ECPE - Practice Preliminary Tests with KEY - Volume 7

23 Pages·0.073 MB·English

by  Coules Rodney A.

ANATOLIA COLLEGE
Language & Testing Office

______________________________________________________________________________

EXAMINATION
FOR
THE MICHIGAN CERTIFICATE
OF
PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH

ECPE

Practice Preliminary Tests
with KEY

Volume 7

Prepared by
Rodney A Coules
PRELIMINARY TEST FOR THE ECPE

INSTRUCTIONS AND EXAMPLES

This set of five practice tests has been produced to help candidates familiarize themselves with the format
of the preliminary test.
In the test there are 35 problems: 10 grammar problems, 10 multiple choice cloze problems, 10
vocabulary problems, and 5 questions about a reading passage. Candidates will have 30 minutes to answer
all 35 problems.
Below are examples of each of the different types of problems with the correct answer indicated with an
asterisk (*).

GRAMMAR: Choose the word or phrase which best completes the conversation.

1. “What is that thing?”
“That ____ a spider.”
a. to call
b. for calling
c. be 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 (11) a. way c. travel
and animals to walk on, but today roads *b. road d. superhighway
must be made for cars, trucks, and buses.
The most modern _(11)_ is often called
a superhighway.

VOCABULARY: Choose the word that most appropriately completes the sentence.

21. 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.

While I was getting ready to go to town one morning last week, my wife handed me a
little piece of red cloth and asked me if I would have time during the day to buy her
two yards of cloth like that.

31. The person telling the story is….
a. a married lady
b. an unmarried lady
* c. a married man
d. an unmarried man
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Practice Test 1

GRAMMAR

1. Greg asked me if I knew _____ 6. “Barb’s left the oven on again!”
“Isn’t that typical _____ her!”
a. where was the bus station. a. with
b. where the bus station it was. b. for
c. where the bus station was. c. of
d. where it was the bus station. d. to

2. _____, the customer wouldn’t have 7. _____ he earns a fortune, he is very thrifty.
complained.
a. If the waiter were to apologize a. Although
b. Had the waiter apologized b. Despite
c. Were the waiter to apologize c. Whereas
d. If the waiter apologizes d. However

3. When he was in high school, Jeff _____ every 8. Scientists are examining an enormous _____
morning. that has appeared overnight in a cornfield.
a. had swum 3 kilometers a. depressant
b. had been swimming b. depression
c. swam 3 kilometers c. depressing
d. was swimming 3 kilometers d. depressed

4. “Would you _____ a cup of coffee?” 9. They replaced the cushions, _____ were
“I’d love one. Thank you.” tattered.
a. care about a. most of which
b. care b. which most of them
c. care to c. the most of which
d. care for d. which the most

5. “Susan _____ what you said!” 10. _____ into the shallows, the child found a
“No. But she didn’t say a word!” beautiful seashell.
a. can’t be liking a. Waded
b. can’t have liked b. He had waded
c. can’t have been liking c. He was wading
d. can’t like d. Wading
CLOZE

Humans have become so noisy that some (11) a. divulged c. disproved
b. displayed d. discovered
animals are changing their behavior just to be

(12) a. obviously c. furtively
heard above the din. British biologist Andrew
b. suspiciously d. significantly
Foote at the University of Durham recently
(13) a. chain c. fleet
__(11)__ that the calls of killer whales off the
b. squadron d. navy
West Coast of the United States have
(14) a. whistles c. sounds
lengthened __(12)__ in recent years, b. calls d. sighs

apparently to counter engine noise from the
(15) a. visible c. audible
growing __(13)__ of whale-watching boats. b. feasible d. plausible

Meanwhile, behavior biologist Henrik
(16) a. at c. over
b. on d. from
Brumm of the University of St. Andrews

found that male nightingales have cranked up (17) a. that c. he
b. who d. whose
their mating __(14)__ as much as 14 decibels

(18) a. to find c. found
to remain __(15)__ over urban sounds.
b. finding d. founding
“Researchers believed that territorial birds
(19) a. easiest c. easier
always sing __(16)__ the top of their lungs,”
b. easy d. easily
says Brumm, __(17)__ did his research in
(20) a. some c. its
Germany. “So I was surprised __(18)__ that b. their d. those

nightingales do adjust their song intensity.”

The payoff for belting: “The most voluble

nightingales probably have an __(19)__ time

finding a mate and passing on __(20)__

genes,” he says.

