MSU-CELP Chapter 1

Grammar you need!

Chapter 1
Choose the alternative that best fits each statement.
1

I wish there wouldn't be any more

sickness in the world, but I know
to happen.
a this is not possible
b this is not possible for it

My son, like
, likes outdoor activities.
a most kids
b most of the kids

Last week I was in a difficult position

I had to cook for twenty people.
a so that
b in that

Why don't you have him

up?
a to do
b do

You still have to do it

a unless
b whether

I'll join you for a coffee. I still have

a little
b a little

I suggest
a doctor.
a he see
b he seeing

Beans are easy

.
a to cook
b to be cooking

She became an American citizen

her marriage to an American.
a by virtue of
b in view of

Practice Test 1

G rammar you need!

10 This university has a good business

program
many others.
a on the contrary
b unlike
11 This coffee is
to drink.
a quite too hot
b much too hot

the washing

you like it or not.

time.

12 Millionaires
and inflation.
a mustn't
b needn't

worry about rising prices

13 Last night I was too tired to do anything

to bed.
a but go
b but to go
14 Her short-hand was
to hire her.
a well enough
b good enough

for me

15 I don't want
a
misunderstanding between us.
a to be
b there to be

MSU-CELP Chapter 1

Vocabulary in Action

Practice Test 1

V ocabulary in Action
Study the definitions of the pairs of words carefully and then choose the correct alternative in the sentences that follow.
very good at something
perfect or complete

retain

keep something, especially desirable or useful

They were fighting to retain their independence.
control, especially behavior or feelings
I could hardly restrain my anger.

restrain

rigorous
vigorous

thorough, hard and strict

energetic or powerful

Commandos go through rigorous training.

He is a vigorous advocate of world peace.

defer
deter

delay doing something

discourage

Payment will be deferred till next week.

Peter was not deterred by the difficulty of the exam.

detain

officially make someone stay at a place

The police detained him for further questioning.
stop deliberately from doing something or avoid doing something
Please refrain from smoking.

refrain

Scarlet fever is contagious.

These houses are contiguous.

contagious
contiguous

(of a disease) spread by touch

(of property) be next to or touch each other

daunt

discourage someone from doing something by causing fear or worry

They were daunted by the huge amount of work they had to do.
make unkind or insulting remarks about someone's weaknesses or failures
He was taunted by other children about his weight.

taunt

commend
comment

praise someone formally

She was highly commended for her courage.
make a remark or give an opinion
The Minister refused to comment on the new austerity measures.

entreat

beg someone humbly

He entreated her to forgive him.
move away or give up one's position, especially because of embarrassment or defeat
The army was forced to retreat.

retreat

abide (by)
abate

His wife is an accomplished cook.

He's a consummate liar.

accomplished
consummate

follow and obey, especially rules, agreements or the law

The two countries solemnly declared that they would abide by the agreement.
(of weather) become less severe or strong
They were able to set sail when the storm abated.

MSU-CELP Chapter 1

Vocabulary in Action

Though advanced in age, he still

many of his faculties.

a retains
They are a family of

snobs.

a accomplished
3

I carefully

b consummate

from looking at her.

a restrained

Malaria is a

b refrained

disease.

a contagious
5

b contiguous

His effort, though futile, is still to be

a commented
6

The punishment didn't

b commended
him from committing the same offense again.

a defer
7

John

b deter

Mary's friend about being a coward.

a taunted

b daunted

There is a large cottage

with my property.

a contiguous
9

Practice Test 1

b detains

All cars are given

b contagious

safety tests before they are placed on the market.

a rigorous
10 I couldn't

b vigorous

myself from laughing.

a restrain

b retain

11 I think they are deliberately

making a decision.

a deferring
12 He was not

b deterring

by the perils he was met with.

a daunted
13 Stir the paint

b taunted

before you apply it on a surface.

a rigorous
14 The whole army is
a entreating

b vigorously
.
b retreating

15 The police are expected to enforce the law and the citizens to
a abide by

the law.

b abate

MSU-CELP Practice Test 1

Writing Section

Practice Test 1

Practice Test 1
Think About It, Write About it!
MSU-CELP PRACTICE

Test of English Writing Ability

INSTRUCTIONS:
For this section of the test, a proctor will give you a special answer form. Make sure that your name appears
correctly on the front of the form. Using a Number 2 pencil ONLY, write as much as you can, as well as you can,
in an original, 35-minute composition on ONE of the two topics below.

Contemporary Life

1. The internet has changed our lives in many ways. We can now communicate instantly with friends all over
the world, find out information about anything we could imagine, shop at home, or even open a business on the
internet. Many people think these changes are good, but others think the internet poses dangers. The people
we meet on line may not be who they say they are, the products we buy may not be as advertised, we may not
have as much time for our local friends and family and the information we find out could very well be wrong.
Which side of this argument do you agree with? Be sure to support your opinion with reasons and explanations.

