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EIKEN Grade 2 study materials
EIKEN Grade 2 study resources

EIKEN Grade 2 practice questions

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Question 1Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. When Maya moved to a new city, she joined a local running club. At first she could barely finish three kilometers, but the members encouraged her every week. Six months later, she completed her first half marathon. "I never thought I could do it," she said. "The club changed how I see myself." What is the main idea of the passage?

  1. Maya moved to a new city because she wanted to run a half marathon.
  2. Maya stopped running after she finished her first race.
  3. Joining a supportive group helped Maya achieve more than she expected. Correct answer.
  4. Running clubs are usually too difficult for beginners to join.

Explanation

The passage traces Maya's progress from barely running three kilometers to finishing a half marathon, and her final comment credits the club for changing her self-image. The overall point is that encouragement from a group enabled an achievement she had not imagined. The other choices either reverse the message or invent details not stated.

Question 2Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. The town library announced that starting next month it will open at 9 a.m. instead of 10 a.m. on weekdays. The change follows a survey in which many residents said they wanted to study or use computers before work. Weekend hours will stay the same. According to the passage, why is the library changing its weekday opening time?

  1. To match the hours of nearby schools.
  2. To reduce the cost of staff salaries.
  3. Because residents asked for earlier access. Correct answer.
  4. Because weekend hours are being shortened.

Explanation

The passage states that the change follows a survey in which residents said they wanted to study or use computers before work. That directly identifies public demand as the reason for opening earlier. No cost, school, or weekend-reduction motive is mentioned.

Question 3Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. Dear Mr. Tanaka, Thank you for ordering our desk lamp. Unfortunately, the model you chose is currently out of stock. We expect new supplies in about two weeks. We can either send your lamp as soon as it arrives or cancel your order and give you a full refund. Please let us know which you prefer. What is the purpose of this email?

  1. To ask the customer to choose between waiting and a refund. Correct answer.
  2. To confirm that the order has already been shipped.
  3. To complain about a late delivery.
  4. To advertise a new kind of desk lamp.

Explanation

The writer explains that the lamp is out of stock and then offers two options: wait for new supplies or cancel for a full refund, asking the customer to decide. That makes the purpose a request for the customer's choice. The email is not an advertisement, complaint, or shipping confirmation.

Question 4Reading

Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Ken was so ___ after the long hike that he fell asleep on the bus.

  1. polite
  2. exhausted Correct answer.
  3. curious
  4. careful

Explanation

The sentence describes someone falling asleep immediately after a long hike, which fits the meaning of "exhausted" (extremely tired). The other adjectives describe personality or attitude and do not explain falling asleep. Context clues such as "long hike" and "fell asleep" point to physical tiredness.

Question 5Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. Many people believe that goldfish have a memory of only three seconds. In fact, research has shown that goldfish can remember information for weeks and can even be trained to respond to sounds. The three-second myth probably spread because it makes a memorable story, not because it is true. What does the passage say about the three-second memory idea?

  1. It was proven by recent research.
  2. It applies only to goldfish kept in small tanks.
  3. It was invented by goldfish breeders.
  4. It is a popular belief that is not supported by research. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage contrasts the common belief with research showing goldfish remember for weeks, and it calls the three-second claim a myth. Therefore the idea is a popular but unsupported belief. The passage does not credit breeders or mention tank size.

Question 6Reading

Choose the best word to complete the sentence. If it ___ tomorrow, we will hold the sports festival in the gym.

  1. rains Correct answer.
  2. will rain
  3. rained
  4. rain

Explanation

In a first-conditional sentence, the if-clause uses the present simple and the main clause uses will. The subject "it" takes the third-person singular form "rains." Using "will" in the if-clause is a common error that the rule excludes.

Question 7Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. Notice to all members: The swimming pool will be closed from Monday to Wednesday for repairs to the water system. The children's pool will remain open as usual. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience. Which statement is true?

  1. The pool is closing because of a staff shortage.
  2. The children's pool is open during the repairs. Correct answer.
  3. The whole pool area is closed for three days.
  4. The repairs will take more than a week.

