ACCUPLACER ESL Reading Skills Test Sample Questions

10. This semester many students are enrolled in a newcourse, African Dance, which is being taught by a firsttimeinstructor, Sheila Duncan.How long has the university offered the African danceclass?A. For a short timeB. For many yearsC. For an entire school yearD. On and off for a whileACCUPLACER ESLLanguage Use TestThe ESL Language Use test measures yourproficiency in using correct grammar in Englishsentences. There are five content areas measured onthis test: (a) Nouns, Pronouns, Pronoun CaseStructure; (b) Subject–Verb Agreement; (c)Comparatives, Adverbs, Adjectives; (d) Verbs; and (e)Subordination/Coordination.Sample QuestionsThe sentence below has a blank space. Choose theword or phrase that makes a grammatically correctsentence.1. _____ washing her sweater, Mary hung it up to dry.A. AfterB. BeforeC. ByD. Until2. Some day men and women _____ to Mars.A. will travelB. will travelsC. will travelingD. will traveled3. Water _____ at a temperature of zero degrees Celsius.A. having frozenB. freezingC. freezeD. freezes4. _____ get a new haircut?A. Have youB. Does youC. Are youD. Did you5. Jacques Cousteau will be remembered for his inventionsand for _____ to marine science.A. dedicationB. his dedicationC. being dedicatedD. his being dedicated6. Since my parents always insist that I get a good night’ssleep, they were _____ when I stayed out last night pastmy curfew.A. very happyB. very relievedC. very tiredD. very angryRead the two sentences below and choose the best wayof combining them.7. Her puppy ran out into the street chasing a cat. Theowner quickly went to retrieve it.A. The owner quickly went to retrieve it after a catwas chased into the street by her puppy.B. The owner quickly retrieved it after her puppychased a cat into the street.C. When her puppy ran into the street after a cat, theowner quickly went to retrieve the puppy.D. Quickly retrieving it, the owner went quickly afterher puppy that ran out into the street after a cat.8. Lisa plays the piano. Her sister Kelly plays the piano,too.A. Lisa and her sister Kelly plays the piano.B. Both Lisa and her sister Kelly play the piano.C. Lisa plays the piano and Kelly plays the piano.D. Lisa and Kelly too play the piano.9. The road was slippery. We put chains on the tires.A. Although the road was slippery, we put chains onthe tires.B. The road became slippery when we put chains onthe tires.C. We put chains on the tires because the road wasslippery.D. Putting chains on the tires, the road we were onwas slippery.10. Kazuko took her dog for a walk. They went to thepark.A. Kazuko, going to the park, took her dog for awalk.B. Kazuko took her dog for a walk in the park.C. Kazuko took her dog for a walk because they wentto the park.D. Kazuko and her dog went to the park, wherethey walked.© 2007 The College Board. All rights reserved. ACCUPLACER SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Part Three: ESL Writing TestA student will be asked to write in English. The topic will be based on the student’s score on the Accuplacer test. Onetopic will be given to the student.Sample Questions for Writing:Topics for Beginners (based on Accuplacer test)My Favorite HolidayA Beautiful PlaceTopics for Advanced BeginnersThe Most Important Thing I Brought to the United States from My CountryCompare the Food in Your Country with the Food in the United StatesWhat Characteristics are Important in a Friend?Should Smoking in Public Places be Illegal?Topics for IntermediatesIt has been recently announced that a large shopping center may be built in your neighborhood. Do you supportor oppose this plan? Give specific reasons for your answer.Is it better to enjoy your money when you earn it of is it better to save your money for some time in future.Explain your answer.Topics for Advanced StudentsStudents who score high on the Accuplacer test will be given more advanced topics involving opinion, compare/contrast,or problem/solution, etc.