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Canary PAU English practice questions

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Question 1Reading comprehension of a written text in English

A short article begins: 'The council approved the new cycle lanes on Monday. Critics say the scheme was rushed.' What is the function of the second sentence in the passage?

  1. It restates the first sentence in different words.
  2. It introduces a contrasting viewpoint on the decision. Correct answer.
  3. It gives the main cause of the decision.
  4. It summarizes the whole article.

Explanation

The second sentence presents the reaction of critics, which sets up opposition to the approval reported first. Signalling words like 'critics say' mark an opposing perspective rather than repetition or cause.

Question 2Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Read: 'Sales rose sharply in spring, though by autumn the trend had reversed.' What does 'reversed' mean here?

  1. turned in the opposite direction Correct answer.
  2. continued at the same pace
  3. became impossible to measure
  4. stopped completely for a while

Explanation

'Reversed' means changed to the opposite direction, so the rising trend became a falling one. The contrast word 'though' signals this switch in direction.

Question 3Reading comprehension of a written text in English

A text says: 'The museum's free entry applies to students only on weekdays.' Which visitor would enter free?

  1. A teacher visiting on Saturday
  2. A student visiting on Sunday
  3. A retired person visiting on Monday
  4. A student visiting on Wednesday Correct answer.

Explanation

The condition has two parts: being a student and visiting on a weekday. Wednesday is a weekday, so a student qualifies; the other visitors fail at least one condition.

Question 4Reading comprehension of a written text in English

In a news report, the writer states: 'Sources close to the negotiations described the talks as fragile.' How does the writer present this claim?

  1. as an attributed opinion from unnamed people Correct answer.
  2. as a direct quotation from a named official
  3. as the writer's own firm conclusion
  4. as a proven statistical fact

Explanation

The phrase 'sources close to the negotiations' attributes the description to unnamed people rather than to the writer. This distances the writer from the claim and signals reported opinion.

Question 5Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Which sentence uses 'however' correctly as a linking adverb between two clauses?

  1. The plan was cheap, however unpopular.
  2. The plan was cheap however it was unpopular.
  3. However the plan was cheap, it was unpopular.
  4. The plan was cheap; however, it was unpopular. Correct answer.

Explanation

'However' as a linking adverb is followed by a comma and joins two independent clauses separated by a semicolon or full stop. Only the first option shows this standard pattern.

Question 6Reading comprehension of a written text in English

A paragraph opens: 'Not everyone welcomed the new library.' Which sentence best continues it coherently?

  1. The building has three floors and a café.
  2. Libraries have existed for centuries.
  3. The mayor cut the ribbon at noon.
  4. Local traders, for instance, feared the loss of parking spaces. Correct answer.

Explanation

The opening makes a general claim about opposition, so a specific example of that opposition continues it logically. The phrase 'for instance' explicitly links the example to the claim.

Question 7Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Read: 'The deadline is Friday; submissions after that date will not be considered.' What can a reader conclude?

  1. The deadline may be extended on request.
  2. Only submissions received by Friday will be reviewed. Correct answer.
  3. Late submissions may be accepted with a fee.
  4. Submissions must be sent by post.

Explanation

The text states plainly that anything after Friday will not be considered, so only on-time submissions are reviewed. No exceptions, fees or postal rules are mentioned.

Question 8Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Which word best signals that the writer is adding a further point supporting the same argument?

  1. Moreover Correct answer.
  2. Instead
  3. Conversely
  4. Nevertheless

Explanation

'Moreover' adds another supporting point in the same direction as the previous one. The other connectors signal contrast or substitution rather than addition.

Question 9Reading comprehension of a written text in English

A passage reads: 'Although the trial was small, the results were striking enough to attract investors.' What does the writer imply about the results?

  1. They were based on a very large sample.
  2. They were impressive despite limited evidence. Correct answer.
  3. They were expected and unremarkable.
  4. They were rejected because the trial was small.

