Free B1 Preliminary for Schools Reading Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Please bring your old magazines to school and place them in the box outside the geography room for the school's environmental project. <br> The message advises students to...
- read old magazines to help them with a geography project.
- throw away their old magazines.
- bring magazines for use at school. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: bring magazines for use at school.
The message explicitly asks students to 'bring their old magazines to school' for an 'environmental project.' This indicates that the magazines are needed for use at school, likely for recycling or a creative project related to the environment. It's not about reading them for a geography project or throwing them away.
Question 2: Hello, Helen <br> A calculator is necessary for my homework. Since I can't locate mine, I snatched yours out of your bag. I hope it's all right. Tomorrow, I'll give it back to you. Hugs, Christina. <br> <br> Christina emailed Helen to...
- ask if she could borrow her calculator tomorrow.
- remind her to take her calculator to school tomorrow.
- say that she has borrowed Helen's calculator. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: say that she has borrowed Helen's calculator.
Christina's email clearly states, 'I snatched yours out of your bag,' indicating she has already taken and is currently using Helen's calculator. She then explains why she took it and promises to return it tomorrow. The email is an informatory message about an action already taken, not a request for future borrowing.
Question 3: I appreciate you providing information on the health and safety course. Otherwise, I would go. vacation from school! However, I have art class that day. Don't let me miss it, please! <br> Jessica writes a letter to her pal.
- accept an invitation to go on a health and safety course.
- refuse an invitation to go on a health and safety course. (Correct answer)
- suggest going on a health and safety course.
Correct answer: refuse an invitation to go on a health and safety course.
Jessica starts by thanking her friend for the information, implying an invitation was extended. She then states, 'However, I have art class that day. Don't let me miss it, please!' This clearly indicates she cannot attend the course because of a prior commitment. Therefore, she is refusing the invitation.
Question 4: You will need to find your own transportation because not enough individuals requested bus transportation to the theater. Be sure to get there by 7 o'clock. <br> The statement urges readers to...
- arrive at the bus stop at 7pm to go to the theatre.
- arrive at the theatre at 7pm using their own transport. (Correct answer)
- meet outside the theatre at 7pm to take the bus home.
Correct answer: arrive at the theatre at 7pm using their own transport.
The message explicitly states that bus transportation is not available, so attendees 'will need to find your own transportation.' It then provides a clear instruction: 'Be sure to get there by 7 o'clock,' referring to the theater. Therefore, the advice is to use personal transport and arrive at the theater by 7 pm.
Question 5: On Friday night, a sports watch was discovered in the gym. Speak with Mrs. Clark to claim it. <br> If, speak with Mrs. Clark.
- you want to watch sports in the gym.
- you have found a sports watch.
- you have lost a watch. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: you have lost a watch.
The notice announces that a lost item, specifically a sports watch, was found. It then instructs anyone who wishes to 'claim it' to speak with Mrs. Clark. Therefore, this message is relevant to someone who has lost a watch and wants to retrieve it.
Question 6: Beginner sessions will now meet from 5 to 6 p.m. on Fridays rather than Mondays. As usual, advanced lessons begin on Fridays at 6 p.m. <br> The notification mentions a modification to...
- the time and day of the beginner's tennis class
- the day of both the beginner's and the advanced tennis classes
- the day of the beginner's tennis class (Correct answer)
Correct answer: the day of the beginner's tennis class
The notification explicitly states that 'Beginner sessions will now meet... on Fridays rather than Mondays,' indicating a change in the day for beginner classes. It then clarifies that 'advanced lessons begin on Fridays at 6 p.m. as usual,' meaning the advanced class day has not changed. Thus, only the day for beginner classes has been modified.
Question 7: Why was Neil's uncle a part of the construction project?
- He wants to build his own house.
- He lent the family his tools.
- He is a qualified builder.
- He enjoys helping out other people. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: He enjoys helping out other people.
Without the full text, we infer that Neil's uncle participated in the construction project out of altruism. The answer 'He enjoys helping out other people' suggests a voluntary role, where his motivation is personal satisfaction from assisting others rather than a professional obligation or personal need for a house. This implies a contribution based on goodwill and community spirit.
Question 8: Which statement concerning the construction project is accurate?
- No experienced builders were needed to build the house.
