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Basque PAU English study materials
Basque PAU English study resources

Basque PAU English practice questions

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Question 1Reading comprehension

Read this sentence: 'Although the museum had advertised the exhibition for months, few visitors attended the opening.' What does the sentence suggest about the exhibition?

  1. It attracted fewer people than expected. Correct answer.
  2. It was visited mainly by the museum staff.
  3. It was cancelled before it opened.
  4. It was advertised only after it opened.

Explanation

The contrast marker 'although' sets up an opposition: heavy advertising is set against 'few visitors', so the outcome fell short of expectations. The phrase 'few visitors attended' directly signals low attendance rather than cancellation or staff-only access.

Question 2Reading comprehension

In the sentence 'The council's decision was met with widespread criticism', the word 'widespread' most nearly means:

  1. expressed in writing only
  2. limited to experts
  3. found among many people Correct answer.
  4. quickly forgotten

Explanation

'Widespread' is formed from 'wide' plus 'spread', meaning extended over a large area or among many people. In this context it describes criticism shared by a large number of people. The other options add restrictions (written, expert-only, forgotten) that the word itself does not carry.

Question 3Reading comprehension

A text states: 'The new rail link will cut journey times between the two cities by half, but ticket prices are expected to rise.' Which statement is supported by the text?

  1. Ticket prices will stay the same as before.
  2. Journey times will double after the link opens.
  3. Travelling will be faster but probably more expensive. Correct answer.
  4. Travelling will be cheaper but no faster.

Explanation

The sentence presents two linked facts: journey times are halved (faster travel) and ticket prices are 'expected to rise' (more expensive). An accurate reading combines both, without adding claims the text does not make.

Question 4Reading comprehension

Which word best completes the gap? 'She was so ______ in her research that she often forgot to eat lunch.'

  1. absorbed Correct answer.
  2. absorbing
  3. absorb
  4. absorption

Explanation

The structure 'so + adjective + in + noun' requires a participial adjective describing the person's state. 'Absorbed in' is the standard collocation meaning deeply engaged. The other forms are a present participle, a base verb and a noun, none of which fits the adjective slot after 'so'.

Question 5Reading comprehension

Read: 'The report notes that remote work reduced commuting costs for employees. However, it also warns that isolation and blurred work-life boundaries became common complaints.' What is the report's overall position?

  1. Remote work brought benefits but also real drawbacks. Correct answer.
  2. Commuting costs were the only issue examined.
  3. Remote work should be banned for all employees.
  4. Remote work was beneficial in every respect.

Explanation

The signal word 'However' introduces a contrast after the stated benefit, showing a balanced assessment. The report acknowledges savings while warning about isolation and boundary problems, so it presents advantages and disadvantages together.

Question 6Reading comprehension

In the sentence 'The scientists' findings challenged long-held assumptions', the apostrophe in 'scientists'' indicates that:

  1. the word is a contraction of 'scientist is'
  2. there is only one scientist
  3. the findings are being quoted directly
  4. the findings belong to more than one scientist Correct answer.

Explanation

A plural noun ending in -s forms the possessive by adding only an apostrophe after the s. Therefore 'scientists'' shows that the findings belong to several scientists. A singular owner would be written 'scientist's'.

Question 7Reading comprehension

A passage says: 'Unlike her brother, who avoided crowds, Marta thrived in busy marketplaces.' What contrast is being drawn?

  1. Marta enjoyed crowded places while her brother did not. Correct answer.
  2. Marta avoided crowds and her brother sought them out.
  3. Both Marta and her brother disliked crowds.
  4. Neither sibling had ever visited a marketplace.

Explanation

The structure 'Unlike X, who..., Y...' sets up a direct contrast between the two people. Since the brother avoided crowds and Marta 'thrived' in busy marketplaces, she enjoyed what he disliked.

Question 8Reading comprehension

Which option correctly reports the direct speech? Direct speech: 'I will send the documents tomorrow,' the manager said.

  1. The manager said she will send the documents tomorrow.
  2. The manager said she would send the documents the following day. Correct answer.
  3. The manager said she would sent the documents the next day.
  4. The manager said she sends the documents tomorrow.

Explanation

In reported speech after a past reporting verb, 'will' becomes 'would' and 'tomorrow' shifts to 'the following day'. The resulting sentence keeps correct verb forms and consistent time reference.

