1 I?

[67]

bjectíve Placement Test

General Directions
T h e Objective Placement Test h a s threè sections: L i s t e n i n g , R e a d i n g , a n d
L a n g u a g e U s e . T h e r e are 70 questions. You are allowed 50 minutes to
complete the test.

I n Section I , the L i s t e n i n g section, you w i l l h e a r nine conversations a n d

a n s w e r one or more questions about each one. Before you listen to a
conversation, r e a d the question or questions. T h e n listen to the conversation.
A n s w e r the questions after the conversation ends. Choose the correct a n s w e r
for each question a n d fill i n your choice on your a n s w e r sheet. You will h e a r
the conversation only once. T h e first conversation is a n example. You have 15
minutes to complete this section.

Section I I , the R e a d i n g section, h a s several short passages. After you r e a d

each passage, choose the correct a n s w e r for each question a n d fill i n your
choice on your a n s w e r sheet. You have 20 minutes to complete this section.
\
Section I I I , the L a n g u a g e U s e section, h a s 30 items. Choose the correct
completion for each item a n d fill i n your choice on your a n s w e r sheet. You
have 15 minutes to complete this section.

M a r k your a n s w e r s clearly on your a n s w e r sheet. I f you w a n t to change a n

answer, erase your first a n s w e r completely. I f you w a n t to take notes d u r i n g
the test, write on the paper you were given.

1
[68]

Section I: Listening
I n this section of the test, you w i l l h e a r conversations a n d a n s w e r some
questions about them. F o r each conversation, first r e a d the situation a n d the
question or questions. T h e n listen to the conversation. A n s w e r the questions
after you h e a r the conversation. Respond to the questions by m a r k i n g the
correct a n s w e r (a, b, c, or d) on your a n s w e r sheet.

R e a d the example situation a n d question.

Example

Situation: M a r t y H u d s o n needs to t a l k to a n advisor. H e calls the E n g l i s h

L a n g u a g e C e n t e r to m a k e a n appointment.

M a r t y c a n t a l k to a n advisor .
a. this morning
b. this afternoon
c. tomorrow morning ,
d. tomorrow afternoon \

Now listen to the example conversation.

[EXAMPLE CONVERSATION]

Now a n s w e r the example question.

T h e a n s w e r for the example is c, tomorrow morning. T h e letter c is filled i n

on your a n s w e r sheet.

Now go on to page 3.

Objective Placement Test B

 [69]

Situation 1: Tony a n d Alex are t a l k i n g w h e n Meriko comes i n . ;n •

1. are meeting for the first time.

a. Tony a n d Alex
b. Tony a n d Meriko
c. Alex a n d Meriko 'í'
d. Tony, Alex, a n d Meriko

Situation 2: A w o m a n is ordering food at a r e s t a u r a n t .

2. She .
a. u s u a l l y h a s soup
b. is getting the soup
c. stopped eating s a l a d
d. likes soup, not s a l a d

Situation 3: Joe calls Ramon's home. Ramon's mother a n s w e r s

the telephone.

3. Joe .
a. talks with Ramon
b. leaves a message for R a m o n
c. w i l l see R a m o n i n class
d. w i l l call R a m o n at school

Now go on to page 4.

Objective Placement TestB 3

 4

Situation 4: A repórter is giving today's weather forecast.

4. I t w i l l r a i n today i n .
a. Califórnia
b. the Northwest
c. N e w York
d. most of the country

5. Today's weather i n N e w York will be .

a. typical
b. sunny
c. cloudy
d. warm

Situation 5: Jeff calls A u d r e y about a business meeting.

6. A u d r e y can't meet before 2:00 because she .

a. is leaving early tomorrow

b. h a s another meeting
c. is meeting a l i m o r n in g
d. eats l u n c h at 2:00

7. T h e y V e going to .
a. meet at 10:00 tomorrow
b. eat a late l u n c h together
c. have the meeting before l u n c h
d. meet at night

Now go on to page 5.

Objective Placement Test B

 Situation 6: J e r r y a n d Sue are t a l k i n g about their plans for the
s u m m e r vacation.