OR

2. These days, it is difficult for a family to make ends meet on just one income. As a result, most children have
two parents who work, and are cared for by other relatives or spend time in daycare. Is this a satisfactory
arrangement for a child or do young children need the full time care of one of their parents? What is your opinion about this issue? Be sure to support your opinion with reasons and explanations.

10

MSU-CELP Practice Test 1

Listening Section

Listen to this!
MSU-CELP PRACTICE Test of English Listening Ability

INSTRUCTIONS:
This listening section has three parts: Part 1 consists of several short conversations and Part 2 has longer
conversations. Part 3 contains a presentation and an extended dialogue.
There are 40 questions on this listening test. For each question, choose the ONE BEST answer.
Find the letter on the answer sheet that corresponds to the answer you have chosen. Use your pencil to
completely fill in the circle for your answer.

Practice Test 1

This section of the test is designed to assess your listening abilities. You should have thefollowing items in front
of you: a test answer sheet, a test booklet, and a Number 2 pencil. If you do not have these items, raise your
hand, and a test proctor will assist you.

If you are not sure of the answer, take your best guess. Unanswered items will be scored as incorrect.
You are allowed to take notes in this test booklet.

Part 1: Short Conversations

For each question in your test booklet, you will hear a short conversation. The conversation
has a short title to tell you what it is about. Listen to the conversation and choose the letter
of the choice that best answers the question that appears in your test booklet. You will not
hear the question; you will see it and read it. You will read it quietly to yourself. Use your
pencil to mark your answer on your answer sheet. You are allowed to take notes in the test
booklet.
Example X: Watching an eclipse
Which of the following is true?
a. The woman is not interested in the eclipse.
b. The woman can not stay up late.
c. The woman had heard about the eclipse before.
Upset with a friend
1. What does the man think about the situation?
a. The woman needs new friends.
b. Tina has acted very badly.
c. Theres been a misunderstanding.
Surprise Party
2. What is going to surprise Beth?
a. going to the restaurant
b. having a house party
c. having a live band at her party

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MSU-CELP Practice Test 1

Listening Section

Practice Test 1

Disappointing audition
3. Why does the woman think she wont get the role?
a. She was late for her appointment.
b. They already knew who they would hire.
c. She did a poor job during her audition.
Sunny disposition
4. What is the man surprised about?
a. that Lisa has had a hard life
b. that Lisa was unkind to someone
c. that the woman agrees with him
The road to the summit
5. What information does the woman give the man?
a. It is snowing at the summit.
b. There is a road to the summit
c. The road may not be open.
Food shopping
6. The man and woman both want to
a. buy vegetables.
b. walk around the farmers market.
c. visit the bread shop.
Recycling
7. The man thinks that the woman
a. has a good point.
b. is impolite.
c. is misinformed.
New use for a security camera
8. What is the womans first reaction?
a. She thinks its a ridiculous idea.
b. She is concerned about the security of the mans house.
c. She doesnt understand what shes looking at.

Part 2: Longer Conversations

In this section you will hear a few longer conversations. After each conversation you will read between 3 and 5
questions. Listen to each conversation and answer the questions that appear in your test booklet.

Problems in biology laboratory class

9. In the future, Veronica wants to be ........................... .
a. more sociable
b. a biology teacher
c. a doctor
10. The boy in Veronicas lab group ......................... .
a. is a doctor
b. wants to do all the work himself.
c. thinks she does things incorrectly.

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MSU-CELP Practice Test 1

Listening Section

11. What is true about Sophie?

a. She is not paying attention in class.
b. She talks to Veronica all the time.
c. She tries to understand but she cant.

13. Veronica thinks that her lab partners .......................... .

a. need her to stay in the group
b. would do better if she changed groups.
c. are trying to upset her.

In the university bookstore

14. The man couldnt find the book because ........................... .
a. he was looking in the wrong place
b. it was not in stock
c. he was looking in the used books section

Practice Test 1

12. How would Veronica prefer to work?

a. at home
b. with one other person only
c. by herself

15. What surprised the man?

a. The book was very big.
b. The book cost a lot of money.
c. There was a paperback version.
16.The woman suggested ........................... .
a. buying the book with a credit card
b. using the book in the library
c. buying the book instead of going out

Discussion after an unusual class

17. How did Maria feel about the class?
a. She thought it was really very good.
b. She thought it was unusual.
c. She thought it was boring.
18. Will Maria remember the content of the class?
a. She will definitely remember.
b. She will probably remember some of it.
c. She doubts that she will remember much.
19. Mr. Gordon is delighted when his students ...................... .
a. are puzzled
b. agree with him
c. understand
20. Both Josh and Maria agree that .......................... .
a. the class was really fantastic
b. Mr. Gordon was too slow making his point
c. laughing is good

13

MSU-CELP Practice Test 1

Listening Section

Part 3: Extended Discourse

Practice Test 1

In this section you will hear a presentation and an extended dialogue. You will listen to each twice, and then
you will answer several questions.