- The future owners helped to build the house. (Correct answer)
- The organization provides free homes for poor people.
- The project was filmed and shown on television.
Correct answer: The future owners helped to build the house.
This statement is accurate because many community-based construction projects, especially those focused on affordable housing, require or encourage future homeowners to contribute 'sweat equity' to the building process. This participation not only reduces costs but also fosters a sense of ownership and community involvement. The text likely described such a collaborative effort.
Question 9: Neil found it surprising that
- some adults didn’t know how to use tools. (Correct answer)
- he wasn’t allowed to cut wood.
- houses are so expensive in the USA.
- his uncle had such good building skills.
Correct answer: some adults didn’t know how to use tools.
Neil's surprise likely stemmed from observing that not all adults possessed basic tool-handling skills, which might be unexpected in a construction setting. This highlights a common reality where practical skills vary widely among individuals, even in tasks that seem fundamental. The text probably detailed his observations of the volunteers' varying skill levels.
Question 10: The tools will be accessible to Neil the following year because...
- his uncle is going to teach him how to use them.
- he is planning to study design and technology.
- there will be fewer people on the project.
- he will be old enough. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: he will be old enough.
The most logical reason for Neil to have access to tools the following year is that he will have reached the required age for safe operation or participation in certain tasks. Construction projects often have age restrictions for safety reasons, particularly concerning the use of power tools or working in hazardous environments. This suggests his current age is a limiting factor.
Question 11: What might Neil record about his encounter in his journal?
- Building the house was better than watching TV, but I wanted to do more building work. (Correct answer)
- I really enjoyed building the house. It gave me the chance to use my design and technology skills.
- Building the house was okay, but it wasn’t as fun as watching American TV!
- I learn a lot of useful things for my design and technology course from working on the building project.
Correct answer: Building the house was better than watching TV, but I wanted to do more building work.
The correct answer, A, reflects a nuanced personal experience often found in journal entries. It shows both a positive aspect ('better than watching TV') and a desire for more engagement ('wanted to do more building work'). This combination suggests a realistic and reflective perspective on the encounter, making it the most fitting journal entry among the choices.
Question 12: There are ________ distinct categories of video games.
- many (Correct answer)
- much
- more
- lots
Correct answer: many
The word 'many' is the correct quantifier to use with countable plural nouns like 'categories' when referring to an unspecified but large number. 'Much' is used for uncountable nouns, 'more' implies a comparison, and 'lots' is informal and less precise. Therefore, 'many' accurately describes the numerous distinct categories of video games.
Question 13: Casual games are quick and easy to play. People can pick up and play the game___ they have a spare minute or two.
- during
- since
- whenever (Correct answer)
- while
Correct answer: whenever
The word 'whenever' means 'at any time that,' which perfectly fits the context of playing casual games opportunistically. People can pick up and play these games at any moment they have a spare minute or two. 'During,' 'since,' and 'while' do not convey this sense of indefinite timing as effectively as 'whenever'.
Question 14: On your computer, on your television, and even on your mobile device, you can find ______.
- it
- its
- them (Correct answer)
- their
Correct answer: them
The sentence refers to 'video games' (implied from the context of the passage) which are plural. 'Them' is the correct objective pronoun to refer to a plural noun as the object of the verb 'find.' 'It' is singular, 'its' is a possessive, and 'their' is a possessive, making them grammatically incorrect in this context.
Question 15: They include popular games ________ Solitaire and Tetris.
- as
- like (Correct answer)
- such
- example
Correct answer: like
The word 'like' is used to introduce examples of something, meaning 'such as' or 'for example.' Solitaire and Tetris are presented as examples of popular games. 'As' is typically used for comparison or to state a role, and 'such' usually requires 'as' (e.g., 'such as') to introduce examples.
Question 16: These games are designed to teach players something useful. One of the _________ running serious games is the Microsoft Flight Simulator.
- longest (Correct answer)
- greater
- oldest
- popular
Correct answer: longest
The Microsoft Flight Simulator series has a very long history of continuous development and releases, making it one of the most enduring game franchises. The superlative 'longest' accurately describes its extensive operational lifespan among serious games. The other options do not fit the context of its continuous presence in the market as well as 'longest running'.
Please bring your old magazines to school and place them in the box outside the geography room for the school's environmental project.
The message advises students to...