8. Sue's family u s u a l l y .
a. stays home
b. goes to the beach
c. visits friends
d. takes a trip

9. T h i s y e a r Sue is t h i n k i n g about .
a. going fishing w i t h h e r dad
b. visiting h e r mother
c. l e a r n i n g how to sail
d. t a k i n g a trip w i t h friends

Situation 7: Peggy is t a l k i n g to Tom about h e r car.

10. Peggy is upset because .

a. she can't use her car
b. her parents won't help h e r
c. K a r l a doesn't like h e r car
d. Tom doesn't u n d e r s t a n d her

11. Karla
a. borrowed h e r parents' car
b. h a s her own car
c. w i l l fix Peggy's car
d. is buying a new car

12. Peggy doesn't lend money to friends because

a. it c a n change the relationship
b. her friends have plenty of money
c. she doesn't have m u c h to lend
d. h e r parents won't let her

Now go on to page 6.

Objective Placement Test B 5

II I
 Situation 8: F r a n k a n d L i z are t a l k i n g about their trips abroad.

13. F r a n k went to A r g e n t i n a .
a. by h i m s e l f
b. to visit C h a d
c. after h i g h school
d. w i t h h i s family

14. F r a n k says he "would have l i k e d to have seen Norway."

H e m e a n s that he .
a. wanted to go there, so he went
b. didn't w a n t to go there, but he went a n y w a y
c. wanted to go there, but he couldn't
d. didn't w a n t to go there, so he didn't

15. L i z went to C h i n a because of h e r .

a. job
b. father
c. school
d. friends

16. Lizdidn't .
a. live i n B e i j i n g
b. like C h i n e s e culture
c. go to T h a i l a n d
d. l e a r n C h i n e s e quickly

Now go on to page 7.

Objective Placement Test B

 Situation 9: B e n a n d M a r g a r e t are t a l k i n g about their jobs.

17. M a r g a r e t started w o r k i n g i n fashion design .

a. w h e n she opened h e r own store
b. at a s m a l l design company
c. w i t h one of her teachers
d. before she finished h e r studies

18. W h e n M a r g a r e t w a s younger, she didn't know that

a. design school w a s so expensive
b. h e r dreams could never come true
c. it took so long to become successful
d. she wanted to m a k e beautiful clothes

19. B e n wanted to become a .

a. doctor
b. l a w y e r
c. w r i t e r
d. repórter

20. B e n likes .
a. being a repórter
b. t a k i n g classes
c. w r i t i n g novéis

d. teaching literature

T h i s i s the e n d of the L i s t e n i n g section of Objective Placement Test B .

Now go on to page 8 a n d begin the R e a d i n g section. : .

Objective Placement Test B

 Section II: Reading
I n this section of the Objective Placement Test, you w i l l read some short
passages a n d a n s w e r questions about them. Choose the word or words that
best complete the sentence. F o r each item, fill i n your a n s w e r on the a n s w e r
sheet. You w i l l have 20 minutes to complete this section.

Passage 1: W h a t are you doing today?

P E D R O : I u s u a l l y go out w i t h friends on S a t u r d a y night. B u t today is Friday,

a n d we're going out to a football game tonight. So tomorrow night F m
staying home.

21. T h i s S a t u r d a y night, Pedro is .

a. playing football
b. visiting friends
c. staying home
d. going out

Passage 2: W h a t do you do?

MÁRCIA C H U N G : I work i n a busy r e a l estate office. I do the same thing day

after day - a n s w e r the telephone a n d send documents. I need to get a more
interesting job: T h a f s w h y F m studying l a w at night.

22. Marcia's job is .

a. difficult
b. boring
c. restful
d. interesting

Now go on to page 9.

Objective Placement TestB

 Passage 3: A vacation postcard

H i , Andre,

Greetings from México. It's really great to be a w a y from school. I w a s

traveling w i t h P a u l , but he got homesick a n d now F m by myself. I have a
tent a n d two sleeping bags, so w h y don't you come on down? We could go to
the beaches, see the sights. A n d it doesn't cost m u c h to stay here. T h i n k
about it, O K ?