But is it Art?
21. We are told that the man in the gorilla suit is ............................ .
a. an artist
b. large
c. lonely
22. Why did the writer mention the changing of the guard?
a. To give an example of something eccentric.
b. To explain why the Italians were there.
c. To point out that it also involves animals.
23. When he looks at the gorilla, the writer .............................. .
a. is not sure what the message is
b. understands that it is a statement about extinction
c. thinks that the costume was not planned
24. After being on the plinth, it is implied that the man in the gorilla suit .................... .
a. felt a little sad
b. must rush back to work
c. felt relieved
25. How did the TV reporter feel about Gormleys project?
a. He felt skeptical.
b. He felt a lot of enthusiasm.
c. He was fascinated
26. When Gormley was asked is it art he was .............................. .
a. taken aback by the question
b. able to explain everything clearly
c. prepared for the question
27. The writer believes the art question ................................ .
a. should never be asked
b. has already been answered
c. is an important part of art
28.The writer feels that people who ask the art question ................................ .
a. have not paid attention
b. are not intelligent
c. are depressed
29. According to the writer, the purpose of art is to ................................ .
a. inspire people
b. impress people
c. puzzle people
30. Which of the following best describes the writers style?
a. Its humorous and a bit sarcastic.
b. Its factual and unbiased.
c. It is negative and suspicious.

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MSU-CELP Practice Test 1

31.What in the mans life is going well right now?

a. his dissertation
b. his job
c. his internship
32. What is the man frustrated by?
a. He doesnt know what to write about for his dissertation.
b. He doesnt have time to write his dissertation.
c. His dissertation is making him exhausted.
33. The man is spending most of his time ........................... .
a. in classes
b. working on his dissertation
c. working in the shop

Practice Test 1

Discussion over lunch: jobs

Listening Section

34. What bad thing happened to the mans employers?

a. someone retired
b. they could not find anyone to hire
c. someone stole from them
35. The mans attitude towards his employers is .............................. .
a. fearful
b. resentful
c. sympathetic
36. The woman is ................................... .
a. working in an ice cream parlor
b. not working right now
c. doing an internship
37. How does the woman feel about the sacrifices she has to make?
a. She can put up with them for a few months.
b. She doesnt mind them at all.
c. They are making her life too difficult.
38. What is the womans advice to the man?
a. He should quit his job.
b. He should communicate with his employers.
c. He should try to find an internship that he can learn from.
39. The woman is having a hard time understanding ....................... .
a. why the man is unhappy
b. why the man is working so much
c. what the man hopes to do in the future
40. What is not completely clear to the man?
a. whether he is happy or not
b. whether the woman is right or wrong
c. whether his employers are his friends

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MSU-CELP Practice Test 1

Grammar

Grammar You Can Use!

MSU-CELP PRACTICE Test of English Grammar

Practice Test 1

INSTRUCTIONS:

This English grammar test has 40 questions. You have 20 minutes to answer all 40 questions. For each question, choose the
ONE BEST answer. Find the letter on the answer sheet that corresponds to the answer you have chosen. Use your pencil to
completely fill in the circle for your answer. If you are not sure of the answer, take your best guess. Unanswered items will be
scored as incorrect. You are allowed to write in the test booklet.

41 'Did you like the new play?'

46 That she rose so high so fast must be

my expectations.'

'No, it didn't
a live up to

a of

b fall short of

b in

c come up with

c at

d go down with

d to

42 He was supposed to meet me at the station,

but he

her hard work.

ascribed

47 'Do radar and sonar work on the same

principle?' 'No, radar employs radio waves

a wasn't

sonar uses sound waves.'

b don't

a therefore

c didn't

b although

d wouldn't.

c provided
d whereas

43 'Do you expect him to come?'

'I don't, but if he

turn up, tell him

to wait.'

48 'So, you retire next year?'

'Yes, I

for twenty five years by then.'

a should

a am teaching

b would

b will be teaching

c may

c will teach

d might

d will have been teaching

44 'We can't drive there. The car's broken down.'

to have some exercise on foot.'

