Introduction
The tests have been devised to help teachers to decide whether their students are ready to enjoy the next level of Penguin Readers. There are six levels of test, corresponding to Levels 1–6 of the Readers, and two versions of the test at each level, the B test provided as follow-up for retesting in the event of the majority of a class not obtaining the requisite score of 18/30 at the first attempt. The tests have been thoroughly pretested with students at the appropriate levels. They each contain 30 structural and lexical items in a multiple-choice format selected from the structures and lexis introduced at the given level. The tests can be administered and corrected very quickly to aid a prompt decision, following the instructions given below. Within 30 minutes, including the time that it takes for the students to do a test, teachers should have sufficient information to reach a decision.
Content of the tests
Each test consists of 30 multiple-choice items. There are three choices (A, B, C) at levels 1–3, and four choices (A, B, C, D) at levels 4–6. Items testing the same structure and/or lexis are not repeated within a test but in almost every case, the Test B at a given level is based on the same items as Test A to ensure an equal level of difficulty. Items never appear, however, in the same order. This minimises the possibility of students guessing the correct answers from memory. The pass mark of 18/30 (or 60%) is valid for all levels. It is important to note that for the class as a whole to benefit from studying a Reader at a given level, it is not necessary for everyone to obtain this mark or even for the students’ average to be above 18, but only for the majority of students to score 18 or more. It must be remembered that, as is appropriate in tests devised to determine whether students are capable of following a text, these tests measure recognition of correct language, not the ability to produce it.
Question 1
When I told her about it, she _____.
We use the past simple for a finished action in a past story. When I told her is past, so she just laughed. Not has just laughed, because the present perfect doesn't go with a finished past time.
Question 2
I would like to go _____ for my holiday next year.
Go abroad means go to another country. Foreign is an adjective (a foreign country), so it can't follow go on its own.
Question 3
Please ask _____ come in.
The pattern is ask + person + to + verb: Please ask him to come in.
Question 4
I _____ to the cinema since last year.
Since last year shows a period from the past until now, so we use the present perfect: I haven't been. Not didn't go, because the past simple doesn't go with since.
Question 5
Is _____ than her sister?
In a question, the verb is comes first, then the person, then the adjective: Is Jane taller…? Tall is a short adjective, so we say taller, not more tall.
Question 6
Is the boss still in his office? I don’t think _____.
After think, hope and expect, we use so to avoid repeating the idea: I don't think so. (= I don't think he is still in his office.)
Question 7
I don’t like fish, and my brother doesn’t, _____.
We use either at the end of a negative sentence to add another negative: my brother doesn't, either. Not too, because too is for positive sentences.
Question 8
He wanted to _____ some money from me.
Borrow means take something that you will give back: borrow money from someone. Not lend, because you lend money to someone.
Question 9
You _____ drive slowly through the village.
Must + verb means it is necessary or a rule: You must drive slowly. Need and want would need to before the verb.
Question 10
She was 14 on her birthday, _____ she?
The main verb is was, so the question tag uses was in the negative: She was 14, wasn't she?
Question 11
Is she a relative of _____?
After of with no noun after it, we use the possessive pronoun yours: a relative of yours. Not your, because your needs a noun after it (your cousin). Your's is always wrong, because possessive pronouns never have an apostrophe.
Question 12
_____ in the class speaks two languages.
Everyone is singular, so it matches the verb speaks. All the students is plural and would need speak.
Question 13
‘_____ camera is this?’
‘It’s Angela’s.’
We use Whose to ask who something belongs to. The answer It's Angela's tells us the owner.
Question 14
Who was the man _____?
This is a relative clause: the man that you were speaking to. Speak to needs to at the end, so that you spoke is incomplete. Spoke to you needs who or that before it.
Question 15
Look, children! Your aunt has _____ you a box of chocolates.
Bring means carry something to the place where the speaker or listener is. The chocolates came here, to the children, so brought is right. Not taken, because take means move something away from here.
Question 16
There isn’t a good restaurant _____ in this town.
In a negative sentence (isn't), we use anywhere. Nowhere would make a double negative.
Question 17
I’m going out to the garden to pick some flowers _____ it isn’t raining.
While means 'during the time that': I'll pick flowers while it isn't raining (now, before the rain starts).
Question 18
I _____ having breakfast when she knocked at the door.
Still goes after the verb be: I was still having breakfast. Not yet, because yet is used in negatives and questions, usually at the end.
Question 19
The boss is too busy _____ see her now.
The pattern is too + adjective + to + verb: too busy to see her.
Question 20
There wasn’t anything interesting on the news, _____?
The sentence begins with There wasn't, which is negative, so the tag is positive and uses there: was there? Not wasn't there, because a negative sentence needs a positive tag.
Question 21
I’m afraid they didn’t have _____ to eat.
Enough means as much as we need: They didn't have enough to eat. Not nothing, because didn't is already negative, and two negatives together are wrong in standard English.
Question 22
He drives much _____ than his father.
Fast is both an adjective and an adverb. Its comparative is faster. More fast and fastly are not correct.
Question 23
‘We don’t believe you!’ someone told him in a _____ voice.
A voice that is easy to hear because it is strong in sound is loud: in a loud voice.
Question 24
You _____ come with me if you feel tired.
Needn't means it is not necessary: You needn't come if you feel tired. Not couldn't, because that means it wasn't possible.
Question 25
_____, there were no houses here.
We use ago to say how far back in the past something happened: A hundred years ago. Since 100 years and It makes a hundred years are common mistakes.
Question 26
_____ is it from here to London?
We ask about distance with How far: How far is it to London? Not How long, because that usually asks about time.
Question 27
Both _____ play tennis very well.
Before a pronoun, we say both of: Both of them play tennis. We can also say They both play, but not Both they.
Question 28
She never stops working. She works twelve hours _____ day.
We use a to mean 'each' with time: twelve hours a day, twice a week.
Question 29
A large white _____, please.
Bread is uncountable, so we say a loaf (of bread) for one piece you buy: a large white loaf. Not a bread.
Question 30
It’s late. Ask the waitress for the _____, John.
In a restaurant, the paper that shows how much to pay is the bill (in British English): Can we have the bill, please?
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