. To give an example of a principle that Carol stated

 

Total Questions: 0

Incorrect Answers: 0

 

Listening Practice Set 3

Graduation Requirements

Listen to a conversation between a student and a registrar.

 

 

Now answer the questions.

1. Why does the man go to see the registrar?

A. To find out why he is not on the list of graduating students
B. To explain why he has not fulfilled his graduation requirements
C. To find out the exact requirements for graduation
D. To submit a document required for graduation

2. According to the registrar, what step is currently taken to ensure that students fulfill their graduation requirements?

A. Academic records are regularly checked by the registrar’s office.
B. Students meet with a department chairperson to plan their course work.
C. Students receive letters listing the courses that they still need to take.
D. Warning letters are sent to students who have fallen behind in their course work.

3. Why does the man mention his classmates?

A. To explain how he obtained information about field research
B. To point out that many students like to do field research
C. To show that it is difficult to get intermediate-level credits
D. To emphasize his motivation to do field research in two of his courses

4. Why does the registrar tell the man to contact his chairperson immediately?

A. A deadline has already passed.
B. The man has a limited time to resolve his problem.
C. The man first needs to find out if the chairperson will help him.
D. Issuing a new grade may take longer than expected.

 

5. What does the registrar imply when she says this: "Unfortunately, the computer’s usually pretty reliable… so I’m not sure what’s going on here."

A. She is uncertain about the reliability of the computer.
B. She will approve the man’s form despite her doubts about it.
C. She needs more information about the man’s credits.
D. She needs to call someone to help her fix computer errors.

 

Total Questions: 0

Incorrect Answers: 0

 

Listening Practice Set 4

Habitat Selection

Listen to part of a lecture in an animal behavior class.

 

 

Now answer the questions.

1. What is the main purpose of the lecture?

A. To compare active habitat selection with passive habitat selection
B. To show that most habitat preferences in animals are learned
C. To compare the habitat requirements of several bird species
D. To examine the consequences of habitat selection by animals

2. What element of the plover’s habitat in California was threatened?

A. The availability of food
B. The availability of water
C. The safety of nests from human activity
D. The protection of nests from predatory birds

3. What does the professor illustrate with the example of the blue warbler?

A. The relationship between human activity and habitat loss
B. The relationship between habitat and reproductive success
C. The advantages of habitats with low vegetation density
D. The reproductive advantage that young warblers have over older warblers

4. Why does the professor mention the population density of blackcaps in two different habitats?

A. To explain the similar reproductive rates in the two habitats
B. To explain the relation between a species’ population density and its nesting behavior
C. To illustrate the advantages of a preferred habitat over a secondary habitat
D. To illustrate the possible impact of making a poor habitat selection

5. According to the professor, why did some blackcaps choose a secondary habitat?

A. They were following a moving food supply.
B. Their preferred habitat was taken over by another bird species.
C. Their nesting sites were disturbed by human activity.
D. Their preferred habitat became too competitive.

6. What can be inferred about the professor when she says this: "OK, that’s habitat destruction. But now what about cases where an animal exhibits a clear choice, one suitable habitat over another—in cases like that, does the preference matter?"

A. She realizes that she just contradicted a statement she made earlier.
B. She is about to discuss another aspect of the topic.
C. She thinks the answer to her question is obvious.
D. She wants students to recall a case that she has already discussed.

 

Total Questions: 0

Incorrect Answers: 0

 

Listening Practice Set 5

Birch Bark Canoes

Listen to part of a lecture in an anthropology class.

 

 

Now answer the questions.

1. What is the lecture mainly about?

A. Different kinds of trees used for building canoes
B. Various methods of Native American transportation
C. The value of birch trees to some Native American groups
D. The trading of birch wood products by Europeans in North America

2. According to the professor, what characteristics of birch bark made it useful to Native Americans? [Choose 2 answers.]

• A. It repels water.
• B. It can be eaten.
• C. It is easy to fold.
• D. It has a rough texture.

A, C
A, B
B, C
A, D

3. According to the professor, why was the canoe important to some Native American groups? [Choose 2 answers.]

• A. There was a network of waterways where they lived.
• B. Snowy winters made land travel too difficult.
• C. Some Native American groups sold their canoes to other groups.
• D. Canoe travel helped form relationships between groups of Native Americans.

A, C
B, D
B, C
A, D

4. Why does the professor mention French traders who arrived in the Iroquois region?

A. To illustrate how far news of the Iroquois canoe design had traveled
B. To explain the kinds of objects the Iroquois received in exchange for their canoes
C. To support her point about how efficient the Iroquois canoe design was
D. To emphasize that the Iroquois were the first settlers in that region

5. Why does the student say this: "Umm, I know people make utensils out of wood, but utensils out of tree bark?"

A. To share what he knows about birch wood
B. To point out a misprint in the textbook
C. To bring up a point from a previous lecture
D. To request more explanation from the professor

6. Why does the professor say this: "The canoes allowed them to travel over a vast area that-that today would take a few hours to fly over."

A. To show how slow canoe travel was
B. To illustrate the size of a geographic area
C. To compare different means of travel
D. To describe how waterways change over time

 

Total Questions: 0

Incorrect Answers: 0

 

Speaking Practice Task 1

Online or Classroom

State whether you agree or disagree with the following statement. Then explain your reasons, using specific details in your explanation.

Learning through online courses is more effective than learning in the traditional classroom setting.

If this were an actual test question, you would have 15 seconds to prepare and 45 seconds to speak.

Preparation Time: 15 seconds

Response Time: 45 seconds

In this practice test, you may use a timer to practice preparing and giving a response. Record your answer and send it to me for a check. Or Attach your records here.

 

Speaking Practice Task 2

Banning Bicycles

Read the article from a university newspaper. You will have 50 seconds to read the article.

Reading Time: 50 seconds

University to Prohibit Bicycles on Campus

Beginning next semester, the University will not allow the use of bicycles on campus. The campus sidewalks are intended for pedestrians and receive heavy pedestrian traffic. Several minor accidents have resulted from people on bicycles colliding with people walking, and although no one has been seriously hurt, University officials feel that bicycles pose a safety risk. Furthermore, the prohibition of bicycles will not be a problem for students, since the university currently operates a convenient alternative: the free campus bus system, which runs between all campus buildings.

Now listen to a conversation between two students.

 

 

 

The woman expresses her opinion of the proposed policy change. State her opinion, and explain the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.

If this were an actual test question, you would have 30 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak.

Preparation Time: 30 seconds

Response Time: 60 seconds

In this practice test, you may use a timer to practice preparing and giving a response. Record your answer and send it to me for a check. Or attach your records in the form from the previous task.

 

Speaking Practice Task 3

Behavior Modification

Now read the passage from a psychology textbook. You have 45 seconds to read the passage.

Reading Time: 45 seconds

Behavior Modification

Individuals often modify their behavior based on what they have learned about the possible consequences of their actions. When an individual learns through experience that a certain behavior results in pleasant consequences, that behavior is likely to be repeated. An unpleasant consequence, on the other hand, discourages further repetition of the behavior. While behavior modification can be observed in experiments, it also occurs frequently in everyday settings, when individuals change their behavior based on what they have learned about the consequences of that behavior.

Now listen to part of a lecture on the topic in a psychology class.

 

 

 

Using the example from the lecture, explain what behavior modification is and how it works.

If this were an actual test question, you would have 30 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak.

Preparation Time: 30 seconds

Response Time: 60 seconds

In this practice test, you may use a timer to practice preparing and giving a response. Record your answer and send it to me for a check. Or attach your records in the form above.

 

 

Speaking Practice Task 4

Reliability vs Features

Listen to part of a lecture in a business class.

