ECPE

Examination for the

Certificate of PRELIMINARY
Proficiency in TEST 2
English

Keep your eyes on your own test. Examinees giving or y SEX:

receiving answers or using notes or other aids will be
disqualified, and they will fail. Examination fees will
not be refunded.
This test may be machine scored, so you must follow
instructions carefully.
y Mark all your answers on the answer sheet.
y Do not mark your answers in the test booklet.
y You must use a number 2 (soft) pencil.
y Do not bend or fold your answer sheet.
darken the circle “M” (male) or “F” (female).
y LANG.:print the code number for your native
language (the examiner will tell you the number).
Darken the circles.
y CENTER NO.: print the test center number (the
examiner will tell you the number). Darken the
circles.
y REG. NO.: print your 6-digit personal registration
number. Include all zeros, including those at the
beginning of the number. Darken the circles.
y FORM: Print the number of the form listed on your
test booklet. Darken the circle.

Look at the TOP RIGHT of your ANSWER SHEET. Fill in The example below shows the correct way for Joao
the following information on the lines: Costa Almeida dos Santos, born April 3, 1978, tested at
y FULL NAME: print your full name in this order: family center no. 001, and whose personal registration number
name, then first name, then middle initial (MI). Use is 100265, to fill out the information section.
capital letters.
y YOUR SIGNATURE: sign your name.
y TEST CENTER: print the name of the test center.
y NATIVE LANGUAGE: print your native language.
y TODAY’S DATE: print the month, day, and year.

Look at the TOP LEFT of your ANSWER SHEET. Use capital

letters to fill in the following information in the blocks. Use
the same spelling you used on your registration form:
y LAST NAME: print your main family name in the blocks,
one letter per block. There are 13 blocks. If your last
name is longer than 13 letters, print only the first 13
letters.
y FIRST: print the first 6 letters of your first name.
y MI: print the initial of your middle name.

In the COLUMNS OF CIRCLES BELOW THE BLOCKS:

y Find the letter that is the same as the letter you have
printed in the block above.
y Darken the circle completely so that you cannot see
the letter inside.
y Do this for all the letters of your last name, first name,
and your middle initial.
y Darken only one circle in each of the columns.

Look at the BOTTOM LEFT of your ANSWER SHEET.

y BIRTHDATE: find the month you were born and darken
the circle next to it.
y DAY: print the day you were born. If it is a one-digit
day, write zero first. Darken the circles underneath
these numbers.
y YEAR: print the last two digits of the year you were
born. Darken the circles underneath these numbers.
When instructed to, open your test booklet and check to
see that it is complete. Check the pages quickly. You
should have 5 numbered pages in your test booklet. If
there are pages missing from your booklet, raise your hand,
and a proctor will give you a replacement.

2003-04 Preliminary Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English

This Preliminary Test was designed by the English Language Institute, University of Michigan, to screen applicants for the Examination for the
Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE). It contains examples of the grammar, cloze, vocabulary, and reading comprehension sections of the
ECPE. It does not contain examples of the writing, listening, or interactive oral communication sections of the ECPE.

© Copyright 2003 by the Testing and Certification Division, English Language Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan U.S.A.
Prepared by D. Adam, S. Briggs, S. Dart, B. Dobson, J. Johnson, C. Leo, D. Mendis, M. Matice, A. Ohlrogge, M. Reilly, T. Rohlck, M. Spaan, A.
Yamashiro. The Regents of the University of Michigan: David A. Brandon, Laurence B. Deitch, Olivia P. Maynard, Rebecca McGowan, Andrea
Fischer Newman, Andrew C. Richner, S. Martin Taylor, Katherine E. White, Mary Sue Coleman (ex officio).

This Preliminary Test may be reproduced or reprinted after June, 2004, by authorized Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English
(ECPE) centers ONLY, as long as the source is clearly acknowledged. This document or any reproductions may not be sold, except by the English
Language Institute, University of Michigan.