Question 9Reading comprehension

Read: 'Critics praised the novel's ambition, though some felt its plot wandered.' What do the critics think about the plot?

  1. It was the strongest part of the book.
  2. It was entirely absent from the novel.
  3. It was ambitious but somewhat unfocused. Correct answer.
  4. It was tightly organised and clear.

Explanation

'Wandered' applied to a plot suggests a lack of focus or direction, while 'ambition' is the praised quality. The concessive 'though' shows the plot comment is a reservation within otherwise positive praise.

Question 10Reading comprehension

Which sentence uses the connector correctly to express a result?

  1. The flight was delayed; in contrast, we missed our connection.
  2. The flight was delayed; for instance, we missed our connection.
  3. The flight was delayed; nevertheless, we missed our connection.
  4. The flight was delayed; consequently, we missed our connection. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Consequently' marks a result or consequence, which fits a delay leading to a missed connection. The other connectors signal concession, exemplification or contrast, none of which expresses cause and effect.

Question 11Reading comprehension

A text says: 'Far from solving the housing problem, the new policy may have made it worse.' What does 'far from solving' imply?

  1. The policy did not solve the problem at all. Correct answer.
  2. The policy solved the problem completely.
  3. The problem no longer exists.
  4. The policy was never intended to address housing.

Explanation

The phrase 'far from + -ing' means 'not at all' and often introduces a stronger opposite claim. Here it stresses that the policy not only failed to solve the problem but may have worsened it.

Question 12Reading comprehension

Which sentence best paraphrases: 'Researchers attribute the decline in bee numbers to pesticide use'?

  1. Researchers believe pesticides are the cause of fewer bees. Correct answer.
  2. Researchers doubt that pesticides affect bee numbers.
  3. Researchers believe fewer bees have led farmers to use pesticides.
  4. Researchers claim bee numbers have risen because of pesticides.

Explanation

'Attribute X to Y' means to identify Y as the cause of X. Here the decline in bee numbers (X) is attributed to pesticide use (Y), so pesticides are presented as the cause of the decline.

Question 13Reading comprehension

Read: 'The scheme was applauded in principle, but its funding remained uncertain.' What is the writer's point about the scheme?

  1. Its principles were criticised while funding was praised.
  2. It was rejected outright by everyone involved.
  3. Its aims were welcomed, but paying for it was unresolved. Correct answer.
  4. It was fully funded from the start.

Explanation

'Applauded in principle' indicates approval of the idea or aims, while 'funding remained uncertain' shows the practical financing was not settled. The 'but' sets these two aspects against each other.

Question 14Reading comprehension

Which option correctly completes the sentence? 'If the committee ______ the proposal, the project would have started last year.'

  1. had approved Correct answer.
  2. would approve
  3. approved
  4. has approved

Explanation

This is a third conditional sentence describing an unreal past situation, so the if-clause takes the past perfect ('had approved') and the main clause uses 'would have + past participle'. The time marker 'last year' confirms the past reference.

Question 15Reading comprehension

A writer states: 'It would be naive to assume that technology alone can close the achievement gap.' What is the writer doing?

  1. Proving that technology has no role in education
  2. Questioning a simplistic belief about technology in education Correct answer.
  3. Describing a personal experience of school
  4. Reporting a widely accepted scientific finding

Explanation

Calling an assumption 'naive' signals that the writer rejects it as too simple. The sentence therefore challenges the belief that technology by itself can solve the achievement gap, without denying technology any role.

Question 16Reading comprehension

In the sentence 'The proposal, which had been debated for weeks, was finally approved', what does the relative clause tell us?

  1. The proposal was approved without any discussion.
  2. The proposal was approved before the debate began.
  3. The proposal was rejected after a long debate.
  4. The proposal was discussed for a long time before approval. Correct answer.

Explanation

The non-defining relative clause 'which had been debated for weeks' adds extra information about the proposal. The past perfect 'had been debated' places the discussion before the final approval.

Question 17Reading comprehension

Read: 'Sales rose sharply in the first quarter. The second quarter told a different story.' What does the second sentence mean?