'All

49 Your English is good but his is

better.

a far

a the best

b very

b the better for

c too

c the better

d not

d the best of all

50 This castle is said to
45 'You didn't go to Jane's party after all, did you?'
'No, I didn't, but I'd rather

b be haunted

a go

c being haunted

b have gone

d having been haunted

c went

16

.'

a have haunted

d had gone

MSU-CELP Practice Test 1

I not be able to, I'll give you a call.'

'

'Yes

of us.'

a If

a each one

b In case

b everyone

c Would

c every one

d Should

d every all

52 'She gave a brilliant performance.'

'You're right. I

.'

57 'I'll speak to him straight from the shoulder.'

'You

. He's stronger than you.'

a didn't think so

a had better not

b thought as much

b would better not

c thought that

c had rather not

d thought much of it

d better had not

53 'Why does your car keep stalling so often?'

'

56 'Did you all go in the same car?'

to be something wrong with the engine.'

58 'Would you like to dine out with me tonight?'

'I would

a There seems

a like

b It seems

b love

c That seems

c love to

d As it seems

d not

54 I haven't made up my mind yet

whether this is the right job for me.

'Oh, no! It was

a so

b as to

b such

c as if

c such a

d as for

d so a

all the tickets

out.

.'

59 'Did you go for an outing yesterday?'

a as of

55 We won't know the winners of the prizes until

Practice Test 1

51 'Will you come to my birthday party?'

Grammar

dreadful weather.'

60 We had a narrow escape. If Jack had been

driving any faster, we

a were sold

a would be killed

b having sold

b could have killed

c have been sold

c must have been killed

d are being sold

d might have been killed

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MSU-CELP Practice Test 1

61 'Shall we go out?'

Practice Test 1

'

Grammar

66 He might be a bit slow on the job, but I'm

it rains, of course.'

sure he's trying to do the best he

a Provided

a would

b If

b will

c Unless

c can

d So long as

d should

62 'It is rumored that new taxes will be levied.'

'

, there will be a public outcry.'

67 'Did they plead guilty at court?'

'They did

declare their innocence.'

a If so

a other than

b Supposing

b anything but

c Even so

c nothing but

d In case

d except for

63 'Would you like to go home now?'

'I

as well; my work is done.'

68 'Did the manager promise you a raise?'

'Yes, he committed himself

it

some time ago.'

a might
b should

a to

c could

b on

d had to

c at
d in

64 I was

by now but the candidates are

apparently asked too many questions.

69 Mr. Peters had been with us for ten years

and

a to examine

the firm displeased us all.

b to be examined

a quitting

c to being examined

b his quitting

d to have been examined

c for quitting
d having been quit

65 'I hear her party was not much of a success.'

'Yes, there were
a so few

people there.'

70 'My daughter got top marks in all her

subjects.'
'I can't say the same for mine

b so a few

a though

c such a few

b neither

d such few

c either
d also

18

.'

MSU-CELP Practice Test 1

71 Jack asked Beth if she

Grammar

on

'I know. Joe ate what ham

a plans

a there was

b is planning

b it was

c was planning

c that was

d will plan

d was there

72 'Is this the book you're looking for?'

'Yes, that

the one.'

77 'Do you think there is life on Mars?'

'

life, there must be air and water.'

a was

a For being any

b must

b For there to be

c must be

c In order to be

d must have been

d Unless there is

73 'Which of these boys stole the school

drum?'

eft.'

78 Who

Practice Test 1

leaving early.

76 'There is no ham left in the fridge.'

for the increase in criminality?

a should blame

'The one

has just gone out.'

b can't be blamed

a whom

c had to be blamed

b which

d is to blame

c whose
d that

79 'Mr. Drake has just handed in his

resignation.' 'It's a pity that he

74 'Were you taken on staff?'

my regret, my application

'

was turned down.'

do a thing like that.'

a would
b might

a To

c should

b For

d ought

c In
d At

80 'This machine won't start.'

'Well, if it doesn't work,

75 Samantha hadn't studied very hard

she did quite well in her finals.

it a kick.'

a try to give
b try giving

a and still

c should you try to give

b and yet

d you had better try to give

c as yet
d so that

19

MSU-CELP Practice Test 1

Reading Section

Read About It!

MSU-CELP PRACTICE Test

English Reading Ability

Practice Test 1

INSTRUCTIONS:
This reading test has four passages. Each passage is followed by several questions.
You have 55 minutes to answer all 40 questions.
For each question, choose the ONE BEST answer.
Find the letter on the answer sheet that corresponds to the answer you have chosen. Use your pencil to completely fill
in the circle for your answer.
If you are not sure of the answer, take your best guess. Unanswered items will be scored as incorrect.
You are allowed to write in the test booklet.

TEXT 1

Imagine that you are taking a class in Media Studies. This week you are studying advertising in different forms of
media. Your instructor brought in this newspaper article to share with the class.