Todd

23. Todd w a n t s A n d r e to
a. stay i n school
b. find a doctor
c. send h i m money
d. come to México

Passage 4: Meditation

You observe a person i n meditation. O n the surface, he appears to be asleep,

but he's simply i n a trance - a k i n d of half-sleep i n w h i c h the person is
conscious but able to ignore the situation around h i m . F o r the meditator, the
ability to concentrate is so strong that e v e r j ^ h i n g around h i m - sounds,
smells, movement - seems to fade i n importance. A t the same time, decision
m a k i n g a n d deep t h i n k i n g are often greatly improved.

24. I n this reading, meditation refers to a person's .

a. state of m i n d
b. intelligence
c. physical condition
d. ability to sleep

25. Meditation doesn't help a person

a. h e a r better
b. t h i n k deeply
c. make decisions
d. ignore smells

Now go on to page 10.

Objective Placement Test B

[76]

Passage 5: T h e electric Hghtbulb

T h o m a s E d i s o n w a s called the W i z a r d of Menlo P a r k because he found a

simple, efficient w a y to light up a room at night. B y 1877, m a n y other
scientists h a d been successful u s i n g electricity for light, but their inventions
were not practical for home use. Edison's patient experimenting resulted i n
a n easy-to-use lightbulb, w h i c h produced j u s t enough light for a room i n a
house. E d i s o n ' s victory came i n December of 1879 w h e n he used a piece of
carbonized (burned) cotton t h r e a d as the filament or wire i n the bulb. A n
electric current passing through the t h r e a d made i t shine.

26. I n 1877, electricity w a s not used to light homes because . .J

a. electric power hadn't been invented yet

b. there were no practical electric lights
c. people were afraid to use electric lightbulbs
d. no one h a d experimented w i t h electricity

27. T h e filament i n a lightbulb is used to produce

a. light
b. thread
c. electricity
d. Carbon

Now go on to page 11.

Objective Placement Test B

 [77]

Passage 6: It's a big country! v r - > \

W h e n visitors to the U n i t e d States leave the crowded cities of the E a s t C o a s t

or Midwest, they are likely to comment on the use of space. Boston, N e w
York, P h i l a d e l p h i a , a n d even the central part of Chicago m a y look s i m i l a r to
great cities anjrwhere i n the world. However, u r b a n áreas i n other parts of
the country, a n d especially those i n the "wide West," look different. T a k e
D e n v e r or L o s Angeles, for example. Although statistics show that m a n y
people there live i n apartments, these buildings are s m a l l compared to the
multi-storied apartment blocks of Moscow, C a i r o , a n d Beijing. T h e mid-size
city of Tucson, A r i z o n a (population 700,000), w h i c h developed i n a broad
desert valley w i t h several s m a l l streams to feed it, covers a n a r e a larger
t h a n a l i of Chicago (population 7 million). I n Tucson, most people live i n
i n d i v i d u a l houses. T h e y drive their cars (or pickup t r u c k s ) to work a n d shop
i n large shopping m a l l s w i t h huge p a r k i n g lots. P e r h a p s it's the farmer or
cowboy influence: each family h a s its own " h o r s e " a n d its own piece of l a n d .

28. Visitors to the U n i t e d States often comment on the use of space

in .
a. Boston, N e w York, a n d P h i l a d e l p h i a
b. the central part of Chicago '
c. large apartment buildings
d. u r b a n áreas of the West

29. According to the article, apartment buildings i n Moscow, C a i r o , a n d =

Beijing are often t h a n those i n D e n v e r a n d L o s Angeles.
a. smaller
b. taller
c. more expensive
d. more beautiful

30. T h e average person i n Tucson lives .

a. i n a house *
b. near h i s or her job
c. on a farm •
d. next to a n apartment

31. T h e article implies that i n building cities today, A m e r i c a n s are

influencedby .
a. cities on the E a s t C o a s t
b. their farming tradition - ^ ' ''
c. Moscow, C a i r o , a n d B e i j i n g

d. the need for more apartments u

Now go on to page 12. - (,

Objective Placement Test B 11

[78]