Explanation

The notice says the main pool is closed for repairs but that the children's pool will remain open as usual. Only the second statement matches this information. The closure lasts three days, not a week, and the cause is the water system, not staff.

Question 8Reading

Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Please ___ your seat belt before the car starts moving.

  1. borrow
  2. fasten Correct answer.
  3. repair
  4. gather

Explanation

The natural verb that collocates with "seat belt" is "fasten," meaning to secure it. The sentence is a safety instruction, and only "fasten" describes buckling a belt. The other verbs do not form a meaningful phrase with seat belts in this context.

Question 9Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. Some cities have started planting trees along busy roads. The trees absorb some air pollution, provide shade in summer, and make streets more pleasant for walking. However, young trees need regular watering and care for the first few years, so the program requires long-term funding. What is one disadvantage of the tree-planting program mentioned in the passage?

  1. Trees increase air pollution in summer.
  2. The program cannot be started in cities.
  3. Trees make roads narrower for cars.
  4. Young trees require ongoing care and money. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage lists benefits but then notes that young trees need regular watering and care for several years, which means long-term funding is required. That is the disadvantage stated. The passage does not mention narrower roads or increased pollution, and it says some cities have already started such programs.

Question 10Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. Tom had studied hard for the math test, but when he saw the first question, his mind went blank. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes for a moment, and started with the easiest problem. Soon his confidence returned, and he finished with time to spare. What can be inferred about Tom?

  1. He left the test before finishing it.
  2. He managed his nervousness and did well. Correct answer.
  3. He had not prepared for the test at all.
  4. He found every question extremely easy.

Explanation

Tom's mind went blank from nerves, but he calmed himself, began with an easy problem, regained confidence, and finished early. This supports the inference that he controlled his anxiety and performed successfully. The passage says he had studied hard, so the idea that he was unprepared is contradicted.

Question 11Reading

Choose the best word to complete the sentence. The company decided to ___ the meeting until next Friday because the manager was away.

  1. announce
  2. cancel
  3. postpone Correct answer.
  4. attend

Explanation

The meeting is being moved to a later date rather than dropped, so "postpone" (delay to a later time) is correct. The phrase "until next Friday" signals a new future time, which rules out canceling. "Attend" and "announce" do not express rescheduling.

Question 12Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. A recent study found that students who took notes by hand remembered more of a lecture than students who typed their notes. The researchers suggested that writing by hand is slower, which forces students to decide what is important instead of copying every word. According to the researchers, why did handwriting help students remember more?

  1. Students who write by hand copy every word of the lecture.
  2. Typing notes prevents students from listening at all.
  3. The slower pace made students select key information. Correct answer.
  4. Handwriting is faster than typing.

Explanation

The passage explains that handwriting is slower, so students must choose what matters rather than writing everything down. That selective processing is the researchers' proposed reason for better memory. The passage does not claim handwriting is faster or that typists cannot listen.

Question 13Reading

Choose the correct option to complete the sentence. This is the restaurant ___ we celebrated my sister's birthday last year.

  1. who
  2. where Correct answer.
  3. which
  4. what

Explanation

The relative clause describes a place ("the restaurant"), and the clause is complete without a missing subject or object, so the relative adverb "where" is needed. "Which" would require the clause to lack a subject or object, as in "the restaurant which we visited." "Who" refers to people, and "what" is not used as a relative pronoun here.

Question 14Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. When the company introduced a four-day workweek for a six-month trial, managers worried that productivity would fall. Instead, output stayed about the same, and employees reported feeling less stressed. Because of these results, the company plans to keep the new schedule permanently. What was the result of the four-day workweek trial?

  1. Output remained similar while stress decreased. Correct answer.
  2. The trial was extended for another six months.
  3. Productivity dropped sharply as managers had feared.
  4. Employees asked to return to five days.

Explanation

The passage states that output stayed about the same and employees felt less stressed, which directly matches this option. The managers' fear that productivity would fall did not come true. The company decided to keep the schedule permanently rather than extend a trial or return to five days.