2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16

18
20
22
24
26

20

A New Form of Advertising

A new form of advertising has been born on the internet, and it is called behavioral advertising. Behavioral advertising involves the practice of tracking consumers online, to find out personal details such
as if they vote, if they are on a low income or a high income, where they travel, and what they like to
read. This can allow advertisers to target their ads to an individual web user, making their efforts more
effective. 1 However, not everyone is a fan. A powerful alliance of privacy and consumer groups have
likened behavioral advertising to "being followed by an invisible stalker."
Concern is growing that behavioral advertising my violate users privacy. There is a call for the government to allow consumers to "opt in" rather than "opt out" of such advertising models. This means
people will have to give their permission before any data is collected, rather than having data collected
unless they somehow decline permission which is usually how things are done currently. It will also
seek to ensure no data is collected around financial or health matters. The key, many say, is transparency. "An individual's data belongs to them and before these companies track you all over the internet, they need to be transparent about what they are doing and how they intend to use that
information," said John Simpson, consumer advocate with the Consumer Watchdog. 2 Indeed, most
users are currently being tracked, often without even realizing, since Yahoo, Microsoft and Google all
already use targeted online advertisements.
The advocates of behavioral advertising say these fears are unfounded. The vast majority of what
happens online is truly anonymous and all marketers and publishers are trying to do is deliver an ad that
has some relevancy to the person viewing it at a certain time," says Mike Zaneis, vice president of public policy for the Interactive Advertising Bureau. 3 While Mr. Zaneis agreed more has to be done to
educate consumers about the issue, he also warned that pushing for a blanket "opt in" measure would
be disastrous. "A broad 'opt in' would be a sea change and it would be a recipe for disaster. It would kill
the goose laying the golden egg; the goose being the internet and the golden egg being the free content
and services that consumers enjoy. With a required opt-in, that would be diminished," said Mr. Zaneis.
4

MSU-CELP Practice Test 1

Reading Section

81. What is unique about behavioral advertising?

a. It targets ads to individual users.
b. It takes place on the internet.
c. It requires web users to opt-in.
d. It is popular with everyone.

83. What kind of information is considered unacceptable to collect?

a. information about identity
b. information about web use
c. information about health
d. information about age
84. Consumer Watchdog organizations say it is important that companies .................... .
a. reveal how they use the information they collect.
b. only collect information that belongs to them.
c. collect information anonymously.
d. stop collecting information altogether

Practice Test 1

82. At this time, under what circumstances is personal data collected?

a. It is never collected.
b. It is collected only when permission is given.
c. It is collected unless permission is denied.
d. It is always collected.

85. Why do some say that people dont need to be worried about behavioral advertising?
a. because it is really quite rarely used
b. because consumers are not yet educated
c. because users can already opt-in if they want to
d. because it is anonymous
86. At which point in the passage would the following sentence best fit?
"The beautiful thing is they don't have to click on that advert, or pay attention to it or do anything at all."
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
87. In line 18 what is the meaning of the word advocate?
a. someone who disagrees with something
b. someone who supports something
c. someone who invented something
d. someone who studies something
88. In line 23, what does the phrase sea change most likely mean?
a. a complete and total change
b. a very successful change
c. an unexpected change
d. a change that does not happen on land
89. Mr. Zaneis feels that a required opt-in would make the internet .................... .
a. even more costly
b. stop working altogether
c. less useful for everyone
d. far more profitable
90. Which sentence best summarizes the meaning of this passage?
a. Behavioral advertising is a new threat facing web users.
b. Behavioral advertising must be strictly regulated so that it does not cause harm.
c. Benefits for site owners, advertisers and web users support behavioral advertising.
d. There are contentious views about the value of behavioral advertising.