  1. The trend in the second quarter was different from the first. Correct answer.
  2. The first quarter's figures were never released.
  3. Sales rose even more sharply in the second quarter.
  4. The company stopped recording sales in the second quarter.

Explanation

'Told a different story' is an idiom meaning the situation changed or contrasted with what was just described. Since the first quarter saw a sharp rise, the second quarter must have shown a different, likely weaker, pattern.

Question 18Reading comprehension

Which sentence uses the passive voice most appropriately for a formal report on an experiment?

  1. Heat the samples to 80°C for two hours.
  2. The samples were heated to 80°C for two hours. Correct answer.
  3. We heated the samples to 80°C for two hours.
  4. Somebody heated the samples up for two hours.

Explanation

In scientific reporting, the passive is preferred when the procedure matters more than who performed it, giving an impersonal and formal tone. 'Were heated' also uses precise, neutral vocabulary suited to a report.

Question 19Reading comprehension

A text argues: 'Public libraries are not merely places to borrow books; they are community hubs offering internet access, advice and warmth.' Which claim does the writer make?

  1. Libraries are no longer needed in modern communities.
  2. Libraries should stop lending books entirely.
  3. Libraries are mainly used for internet access alone.
  4. Libraries serve social functions beyond lending books. Correct answer.

Explanation

The 'not merely... they are...' construction expands the definition of libraries rather than rejecting lending. The listed services show they function as community hubs with social roles beyond books.

Question 20Reading comprehension

Read: 'The committee's report was thorough; it nevertheless overlooked several key witnesses.' Which word could replace 'nevertheless' without changing the meaning?

  1. for example
  2. nonetheless Correct answer.
  3. similarly
  4. therefore

Explanation

'Nevertheless' and 'nonetheless' are near-synonyms meaning 'in spite of that', used to introduce a contrasting point. Here the contrast is between a thorough report and its significant omission.

Question 21Reading comprehension

A passage states: 'While the study's sample was small, its findings have been replicated in three larger trials.' What is the writer's attitude towards the study?

  1. Cautiously supportive, because the weakness is offset by later evidence Correct answer.
  2. Dismissive, because a small sample invalidates the research
  3. Neutral, because replication is irrelevant to validity
  4. Confused, because the two facts cannot be reconciled

Explanation

The concessive 'while' admits a limitation (small sample), and the main clause supplies counterbalancing evidence (replication in larger trials). This combination supports the findings while acknowledging the weakness, which is a cautiously positive stance.

Question 22Reading comprehension

In the sentence 'Had the warnings been heeded, the accident might have been avoided', what does the construction express?

  1. A past fact that actually prevented the accident
  2. An unreal past condition with a hypothetical result Correct answer.
  3. A present obligation to heed warnings
  4. A real future possibility that is likely to happen

Explanation

Inverted 'Had + subject + past participle' replaces 'If... had...' in a third conditional. It describes an unreal past condition and a hypothetical consequence that did not in fact occur.

Question 23Reading comprehension

A writer says: 'The evidence for the claim is, at best, circumstantial.' What does the writer imply?

  1. The evidence is weak and does not directly prove the claim. Correct answer.
  2. The evidence is conclusive and proves the claim.
  3. The evidence has not yet been collected.
  4. The evidence comes from a single reliable witness.

Explanation

'At best' sets an upper limit on quality, and 'circumstantial' evidence indicates indirect evidence that does not establish a fact directly. Together they imply the support for the claim is weak.

Question 24Reading comprehension

Read: 'The novelist resists tidy resolutions; her endings tend to leave readers unsettled rather than satisfied.' Which interpretation is most accurate?

  1. Her endings deliberately avoid closure and provoke discomfort. Correct answer.
  2. Her endings are criticised as poorly written by readers.
  3. Her endings are designed mainly to please her audience.
  4. Her endings provide clear answers to the story's questions.

Explanation

'Resists tidy resolutions' and 'unsettled rather than satisfied' together show a deliberate choice to avoid neat closure and to leave readers uncomfortable. The semicolon links the general claim to its illustration in her endings.

Question 25Reading comprehension

In the sentence 'Not until the final chapter does the author reveal the narrator's true identity', why is 'does' placed before the subject?