From: Discover, Vol. 25, No 9
VOCABULARY

21. Supporters of euthanasia maintain that it is 26. The speaker’s _____ greatly impressed the
a(n) _____ act. audience.
a. tranquil a. eloquence
b. memorable b. fulfillment
c. humane c. notoriety
d. hostile d. obstinacy

22. The younger generation tend to _____ liberal 27. The teenager’s parents were afraid that she
ideals. was _____ something drastic.
a. embrace a. cherishing
b. avert b. designating
c. gesture c. contemplating
d. invade d. gratifying

23. The board members _____ for four hours 28. Harry hasn’t done anything to _____
before arriving at a decision. promotion within the department.
a. impacted a. moderate
b. deliberated b. initial
c. conformed c. merit
d. recoiled d. resolve

24. You’ll probably find him in the Red Lion; it’s 29. The teacher explained that there was a(n)
his favorite _____. _____ difference between the two words.
a. ally a. idle
b. haunt b. subtle
c. motive c. candid
d. leash d. conspicuous

25. Typewriters have become _____ since 30. First-time juvenile offenders are often treated
computers were introduced. _____ by the court.
a. controversial a. modestly
b. eventual b. principally
c. absurd c. audibly
d. obsolete d. leniently
READING COMPREHENSION

Fighting leukemia may soon become 31. We learn from the text that tests of the
as easy as getting a shot. Cancer new vaccine have to date
researchers at the University of Texas a. shown few positive results.
b. resulted in a few side effects.
are testing a vaccine that can put one
c. disappointed researchers.
form of the disease into remission.
d. kept researchers’ hopes alive.
The vaccine fights myelogenous

leukemia, which strikes 16,000 people 32. According to the text, the incidence of
a year, many of them senior citizens. myelogenous leukemia is high among
a. people in senior positions at
So far tests have been promising. The
work.
vaccine slowed the cancer to a crawl in
b. the elderly.
20 of 33 cases - with few side effects.
c. people with a short life
"We treated people who wouldn't be
expectancy.
expected to live three months," says
d. patients who were treated at the
Jeffrey Molldrem, an immunologist
Anderson Cancer Center.
with the university's M. D. Anderson
33. Which of the following results from
Cancer Center in Houston. "So the fact
testing the vaccine have been most
that some lived four years is quite
encouraging to researchers?
surprising. That some actually went
a. Some patients’ conditions went
into remission is equally astounding."
into remission.
In both acute and chronic b. Some cancers slowed to a crawl
myelogenous leukemia, immature c. There were people who lived
white blood cells in the bone marrow longer than expected.
multiply out of control. They fail to d. There were few side effects.

fight off infections as they are meant to
34. What are we told about the white
and collect dangerously in organs, blood cells of people suffering from
blocking their functions. The vaccine acute and chronic myelogenous
sets off an immune response using a leukemia?
piece of a protein, called PR1 peptide, a. Their numbers are slow to
found on the surface of leukemia cells. increase.
b. They are not fully developed.
The body recognizes the peptides as
c. They perform their usual
foreign invaders and, as a result,
function.
attacks the leukemia cells. Other
d. They assist the other organs in
cancer vaccines have been created,
their functions.
Molldrem says, but this is the first one

35. The text tells us that the vaccine
for leukemia that seems to work.
a. makes use of a part of the
The drug must now go through
leukemia cell so as to function.
another round of clinical trials. If they
b. works entirely on its own.
are all successful, it would be three to
c. recognizes peptides as foreign
four years before the vaccine is
invaders.
available.
d. attacks the leukemia cells

From: Discover, Vol. 26, No. 3
Practice Test 2

GRAMMAR

1. The exam supervisor will demand that each 6. Sheila finally decided to buy _____ evening
candidate_____ acceptable identification. dress.
a. shows a. a silk green beautiful Thai
b. showed b. a beautiful silk green Thai
c. showing c. a beautiful green Thai silk
d. show d. a green beautiful Thai silk

2. Julie’s sister reminds me _____ my Chemistry 7. Samantha is_____ of the twins, but Tania is
teacher at high school. more athletic.
a. of a. the cleverest
b. for b. more clever
c. about c. the cleverer
d. from d. cleverer

3. When Carl’s microware was giving trouble, he 8. Dimitri hadn’t done any work; _____, he failed
_____ at it. the exam.
a. had an electrician to look a. so
b. had an electrician look b. consequently
c. got an electrician looking c. but
d. got an electrician look d. however

4. An annex _____ to provide additional 9. “I’ve had a headache all morning.”
classrooms. “Try _____ a short nap.”
a. is being building a. taking
b. is being built b. to take
c. has built c. if you can take
d. is building d. the taking of

5. No sooner _____ than the telephone rang. 10. _____ her supervisor’s approval, she shouldn’t
begin the project.
a. had Jake entered his office a. Unless Susan doesn’t get
b. Jake had entered his office b. If Susan will not get
c. Jake’s entering his office c. Were Susan to get
d. was Jake entering his office d. Unless Susan gets
CLOZE