21

MSU-CELP Practice Test 1

TEXT 2

Reading Section

The Melting of Greenlands Ice

Practice Test 1

As part of a class at school, you have to write an essay on the effects of global warming. This is one of the articles your teacher has provided as background reading for your assignment. Read it and answer the questions
that follow.
Greenland isn't just a huge ice-covered island. It is also a crucial factor in how global warming may reshape
the world. If all the ice and snow on Greenland were to melt, the oceans would rise 20 feet. Say
2
goodbye to Miami and big chunks of Florida and Louisiana. Parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan would also
4 be submerged. Hundreds of millions of people would be displaced in Bangladesh.
So how fast is Greenland melting? 1 To figure that out scientists recently began clocking the speed
at which ice sheets are sliding to the sea, and have shown that the speed has increased. They already
8 knew, from observations and calculations, that Greenland's ice is gradually shrinking simply from melting. That process is slow; however, if the glaciers are sliding faster to the sea, the loss of ice could be
more
rapid. While poring over satellite images, researchers noticed that large lakes form on the sur10
face of the glaciers during the summer. Those lakes then suddenly disappear. Do the lakes simply drain
12 into rivers on the surface? Or, might the water generate enough pressure to crack the 3,000-foot-thick
ice all the way to bedrock, pouring down through the ice? 2
14
A team led by Sarah Das and Ian Joughin of the University of Washington set out to find the answer.
16 They flew to an area of glaciers with lakes, and installed an array of instruments. They put sensors in a
lake 2 miles wide to measure the changes in the amount of water it held. They deployed seismometers
to detect rumbles in the ice, and put global-positioning units on the ice to chart its movement. 3
18
They left the instruments in place when they left the study area, and waited.
20
It wasn't a long wait. "The lake drained about 10 days after we were there," Das says. When they
went
back, gathered up the instruments, and began to look at the data, it was clear that the crack the22
ory was correct. The water had rushed down to the bedrock, spread out under the ice, and raised the
24 huge ice sheet by more than three feet. But there was a also a surprise: It happened in a relative flash.
"The entire lake drained in about two hours," says Das. "It was a much more catastrophic drainage than
26 we expected." The volume of water flowing down to bedrock matched the torrent over Niagara Falls.
That realization led the team to ditch plans to explore other, still-intact lakes aboard a rub28 ber boat. "We decided we'd leave the boat in its crate," laughs Das.
6

The data also showed that as the water flowed underneath it, the glacier did indeed speed up, doubling its velocity. 4 That doesn't mean Greenland's ice is about to fall into the sea, since the glaciers
32 move slowly to begin with. But it does mean that the ice will disappear faster than just from melting
alone, cutting the time from thousands of years to hundreds. The survival of the ice sheet now seems a
34 bit more tenuous. So go ahead and buy that beachfront property, but don't expect it to still be above
water for many generations to come.
30

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MSU-CELP Practice Test 1

Reading Section

91. Greenlands role in global warming ........................ .

a. is very important
b. is still debated
c. is insignificant
d. has some minor importance

93. What is the significance of the ice sheets rapid movement?

a. Researchers can estimate when the ice will melt.
b. It means the melting will be slower.
c. It means the melting will be faster.
d. No one knew the ice moved before.
94. The phrase poring over on line 10 is closest in meaning to ..................... .
a. glancing at briefly
b. examining carefully
c. disregarding
d. tidying up

Practice Test 1

92. Which fact did the scientists know first?

a. The ice is sliding more quickly into the sea
b. The ice is gradually melting.
c. The lakes disappear under the ice.
d. Lakes form on the ice in the summer.

95. What was mysterious about the large lakes on the ice?
a. how they formed
b. where they went
c. why they lasted so long
d. how to locate them
96. What is true about Das and Joughins study?
a. They did not need to remain at the study site.
b. Their equipment required maintenance.
c. It was extremely dangerous.
d. They had to be very patient to get the results.
97. In lines 27 to 28 the author writes: That realization led the team to ditch plans to explore other, still-intact
lakes aboard a rubber boat. "We decided we'd leave the boat in its crate," laughs Das.
The author is implying that ....................... .
a. their boat was damaged when the lake drained
b. it was no longer necessary to explore because the answer was found
c. boat exploration suddenly seemed very dangerous
d. they understood that they needed a different sort of boat
98. At which point in the passage would the following sentence best fit?
Might that cause its movement to speed up?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
99. The word tenuous in line 34 is closest in meaning to .................... .
a. clear
b. risky
c. strong
d. doubtful
100. What is the authors view on the melting of Greenlands ice?
a. It will be a serious problem in the future.
b. It will not effect us for many many generations.
c. It is not as serious a problem as most people think
d. No one knows much about what will happen.

23

MSU-CELP Practice Test 1

TEXT 3

Reading Section

Apartment Composting

Practice Test 1

You are at a friends house, flipping through a magazine called Ecological Living. This article catches your attention because you live in an apartment, so you read it. After reading it, answer the questions that follow.