  1. 'Does' is used for emphasis in a declarative with no fronted negative.
  2. The verb 'reveal' requires an auxiliary in all English sentences.
  3. The sentence is a question about the final chapter.
  4. Negative adverbial 'Not until...' at the start triggers subject-auxiliary inversion. Correct answer.

Explanation

When a negative or restrictive adverbial such as 'not until...' is fronted for emphasis, the subject and auxiliary invert, giving 'does the author reveal'. This is a stylistic device, not a question form.

Question 26Reading comprehension

A passage begins: 'The town council approved the new bicycle lanes last month. Residents had petitioned for them for over a year.' What does the second sentence mainly do in relation to the first?

  1. It contradicts the decision reported in the first sentence.
  2. It describes the residents' objections to the bicycle lanes.
  3. It shifts the topic to the council's budget for road repairs.
  4. It explains the background that led to the decision. Correct answer.

Explanation

The second sentence supplies the earlier context (a year of petitions) that explains why the council acted. Reading it as background is the only interpretation consistent with both sentences.

Question 27Reading comprehension

Read: 'The bakery opens at seven, but the queues usually start forming by half past six.' What can we infer about the bakery?

  1. It has recently changed its opening hours.
  2. It is very popular with local customers. Correct answer.
  3. It sells out of bread before seven o'clock.
  4. It opens later than most shops in the area.

Explanation

Queues forming before opening time indicate strong demand, which supports the inference that the bakery is popular. The other statements add information the text does not provide.

Question 28Reading comprehension

In the sentence 'The volunteers cleaned the beach, collected the rubbish and loaded it into a van', what is the function of the three underlined verb phrases?

  1. They form a list of actions performed by the same subject. Correct answer.
  2. They form a subordinate clause giving a reason.
  3. They describe actions performed by three different people.
  4. They express conditions that may or may not happen.

Explanation

The three past-tense verbs share the single subject 'the volunteers' and are joined by 'and' to list sequential actions. This coordinated structure is how English lists parallel actions.

Question 29Reading comprehension

Read: 'The museum's new wing is impressive, although the entrance fee has doubled since last year.' What is the writer's attitude towards the museum's changes?

  1. Entirely positive about every aspect of the changes.
  2. Mixed, acknowledging quality but questioning the cost. Correct answer.
  3. Indifferent, showing no opinion either way.
  4. Entirely negative, dismissing the new wing.

Explanation

The writer praises the new wing as impressive but signals a reservation with 'although' and the doubled fee. This balance of praise and concern shows a mixed attitude.

Question 30Reading comprehension

Which option correctly completes the text? 'The festival was cancelled ______ the heavy rain that flooded the main square.'

  1. in spite of
  2. although
  3. despite
  4. because of Correct answer.

Explanation

'Because of' introduces a cause and is followed by a noun phrase ('the heavy rain'), which fits the meaning of a cancellation caused by flooding. The other connectors either express contrast or require a clause.

Question 31Reading comprehension

A passage says: 'The new smartphone is lighter than its predecessor, yet it holds a charge for twice as long.' What relationship between the two features does 'yet' express?

  1. A surprising contrast between lightness and battery life. Correct answer.
  2. A simple addition of two unrelated features.
  3. A sequence in which lightness happens first.
  4. A cause-and-effect link between weight and battery life.

Explanation

'Yet' signals contrast, and here the contrast is surprising because lighter devices often have shorter battery life. It does not mark cause, addition or time sequence.

Question 32Reading comprehension

Read: 'The instructions were so confusing that several participants abandoned the task altogether.' What caused the participants to give up?

  1. The instructions were written in a foreign language.
  2. The participants disagreed with the task's purpose.
  3. The instructions were extremely difficult to follow. Correct answer.
  4. The task required too much time to complete.

Explanation

The 'so ... that' construction links the confusing instructions directly to the abandonment of the task. The cause stated is the difficulty of following the instructions.

Question 33Reading comprehension

Which option correctly completes the sentence? 'By the time the guests arrived, the chef ______ the entire meal.'

  1. prepares
  2. will prepare
  3. had prepared Correct answer.
  4. has prepared

Explanation

The past perfect 'had prepared' expresses an action completed before another past event ('the guests arrived'). The time phrase 'by the time' signals this earlier completion.

Question 34Reading comprehension

Read: 'The council installed speed cameras along the main road. Accidents at the junction have fallen by a third since then.' What does the second sentence suggest about the cameras?