 

 

 

Using points and examples from the lecture, explain the two major factors of product quality and how their role in consumer decision making has changed.

If this were an actual test question, you would have 20 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak.

Preparation Time: 20 seconds

Response Time: 60 seconds

In this practice test, you may use a timer to practice preparing and giving a response. Record your answer and send it to me for a check. Or attach your records in the form above.

 

 

Writing Based on Reading and Listening

First, you will read a passage about an academic topic. In the actual test, you will have 3 minutes to read it. Then you will listen to a lecture about the same topic.

When the lecture has ended, you can start writing your response. In the actual test, you will have 20 minutes to write. In your response, provide a detailed summary of the lecture and explain how the lecture relates to the reading passage. While you write, you will be able to see the reading passage again. You should try to make your response as complete as possible using information from the lecture and the reading passage.

 

Writing Practice Task 1

The Chevalier

Toward the end of his life, the Chevalier de Seingalt (1725−1798) wrote a long memoir recounting his life and adventures. The Chevalier was a somewhat controversial figure, but since he met many famous people, including kings and writers, his memoir has become a valuable historical source about European society in the eighteenth century. However, some critics have raised doubts about the accuracy of the memoir. They claim that the Chevalier distorted or invented many events in the memoir to make his life seem more exciting and glamorous than it really was. For example, in his memoir the Chevalier claims that while living in Switzerland, he was very wealthy, and it is known that he spent a great deal of money there on parties and gambling. However, evidence has recently surfaced that the Chevalier borrowed considerable sums of money from a Swiss merchant. Critics thus argue that if the Chevalier had really been very rich, he would not have needed to borrow money.

Critics are also skeptical about the accuracy of the conversations that the Chevalier records in the memoir between himself and the famous writer Voltaire. No one doubts that the Chevalier and Voltaire met and conversed. However, critics complain that the memoir cannot possibly capture these conversations accurately, because it was written many years after the conversations occurred. Critics point out that it is impossible to remember exact phrases from extended conversations held many years earlier.

Critics have also questioned the memoir’s account of the Chevalier’s escape from a notorious prison in Venice, Italy. He claims to have escaped the Venetian prison by using a piece of metal to make a hole in the ceiling and climbing through the roof. Critics claim that while such a daring escape makes for enjoyable reading, it is more likely that the Chevalier’s jailers were bribed to free him. They point out that the Chevalier had a number of politically well-connected friends in Venice who could have offered a bribe.

Now listen to part of a lecture on the topic you just read about.

 

 

Read the question below.

You have 20 minutes to plan, write and revise your essay. Typically, an effective response will contain a minimum of 150-225 words.

Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they respond to the specific points made in the reading passage.

Write and attach your answer in the form above.

 

Writing for an Academic Discussion

For this task, you will read an online discussion. A professor has posted a question about a topic, and some classmates have responded with their ideas.

Write a response that contributes to the discussion. In the actual test, you will have 10 minutes to write your response. It is important to use your own words in the response. Including memorized reasons or examples will result in a lower score.

Writing Practice Task 2

Your professor is teaching a class on sociology. Write a post responding to the professor’s question.

In your response you should:

• express and support your opinion

• make a contribution to the discussion

An effective response will contain at least 100 words.

Write and attach your answer in the form above.

Dr. Diaz:

Over the next few weeks, we are going to look at lots of different materials about the role of television programs and television watching in people’s lives. But first, I want to know what you think about this topic. So here’s a question for the class discussion board:

What do you think is the most significant effect that watching television has on people? Why do you think television has this effect?

Kelly:

I know that one way that television influences people’s behavior is that when you are watching television, you are not moving around or exercising. This is especially true for children. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that when children spend a lot of time watching television, they have a greater tendency to be overweight.

Paul:

I think the main effect that television has on people is to broaden their experience. There are so many programs devoted to nature and travel. Think of all the different places in the world you can experience through television! Last night I watched a program about life in Antarctica, and it was fascinating!