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Kuwait University English Aptitude Test study materials
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Kuwait University English Aptitude Test practice questions

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Question 1English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this sentence: "The library extended its opening hours because students requested more study space." What is the stated reason for the longer hours?

  1. The library had hired new staff.
  2. Students asked for more space to study. Correct answer.
  3. Exams had been cancelled that term.
  4. The building was being renovated.

Explanation

The clause introduced by "because" supplies the reason for the extended hours, and it names student requests for more study space. Any answer must be traceable to that subordinate clause rather than to outside knowledge.

Question 2English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this sentence: "Although the lecture was long, most students found it useful." What does the sentence suggest about the lecture?

  1. It was cancelled before it began.
  2. It was long but still valuable. Correct answer.
  3. It was short and unhelpful.
  4. It was useful only to the lecturer.

Explanation

"Although" signals a contrast: the length is conceded, but the main clause states that students found it useful. The main clause carries the writer's key point, while the concession is secondary.

Question 3English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this sentence: "The new policy takes effect from the first day of next month." When does the policy begin?

  1. Immediately on the day of reading
  2. At the start of next month Correct answer.
  3. On the last day of this month
  4. At the end of next month

Explanation

The phrase "from the first day of next month" marks the starting point of the policy. "Takes effect" means it becomes active at that date, not before.

Question 4English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this sentence: "The museum's collection, which includes several rare manuscripts, attracts researchers from abroad." What attracts foreign researchers?

  1. The museum's location
  2. The collection, including rare manuscripts Correct answer.
  3. The museum's ticket prices
  4. The number of foreign visitors

Explanation

The relative clause identifies the collection, with its rare manuscripts, as what draws researchers. The subject of the main verb "attracts" is "collection".

Question 5English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this sentence: "Sales rose sharply in June, but they fell again in July." Which statement best describes the trend?

  1. Sales rose in June and dropped in July. Correct answer.
  2. Sales stayed the same in both months.
  3. Sales fell in June and rose in July.
  4. Sales rose steadily in both months.

Explanation

The two clauses report an increase followed by a decrease, joined by "but" to show the reversal. Each month's direction must be matched to its clause.

Question 6English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this sentence: "Applicants must submit their documents in person; online submission is not accepted." What does this mean for applicants?

  1. They may choose online submission.
  2. They must bring documents themselves. Correct answer.
  3. They should post documents by mail.
  4. They can submit after the deadline.

Explanation

"In person" means physically present, and the second clause rules out the online alternative. The semicolon links the requirement to its clarification.

Question 7English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this sentence: "The experiment failed not because the equipment was faulty but because the sample had been contaminated." What caused the failure?

  1. Poor record keeping
  2. Faulty equipment
  3. Insufficient funding
  4. A contaminated sample Correct answer.

Explanation

The "not because ... but because" structure rejects the first cause and affirms the second. The affirmed cause is contamination of the sample.

Question 8English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this sentence: "Visitors are advised to arrive early, as the gallery closes promptly at five." What is the purpose of the advice?

  1. To ensure visitors have enough time inside Correct answer.
  2. To announce a change of opening day
  3. To encourage visitors to buy tickets online
  4. To warn that entry may be refused

Explanation

The "as" clause explains that closing is prompt, so arriving early protects visiting time. The advice is practical, not a threat of refusal.

Question 9English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "Dr. Salem has taught chemistry for fifteen years. She began her career in a small school and later moved to the university, where she now supervises graduate students. Her research focuses on water treatment." Which detail shows her career progression?

  1. She moved from a school to a university. Correct answer.
  2. She supervises graduate students.
  3. She teaches chemistry.
  4. Her research concerns water.

Explanation

Progression refers to movement over time, which the passage shows through the move from a small school to a university. The other details describe her current role or subject.

Question 10English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "The city introduced a bike-sharing scheme in 2019. Within two years, car use in the centre had dropped by twelve percent. Officials, however, warn that the drop may partly reflect rising parking fees introduced at the same time." What is the officials' concern?

  1. Cyclists are ignoring traffic rules.
  2. Bike sharing is too expensive to run.
  3. Parking fees have fallen too quickly.
  4. The drop may have more than one cause. Correct answer.

Explanation

The officials caution that the fall in car use may be partly due to higher parking fees, so the bike scheme cannot be credited alone. This is a caution about attributing a single cause.

Question 11English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "The report notes that remote work reduced commuting time for many employees. It also observes that some workers felt isolated and found it harder to separate work from rest." Which statement best summarises the report's view?

  1. Remote work is beneficial in every respect.
  2. Remote work has no effect on employees.
  3. Remote work should be banned for most staff.
  4. Remote work has both advantages and drawbacks. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage presents a benefit (less commuting) and costs (isolation, blurred boundaries), so the balanced summary is that remote work has advantages and drawbacks. A summary must cover both halves of the evidence.