Question 15Reading

Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Her explanation was so ___ that everyone in the class understood the difficult concept immediately.

  1. vague
  2. narrow
  3. silent
  4. clear Correct answer.

Explanation

The result clause says everyone understood immediately, so the explanation must have been easy to follow, which is the meaning of "clear." "Vague" would produce the opposite result. "Silent" and "narrow" do not describe how understandable an explanation is.

Question 16Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. Dear Ms. Sato, I am writing to apply for the part-time position at your bookstore that was advertised on your website. I have worked at a library for two years, so I am familiar with organizing books and helping customers. I have attached my resume and can be available for an interview any afternoon next week. What is the writer mainly doing?

  1. Complaining about a bookstore's service.
  2. Applying for a job and offering interview times. Correct answer.
  3. Asking the bookstore to order a book.
  4. Inviting Ms. Sato to visit a library.

Explanation

The writer states the purpose directly: applying for the advertised part-time position, describing relevant experience, and offering availability for an interview. That makes it a job application. No complaint, book order, or invitation is involved.

Question 17Reading

Choose the best option to complete the sentence. By the time we arrived at the station, the train ___.

  1. had already left Correct answer.
  2. has left
  3. leaves
  4. will leave

Explanation

The past perfect ("had left") shows that the train departed before another past event, our arrival. "By the time we arrived" sets a past reference point, so an action completed before it needs the past perfect. The present and future forms do not fit a past narrative.

Question 18Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. Scientists studying urban birds have noticed that some species sing at a higher pitch in noisy cities than in quiet rural areas. Higher sounds are less likely to be drowned out by low traffic noise. This change may help the birds attract mates, but researchers warn that it could also make their songs harder for other birds to recognize. What is a possible negative effect of the birds' higher-pitched songs?

  1. The songs may be harder for other birds to recognize. Correct answer.
  2. The birds will be unable to find food.
  3. Traffic noise will become louder over time.
  4. The birds may stop singing completely in cities.

Explanation

The last sentence states that the change could make the birds' songs harder for other birds to recognize, which is the negative effect the question asks for. The passage presents this as a warning alongside the benefit of attracting mates. It does not mention food, silence, or louder traffic.

Question 19Reading

Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Despite the heavy rain, the volunteers ___ to finish cleaning the park.

  1. pretended
  2. refused
  3. managed Correct answer.
  4. hesitated

Explanation

The phrase "despite the heavy rain" signals that something was accomplished in spite of difficulty, which fits "managed to finish." The structure "managed to" means succeeded in doing something hard. The other verbs do not express successful completion.

Question 20Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. A survey of office workers found that those who took short walks during lunch breaks reported feeling more focused in the afternoon than those who stayed at their desks. The researchers noted, however, that the walkers may also have been people who generally exercise more, so the walks alone may not be the only cause of their focus. Why do the researchers avoid claiming that walks alone cause better focus?

  1. Because the survey included only people who dislike exercise.
  2. Because walking during lunch is not allowed in most offices.
  3. Because the walkers may already be more active in general. Correct answer.
  4. Because the study measured focus in the morning.

Explanation

The passage notes that walkers may be people who exercise more in general, which is a possible alternative explanation for their better focus. This is why the researchers hesitate to attribute the effect to walks alone. The passage says nothing about office rules or dislike of exercise, and the focus was measured in the afternoon.

Question 21Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. Opponents of the new shopping center argue that it will take customers away from small local shops. Supporters reply that the center will create jobs and attract visitors who would otherwise shop in a neighboring town. Both sides agree, however, that traffic in the area will increase. Which statement is supported by the passage?

  1. Supporters believe the center will harm local shops.
  2. Both sides agree the center will attract visitors.
  3. Both sides expect more traffic in the area. Correct answer.
  4. Opponents believe the center will create many jobs.

Explanation

The final sentence explicitly states that both sides agree traffic in the area will increase. The other statements misassign views: job creation and attracting visitors are the supporters' arguments, while harm to local shops is the opponents' concern. Careful matching of each view to its side is needed.