Explanation

'Although' concedes a weakness (small trial) while 'striking enough' asserts a strong positive effect. The combination implies the results impressed people even though the evidence base was limited.

Question 10Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Read: 'The company trimmed its workforce by a tenth.' Which restatement is accurate?

  1. It closed one of its ten offices.
  2. It reduced staff numbers by ten per cent. Correct answer.
  3. It hired ten per cent more staff.
  4. It cut salaries by one tenth.

Explanation

'Trimmed its workforce by a tenth' means the number of employees fell by one tenth, that is ten per cent. The other options change what was reduced or the direction of the change.

Question 11Reading comprehension of a written text in English

In an opinion column, the writer asks: 'Is it any wonder that commuters are frustrated?' What is the effect of this rhetorical question?

  1. It signals that the writer is unsure.
  2. It introduces an opposing argument fairly.
  3. It invites the reader to agree with the writer's view. Correct answer.
  4. It seeks genuine statistical information.

Explanation

A rhetorical question expects agreement rather than an answer, drawing the reader toward the writer's position. Here it assumes commuter frustration is obvious and reasonable.

Question 12Reading comprehension of a written text in English

A text states: 'The scheme was piloted in three towns, where usage doubled within a year.' Which question does this sentence answer?

  1. Who designed the scheme?
  2. What evidence supports the scheme's effectiveness? Correct answer.
  3. How much did the scheme cost?
  4. Why were three towns chosen?

Explanation

The sentence reports trial locations and a measurable outcome (usage doubled), which is evidence of effectiveness. Cost, designers and selection criteria are not mentioned.

Question 13Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Read: 'The report stops short of recommending a ban.' What does this mean?

  1. The report was cut short before finishing.
  2. The report recommends a ban.
  3. The report does not go as far as recommending a ban. Correct answer.
  4. The report rejects all forms of regulation.

Explanation

The idiom 'stop short of' means to go almost as far as something but not actually do it. So the report discusses the issue but avoids calling for a ban.

Question 14Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Which sentence best expresses a cause-effect relationship between two facts in a report?

  1. The bridge closed after the festival ended.
  2. Because the bridge closed, traffic diverted through the village. Correct answer.
  3. The bridge closed, and the town held a festival.
  4. The bridge closed; the town is small.

Explanation

'Because' explicitly marks the closure as the cause and the diversion as the effect. The other sentences merely sequence or juxtapose events without a causal link.

Question 15Reading comprehension of a written text in English

A writer notes: 'Supporters point to lower emissions; opponents highlight the cost to households.' How is the writer positioning themselves?

  1. Clearly in favour of the policy
  2. Balanced, presenting both sides Correct answer.
  3. Clearly against the policy
  4. Dismissive of both sides

Explanation

The writer reports one argument from each side without evaluating either, using parallel structure. This creates a neutral, balanced presentation rather than a personal stance.

Question 16Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Read: 'Applicants must submit two references, at least one of which should be academic.' Which situation meets the requirement?

  1. Two academic references from the same tutor
  2. One academic and one professional reference Correct answer.
  3. Two professional references, both from employers
  4. One academic reference only

Explanation

The rule requires two references in total and a minimum of one academic reference. One academic plus one professional satisfies both parts of the condition.

Question 17Reading comprehension of a written text in English

A passage says: 'Far from solving the problem, the new software created additional delays.' What is the writer's attitude to the software?

  1. cautiously optimistic
  2. neutral and descriptive
  3. critical Correct answer.
  4. enthusiastic

Explanation

'Far from solving the problem' sets up a contrast that presents the software as a failure. The phrase 'created additional delays' confirms a negative, critical evaluation.

Question 18Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Which sentence uses a pronoun reference clearly, avoiding ambiguity in a report?

  1. The manager met the intern and she said she would lead it.
  2. When the manager met the intern, the manager confirmed that the intern would lead the meeting. Correct answer.
  3. The manager told the intern that she would lead the meeting, and she agreed.
  4. The manager and the intern discussed it and she agreed to lead.