Question 12English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "Unlike previous studies, which relied on surveys, this research tracked participants' actual behaviour over six months." What distinguishes the new research?

  1. It observed real behaviour over time. Correct answer.
  2. It lasted only a few weeks.
  3. It focused on children only.
  4. It used a larger survey sample.

Explanation

The contrast with "previous studies" sets survey-based methods against tracking actual behaviour across six months. The distinguishing feature is direct observation over an extended period.

Question 13English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this sentence: "The committee postponed the decision until all members had read the proposal." Why was the decision postponed?

  1. Members had already voted.
  2. Not everyone had read the proposal yet. Correct answer.
  3. The proposal had been rejected.
  4. The committee had too few members.

Explanation

"Until all members had read" indicates the reading was incomplete when the decision was due. The postponement ensures the condition is met first.

Question 14English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "Although the vaccine was approved quickly, regulators stress that no safety stage was skipped; rather, some stages ran in parallel." What are regulators clarifying?

  1. That the vaccine is unsafe
  2. That parallel testing is illegal
  3. That approval should be withdrawn
  4. That speed did not mean reduced safety checks Correct answer.

Explanation

The "rather" clause corrects the assumption that fast approval meant missing steps: stages were run simultaneously instead. The clarification defends the process, not the product's safety record itself.

Question 15English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "The novelist's early works sold poorly. Her later novels, written after she moved to the coast, became bestsellers. Critics disagree about whether the change of setting or the change of publisher mattered more." What do critics disagree about?

  1. Where the novelist was born
  2. Whether the later novels are bestsellers
  3. How many novels she wrote
  4. What caused the later success Correct answer.

Explanation

The disagreement concerns which factor, setting or publisher, was more important in producing the later success. The success itself is stated as fact, so it is not disputed.

Question 16English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this sentence: "The training programme is open to all staff, provided that they complete the online induction first." What condition applies?

  1. Staff must have five years' experience.
  2. Staff must pay a fee.
  3. Staff must apply in writing.
  4. Staff must finish the online induction. Correct answer.

Explanation

"Provided that" introduces a condition that must be satisfied: completing the online induction. The main clause grants general access to all staff.

Question 17English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "The survey found that students who took notes by hand recalled more than those who typed. The authors caution, however, that note-taking style may simply reflect how deeply students engage with the material." What does the caution imply?

  1. The survey had no participants.
  2. Note-taking should be banned in lectures.
  3. Handwriting may not itself be the cause of better recall. Correct answer.
  4. Typing is always better for memory.

Explanation

The authors suggest an alternative explanation: note-taking style may be a marker of engagement rather than the cause of recall. This weakens a direct causal reading of the result.

Question 18English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "Rainfall in the region has declined steadily since 1990. Farmers have responded by planting drought-resistant crops and by drilling deeper wells. Experts warn that the second response is not sustainable." Why do experts warn about deeper wells?

  1. Groundwater cannot be replaced at the rate it is used. Correct answer.
  2. Drought-resistant crops fail often.
  3. Wells are too cheap to build.
  4. Rainfall has increased since 1990.

Explanation

Calling deeper wells "not sustainable" implies the water source is being depleted faster than it can be replenished. The first response, by contrast, is presented neutrally.

Question 19English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "The company's profits doubled last year, largely because it sold a subsidiary. Without that sale, analysts estimate, profits would have been flat." What do the analysts suggest?

  1. Profits will double again next year.
  2. The core business grew strongly.
  3. The profit rise depended on a one-off sale. Correct answer.
  4. The subsidiary was unprofitable.

Explanation

The counterfactual "without that sale ... profits would have been flat" shows the increase came from the subsidiary sale rather than ordinary operations. This is a one-off gain, not evidence of growth.

Question 20English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "Some argue that university rankings help students choose courses. Others reply that rankings measure research output more than teaching quality, and so may mislead applicants." What is the second group's main objection?

  1. Rankings may not reflect teaching quality. Correct answer.
  2. Rankings are too expensive to produce.
  3. Students ignore rankings entirely.
  4. Research output should be abolished.

Explanation

The objection is that rankings emphasise research output, which can mislead applicants about teaching. The criticism targets what the rankings measure, not their cost or existence.

Question 21English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "The excavation revealed pottery, coins and a stone wall. The coins, stamped with a ruler's name, allow the site to be dated to the fourth century. The pottery, however, resembles styles made two centuries earlier." Which conclusion is best supported?

  1. The site may have been used across more than one period. Correct answer.
  2. The site was occupied only in the second century.
  3. The coins were made locally.
  4. The wall was built before the pottery.

Explanation

Datable coins point to fourth-century activity while the pottery suggests earlier styles, so the safest conclusion is use across more than one period. Conflicting evidence should not be forced into a single date.