Question 22Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. When a famous painting was discovered to be a copy rather than an original, the museum's director said the work would remain on display. "Its value was never only in who painted it," she explained. "It shows us how people of that era copied and learned from great art." Some critics disagreed, arguing that visitors would feel cheated. What is the director's main point?

  1. The painting has historical value beyond its authorship. Correct answer.
  2. Visitors should not be told that the painting is a copy.
  3. Copies are always worth more than original paintings.
  4. The museum should sell the painting to a private collector.

Explanation

The director argues the work's value does not depend only on who painted it, because it reveals how people of that era copied and learned from art. That is a claim about historical value independent of authorship. She does not rank copies above originals, propose a sale, or discuss hiding information from visitors.

Question 23Reading

Choose the best option to complete the sentence. ___ the rising cost of materials, the construction project was completed on schedule.

  1. Despite Correct answer.
  2. Although
  3. Because of
  4. Unless

Explanation

"Despite" is a preposition followed by a noun phrase ("the rising cost of materials"), and it expresses contrast with the surprising result of finishing on time. "Although" would need a full clause with a subject and verb. "Because of" would wrongly suggest the cost caused the on-time completion, and "unless" introduces a condition.

Question 24Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. Many schools now teach students how to judge online information. One teacher explains that she gives students two articles on the same topic, one reliable and one misleading, without saying which is which. Students must compare sources, check the authors, and look for evidence. "The goal," she says, "is not to memorize facts but to build a habit of questioning." What does the teacher want students to develop?

  1. Trust in any article that looks professional.
  2. The ability to question information on their own. Correct answer.
  3. A preference for reading only one source.
  4. A strong memory for facts from articles.

Explanation

The teacher's stated goal is not memorizing facts but building a habit of questioning, and her exercise requires students to compare sources and check evidence. This points to independent critical judgment. The other options describe the opposite of her aim.

Question 25Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. In the past, city planners often built wide roads to handle growing numbers of cars. Today, some planners argue that adding more lanes simply invites more drivers, a pattern known as induced demand, and that the roads soon become crowded again. They therefore support investing in public transport instead. What is the planners' argument against building more lanes?

  1. Wider roads are too expensive to build.
  2. Extra lanes attract more drivers and fail to reduce crowding. Correct answer.
  3. Cars cause less pollution than buses.
  4. Public transport is less popular than driving.

Explanation

The planners' reasoning is that new lanes invite more drivers through induced demand, so roads quickly become crowded again. That is why they favor public transport. The passage does not rest on construction cost, popularity of transport, or pollution comparisons.

Question 26Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. Our school library will change its opening hours starting April 1. On weekdays it will open at 8 a.m. and close at 7 p.m., one hour later than before. On Saturdays it will close at 4 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. The library will remain closed on Sundays and national holidays. What is the main change to the Saturday hours?

  1. The library will be open every Saturday and Sunday.
  2. The library will open earlier on Saturdays.
  3. The library will stay open later on Saturdays.
  4. The library will close two hours earlier on Saturdays. Correct answer.

Explanation

The notice states that on Saturdays the library will close at 4 p.m. instead of 6 p.m., which is two hours earlier than before. The weekday change lengthens hours, but the Saturday change shortens them.

Question 27Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. Kenji wanted to buy a used bicycle. He found one advertised online for 12,000 yen. The seller said the price was firm, but Kenji noticed the ad had been posted six weeks earlier and no one had bought the bike. He offered 9,000 yen, and the seller accepted. Why was Kenji's offer most likely accepted?

  1. Kenji was the seller's friend.
  2. The bicycle had been for sale for a long time. Correct answer.
  3. The bicycle was in poor condition.
  4. The seller had raised the price.

Explanation

The passage stresses that the ad was six weeks old and still unsold, which suggests the seller was ready to accept less. A long time without buyers gives the seller a reason to lower the price.