Explanation

Repeating the nouns instead of relying on 'she' removes ambiguity about who will lead the meeting. Clear pronoun reference is essential when two people of the same gender appear in a sentence.

Question 19Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Read: 'The findings, while preliminary, challenge long-held assumptions about diet.' Which statement best captures the writer's meaning?

  1. The findings are too weak to be worth reporting.
  2. The findings support traditional assumptions about diet.
  3. The findings are final and confirm existing views.
  4. The findings are early but question established beliefs. Correct answer.

Explanation

'While preliminary' concedes that the work is early-stage, and 'challenge long-held assumptions' shows it questions established beliefs. Both elements must be kept in the paraphrase.

Question 20Reading comprehension of a written text in English

A text argues: 'If we accept that remote work raises productivity, we must also accept that offices should shrink.' What is the logical structure of this argument?

  1. A conditional claim used to draw a consequence Correct answer.
  2. An anecdote illustrating a general point
  3. A definition followed by an example
  4. A statistical correlation supported by data

Explanation

The 'if... then' pattern sets up a premise and derives a consequence from it. This is conditional reasoning, not statistical evidence, anecdote or definition.

Question 21Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Read: 'The charity's appeal raised barely enough to cover its running costs.' What does 'barely enough' suggest?

  1. It raised only just enough. Correct answer.
  2. It raised enough to expand its work.
  3. It raised far more than needed.
  4. It raised nothing at all.

Explanation

'Barely enough' means only just sufficient, with no margin. It implies the funds covered costs but left nothing extra for expansion.

Question 22Reading comprehension of a written text in English

A reviewer writes: 'The novel's plot is thin, yet the prose is so precise that the book remains compelling.' How does the reviewer balance the judgement?

  1. By avoiding any evaluation of style
  2. By praising the plot and criticising the prose
  3. By rejecting the novel entirely
  4. By conceding a weakness while asserting a strength Correct answer.

Explanation

'Yet' sets a criticism of the plot against praise for the prose, producing a mixed but ultimately positive verdict. The reviewer weighs a flaw against a compensating strength.

Question 23Reading comprehension of a written text in English

In a passage, the writer repeats the phrase 'year after year' three times when describing inaction on housing. What is the likely rhetorical purpose?

  1. To show that the writer lacks information
  2. To introduce a new topic for the next paragraph
  3. To emphasise how long the problem has persisted Correct answer.
  4. To indicate that the situation has improved

Explanation

Repetition is a rhetorical device that stresses duration and persistence. Repeating 'year after year' underlines that the inaction has gone on for a long time.

Question 24Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Read: 'It would be naïve to suppose that regulation alone can prevent every accident.' What is the writer doing with this sentence?

  1. Qualifying a position by rejecting an extreme view Correct answer.
  2. Recommending the removal of all regulation
  3. Providing proof that accidents are unavoidable
  4. Claiming that regulation never prevents accidents

Explanation

By calling the extreme view 'naïve', the writer distances themselves from the idea that regulation alone is sufficient, while not rejecting regulation outright. This is a qualification of a nuanced position.

Question 25Reading comprehension of a written text in English

A report states: 'The decline in footfall was attributed to the closure of the nearby station.' Which element of the sentence is presented as the explanation?

  1. The decline in footfall
  2. The nearby area
  3. The closure of the nearby station Correct answer.
  4. The report itself

Explanation

The passive construction 'was attributed to' assigns the cause to the station closure. The decline is the effect being explained, not the explanation itself.

Question 26Reading comprehension of a written text in English

A passage reads: 'The council approved the plan in March. By June, however, work on the site had still not begun.' Which statement best describes the relationship between the two sentences?

  1. The second sentence lists a condition that must be met before the first can occur.
  2. The second sentence gives a reason for the decision in the first.
  3. The second sentence contrasts an expected outcome with what actually happened. Correct answer.
  4. The second sentence restates the first in different words.