Question 22English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "The author claims that automation will create more jobs than it destroys. Yet her evidence comes entirely from one industry during a short boom, and she does not consider regions where that industry is absent." What is the main weakness identified?

  1. The evidence is narrow and unrepresentative. Correct answer.
  2. The author ignores job losses completely.
  3. The boom lasted too many years.
  4. The claim is too modest in scope.

Explanation

The critique targets the evidence base: a single industry during an unusual period, with no attention to other regions. This makes generalisation to the whole economy unsafe.

Question 23English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "Critics of the new law say it will burden small firms. Supporters respond that the burden falls mainly on large companies, since firms with fewer than ten employees are exempt." Which statement best captures the exchange?

  1. Both sides agree the law burdens small firms.
  2. The law has already been repealed.
  3. Supporters argue the law does not apply to the smallest firms. Correct answer.
  4. Critics want the law extended to large firms.

Explanation

The supporters' reply rests on an exemption for firms with fewer than ten employees, which undercuts the critics' claim about small firms. The disagreement is factual, about who bears the burden.

Question 24English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "The study reports a strong correlation between reading speed and comprehension scores. The authors note that fast readers in the sample had all attended the same intensive training programme." What does this note imply?

  1. Comprehension cannot be measured.
  2. The training programme was ineffective.
  3. A third factor may explain the correlation. Correct answer.
  4. Reading speed causes comprehension directly.

Explanation

If fast readers shared a training background, that programme could drive both speed and comprehension, making the correlation spurious. The note thus flags a possible confounding variable.

Question 25English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "The proposal to ban cars from the old town is presented as environmental policy. In practice, most of the revenue would come from tourist parking on the outskirts, and residents without cars would see little change." What is the implied criticism?

  1. Residents own too many cars.
  2. The policy is too expensive for tourists.
  3. Environmental policy is unnecessary.
  4. The stated aim may not match the real effect. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage contrasts the environmental framing with the likely financial benefit and limited impact on carless residents, implying a gap between stated purpose and actual outcome. This is a critique of framing, not of environmental goals.

Question 26English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "The library extended its opening hours during exam weeks after students complained that they had nowhere quiet to study at night. Attendance rose sharply, though staff reported that most visitors arrived after eight in the evening." What was the main reason the library extended its hours?

  1. Students said they lacked a quiet place to study at night. Correct answer.
  2. Staff asked for more evening shifts to be scheduled.
  3. The building needed to be used for other events.
  4. Attendance had been falling during the daytime.

Explanation

The passage states directly that the extension followed students' complaints that they had nowhere quiet to study at night. The rise in attendance is described as a result, not the cause. Staff and daytime attendance are mentioned only as details.

Question 27English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this sentence: "The workshop is designed for beginners; nevertheless, experienced participants often find the final session challenging." What does the word "nevertheless" signal about the two parts of the sentence?

  1. The second part repeats the first part in different words.
  2. The second part contrasts with what the first part might lead you to expect. Correct answer.
  3. The second part lists an additional example of the first part.
  4. The second part gives a cause for the first part.

Explanation

"Nevertheless" is a contrast connector: it introduces a statement that runs against the expectation set up by the previous clause. Here, a beginners' workshop might suggest easy content, yet experienced people still find part of it hard. Cause, restatement and example would each require a different connector.

Question 28English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "The museum's new wing houses a collection of ancient coins. Visitors may handle replicas of the coins, but the originals remain behind glass." What can a visitor do with the original coins?

  1. Handle them with gloves provided.
  2. View them but not touch them. Correct answer.
  3. Buy replicas and swap them for the originals.
  4. Take them out of the display case.

Explanation

The passage says the originals stay behind glass, so visitors can see them only. Handling is limited to replicas. Any option implying physical contact with the originals contradicts the stated arrangement.

Question 29English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this sentence: "The deadline for applications has been brought forward to 1 March." What happened to the deadline?

  1. It has been cancelled entirely.
  2. It has been moved to a later date.
  3. It now falls earlier than originally planned. Correct answer.
  4. It has been extended by one month.

Explanation

To "bring forward" a date means to move it to an earlier time. The phrase is the opposite of postponing or extending. Nothing in the sentence suggests cancellation or a later date.

Question 30English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "The café introduced a loyalty card giving a free drink after ten purchases. Within three months, repeat visits had increased by a third, and the owner plans to extend the scheme to the second branch." What does the owner intend to do next?

  1. Raise the price of drinks on the loyalty card.
  2. Close the first branch and move elsewhere.
  3. Replace the loyalty card with a discount voucher.
  4. Introduce the loyalty scheme at another branch. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage ends by saying the owner plans to extend the scheme to the second branch, meaning the same loyalty card will be used there. No change of price, closure or replacement is mentioned. The result of the scheme supports expansion, not withdrawal.