Question 28Reading

Choose the word that best completes the sentence in this reading passage. Because the museum's most famous painting was being cleaned, the staff put a sign at the entrance to ___ visitors in advance.

  1. deny
  2. reject
  3. warn Correct answer.
  4. refuse

Explanation

"Warn" means to tell someone about something in advance so they are prepared, which fits a sign at the entrance. The other verbs suggest blocking or turning people away rather than informing them.

Question 29Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. Many people buy bottled water because they believe it is safer than tap water. However, in countries where tap water is strictly tested, bottled water is often held to similar or even weaker safety standards. It is also far more expensive and creates large amounts of plastic waste. What is the writer's main point?

  1. Bottled water is always dangerous to drink.
  2. People should stop drinking water entirely.
  3. Bottled water is not necessarily safer than tap water. Correct answer.
  4. Tap water is not tested in most countries.

Explanation

The passage challenges the belief that bottled water is safer by noting that tap water is strictly tested and bottled water may face weaker standards. The writer questions the safety advantage, not water drinking itself.

Question 30Reading

Choose the word that best completes the sentence in this reading passage. The instructions were written so clearly that even someone using the machine for the first time could follow them without ___.

  1. effort
  2. difficulty Correct answer.
  3. problem
  4. trouble

Explanation

The fixed phrase "without difficulty" means easily, which matches the idea that the instructions are very clear. The other nouns do not form the standard expression in this context.

Question 31Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. Notice to residents: The elevator in Building A will be repaired from May 10 to May 14. During this period, please use the stairs or the elevator in Building B. We apologize for the inconvenience. Residents who have trouble using stairs should contact the building office by May 8. What should a resident who cannot use stairs do?

  1. Use the elevator in Building A anyway.
  2. Contact the building office before May 8. Correct answer.
  3. Wait until May 14 to leave the building.
  4. Ask a neighbor to carry them upstairs.

Explanation

The notice directly tells residents who have trouble using stairs to contact the building office by May 8. This is the stated procedure for people who need help during the repair.

Question 32Reading

Choose the word that best completes the sentence in this reading passage. After the storm, the volunteers worked all morning to ___ the branches that had fallen across the road.

  1. avoid
  2. remove Correct answer.
  3. escape
  4. prevent

Explanation

"Remove" means to take something away, which fits clearing fallen branches from a road. The other verbs describe avoiding or stopping something rather than clearing it.

Question 33Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. Lisa checked the weather forecast before her picnic and saw a 70 percent chance of rain. She decided to move the picnic indoors. Her friends complained that the sun was shining that morning. By three o'clock, however, a heavy storm began. What does the passage suggest about Lisa's decision?

  1. It ruined the friendship with her friends.
  2. It was made after the storm started.
  3. It turned out to be a wise choice. Correct answer.
  4. It was based on luck rather than information.

Explanation

Lisa acted on the forecast, and the storm arrived as predicted, so her decision proved sensible. The passage sets up her friends' doubts and then confirms that she was right.

Question 34Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. Some companies allow employees to bring their dogs to work. Supporters say the animals reduce stress and help workers talk to each other. Critics point out that not everyone likes dogs, and that allergies and noise can cause problems. Most companies that permit dogs set clear rules, such as keeping them on a leash. Which statement would the critics most likely agree with?

  1. All employees should be allowed to bring pets.
  2. Dogs can disturb some coworkers. Correct answer.
  3. Rules about dogs are unnecessary.
  4. Dogs make every workplace friendlier.

Explanation

The critics mention allergies and noise, which shows they believe dogs can cause trouble for some workers. Their concern is with disturbance, not with the benefits supporters describe.

Question 35Reading

Choose the best option to complete the sentence in this reading passage. The report, ___ was published last week, shows that sales have doubled.

  1. what
  2. which Correct answer.
  3. who
  4. whose

Explanation

A non-defining relative clause about a thing uses "which" after a comma. "The report" is not a person, so "who" and "whose" do not fit, and "what" cannot follow a comma in this structure.

