STANDARD ENGLISH DIAGNOSTIC TEST

SECTION II: READING

In this section of the Objective Placement Test, you will read some short passages and answer questions about them. Choose the word or words that best complete the sentence. For each item, fill in your answer on the answer sheet. You will have 20 minutes to complete this section.

Passage 1: What are you doing today?

betty chan: I usually stay home on Sundays and take it easy – read, clean the house, do stuff like
that. But today I’m at the mall. I’m buying some things for my kids.

11. Betty is __________ today.

Passage 2: What do you do?

tony perez: I’m a flight attendant with a major airline. Flying isn’t dangerous, but it can be stressful. When I’m up in the air working, I always have something to do. I like it because I meet a lot of interesting people.

12. Tony's job is ___________.

Passage 3: A vacation postcard

Dear Sal,

Greetings from France – it’s so good to be back here again! We left the kids with their grandparents in Chicago, and we’re biking across the French countryside by ourselves. We brought a tent and sleeping bags, so we can camp out if we want to, but we’re really enjoying the small hotels we find along the way.

Love,
Michael and Paula

13. Michael and Paula ______________ .

Passage 4: The “zone”

You’re deeply involved in a task and can ignore everything around you – ringing telephones, your neighbor’s TV, even your own hunger – and still do things in record time. This is similar to what athletes call the “zone”: the power to concentrate so hard that you can ignore everything else. This ability can bring success in any field, but in athletics it can mean all the difference between winning and losing a game or event.

14. In this reading, the “zone” refers to a person’s _____________.

Passage 4: The “zone”

You’re deeply involved in a task and can ignore everything around you – ringing telephones, your neighbor’s TV, even your own hunger – and still do things in record time. This is similar to what athletes call the “zone”: the power to concentrate so hard that you can ignore everything else. This ability can bring success in any field, but in athletics it can mean all the difference between winning and losing a game or event.

15. Athletes in the “zone” are more likely to ____________.

Passage 5: Henry Ford and the Model-T

Henry Ford became famous and rich because he found a better, faster way to build cars. This is shown in the history of the Model-T. When the Model-T was first introduced in 1908, it took 14 hours to build and cost $850. After Ford introduced into his own factory the mass-production techniques that he saw in a meat-packing plant, the time for building a Model-T was reduced to less than two hours. As a result, Ford was able to drop the price of the car to $265. By 1927, he had sold over 15 million Model-Ts.

16. The first Model-T was expensive because it ____________ .

Passage 5: Henry Ford and the Model-T

Henry Ford became famous and rich because he found a better, faster way to build cars. This is shown in the history of the Model-T. When the Model-T was first introduced in 1908, it took 14 hours to build and cost $850. After Ford introduced into his own factory the mass-production techniques that he saw in a meat-packing plant, the time for building a Model-T was reduced to less than two hours. As a result, Ford was able to drop the price of the car to $265. By 1927, he had sold over 15 million Model-Ts.

17. The Model-T became so popular because it was _________ than other cars.

Passage 6: It’s a big country!

When it comes to body weight, Americans stand out. Most visitors to the United States, no matter where they go across this vast country, comment on the size of many Americans. In fact, these impressions are backed by numerous statistics. For example, the average 5' 4" American weighs 162 pounds, or 15 pounds more than the average person of the same height from Western or Central Europe. Another comparison: At 150 pounds, the average 5’ 4” American woman is 24 pounds heavier than her Japanese counterpart.
Why are Americans so heavy? Some blame the American diet. Certainly it’s true that Americans eat more high-fat foods – meat, dairy products, and processed food – and fewer grains and vegetables than people in other countries. But fat isn’t the whole story. Lifestyle factors – including the tendency for Americans to drive rather than walk or ride a bicycle to work, to snack throughout the day, and to have so many labor-saving devices in the home – appear to contribute to the problem.

18. According to the article, visitors to the United States often comment on the size of the _____________.

Passage 6: It’s a big country!