Explanation

The connector 'however' marks a contrast, and the delay in June is set against the approval in March, which readers would expect to lead to prompt action. Recognising contrast signals is central to tracking how a passage develops.

Question 27Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Read: 'The museum's new wing was funded entirely by private donations.' Which question is answered directly by this sentence?

  1. How long did construction of the wing take?
  2. Where did the money for the wing come from? Correct answer.
  3. Why did the museum decide to build a wing?
  4. Who chose the architect for the wing?

Explanation

The sentence states the source of funding ('private donations'), so it answers a question about where the money came from. The other questions concern details the sentence never mentions.

Question 28Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Read: 'Only a handful of residents attended the consultation, so the feedback gathered was limited.' Which word in the sentence carries the main logical link between the two clauses?

  1. Only
  2. feedback
  3. so Correct answer.
  4. limited

Explanation

'So' is a conjunction signalling a result: low attendance produced limited feedback. Identifying the connector helps a reader see how the writer links cause and consequence.

Question 29Reading comprehension of a written text in English

A passage states: 'The bridge will remain closed for repairs until further notice.' What does this tell a reader about the reopening date?

  1. It will happen at the end of the month.
  2. It depends on how long the repairs take.
  3. It has been fixed for a specific future date.
  4. No reopening date has been announced. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Until further notice' means no date has been set and the closure continues indefinitely. The phrase deliberately withholds a fixed endpoint, so readers should not infer one.

Question 30Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Read: 'The survey found that most respondents preferred the shorter form, although older participants were less enthusiastic.' Which group's view is presented as an exception?

  1. Respondents who preferred the shorter form
  2. Older participants Correct answer.
  3. All respondents without exception
  4. The people who designed the survey

Explanation

'Although' introduces a qualification to the main finding, and the older participants are the group whose lesser enthusiasm qualifies the majority preference. The main clause states the general pattern; the subordinate clause marks the exception.

Question 31Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Read: 'The firm has pledged to cut emissions by half before 2035.' Which restatement keeps the original meaning?

  1. The firm has already reduced emissions by half since 2035.
  2. The firm may consider reducing emissions at some point after 2035.
  3. The firm has promised to reduce emissions by fifty per cent by 2035. Correct answer.
  4. The firm will cut emissions by half every year until 2035.

Explanation

'Pledged' means promised, 'cut by half' means reduce by fifty per cent, and 'before 2035' sets the deadline. A faithful restatement preserves the commitment, the size of the cut and the time frame.

Question 32Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Read: 'The festival was cancelled; the organisers blamed the weather.' Who or what is presented as responsible for the cancellation?

  1. Ticket holders
  2. Local authorities
  3. The weather Correct answer.
  4. The festival organisers themselves

Explanation

The clause after the semicolon states that the organisers blamed the weather, which identifies the weather as the attributed cause. A reader must separate who is blamed from who does the blaming.

Question 33Reading comprehension of a written text in English

A paragraph in a report begins: 'Three factors explain the sudden rise in demand.' Which sentence would most naturally follow?

  1. Demand had been falling for several years.
  2. The report was published last autumn.
  3. Readers may disagree with the conclusion.
  4. First, household incomes recovered faster than forecast. Correct answer.

Explanation

A sentence announcing 'three factors' sets up an enumerated list, so a sentence beginning 'First' is the natural continuation. Coherent paragraphs follow the structure their opening sentence promises.

Question 34Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Read: 'The committee's recommendation was unanimous, but it was not binding.' What does the second clause tell a reader about the recommendation?

  1. It has no legal force behind it. Correct answer.
  2. It must be implemented without delay.
  3. It was supported by only a few members.
  4. It was rejected by the committee.

Explanation

'Not binding' means the recommendation carries no obligation or legal force; it is advice rather than a requirement. The contrast with 'unanimous' shows that wide support does not make it compulsory.