Passage 7: Personality types . -

W h a t malíes people the w a y they are? W h y do some people get angry easily, others a l w a y s
seem to be cheerful, while still others are often depressed? T h e early G r e e k doctor
Hippocrates thought that personality w a s l i n k e d to the fluids that were k n o w n to exist i n
the h u m a n body: the blood, the bile, the black bile, a n d the phlegm. T h e s e fluids were
called the four humors. H e believed that inside each person, one k i n d of body fluid w a s
dominant a n d that this fluid - or humor - caused a tendency toward a p a r t i c u l a r k i n d of
behavior.
I f the blood {sanguinis) w a s dominant, the person w a s sanguine, or cheerful a n d willing
to help others. I f the yellow bile of the liver (called choler) w a s the most important, the
person would be irritable and quick to anger. I f the person w a s often s a d a n d depressed, the
black liquid of the spleen a n d kidneys (melan-choler or black bile) w a s blamed. A n d the
person who h a d too m u c h phlegm (the thick mucus of the nose a n d throat) w a s likely to be
lazy, calm, a n d duU (not very intelligent).
Today we know that personality results from a combination of lifestyle a n d n a t u r a l
factors, a n d h a s little or nothing to do w i t h the balance of body fluids. However, even today
the words r e m a i n : humorous, sanguine, choleric, melancholy, phlegmatic. Although
psychologists no longer use them, they have become part of the common vocabulary - w i t h
some changes, of course. F o r example, today to say that a person is humorous means that
the person laughs a n d m a k e s others laugh, from the idea of h a v i n g "good" humor.

32. According to the article, the early G r e e k s k n e w that . ;

a. there are different fluids i n the h u m a n body
b. everyone shows the same basic behavior
c. people who laugh a lot are humorous
d. personality is the result of lifestyle factors

33. F o r the early G r e e k s , humor w a s the name for a type of

a. personality type
b. body part
c. n a t u r a l fluid
d. i n t e r n a i organ

34. Hippocrates believed that w a s dominant i n a happy person.

a. blood
b. bile
c. black bile
d. phlegm

35. Today the word humorous is used to describe a person's

a. blood type
b. lifestyle
c. personality
d. body fluids

Now go on to page 13.

Objective Placement Test B

 [79]

Passage 8: W h a t is intelligence? - i

We ali know that there are different degrees of intelligence, but it is perhaps less
understood that the w a y we t h i n k about intelligence m a y be infiuenced by the society we
live i n , a n d that even w i t h i n one society, standards and norms can change over time. F o r
example, since the rise of a scientific culture, the intelligence of the scientist h a s been
greatly valued. Therefore, scientific t h i n k e r s a n d theoreticians like Albert E i n s t e i n a n d
Stephen W. H a w k i n g have been considered the "most intelligent."
Recent r e s e a r c h i n the a r e a of intelligence is leading toward a redefinition of the
concept. Today it is recognized that people have different degrees but also different k i n d s of
intelligence and that the ability to t h i n k scientifically (i.e., the capacity to use logical
deduction a n d factual evidence to solve problems) is j u s t one k i n d . F o r example, the ability
to create things of beauty s u c h as a painting or a m u s i c a l composition demonstrates
another type of intelligence, w h i c h could be called artistic intelligence. Politicai a n d social
leaders a l i have interpersonal intelligence, the talent to u n d e r s t a n d a n d to manage other
h u m a n beings. T h e ability to organize facts into a clear argument, to m a s t e r languages,
and to create stories about i m a g i n a r y people a n d situations c a n ali be considered as
separate aspects of intelligence. F r o m this perspective, the average person h a s different
but " n o r m a l " amounts of each type of intelligence, while a genius is a person w i t h a n
outstanding brilliance i n at least one k i n d of intelligence.

36. T h e m a i n idea of this article is that .

a. scientists are more intelligent t h a n others
b. ali artistic people are intelligent
c. there are different aspects of intelligence
d. geniuses are intelligent i n m a n y w a y s

37. T h e meaning oíconcept (second p a r a g r a p h , first sentence) is closest to .

a. aspect
b. idea
c. degree
d. genius

38. are u s u a l l y considered the most intelligent.

a. Engineers
b. Artists '
c. Politicians -í
d. Scientists í

39. Interpersonal intelligence refers to the ability to

a. solve problems
b. direct people
c. organize facts
d. write stories

40. According to the article, a genius is someone who

a. studies mathematics a n d science
b. is outstanding i n at least one a r e a
c. can paint pictures and compose m u s i c
d. t a l k s brilliantly about m a n y subjects

Xow go on to page 14 a n d begin the L a n g u a g e U s e section.