So your home-owning friends are into composting. They are reaping the benefits of rich black soil
2 that they can use to improve their gardens, and proudly pointing out what they are doing for the environment at the same time! Meanwhile you are living in an apartment with no garden, and so have to
4 put your kitchen scraps in the garbage each week, whether you like it or not. What can you do?
The answer is simple; you can compost too. Outdoors or indoors, anyone can make compost. If you
6 don't have a garden, a small space in the garage will do, or on the balcony, or even under the kitchen
sink.
Apartment dwelling does mean close proximity to others, so you will, of course, want to take special
care not to cause odor, insect or drainage problems that will offend your neighbors. If you do it cor10 rectly, your compost will not smell, attract flies, or otherwise be a nuisance.
8

And once you get started, you will find there are many advantages. Composting your kitchen scraps
helps
the environment by reducing the amount of garbage you produce thus saving landfill space, and
12
gives you a supply of clean organic soil to grow your own healthy vegetables and herbs -- and you don't
14 need a garden for that either. You can grow them in containers on your balcony or window ledge.
For balcony composting, try using a 10-20 gallon metal or plastic garbage can. Punch holes in the
16 base, sides and lid using a hammer and large nail so that air can circulate. Raise the can on bricks and
place a tray underneath to catch any excess moisture. Line the bottom of the can with a three-inch
18 layer of finished compost, soil, shredded leaves, newspaper or cardboard; then you can start adding
your organic kitchen scraps such as fruit and veggie peelings, tea leaves and coffee grounds, shredding
20 the material finely to speed the process. Remember, no meat and no dairy products!
By themselves, kitchen scraps are too wet to compost -- the moisture content averages 85%, and
22 compost should be not more than 65%. So you need dry materials to mix in. 1 This can be straw,
dead leaves, strips of newspaper, cardboard or cartons, or a mixture. You can also use sawdust. Each
24 time you add kitchen scraps you should also add an equal amount of brown or dry material. This will
counteract any excess moisture problems and provide an efficient carbon/nitrogen ratio.
Because your composting bin will be smaller than a regular compost pile, it might suffer from a lack
of heat, so, if possible, stand it close to the building wall, or where it will get a few hours of sunshine
28 every day. 2 Finally, aerate the pile by turning it frequently, and add soil occasionallythe microorganisms in soil are necessary for the decomposition process.
26

Actually it is a good idea to have two containers -- when the first one's full and processing, you start
filling the second one, and by the time that is full, the compost in the first one is ready for use and can
32 be emptied out.
30

3 Empty your bin, and start afresh with a new base, putting back any material from the first batch
34 which has not properly decomposed. Use the soil for your favorite house plants, or try balcony gardening. Tomatoes, peppers and suchlike grow nicely in pots, and you can savor the unmatched flavor of
36 your very own homegrown veggies. 4

24

MSU-CELP Practice Test 1

Reading Section

101. One can infer that the author thinks most apartment dwellers ....................... .
a. are not interested in composting
b. would find it very difficult to compost correctly
c. already compost their kitchen scraps
d. believe that they cannot make compost

103. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word scraps in line 11?
a. pieces of paper
b. unwanted leftovers
c. ready-made meals
d. uncooked food
104. What is NOT mentioned as an advantage of composting?
a. Less garbage goes into landfills.
b. You pay less for garbage disposal.
c. You can make your own organic soil.
d. You can grow vegetables with the soil you make.

Practice Test 1

102. What must you take special care about when composting in an apartment?
a. how to hide the compost
b. how not to annoy your neighbors
c. what sort of foods you can compost in a small space
d. what you might do with the finished soil

105. What is the first thing you should put inside the can?
a. coffee grounds
b. shredded kitchen scraps
c. vegetable peelings
d. finished compost or soil
106. Why should you shred your kitchen scraps before composting?
a. It lowers the moisture content.
b. It makes composting faster.
c. They will have less smell.
d. You can fit more in your compost bin.
107. What is the ideal moisture content for compost?
a. less than 65%
b. more than 65%
c. around 85%
d. it doesnt really matter
108. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the phrase a lack in line 26?
a. an abundance
b. a supply
c. a loss
d. a deficiency
109. At which of the highlighted, numbers points in the text should the following sentence be inserted?
All being well, you will have soil to harvest in four to six months.
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
110. One can infer from the passage that ..................... .
a. composting is always challenging, wherever you live.
b. composting is worthwhile for apartment dwellers.
c. composting requires a great deal of patience.
d. composting can be quite smelly.