2003-04 Preliminary Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English

 GRAMMAR CLOZE
CLOZE VOCABULARY READING
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. Do not begin this test until you
have read the instructions and examples below and the test administrator has answered any questions you
may have.
In each example below, the correct answer is underlined. For the actual problems, fill in the circle on your
answer sheet that corresponds to your answer choice. For each problem, there are 4 possible answer choices.
Only one is correct. Fill in only ONE circle for each problem. Any problem with more than one answer
marked will be counted wrong. If you are not sure about an answer, you may guess. Answer all problems.
Unanswered problems will be counted wrong. Completely fill in the circle that corresponds to the answer
you have chosen. If you change your mind about an answer, erase your first mark completely. Do NOT
mark your answers in this test booklet. Do not make any stray marks on your answer sheet.

GRAMMAR
Choose the word or phrase that best completes the sentence or the conversation.
“What is that thing?”
“That _____ a spider.”
a. to call
b. calls
c. called
d. is called

CLOZE
Read the passage, then select the word that best fills the blank in both grammar and meaning.
Long ago roads were only trails for people and animals a. way c. travel
to walk on, but today roads must be made for cars, b. road d. walk
trucks, and buses. The most modern _____ is often called
a superhighway.

VOCABULARY
Choose the word or phrase that most appropriately completes the sentence.
The first things we study in school are very _____.
a. sturdy
b. shifty
c. trusty
d. elementary
READING
Read the passage, then answer the questions following it according to the information given
in the passage.
Viruses may be considered as regular
chemical molecules, since they have The writer says that viruses are alive because they . . .
a strictly defined atomic structure, but a. have a complex atomic structure.
on the other hand we must also consider b. move.
them as being alive, since they are able c. multiply.
d. have a regular molecular structure.
to multiply in unlimited quantities.

Please observe silence. Do not leave before the end of the time period. Please remain in your seat until the
test administrator dismisses the group. Remember, you have 30 minutes to complete all 35 problems. If you
have any questions during the test, you should raise your hand, and a proctor will help you.

2003-04 Preliminary Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English 1

 GRAMMAR GRAMMAR GRAMMAR

1. “How was your speech?” 6. “Is gender a factor in heart disease?”

“For every person who liked it, _____ “Yes, heart disease occurs in men more than
didn’t.” four times _____ women.”
a. other one who a. than that of
b. another who b. as often as in
c. there was one who c. more in
d. who was one d. as many as

2. Dogs and wolves are two _____ species of 7. Where’s the train? It _____ here an hour ago.
mammals. a. was to have been
a. close related b. would have been
b. related closely c. hasn’t been
c. closed related d. has been
d. closely related
8. _____ I built a fence, strangers always walked
3. Since this soup is very hot, you _____ it right across my yard.
away. a. Whenever
a. could have eaten b. Since
b. might not be able to eat c. Until
c. might have eaten d. Because
d. could not be able to eat
9. Although I know life is not easy, I wish _____.
4. As we grow older, we become _____. a. that it were
a. matured b. it could have been
b. maturity c. that it is
c. mature d. it has been
d. maturely
10. “I heard about your accident. Are you OK?”
5. “Will Ann be working here next year?” “Yes, but it caused a lot of problems _____ me.”
“That _____ she is accepted to law school or a. to
not.” b. with
a. is depending whether c. on
b. is depending on d. for
c. depends on
d. depends on whether

2 2003-04 Preliminary Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English

 CLOZE
CLOZE CLOZE
CLOZE CLOZE
CLOZE

The ocean never seems to freeze in the winter, as 11. a. different c. right
lakes do. Oceanographer Michael Steele claims that b. changed d. normal
the ocean will freeze if conditions are (11) , but 12. a. lakes c. solid
there are key differences that tend to keep the (12) b. ocean d. salt
liquid. First, salt lowers the temperature at which 13. a. elements c. percent
water freezes by interfering with the formation of ice b. pieces d. pounds
crystals. Every one hundred pounds of seawater
14. a. fall c. decreased
contains two to four _(13) of salt, enough to (14) b. drop d. reduced
the freezing point to as low as twenty-eight degrees
15. a. also c. transport
Fahrenheit. Second, ocean currents can (15) heat
b. make d. provide
into cold polar regions. The Gulf Stream carries (16)
water from the East Coast of the United States toward 16. a. warm c. away
b. icy d. on
northern Europe and into the Arctic Ocean.
When the ocean does freeze, it creates sea ice, 17. a. which c. it
(17) is mostly fresh because the salt from the seawater b. this d. ice
does not get (18)_ into the ice’s crystalline structure. 18. a. penetrated c. involved
Sea ice floats on the Arctic Ocean all year long. This b. incorporated d. elements
icy covering used to average ten feet thick, (19) in
19. a. thus c. although
recent years it has (20) to about eight feet. In other b. so d. since
areas, including most of the Antarctic waters, sea ice
20. a. been c. covered
is much thinner and melts away every summer. Just
b. reduced d. thinned
like lake ice, sea ice floats on the surface, insulating
the underlying ocean and helping to prevent deeper
freezing.

