Pre-test (English Reading)

Look at this real-life reading situation and choose the correct answer between skimming or scanning.

"You friend can meet you at Central Railway Station, Sydney at 7pm at the earliest. You're looking at a timetable to find a train which will arrive at a convenient time."

• Scanning

• skimming

What is the main idea of this short passage?

"Floods can cause tremendous damage. They can ruin houses, roads and buildings. Floods can take down trees and cause mudslides. It often leaves mud, sand and debris behind. It can take months to clean up after a flood."

• Floods can cause a lot of damage.

• Floods cause mudslides.

• Floods damage houses and roads.

• Floods take down trees and leave mud

Read the passage below, answer question item 3-4.

Dear Daniel,

If you'd like to improve your English, one thing you can do is to build up your vocabulary. In order to do this, you have to practice a lot. I’m afraid there is not a short cut for this. But there are many effective ways. First of all, you should read a lot. You can read short stories, comics, newspapers, magazines etc. depending on your English level. As you read, you can try to guess the meanings of unknown words from the context of the sentence. If you cannot, then look up the definition in a dictionary. English to English dictionary should be your first choice and keep the translator as last. Another way of building vocabulary is to watch movies in English which will also help with pronunciation. Try to be involved with the language as much as you can. Keep a vocabulary notebook and write down a few words each day. Keep in mind that you have to revise them regularly. In my opinion, to communicate with people all you need is words. Even if you just say the words one after another, people most likely will understand what you mean regardless of the order of the words and grammar.

What is the main point of this e-mail?

• What we can do to improve our English

• Difficulties of learning English

• Problems of learning a second language alone

• What the best way of learning English is

Dear Daniel,

If you'd like to improve your English, one thing you can do is to build up your vocabulary. In order to do this, you have to practice a lot. I’m afraid there is not a short cut for this. But there are many effective ways. First of all, you should read a lot. You can read short stories, comics, newspapers, magazines etc. depending on your English level. As you read, you can try to guess the meanings of unknown words from the context of the sentence. If you cannot, then look up the definition in a dictionary. English to English dictionary should be your first choice and keep the translator as last. Another way of building vocabulary is to watch movies in English which will also help with pronunciation. Try to be involved with the language as much as you can. Keep a vocabulary notebook and write down a few words each day. Keep in mind that you have to revise them regularly. In my opinion, to communicate with people all you need is words. Even if you just say the words one after another, people most likely will understand what you mean regardless of the order of the words and grammar.

Which of the followings is incorrect?

• We should use a translator for all the unknown words.

• We should read a lot.

• We should take notes when we learn new words.

• We should practice as much as we can.

Which one of the following is right?

• Kindergarten is compulsory in all countries.

• Parents are not an essential part for successful childcare.

• Early childhood program is bounded by social context.

• Early childhood has a fixed age range.

What is the main focus of early childhood education?

• Early education information

• Children’s holistic development

• Controversy of adults

• Growing concern of low birth rate

Jordan had a splendid idea to make slime for her cousin's birthday. What is the meaning of the word splendid?

• normal

• excellent

• regular

• good

Mom frowned when she saw the cat on the sofa and it was scratched. How did mom feel when she saw the cat on the sofa?

• forgivable

• scary

• sad

• displeasure

What is a phrase?

• a word

• a clause

• a group of words

• a sentence.

I don’t mind to wait. What does “to wait” function as?

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb