SUMMER I.C.

E Diagnostic assessment

Please wait to turn the page and begin the assessment until instructed to do so by the assessment administrator

DIRECTIONS: In the passage that follows, certain words and phrases are underlined and numbered. In the right-hand column, you will find alternatives for the underlined part. In most cases, you are to choose the one that best expresses the idea, and uses the correct written register and form. If you think the original version is best, choose NO CHANGE. The final item asks you to be the editor by asking you questions about the passage as a whole. For each question, highlight the alternative you consider best. The first question is already completed. You have 12 minutes to complete this task.

My name is Amir and I am from Astana, Kazakhstan. I have 17 years1, and I would like to study in USA2 because it is a great
2.

1.

a) NO CHANGE b) I am 17 years c) I have 17 years old d) I am 17 years old a) NO CHANGE b) in the USA c) at USA d USA

opportunity for me. I am interesting in the computers3, and my dream is to study

computer science at MIT, Harvard, or

3. a) NO CHANGE b) I am interesting in computers c) I am interested in computers d) I am interested in the computers 4. a) NO CHANGE b) start technology firm as c) start the technology firm as d) start technology firm like

Stanford. Maybe someday I can start a technology firm like4 Facebook or Google.

For me, America is something what is very exciting5. I enjoy traveling abroad; I have visited the UK6, Turkey, and Russia. I have been to London last summer7 to
5. a) NO CHANGE b) something where is very exciting c) very exciting d) where is very exciting 6. a) NO CHANGE b) I am visiting the UK c) I visited the UK d) I visit the UK 7. a) NO CHANGE b) I went to London last summer c) I have gone to London last summer d) I go to London last summer 8. a) NO CHANGE b) In America are many opportunities to c) In America, there are many opportunities for d) In America, there are many opportunities to 9. a) NO CHANGE b) knowledge c) knowing d) know

attend an English course, and I made many

new friends from other countries. In America is many opportunity for8 meet new people and get new knowledges9

about culture, business, and technology.

In my hometown, I go to high school and in

my free time I play10 ice hockey and online

a) NO CHANGE b) I am playing c) I have been playing d) I will play

games with my friends. I have two older sisters, which11 study at university. My father works like engineer for the12 large

11. a) NO CHANGE b) sisters, who c) sisters which

d) sisters who
12. a) NO CHANGE b) works as engineer for a c) works like an engineer for the d) works as an engineer for a

petrochemical firm, and my mother is teacher.13 They are working very hardly14

13. a) NO CHANGE b) is the teacher c) is a teacher d) is an teacher 14. a) NO CHANGE b) work very hard c) work very hardly d) are working very hard

for our family.

I am knowing15 Kazakh and Russian, and I am studying16 English for seven years.

15. a) NO CHANGE b) I am speaking c) I speak d) I can 16. a) NO CHANGE b) I study c) I studied d) I have been studying 17. a) NO CHANGE b) must improve c) must improving d) must have improved 18. a) NO CHANGE b) good in read c) good at reading d) good for reading 19. a) NO CHANGE b) in Kazakhstan are few chances to speak with native speakers. c) there are few chances to speak with native speakers in Kazakhstan. d) there are few chances for speaking with native speakers in Kazakhstan. 20. a) NO CHANGE b) Studying in the USA is the best way to improve c) Studying in the USA is the best way how to improve

English is very important for my life and career, and I must to improve17 my speaking and writing. I am good in reading18 English,

but in Kazakhstan is few chance for speak with native speakers. 19 To study in the USA is best solution for improving20my English

and my future.

d) To study in the USA is the best solution to improve

21. Amir wrote this essay to answer the following prompt: Why do you want to study in the USA? Do you think his essay answers the prompt effectively? a) No, the essay does not discuss what he wants to study. b) No, the essay gives too much information about his family. c) Yes, the essay discusses his goals for studying in the USA. d) Yes, the essay discusses his hobbies.

GO ON TO NEXT PAGE

DIRECTIONS: Read the following passage carefully and respond to the questions that follow. You have 12 minutes to complete this task. The following passage was written by Jane Goodall, a British primatologist who is widely considered to be the worlds foremost expert on chimpanzees. [Paragraph 1] As we move into this millennium it is easy to be overwhelmed by feelings of hopelessness. We humans have destroyed the balance of nature: Forests are being destroyed, deserts are spreading, there is terrible pollution of air, earth, and water. Climate is changing, people are starving. There are too many humans in some parts of the world, over-consumption in others. There is human cruelty to man and beast alike; there is violence and war. Yet I do have hope. Let me share my four reasons. [Paragraph 2] Firstly, we have at last begun to admit to the problems that threaten the survival of life on earth. And we are problem-solving creatures. Our amazing brains have created modern technology, much of which has greatly benefited millions of people around the globe. Sadly, along with our tendency to overproduce, technology has also resulted in massive destruction and pollution of the natural world. But can we not use our awesome problem-solving ability to now find more environmentally friendly ways to conduct our business? Good news: Its already happening as hundreds of industries and businesses adopt new green ethics. And we must play our part in our billions we must adopt less-harmful lifestyles. Refuse to buy products from corporations that do not conform to new environmental standards. We can change the world. [Paragraph 3] Secondly, nature is amazingly resilient. Given the chance, poisoned rivers can live again. Deforested land can be coaxed or left to blossom again. Animal species, on the verge of extinction, can sometimes be bred and saved from a few individuals. [Paragraph 4] My third reason for hope lies in the tremendous energy, enthusiasm, and commitment of young people around the world. Young people want to fight to right the wrongs, for it will be their world tomorrowthey will be the ones in leadership positions, and they themselves will be parents. This is why the Jane Goodall Institute started Roots & Shoots, an environmental education and humanitarian program for youth. Roots creep under the ground to make firm foundation. Shoots seem small, but to reach light they can break brick walls. Hopemillions of roots and millions of shoots can break through, break all the problems humans have created, make change. Roots & Shoots groups, from kindergarten to college, work to make the world a better place for animals, the environment, and the human community. The central message of Roots & Shoots is that every individual matters, every individual has a role to play, every individual makes a difference. [Paragraph 5] My fourth reason for hope lies in the indomitable nature of the human spirit. There are so many people who have dreamed seemingly unattainable dreams and, because they never gave up, achieved their goals against the odds, or blazed a path along which others could follow. [Paragraph 6] So let us move into this millennium with hope--with faith in ourselves, in our intellect, in our indomitable spirit. Let us develop respect for all living things. Let us try to replace violence and intolerance with understanding and compassion. And love.