2003-04 Preliminary Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English 3

 VOCABULARY VOCABULARY VOCABULARY

21. John’s a student at the University, where 26. Meeting the astronaut _____ his interest in
he’s _____ a degree in medicine. space travel.
a. constructing a. installed
b. composing b. reproved
c. pursuing c. probed
d. affirming d. stimulated

22. Sometimes laws do not _____ with what we 27. We’re sending up a new communications
think is right. satellite to _____ the earth.
a. correspond a. circulate
b. motivate b. encircle
c. intend c. orbit
d. commune d. surround

23. She _____ to the new rules. 28. John wants to get a second job in order to _____
a. rejected his income.
b. avoided a. accompany
c. delegated b. prolong
d. objected c. magnify
d. augment
24. They never agree; it’s not surprising that
their _____ on this issue differ. 29. The firefighters were quickly _____ to the
a. viewpoints burning house.
b. prospects a. appropriated
c. realizations b. allocated
d. manifestations c. portrayed
d. dispatched
25. Will you read this essay? Don’t change
anything, just _____ it. 30. I really _____ up an appetite during the hike.
a. regard a. ran
b. revert b. worked
c. revise c. dug
d. review d. made

4 2003-04 Preliminary Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English

 READING READING READING

This passage about the formation of memories 31. According to the studies, what improves
comes from multiple scientific articles. motor skills performance?
a. waiting two days before continuing
It is well known that adequate sleep is important
instruction
in the formation of memories. Two recent studies
b. learning tasks in the correct sequence
indicate that performance of motor skills tasks was
c. learning a skill and then sleeping
greatly enhanced if subjects were allowed to sleep
d. getting a good night’s sleep before
immediately following training. In one study
learning a skill
students were taught a series of finger-tapping
sequences and then tested for their memory of the
32. The findings of the first study indicate that...
tasks. Performances were 34% faster for the first
a. sleep deprivation before learning
group of students, who slept for eight hours
a task has a negative effect on
immediately after learning the sequences, as
performance.
compared to the second group, who were kept
b. sleeping immediately after learning a
awake during that time. Furthermore, error rates
task has a positive effect on performance.
were 30% lower for the group that slept after
c. sleep deprivation immediately after
learning. Performance on the tasks was shown to
learning a task has no effect on
be unaffected by sleep deprivation prior to the
performance.
training. Differences in performance persisted two
d. sleeping immediately before learning a
days later, after the second group of students had
task has a positive effect on performance.
also had a full night’s sleep. This indicates that a
window of opportunity exists for sleep to be effective
33. The results of the second study . . .
in aiding the memory of motor skills.
a. are unrelated to the first study.
In the other study, a group of people who were
b. contradict the results of the first study.
taught keyboarding sequences in the morning, and
c. confirm the results of the first study.
then tested 12 hours later without a period of sleep,
d. explain the results of the first study.
improved their typing ability by 2%. Another group,
who were taught the sequences in the evening, and
34. According to the passage, what is the
then tested 12 hours later after a night’s sleep,
importance of NREM sleep?
improved their typing ability by 20%. This study
a. A decrease in NREM improves the
found that performance improvement is linked to
formation of memories.
Stage 2 sleep, or non-rapid eye movement (NREM)
b. Too much NREM slows down the
sleep, typically experienced late at night or in the
formation of memories.
early morning hours. According to this study, those
c. There is no relationship between
who get up earlier than usual, thus interrupting their
NREM and the formation of memories.
Stage 2 sleep, may have difficulty remembering
d. Lack of NREM inhibits the formation
motor skills tasks they had learned the day before.
of memories.

35. According to the studies, which strategy

would be best for learning to play the piano?
a. learning in the evening, and then getting a
good night’s sleep
b. learning immediately after getting up
very early
c. learning in the morning, and then doing
something else
d. learning late in the evening and then
taking a short nap

2003-04 Preliminary Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English 5