When it comes to body weight, Americans stand out. Most visitors to the United States, no matter where they go across this vast country, comment on the size of many Americans. In fact, these impressions are backed by numerous statistics. For example, the average 5' 4" American weighs 162 pounds, or 15 pounds more than the average person of the same height from Western or Central Europe. Another comparison: At 150 pounds, the average 5’ 4” American woman is 24 pounds heavier than her Japanese counterpart.
Why are Americans so heavy? Some blame the American diet. Certainly it’s true that Americans eat more high-fat foods – meat, dairy products, and processed food – and fewer grains and vegetables than people in other countries. But fat isn’t the whole story. Lifestyle factors – including the tendency for Americans to drive rather than walk or ride a bicycle to work, to snack throughout the day, and to have so many labor-saving devices in the home – appear to contribute to the problem.

19. According to the article, the average Western European weighs _____________.

Passage 6: It’s a big country!

When it comes to body weight, Americans stand out. Most visitors to the United States, no matter where they go across this vast country, comment on the size of many Americans. In fact, these impressions are backed by numerous statistics. For example, the average 5' 4" American weighs 162 pounds, or 15 pounds more than the average person of the same height from Western or Central Europe. Another comparison: At 150 pounds, the average 5’ 4” American woman is 24 pounds heavier than her Japanese counterpart.
Why are Americans so heavy? Some blame the American diet. Certainly it’s true that Americans eat more high-fat foods – meat, dairy products, and processed food – and fewer grains and vegetables than people in other countries. But fat isn’t the whole story. Lifestyle factors – including the tendency for Americans to drive rather than walk or ride a bicycle to work, to snack throughout the day, and to have so many labor-saving devices in the home – appear to contribute to the problem.

20. In comparison with Americans, people in other countries eat more ____________.

Passage 6: It’s a big country!

When it comes to body weight, Americans stand out. Most visitors to the United States, no matter where they go across this vast country, comment on the size of many Americans. In fact, these impressions are backed by numerous statistics. For example, the average 5' 4" American weighs 162 pounds, or 15 pounds more than the average person of the same height from Western or Central Europe. Another comparison: At 150 pounds, the average 5’ 4” American woman is 24 pounds heavier than her Japanese counterpart.
Why are Americans so heavy? Some blame the American diet. Certainly it’s true that Americans eat more high-fat foods – meat, dairy products, and processed food – and fewer grains and vegetables than people in other countries. But fat isn’t the whole story. Lifestyle factors – including the tendency for Americans to drive rather than walk or ride a bicycle to work, to snack throughout the day, and to have so many labor-saving devices in the home – appear to contribute to the problem.

21. The article implies that Americans would lose weight if they ______________.

SECTION III: LANGUAGE USE

In this section, you will answer questions about the use of English. Choose the word or words that best complete the sentence.

23. ___________ several good restaurants in our neighborhood.

24. The gas station is __________ Main Street.

25. “I can’t swim very well.” "I can't _________."

26. I enjoy ___________ out two or three times a week.

27. These days, ___________ women keep working after they get married.

28. My new job is very ___________.

29. After finishing college, I hope _______________ married.

30. Mt. Everest is ____________ mountain in the world.

31. Bob’s never been bungee jumping, ______ he?

32. I've run out of money. I wish __________ more.

33. Could you tell me where __________ ?

34. If I had known about the accident, I __________ it to the police

35. Yolanda ______________ part time for several years now.

36. The Taj Mahal is really worth ____________ .

37. If I went to live in a foreign country, ___________ my friends.

38. Would you mind ___________ the window?

39. I was interested ____________ the violin.

40. Before a film is finished, it needs ____________ .

41. By 2020, scientists _____________ a cure for cancer.

42. “What happened to Kate?”
“She must ___________ about our appointment.”

43. We’re not used ___________ our own meals.

44. Chicago, ____________ is nicknamed the Windy City, is the largest city in Illinois.

45. ___________ John, I like to cook.

46. Before _____________ breakfast, I usually take a shower.

47. I'm taking a class ___________ learn more about my computer.

48. For me, mathematics is ____________ difficult than biology.

49. I would rather __________ evening classes.

50. I feel sick. I shouldn’t __________ so much.

51. Jim’s boss demanded that he ____________ to work earlier.

52. The earlier children learn to read, __________ for their education.