DIRECTIONS: For each question, highlight the option you consider best. 1. Why does the author mention modern technology in paragraph 2? a. as an example of what humankind is capable of b. as an analogy for human brains c. as a description for what will happen in the future d. as an example of human failure 2. What does the author mean by the term green in paragraph 2? a. eco-friendly b. envious c. inexperienced d. nauseous 3. In the context of the passage, coaxed most likely means what in paragraph 3? a. forced b. encouraged c. intimidated d. tempted 4. Why does the author mention young people in paragraph 4? a. because they deforested a lot of land b. because they started a humanitarian program c. because they have the most invested in the future d. because they buy products from corporations 5. What are the shoots an analogy for in the Roots & Shoots program in paragraph 4? a. people who make change in the world b. people who create problems in the world c. people who break brick walls d. people who are in college 6. In paragraph 4, why was the Roots & Shoots program created? a. so that young people can be individuals b. to show that individuals do not play a role in the environment c. so that parents can be leaders d. to provide an avenue for young people to make change 7. What is the overall theme of this essay? a. there is hope for the future b. it is unlikely that people can make a difference for the environment c. the climate is changing d. endangered species can sometimes be saved

STOP [5 minute break]

DIRECTIONS: Read the following passage. Make note of the overall message of the passage and the main points that the author presents. You have 5 minutes to read. The Overkill Hypothesis in North America The late Pleistocene was a geological period that occurred about 13,000 years ago. Many mammals in North America became extinct during the late Pleistocene. According to a recently published article, the overkill hypothesis explains the extinctions. The article points out that humans arrived in North America during the late Pleistocene. According to the overkill hypothesis, humans hunted the mammals until they became extinct. Scientific records show that humans have often caused many animals to become extinct. For example, only a few hundred years after humans arrived on New Zealand, dozens of species went extinct. There is clear evidence for similar extinctions on the Cook Islands and many of the islands in the Mediterranean. The earliest evidence of humans in North America is at a place known as Clovis. Human tools found at the Clovis site are from the late Pleistocene. Also during the late Pleistocene, we know that 35 different types of mammals disappeared from North America. The coincidence of the arrival of the first humans and the mammal extinctions is strong e vidence for the overkill hypothesis. Finally, at least 14 confirmed kill sites found in North America show that Clovis people hunted and killed large mammals like mastodons and mammoths. If Clovis people were capable of repeatedly hunting such massive creatures, then we may logically conclude that they were equally capable of hunting smaller mammals until they became extinct as well. DIRECTIONS: Now listen to part of a lecture on the topic you just read about. You may take notes as you listen. Double click the icon below to begin audio.

[Test administrator plays a recording of the following lecture: The overkill hypothesis is an idea that makes sense to a lot of non-scientists. People who are worried about the environment and the impact humans have on it, like to remind us about human destruction. Most specialists in the field, though, do not think that the overkill hypothesis makes sense. First of all, its true that humans have caused many animal species to go extinct on islands. But, species that live on islands are very different from species that live on continents like North America. Species on islands are vulnerable to changes in their environment because they are isolated for long periods of time from other members of their species. That means that they may have lost the ability to deal with the diseases, the predators, and the competitors that typically arrive with humans. So, just because we know that humans caused island species to

become extinct does not mean that humans would so easily cause larger, more diverse, continental species to become extinct. Second, the reading points out that 35 different types of animals went extinct during the late Pleistocene. And that is true! But the late Pleistocene was a very long period that stretched over thousandstens of thousands of years. Many of the species that became extinct during the late Pleistocene did so before humans arrived. So, while there is a coincidence between North American extinctions and the Clovis site, its just that: a coincidence. In many other parts of the world similar extinctions were also taking place. These other extinctions are all said to be because of other causes, so why humans in North America? Finally, there are only 14 confirmed kill sites of mastodons and mammoths. Thats not very many. And there are no kill sites for many of the other animals that the overkill hypothesis claims were killed by humans. So, it doesnt make sense to blame humans without very much evidence.]

Writing prompt: Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they challenge the specific points made in the reading passage. You have 20 minutes to complete your essay. Type your response below:

END OF TEST