Question 35Reading comprehension of a written text in English

A writer states: 'The data are suggestive rather than conclusive.' Which conclusion should a careful reader draw?

  1. The data point towards a pattern but do not settle the question. Correct answer.
  2. The data have not yet been collected.
  3. The data prove the hypothesis beyond doubt.
  4. The data are unreliable and should be discarded.

Explanation

'Suggestive rather than conclusive' means the evidence hints at a pattern without proving it. The contrast structure signals that the writer is deliberately limiting the strength of the claim.

Question 36Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Read: 'Critics argue that the tax will deter investment. The government, for its part, insists the opposite.' What does 'the opposite' refer to?

  1. That investment has already fallen
  2. That the tax will encourage investment Correct answer.
  3. That the tax should be abolished
  4. That critics are right about the tax

Explanation

'The opposite' refers back to the critics' claim that the tax will deter investment, so the government's position is that it will encourage investment. Reference words of this kind must be resolved against the preceding sentence.

Question 37Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Read: 'The scheme, which was launched with great fanfare, has quietly been wound down.' What does the contrast between 'great fanfare' and 'quietly' suggest?

  1. The public opposed the scheme from the beginning.
  2. The scheme was more successful than expected.
  3. The scheme's end was deliberately understated after a publicised start. Correct answer.
  4. The scheme was never actually launched.

Explanation

The writer pairs a loud, publicised launch with a quiet, low-key closure, implying the ending was deliberately played down. Attending to contrasting word choices is how readers detect an implied attitude.

Question 38Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Read: 'Not until the final chapter does the author address the question posed in her introduction.' What does this imply about the book's structure?

  1. The question is never answered.
  2. The final chapter introduces a new question.
  3. The introduction is longer than the final chapter.
  4. The question is answered at the very end. Correct answer.

Explanation

The inverted construction 'Not until ... does' places the answer at the end, meaning the question is addressed only in the final chapter. Fronted negatives of this type emphasise timing.

Question 39Reading comprehension of a written text in English

A reviewer writes: 'The exhibition is worth visiting for the photographs alone, though the captions are disappointing.' What is the reviewer's overall position?

  1. The captions are the best part of the exhibition.
  2. The photographs are disappointing.
  3. The exhibition is worth visiting despite a weakness. Correct answer.
  4. The exhibition should be avoided.

Explanation

The main clause recommends a visit, and the concessive 'though' clause adds a minor criticism. In this structure the main clause carries the overall verdict while the subordinate clause qualifies it.

Question 40Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Read: 'Had the funding been secured earlier, the project would have finished on time.' What does the sentence indicate about the funding?

  1. It was never needed for the project.
  2. It was not secured early enough. Correct answer.
  3. It was secured earlier than planned.
  4. It will be secured in the future.

Explanation

This is a past unreal conditional: it describes a situation that did not happen. The project did not finish on time because the funding was not secured early enough.

Question 41Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Read: 'The results were replicated in four independent laboratories.' Why does the writer mention that the laboratories were independent?

  1. To strengthen the claim that the results are reliable Correct answer.
  2. To criticise the original study
  3. To show that the experiment was inexpensive
  4. To suggest the laboratories shared equipment

Explanation

Independent replication reduces the chance that a single lab's error or bias produced the result, so the detail supports reliability. Readers should ask why a specific detail was included.

Question 42Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Read: 'The novelist spent a decade on the manuscript, only to see it rejected by every publisher she approached.' What is the effect of 'only to'?

  1. It introduces an outcome that frustrates the effort described. Correct answer.
  2. It explains why the manuscript took so long.
  3. It shows the decade of work was unnecessary.
  4. It confirms that the novel was eventually published.

Explanation

'Only to' introduces a disappointing result that undercuts the effort just described, producing a sense of wasted labour. Recognising this construction helps readers grasp the emotional colour of a sentence.

Question 43Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Read: 'The minister's statement did little to calm the protesters.' Which paraphrase best preserves the meaning?