Currency, securities certificates, passports, (11) a. thanking c. thankful
b. thanks d. thanked
checks, and other important documents may

soon be broadcasting their authenticity, (12) a. contains c. constructs
b. consists d. concludes
__(11)__ to smart paper, developed by Oji
(13) a. save c. deposit
Paper of Japan in collaboration with two
b. store d. stock
Japanese high-tech companies. Each sheet
(14) a. defused c. released
__(12)__ a flat, dust-speck-size radio
b. activated d. emitted

frequency identification chip – a micro radio
(15) a. from c. over
transmitter and receiver – imprinted with an b. to d. about

unalterable serial number. The chip can also
(16) a. Despite c. Unlike
b. Akin d. Whereas
__(13)__ the name of a gift-certificate

recipient or the payee of a check. When (17) a. than c. like
b. as d. just
__(14)__ by a radio signal, the chip sends

back data __(15)__ its identity. (18) a. species c. version
b. example d. sample
__(16)__ other smart papers, which can be
(19) a. fed c. slotted
as thick and stiff __(17)__ a credit card, the
b. rolled d. copied
Oji __(18)__ is just a bit stronger than
(20) a. cracking c. crushing
ordinary paper. Chips are embedded within
b. spluttering d. crumpling

fibers rather than between plastic sheets. The

special paper can be __(19)__ through regular

copiers and fax machines and can withstand

__(20)__ and other normal wear. It is initially

being tested in Malaysia on its road-tax

certificates, which are used for vehicle

registration.

From: Discover, Vol. 26, No. 3
VOCABULARY

21. The governor’s decision to _____ the bill 26. The new strategy was adopted in the hope that
surprised everyone. it would _____ better results.
a. designate a. recommend
b. interpret b. penetrate
c. distract c. yield
d. veto d. adhere

22. Through _____ investments, George soon 27. The company is hoping to _____ its overseas
amassed a small fortune. market.
a. prudent a. pursue
b. notable b. expand
c. momentary c. maneuver
d. elective d. gauge

23. Unless lecture notes are written _____, they 28. A skin _____ can usually be covered up with
aren’t of much use. makeup.
a. grammatically a. anguish
b. masterly b. crisis
c. credibly c. blemish
d. legibly d. obstacle

24. The judge read several _____ on the recent 29. Her grandfather becomes _____ when he
spate of racist attacks. doesn’t get his way.
a. dialogues a. wretched
b. journals b. irritable
c. forums c. vague
d. editorials d. timid

25. Harry complained about the _____ noise his 30. Trying hard to impress everyone, Ben ended
neighbors were making. up becoming a figure of _____ .
a. rival a. ridicule
b. intolerable b. hysteria
c. maternal c. turmoil
d. hardy d. hesitation
READING COMPREHENSION

The relatively small fossil site in Niger, no 31. We learn in the first paragraph that Paul
bigger than a football field, was in operation Sereno
for only two months. But University of a. has never led many successful
expeditions.
Chicago paleontologist Paul Sereno is ecstatic
b. is cautiously considering the value of
about what he is finding as he sifts through
the fossil site in Niger
the 20 tons of fossils recovered there. "This
c. is disappointed that the fossil site is no
was probably the most successful expedition I
bigger than a football field.
will ever lead," Sereno says, "and I've led a
d. bases his judgement on the fossil site in
lot of expeditions."
Niger on his wide experience.
Among the fossils excavated by Sereno
32. Which of the following statements does not
and his team was the skull of an unknown 95-
appear to describe Rugops primus?
million-year-old carnivore from the
a. It lived on a diet of plants and thorny
abelisaurid ("wrinkle faced") family, which he
vegetation.
named Rugops primus. This 30-foot animal
b. It had sharp teeth.
may have scavenged carcasses; markings on c. The surface of its face was uneven.
the bone imply its head was covered with d. It was flesh-eating.

keratin, the material in our fingernails, which
33. What is most remarkable about Sereno’s
might have protected its face while it tore into
discovery of Rugops primus in Niger is that
its food. The most intriguing aspect of
it may
Rugops primus, however, is where it lived. a. prove land bridges never connected
Until now, the fossil record implied that Gondwanaland and Africa.
abelisaurids lived only on what remained of b. prove that Gondwanaland extended as
Gondwanaland, the early landmass that far as Africa
included modern India and South America. c. throw new light on what abelisaurids
Africa supposedly separated from this ate.
massive continent 120 million years ago, long d. throw new light on where abelisaurids
before the rise of the wrinkle-faced dinos. ranged.

Finding Rugops primus in Africa therefore
34. The “evidence” that Paul Sereno refers to
came as a shock. Sereno regards the
will most certainly consist of
discovery as evidence that land bridges
a. fossils that paleontologists before him
connected Africa to Gondwanaland much
had kept hidden.
later than previously believed. b. a more complete fossil record.
Further study of the Niger fossils may c. samples of earth and rocks from the
expose additional unexpected family former land bridges.
connections. Sereno believes he has found d. eye-witness accounts of dinosaurs that
the bones of a variety of other dinosaurs and lived.

other animals never before found in Africa. 35. The passage implies that Sereno’s findings
"There is a coming together of evidence that in Niger may
is hard to deny," he says. "We have unearthed a. attract lots of new paleontologists to the
a new chapter with lots of new players." area.
b. prove that our knowledge of pre-historic
land bridges is incomplete.

c. indicate that many African dinosaurs
From: Discover, Vol. 25, No. 9
migrated to Gondwanaland.

d. prove that abelisaurids were originally

to be found in Africa.