Question 36Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. When the town opened a new bicycle lane along the main street, shop owners worried that losing parking spaces would hurt business. A year later, however, a survey showed that sales at shops near the lane had risen slightly, because cyclists stopped more often than drivers did. What did the survey show?

  1. The bicycle lane was removed after a year.
  2. Business near the bicycle lane improved a little. Correct answer.
  3. Drivers spent more money than cyclists.
  4. Most shops had to close during the year.

Explanation

The survey found that sales at shops near the lane had risen slightly, meaning business improved a little. The passage contrasts this result with the owners' earlier fears.

Question 37Reading

Choose the word that best completes the sentence in this reading passage. Although the two brothers grew up in the same house, their personalities are completely ___.

  1. alike
  2. similar
  3. different Correct answer.
  4. identical

Explanation

The conjunction "although" signals a contrast: growing up together would suggest similarity, but their personalities are not. "Completely different" expresses that contrast, while "alike" and "similar" repeat the expectation rather than oppose it.

Question 38Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. A university decided to record its lectures and put them online. Attendance in classrooms fell at first, but exam scores did not drop. In fact, students who watched the recordings often replayed difficult sections several times, and their understanding of those topics improved. What can be concluded from the passage?

  1. Students stopped attending all classes permanently.
  2. Lectures should no longer be given in classrooms.
  3. Online recordings can support learning in some ways. Correct answer.
  4. Recording lectures harmed students' exam results.

Explanation

The passage shows that exam scores held steady and that replaying difficult parts improved understanding, so recordings can help learning. It does not claim that classrooms are unnecessary.

Question 39Reading

Choose the best option to complete the sentence in this reading passage. Had the firefighters arrived a few minutes later, the old wooden house ___.

  1. would burn down
  2. will burn down
  3. would have burned down Correct answer.
  4. burns down

Explanation

"Had the firefighters arrived" is an inverted third conditional, so the result clause needs "would have" plus a past participle. This structure describes an imaginary past result that did not happen.

Question 40Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. Dear Mr. Hayashi, Thank you for your order of 50 chairs. Unfortunately, a problem at our factory has delayed production. We can ship 30 chairs by Friday as planned, but the remaining 20 will arrive about two weeks later. If this schedule does not suit you, please let us know and we will discuss other options. What is the purpose of this email?

  1. To thank the customer for a recent payment
  2. To ask the customer to pay more money
  3. To explain a delay and offer choices Correct answer.
  4. To cancel the customer's order completely

Explanation

The writer reports a factory problem, explains the new shipping schedule, and invites the customer to discuss alternatives. That combination makes the email an explanation of a delay with options.

Question 41Reading

Choose the word that best completes the sentence in this reading passage. The scientist's theory was widely ___ at first, but later experiments proved that she had been right.

  1. ignored
  2. accepted
  3. praised
  4. doubted Correct answer.

Explanation

The word "but" signals a contrast with the later proof that she was right, so the first reaction must have been negative. "Doubted" means people questioned the theory, which fits the contrast.

Question 42Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. City officials want to reduce traffic in the center of town. One plan is to charge drivers a fee to enter the area during busy hours. Supporters say the money could pay for better buses. Opponents argue that the fee is unfair to people who cannot afford it and who have no other way to travel. What is the opponents' main concern?

  1. Buses in the city are already too crowded.
  2. The city does not need more money.
  3. Traffic in the center is not a real problem.
  4. The fee may treat poorer drivers unfairly. Correct answer.

Explanation

The opponents say the fee is unfair to people who cannot afford it and have no alternative transport. Their concern is about fairness toward poorer drivers, not about buses or city funds.

Question 43Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. When a small bakery began posting photos of its bread on social media, the owner expected only local customers to notice. Within a month, however, orders were arriving from other cities, and the bakery had to hire two more workers. The owner now says the photos changed the business more than any advertisement ever had. What surprised the bakery owner?

  1. Local customers stopped buying bread.
  2. Orders came from far away. Correct answer.
  3. The advertisement cost too much money.
  4. The bread recipe had to be changed.