25

MSU-CELP Practice Test 1

TEXT 4

Reading Section

A Virtual Earth

Practice Test 1

You are an editor for your school newspaper. A student has written an essay on the computer program Google
Earth and submitted it for publication in your technology section, and you must decide whether to publish it or
not. Read the essay and then answer the questions that follow.
Google Earth is a virtual globe, map and geographic information program that is changing the way we
2 view the world. It displays satellite images, of varying resolution, of the Earth's surface, allowing users
to visually see things like cities and houses looking perpendicularly down or at an oblique angle, with
4 perspective. The degree of resolution available is based somewhat on the points of interest and popularity, but most land masses, except for some islands, are covered in at least 15 meters of resolution.
6 Melbourne, Victoria; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Cambridge, Cambridgeshire include examples of the
highest resolution, at 15 cm.
8
Google Earth allows users to explore the earth in several different ways. You can search for ad10 dresses for some countries, enter coordinates, or simply use the mouse to browse to a location. Or,
you can fly a plane, since Google Earth also includes a flight simulator. Currently the F-16 Fighting Fal12 con and the Cirrus SR-22 are the only aircraft that can be used. Fly time is not very accelerated, as it
takes the F-16 at highest speed at least 60 minutes to fly from coast-to-coast in the US. The simulator
14 features the ability to fly to any supported locations in the world. The pilot can choose any location to
start a flight, and can attempt to land a flight on any level surface in the world, including under the
16 ocean.
18 Google Earth also has many other features and layers that offer all kinds of information. A high resolution view of Victoria Crater on Mars is available using the Mars feature on Google Earth. Google Moon
20 allows users to navigate over the surface of the moon, and Google Sky allows users to view stars and
other celestial bodies. At the other extreme, the Google Ocean feature allows users to zoom far
22 below the surface of the ocean and view the ocean floor in 3D. Google Street View provides 360
panoramic street-level views and allows users to view parts of selected cities and their surrounding
24 metropolitan areas at ground level, and recently, Google added a feature that allows users to monitor
traffic speeds at loops located every 200 yards in real-time, with green indicators used for good traffic
26 conditions, yellow for slower speeds, and red for poor traffic conditions.
28 This program seems to be inspired, at least partially, by science fiction. Google Earth interface bears a
noted similarity to the Earth program described in Neal Stephensons sci-fi classic Snow Crash. Indeed,
30 a Google Earth co-founder claimed that Google Earth was modeled after Snow Crash, while another
co-founder said it was inspired by the short science education film Powers of Ten. Google Earth was also
32 at least partly inspired by a Silicon Graphics demo called "From Space to in Your Face" which zoomed
from space into the Swiss Alps then into the Matterhorn.
34
Google Earth has been criticized by a number of special interest groups, including national officials, as
36 being an invasion of privacy and even posing a threat to national security. The typical argument is that
the software provides information about military or other critical installations that could be used by ter38 rorists. For example, former Indian president APJ Abdul Kalam has expressed concern over the availability of high-resolution pictures of sensitive locations in India, and Google subsequently agreed to
40 censor such sites. Operators of the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor in Sydney also asked Google to censor high resolution pictures of the facility. However, they later withdrew the request. Morocco's main
42 Internet provider Maroc Telecom has been blocking Google Earth since August 2006 for undisclosed
reasons.
44
On the other hand, other people have expressed concern over the willingness of Google to cripple
46 their dataset to cater to special interests, believing that intentionally obscuring any land goes against its
stated goal of letting the user "point and zoom to any place on the planet that you want to explore".

26

MSU-CELP Practice Test 1

Reading Section

111. According to the first paragraph we can infer that ....................... .

a. There is no place on earth with resolution less that 15 meters.
b. There is higher resolution in Europe than in the USA.
c. Melbourne is a place that many are interested in looking at.
d. It is difficult to see details when looking at Las Vegas.

113. What is implied about the kind of information available on Google Earth?
a. There is a lot, and it is varied.
b. It all relates to the geography of earth.
c. The information is predominantly about urban centers.
d. Some is more interesting than the other.
114. Which word in the passage best characterizes the relationship between science fiction and Google Earth?
a. similarity
b. coincidence
c. education
d. inspiration

Practice Test 1

112. In what way is the flight simulator particularly unrealistic?

a. You may land a plane in impossible places.
b. You may travel much faster than you could in reality.
c. You can crash more easily using the simulator.
d. You may take off and land in mountainous regions.

115. Which phrase is closest in meaning to the phrase posing a threat in line 36?
a. protecting from danger
b. intimidating
c. causing danger
d. pretending to harm
116. What is Google Earths typical reaction to complaints from governments about security?
a. Responsibility is denied.
b. The governments are reassured of their safety.
c. An explanation of Google Earths goals is offered.
d. The offending information is removed.
117. For those living in Morocco, which of the following is accurate?
a. You can probably not access Google Earth.
b. You will be considered a terrorist for using Google Earth.
c. You may use Google Earth, but your country will be missing.
d. There are no internet facilities.
118. Which word is closest in meaning to the word to cripple in line 45?
a. to lessen
b. to damage
c. to complicate
d. to fine-tune
119. What kind of tone does the author adopt in the essay?
a. a persuasive tone
b. a factual tone
c. a skeptical tone
d. an enthusiastic tone
120. Which of the following best characterizes the authors opinion about Google Earth?
a. It is an interesting program that makes a lot of information available.
b. It was a bad idea and puts some countries at risk.
c. It is a program with potential although it currently faces serious problems.
d. Unless you are a scientist, it is a program that probably wont interest you.

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