Objective Placement Test B 13

[80]

Section III: Language Use

i n tliis section, you w i l l a n s w e r questions about the use of E n g l i s h . Choose
the word or words that best complete the sentence. F o r each item, fill i n your
a n s w e r on the a n s w e r sheet. You w i l l have 15 minutes to complete this
section.

41. "Where are the s t a m p s ? " - r

" onthedesk." ... ?:
a. T h e r e are
b. They're
c. They
d. Their ^ '^v'

42. M y office is downtown.

a. on
' • b. near
c. close
d. at

43. " 1 can't speak G e r m a n . "

can I . "
a. No
b. Never
c. Not
d. Neither

44. O n weekends, we enjoy friends.

a. visit
b. to visit
c. visiting
d. to v i s i t i n g

45. I don't have a computer, but my friends do.

a. the most
b. almost
c. most of
d. most

46. We're very about the news.

a. excited
b. exciting
c. excite
d. excitement

Now go on to page 15.

Objective Placement Test B 14

 47. " I s the report done yet?"
"No, but I hope it by tonight."
a. finish
b. that finish
c. to finish
d. finishing

48. C a i r o is any other city i n E g y p t .

a. the large
b. larger t h a n
c. the largest
d. large a s

49. Ted's never gone m o u n t a i n climbing, he?

a. does
b. is
c. has
d. was

50. I h a d a n accident. I w i s h I more careful.

a. w a s being
b. w i l l be
c. have been
d. h a d been

51. E x c u s e me. C o u l d you tell me where

a. the bus station is
b. i s the bus station
c. it is the bus station
d. is it the bus station

52. B i l l would have done something about the problem i f he

a. did know
b. had known
c. was known
d. would know

53. J a n i c e moved to P a r i s . there for a y e a r already.

a. She's living
b. S h e lives
c. She's been living
d. She w a s l i v i n g

54. T h e movie's great! It's really worth

a. seeing
b. to see
c. you see
d. see

Now go on to page 16.

Objective Placement Test B

 55. r d play the piano better if I more.
a. practicing
b. c a n practice
c. practiced
d. w i l l practice

56. Would you m i n d i n here?

a. don't smoke
b. not to smoke
c. not smoking
d. no smoke

57. M y sister is interested about J a p a n e s e literature.

a. learn
b. learning
c. to l e a r n
d. in learning

58. T h i s fruit needs before you eat it.

a. to w a s h
b. being w a s h e d
c. you w a s h i t
d. to be w a s h e d

59. B y the time you get this postcard, N e w York.

a. r d l e f t
b. F m leaving
c. r U h a v e l e f t
d. F v e been leaving

60. T h e ground's wet. I t m u s t .

a. raining
b. have r a i n e d
c. to r a i n
d. rained

61. Sue is used up early.

a. get
. b. getting
c. to getting
d. to get

62. The man lives across the street is a dentist.

a. w h o
b. h e
c. whose
d. w h a t

Now go on to page 17.

Objective Placement Test B

 63. I won't go you come w i t h me.
a. instead
b. except
c. unless
d. although

64. Before for work, I u s u a l l y have a cup of coffee.

a. to leave
b. leaving
c. that leave
d. leave

65. F m going to flying school I c a n l e a r n how toflymy own plane.

a. that
b. i n order
c. i n order to
d. so that

66. H e l e n is _ _ _ _ _ serious student I have ever seen.

a. more
b. most
c. the more
d. the most

67. F d prefer at home this weekend.

a. not stay
b. no staying
c. not to stay
d. don't stay

68. K e n failed the test. H e should more.

a. studying
b. to study
c. studied
d. have studied

69. Betty's h u s b a n d suggested that she a few days offfrom work.

a. h a s took
b. taking
c. take
d. w i l l take

70. T h e older I get, I become.

a. more impatient
b. the more impatient
c. most impatient
d. the most impatient

END OF TEST

Objective Placement Test B