Explanation

The owner expected only local customers, but orders arrived from other cities, which was the unexpected result. The phrase "however" marks this surprise in the passage.

Question 44Reading

Choose the best option to complete the sentence in this reading passage. The manager insisted that every report ___ before Friday.

  1. submitting
  2. is submitted
  3. be submitted Correct answer.
  4. will submit

Explanation

Verbs such as "insist" and "demand" take a that-clause with the base form of the verb, even in the passive: "insisted that every report be submitted." This is the subjunctive form in English.

Question 45Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. A recent experiment asked two groups to learn a list of words. One group studied in a quiet room; the other studied with soft background music. Both groups did equally well on a test taken immediately. However, when tested a week later, the quiet group remembered significantly more words. Which conclusion is best supported by the passage?

  1. Quiet conditions may help long-term memory. Correct answer.
  2. Background music makes learning impossible.
  3. Studying with music is better for short tests.
  4. The two groups performed very differently at first.

Explanation

The quiet group remembered more after a week, so quiet conditions appear to support long-term recall. The immediate test showed no difference, so the advantage appeared only over time.

Question 46Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. The town council proposed replacing an old library with a parking lot. At the public meeting, residents pointed out that the library was used by hundreds of children each week, while the parking lot would serve only a few dozen drivers. The council then voted to keep the library and build the parking lot on a smaller site nearby. What argument persuaded the council?

  1. The library building was too old to repair.
  2. Drivers did not want a new parking lot.
  3. The parking lot would cost too much to build.
  4. The library served more people than the lot would. Correct answer.

Explanation

Residents compared hundreds of children using the library with only a few dozen drivers, showing the library served more people. The council's decision to keep the library follows from that comparison.

Question 47Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. For years, researchers assumed that plants in dense forests competed mainly for sunlight. A new study suggests that competition for water in the soil may be just as important. When the researchers added water to one area of a forest, trees there grew faster than trees in nearby areas, even though all the trees received the same amount of light. Which finding most strongly supports the researchers' claim?

  1. The study lasted for several years.
  2. Trees grew faster where extra water was added. Correct answer.
  3. Trees in dense forests are usually tall.
  4. Trees in the forest all received equal light.

Explanation

The claim is that water competition matters as much as light, and the strongest evidence is that added water produced faster growth under equal light. This isolates water as the factor that changed growth.

Question 48Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. Critics of standardized testing argue that scores reflect family income more than learning, because wealthier students can afford tutoring. Defenders reply that tests measure skills that matter in further study and that without them, teachers' personal judgments might be influenced by favoritism. The debate continues, but both sides seem to agree that a single test score is a poor summary of a student. What do both sides accept?

  1. Tutoring has no effect on test scores.
  2. Standardized tests should be abolished.
  3. Teachers are usually fair to all students.
  4. One test score does not fully describe a student. Correct answer.

Explanation

The final sentence states that both sides seem to agree a single test score is a poor summary of a student. This is the one point the passage attributes to both critics and defenders.

Question 49Reading

Choose the best option to complete the sentence in this reading passage. Not until the results had been checked three times ___ them to the public.

  1. the team did release
  2. the team released
  3. did the team release Correct answer.
  4. released the team

Explanation

When a sentence opens with the negative adverbial "not until," the main clause takes inverted word order: auxiliary before subject. "Did the team release" is the correct inverted form.

Question 50Reading

Read the passage and choose the best answer. A company tested a four-day workweek. Productivity stayed the same, and employees reported less stress. However, the trial lasted only six months and involved just one department. The researchers warned that the results might not apply to factories, where work must follow machine schedules, or to companies with customers who expect service five days a week. What is the researchers' attitude toward the results?

  1. They believe the trial was too long.
  2. They are certain the system works everywhere.
  3. They are cautious about generalizing them. Correct answer.
  4. They think productivity always rises.

Explanation

The researchers point out the trial's short length, its single department, and the kinds of workplaces it may not fit, which shows caution about applying the results broadly. Their warning limits the conclusions rather than confirming them.