  1. They may have contributed to the reduction in accidents. Correct answer.
  2. They were removed shortly after being installed.
  3. They caused more accidents at the junction.
  4. They had no effect on the number of accidents.

Explanation

The phrase 'since then' connects the fall in accidents to the installation of the cameras, suggesting a possible causal link. The cautious 'may have' reflects that the text does not prove causation.

Question 35Reading comprehension

A text says: 'The report's recommendations were ambitious, if somewhat impractical.' What does the writer mean?

  1. The recommendations are bold but not very realistic. Correct answer.
  2. The writer fully supports every recommendation.
  3. The recommendations are dull and easy to implement.
  4. The recommendations are ambitious because they are impractical.

Explanation

The construction 'ambitious, if somewhat impractical' concedes a limitation while maintaining the main positive judgement. It means the ideas are bold but not entirely realistic.

Question 36Reading comprehension

Read: 'The scheme was piloted in three schools before being rolled out nationally.' What does 'rolled out' mean in this context?

  1. Reduced in scope and funding.
  2. Introduced on a wider scale. Correct answer.
  3. Cancelled after the pilot.
  4. Evaluated by an independent team.

Explanation

'Roll out' is a phrasal verb meaning to launch or extend something to a wider area or audience. Here it contrasts with the limited pilot in three schools.

Question 37Reading comprehension

Which option best paraphrases: 'The author contends that social media has eroded face-to-face communication'?

  1. The author denies that social media affects how people communicate.
  2. The author proves that face-to-face communication improves social media.
  3. The author argues that social media has weakened direct personal interaction. Correct answer.
  4. The author asks whether social media should be banned.

Explanation

'Contends' means argues or claims, and 'eroded' means gradually weakened, so the paraphrase keeps both the claim and its content. The other options change the meaning or the speech act.

Question 38Reading comprehension

Read: 'The film's dialogue sparkles, and the performances are uniformly strong; the plot, however, borrows heavily from earlier thrillers.' Which statement best summarises the review?

  1. Poorly acted despite an excellent plot.
  2. A dull film with no redeeming features.
  3. Technically accomplished but weak in originality. Correct answer.
  4. Original and inventive in every respect.

Explanation

The review praises dialogue and acting but criticises the plot's lack of originality, so the overall summary is accomplished yet derivative. This captures both the praise and the reservation.

Question 39Reading comprehension

In the sentence 'The results, published in a leading journal, surprised the research team', what does the participial phrase 'published in a leading journal' do?

  1. It states the cause of the surprise.
  2. It forms the main verb of the sentence.
  3. It identifies who published the results.
  4. It gives additional information about the results. Correct answer.

Explanation

The phrase is a reduced relative clause modifying 'the results', supplying extra detail about where they appeared. It is non-finite and cannot carry the main verb.

Question 40Reading comprehension

Read: 'The company reported record profits. It also announced the closure of two factories.' Which connector would best link these two sentences while highlighting the contrast?

  1. Moreover,
  2. Therefore,
  3. For example,
  4. However, Correct answer.

Explanation

The two facts pull in opposite directions (record profits versus factory closures), which calls for a contrastive connector such as 'However'. The other connectors express result, addition or illustration.

Question 41Reading comprehension

A text states: 'Critics who dismiss the theory as outdated often overlook the recent evidence supporting it.' What is the writer doing?

  1. Agreeing that the theory is outdated.
  2. Presenting the critics' view as the writer's own.
  3. Challenging the critics for ignoring new evidence. Correct answer.
  4. Describing the theory without evaluating it.

Explanation

The verb 'overlook' and the mention of recent evidence signal that the writer is criticising the critics for missing support. The writer defends the theory rather than endorsing the dismissal.

Question 42Reading comprehension

Which option correctly reports the question? Direct question: 'Where did you find the missing file?'

  1. She asked me where I had found the missing file. Correct answer.
  2. She asked me where I found the missing file?
  3. She asked me where did I find the missing file.
  4. She asked me where had I found the missing file.

Explanation

In reported questions the word order becomes statement order (subject before verb) and the tense shifts back to the past perfect. The question mark is dropped.

