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
Jane’s dress is _____ yours.
We say similar to something and the same as something. Not similar than or the same than; than is used only after comparatives like bigger than.
Question 2
We’ve proved that he was guilty but he _____ doesn’t admit it.
Still shows that a situation continues when we expect it to have changed. It goes before the main verb: he still doesn't admit it. Not yet, which usually goes at the end of a negative sentence (he hasn't admitted it yet).
Question 3
If I _____ the mistake, I would have corrected it.
This is the third conditional, about an imagined past: If + past perfect, would have + past participle. So we need If I had noticed. Not would have noticed, because would is not used in the if part.
Question 4
Every old house like this has _____ strange stories.
Every old house is singular and refers to a thing, so the possessive is its. Not their, which would need a plural subject (All old houses have their stories).
Question 5
That’s my name on the cheque but it isn’t my _____.
A signature is your name written in your own special way, used to sign cheques and documents. The sentence means someone else signed the cheque.
Question 6
‘I’m going to the theatre tomorrow.’
‘So _____.’
To agree with a positive statement, we use So + auxiliary + subject. The first speaker uses am (I'm going), so the reply is So am I. Not So do I, because the verb in the statement is be, not a present simple verb.
Question 7
He came to the party _____ he hadn’t been invited.
Although links two ideas that contrast and is followed by a clause: although he hadn't been invited. Not in spite, which needs of and a noun or -ing form (in spite of not being invited).
Question 8
I wanted to write to her but she _____ give me her address.
Wouldn't can mean 'refused to' in the past: she wouldn't give me her address = she refused to give it. Not hadn't or hasn't, because they would need a past participle (given), not give.
Question 9
She fell down and broke her ankle, _____ was a pity.
After a comma, which can refer back to the whole previous idea: breaking her ankle was a pity. Not that, which cannot be used after a comma in this way, and not what, which is not a relative pronoun here.
Question 10
They were all on the platform, waiting _____ arrive.
The pattern is wait for + someone/something + to + verb: waiting for the train to arrive. Without for the sentence is wrong.
Question 11
_____ a good thing that the teacher didn’t see you.
We use It's as an empty subject when the real subject comes later in a that clause: It's a good thing that… Not There's, which talks about something existing, not about a fact being good.
Question 12
He stayed under water for a minute and then swam to the _____.
The surface is the top of the water. After a minute under water he swam up to the top: swam to the surface.
Question 13
What was the name of the person who won first _____?
A prize is what you get for winning a competition: win first prize. Not price, which is how much something costs, and not reward, which is given for helping or for good behaviour.
Question 14
I didn’t realise that your house was _____ the other side of the road.
We say on the other side of the road, river, street, etc. This is a fixed phrase with on.
Question 15
Her work has been _____ and she deserves an increase in salary.
Satisfactory means good enough, of the expected standard, so it fits a reason for a pay rise. Not very well, because after has been we need an adjective, and well here would be an adverb.
Question 16
He had to get off the bus because he couldn’t pay the _____.
A fare is the money you pay for a journey by bus, train, taxi or plane. Not bill, which is what you pay in a restaurant or for electricity, water, etc.
Question 17
I would like you _____ that again, please.
The pattern is would like + person + to + verb: I would like you to read. Not that you read, because would like is not followed by a that clause.
Question 18
We discussed the problem _____ our way to the office.
On our way to means during the journey to a place: We talked on our way home. This is a fixed phrase with on.
Question 19
The school that I went to was 10 miles _____.
After a distance we use away: 10 miles away. Not far, which is not used after a number; we say How far is it? or It's not far.
Question 20
It’s a lovely dress but it’s too expensive. I can’t _____ it.
Afford means to have enough money to buy something: I can't afford a new car. Not pay, because we say pay for something, not pay it.
Question 21
They _____ him of taking the money.
The pattern is accuse someone of doing something: They accused him of taking the money. Not blamed, which takes for (They blamed him for taking the money).
Question 22
I don’t think we’ve met before. You’re confusing me with _____.
Someone else means a different person. Not some other or other person, because they need a noun or an article (some other person, another person).
Question 23
She’d seen the film before, _____ she?
She'd seen is she had seen (past perfect), so the question tag uses had: positive sentence, negative tag, hadn't she? Not didn't, because 'd here means had, not did.
Question 24
Look, there’s the waiter! _____ the bill.
We ask someone for something we want them to give us: Ask him for the bill. Not Demand him, because demand is not followed by a person and is too strong here.
Question 25
I don’t believe him, _____ excuse he offers.
Whatever + noun means 'it doesn't matter which': whatever excuse he offers. Not however, which goes with adjectives or adverbs (however hard he tries), not with nouns.
Question 26
How long does it take you to _____ to work every day?
Get to means arrive at a place: get to work. Not arrive, which needs at or in (arrive at work), and not reach, which takes no to (reach work).
Question 27
She wasn’t _____ to reach the ceiling.
Enough comes after an adjective: tall enough to + verb. Not enough tall, because enough goes before nouns (enough money), not before adjectives.
Question 28
We have _____ for a secretary but haven’t appointed anyone yet.
Advertise for someone means to put a public notice, for example online or in a newspaper, to find a person for a job. Not announced, which is not used with for in this meaning.
Question 29
I played very badly. I was _____ with myself.
Disgusted with yourself means very angry and unhappy with what you did. Not ashamed, which takes of (ashamed of myself), not with.
Question 30
He’s a better player than I am so I didn’t expect to _____ him.
We beat a person or team, but we win a game, a match or a prize. Not win, because we can't win him; victory is a noun, not a verb.
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