  1. The minister said little to the protesters.
  2. The protesters did little to calm the minister.
  3. The minister's statement calmed the protesters completely.
  4. The minister's statement had almost no calming effect on the protesters. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Did little to calm' means it had almost no calming effect, a litotes-style understatement. The paraphrase must keep the subject (the statement) and the weak effect on the protesters.

Question 44Reading comprehension of a written text in English

A report notes: 'Sales rose in every region except the north, where they fell sharply.' Which statement is accurate?

  1. Sales rose everywhere and also rose in the north.
  2. Sales fell in every region.
  3. Sales were unchanged in the north.
  4. Sales rose in most regions but fell in the north. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Every region except the north' means the rise applied everywhere else, while 'fell sharply' describes the northern exception. Accurate reading requires holding both the general pattern and the exception.

Question 45Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Read: 'The proposal is attractive in principle; in practice, it would require resources no department currently has.' How does the writer structure the argument?

  1. By conceding a merit before setting out a practical objection Correct answer.
  2. By quoting supporters of the proposal
  3. By rejecting the proposal's aims entirely
  4. By listing several unrelated advantages

Explanation

The semicolon balances a concession ('attractive in principle') against a practical objection about resources. This concede-then-qualify pattern is common in evaluative writing and signals a balanced but ultimately sceptical view.

Question 46Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Read: 'The claim that the new policy reduced waiting times rests on a comparison with a single hospital.' What is the writer's criticism?

  1. The hospital in question is unusually large.
  2. The evidence base is too narrow to support the claim. Correct answer.
  3. The policy was introduced too recently to assess.
  4. Waiting times were not actually measured.

Explanation

Basing a general claim on one hospital is a problem of sample size and representativeness, so the writer is questioning the sufficiency of the evidence. The phrase 'rests on' identifies the foundation being challenged.

Question 47Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Read: 'It is true that costs have risen; it does not follow that the service should be withdrawn.' What role does the first clause play?

  1. It provides evidence for withdrawing the service.
  2. It contradicts the second clause entirely.
  3. It concedes a point in order to deny a supposed consequence. Correct answer.
  4. It states the writer's main conclusion.

Explanation

'It is true that ...; it does not follow that ...' is a concession-plus-rebuttal structure: the writer grants a fact but rejects the inference drawn from it. Spotting this pattern prevents misreading the writer's position.

Question 48Reading comprehension of a written text in English

An article states: 'Support for the reform has not been weakened by the recent scandal; if anything, it has grown.' What does 'if anything' signal here?

  1. The writer doubts that the scandal occurred.
  2. The writer is refusing to take a position.
  3. The writer is correcting an assumption in the opposite direction. Correct answer.
  4. The writer is summarising the scandal's causes.

Explanation

'If anything' introduces a correction to what might be assumed, here strengthening rather than weakening the preceding point. It signals that reality runs contrary to expectation, not that the writer is uncertain.

Question 49Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Read: 'The author's tone is elegiac, lingering on what the town has lost.' Which feature of the text does this description point to?

  1. A humorous treatment of the town's history
  2. An angry attack on the town's residents
  3. A mournful focus on loss and the past Correct answer.
  4. A neutral statistical account of the town

Explanation

'Elegiac' describes a mournful, commemorative tone, and 'lingering on what the town has lost' confirms a focus on loss and the past. Defining tone terms precisely is essential for this kind of question.

Question 50Reading comprehension of a written text in English

Read: 'The evidence, such as it is, comes entirely from the company's own reports.' What does 'such as it is' imply about the evidence?

  1. It is plentiful and reliable.
  2. It has not yet been made public.
  3. It comes from several independent sources.
  4. It is of poor quality or limited value. Correct answer.

Explanation

The parenthetical 'such as it is' is a dismissive comment implying the evidence barely deserves the name. Combined with the note that it comes from the company itself, the writer signals scepticism about its reliability.