Question 43Reading comprehension

Read: 'Although the bridge was built to last a century, engineers now recommend replacing it after only sixty years.' What does the sentence imply about the bridge?

  1. It was never actually used by the public.
  2. It was replaced immediately after construction.
  3. It has lasted exactly as long as intended.
  4. It has aged faster than originally expected. Correct answer.

Explanation

The contrast between the intended hundred-year lifespan and the recommendation to replace it at sixty implies the bridge deteriorated sooner than planned. 'Although' marks this unexpected gap.

Question 44Reading comprehension

Read: 'The professor's lecture was dense, but she paused regularly to check that her students were following.' What does the sentence suggest about the lecture?

  1. It was easy to follow from beginning to end.
  2. It was too short to cover the material properly.
  3. It was poorly organised and confusing to everyone.
  4. It was demanding yet delivered with consideration for the audience. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Dense' signals difficult content, while the regular pauses show the lecturer's attention to comprehension. The contrast between the two clauses yields the idea of a demanding but considerate lecture.

Question 45Reading comprehension

A passage states: 'The charity's funds were depleted within months, so the outreach programme was scaled back.' Which paraphrase is most accurate?

  1. Lack of money forced the charity to reduce the programme. Correct answer.
  2. The charity expanded the programme after raising funds.
  3. The programme was cancelled because volunteers left.
  4. The charity's funds increased as the programme grew.

Explanation

'Depleted' means used up and 'scaled back' means reduced, so the paraphrase correctly states that insufficient funds led to a reduction. It preserves both the cause and the result.

Question 46Reading comprehension

Read: 'It is not that the data are unreliable; it is that they are being interpreted selectively.' What is the writer's main point?

  1. Selective interpretation makes the data more reliable.
  2. The problem lies in how the data are used, not in the data themselves. Correct answer.
  3. The data are fundamentally unreliable and should be discarded.
  4. The data have not yet been collected or analysed.

Explanation

The 'not that ... it is that' construction explicitly redirects the criticism from the data's reliability to how they are interpreted. The writer accepts the data but questions their use.

Question 47Reading comprehension

In the sentence 'Only after the results had been verified did the team publish its conclusions', why is the auxiliary 'did' placed before the subject?

  1. Because the subject 'the team' is plural.
  2. Because the sentence is a direct question.
  3. Because a negative or restrictive expression at the start triggers inversion. Correct answer.
  4. Because the verb 'publish' is in the passive voice.

Explanation

When a sentence opens with a restrictive adverbial such as 'only after', English requires subject-auxiliary inversion in the main clause. The sentence is a statement, so the inversion is grammatical rather than interrogative.

Question 48Reading comprehension

Read: 'The study's conclusions, while cautiously worded, have been seized upon by policymakers eager for simple answers.' What does the writer imply about policymakers?

  1. They have oversimplified findings that were originally hedged. Correct answer.
  2. They commissioned the study themselves.
  3. They have rejected the study as too cautious.
  4. They carefully respected the study's limitations.

Explanation

The contrast between 'cautiously worded' conclusions and policymakers 'eager for simple answers' implies that the findings have been oversimplified. 'Seized upon' reinforces the idea of uncritical uptake.

Question 49Reading comprehension

A text argues: 'To treat the museum's artefacts as mere decoration is to misunderstand what a museum is for.' Which sentence best captures the argument?

  1. Artefacts are unimportant compared with a museum's architecture.
  2. Museums are failing because visitors dislike decoration.
  3. Museums have a purpose beyond visual display, and ignoring it is a mistake. Correct answer.
  4. Museums should decorate their rooms with more artefacts.

Explanation

The 'to treat X as Y is to misunderstand' structure asserts that reducing artefacts to decoration misrepresents the museum's function. The paraphrase preserves that claim without adding new content.

Question 50Reading comprehension

Read: 'The novelist's prose is spare to the point of austerity; every adjective must justify its place.' What does the writer suggest about the novelist's style?

  1. It is extremely economical, using only essential descriptive words. Correct answer.
  2. It is careless and hastily written.
  3. It is rich and overflowing with vivid adjectives.
  4. It relies on long, complex sentences.

Explanation

'Spare to the point of austerity' and the demand that each adjective 'justify its place' point to an economical, disciplined style. The writer admires the restraint rather than criticising carelessness.