Question 31English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "The course is taught entirely online, with weekly live sessions that are recorded for those unable to attend. Assignments are submitted through the university portal." Which statement is supported by the passage?

  1. Students must attend every live session in person.
  2. Assignments are sent to the tutor by email.
  3. The course has no scheduled sessions at all.
  4. Students who miss a live session can watch it later. Correct answer.

Explanation

Because sessions are recorded for those unable to attend, a student who misses one can view the recording later. The passage also states the course is online, so in-person attendance is not required, and submissions go through the portal rather than by email.

Question 32English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this sentence: "The instructions are deliberately concise so that they can be read at a glance." What is the intended effect of the instructions being concise?

  1. They are written in a formal style.
  2. They cover every possible situation.
  3. They are difficult to follow.
  4. They can be understood quickly. Correct answer.

Explanation

"At a glance" means with a quick look, so concise instructions are meant to be grasped quickly. Conciseness is about brevity, not completeness or formality. Nothing suggests difficulty.

Question 33English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "The team tested the battery in cold conditions. Performance dropped by nearly half at minus ten degrees, a finding the engineers had not anticipated." What surprised the engineers?

  1. That the battery was cheaper than expected
  2. How much the battery's performance fell in the cold Correct answer.
  3. That the battery worked at all in cold weather
  4. That the test took place outdoors

Explanation

The phrase "had not anticipated" refers to the drop in performance at low temperature. The engineers expected some result but not one so severe. Cost, location and basic functioning are not presented as surprises.

Question 34English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "The article argues that city parks lower summer temperatures. It cites measurements from three districts, where air near parks was up to two degrees cooler than in nearby streets." What role do the measurements play in the article?

  1. They describe how parks are built.
  2. They explain why districts differ in size.
  3. They provide evidence for the article's claim. Correct answer.
  4. They show that the claim is false.

Explanation

The measurements are data offered in support of the argument that parks lower temperatures. They are evidence, not a refutation, and they do not describe construction methods or district size. Recognising the function of supporting data is a key reading skill.

Question 35English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "Although the new software was cheaper than its rival, the company chose the rival product. The deciding factor was not price but the availability of local technical support." What was the main reason for the company's choice?

  1. The company had used the rival before.
  2. The rival product was less expensive.
  3. The new software lacked basic features.
  4. The rival offered local technical support. Correct answer.

Explanation

The sentence explicitly says the deciding factor was local technical support, not price. The cheaper product was rejected, so cost cannot be the reason. Features and previous use are not mentioned.

Question 36English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this sentence: "The findings should be treated with caution, since the sample was small and drawn from a single region." What is the writer's attitude toward the findings?

  1. Enthusiastic, because the results were clear
  2. Neutral, because no opinion is expressed
  3. Cautious, because of limited and narrow data Correct answer.
  4. Dismissive, because the study was fraudulent

Explanation

The writer recommends caution and gives two reasons: a small sample and a single region. This is a measured, sceptical stance rather than outright rejection. Fraud is never suggested, and the writer does express an evaluative opinion.

Question 37English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "The hotel advertises sea views from every room. Guests on the ground floor, however, face a car park; the sea is visible only from the upper floors." What does the passage suggest about the advertisement?

  1. It is accurate for every room.
  2. It refers only to the upper floors.
  3. It was written by a guest.
  4. It is misleading for some rooms. Correct answer.

Explanation

The advertisement claims sea views from every room, but ground-floor guests see a car park. This gap between the claim and reality makes the advertisement misleading for at least some rooms. The passage does not say it is accurate or who wrote it.

Question 38English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this sentence: "Participation in the survey was voluntary, yet nearly all invited employees took part." What does "yet" indicate here?

  1. A cause-and-effect link between the two clauses
  2. A repetition of the idea of volunteering
  3. A condition that must be met before taking part
  4. An unexpected result given that participation was optional Correct answer.

Explanation

"Yet" marks contrast. Since the survey was voluntary, low turnout might be expected; near-total participation is therefore surprising. The connector does not express condition, cause or restatement.

Question 39English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "The council planted 500 trees along the main road. Three years later, most had survived, but those planted closest to the kerb grew poorly, probably because road salt reached their roots." Why did some trees grow poorly?

  1. Road salt probably reached their roots. Correct answer.
  2. They were the wrong species for the area.
  3. They received too much sunlight.
  4. They were planted too far from the road.

Explanation

The passage gives a probable cause: salt from the road reaching the roots of trees near the kerb. The affected trees were closest to the road, not far from it. Sunlight and species are not offered as explanations.

Question 40English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "The reviewer praises the novel's dialogue but finds its plot predictable. She concludes that it is worth reading for the characters alone." What is the reviewer's overall judgement?

  1. The novel's plot is its strongest feature.
  2. The novel is worth reading despite a weak plot. Correct answer.
  3. The novel should not be read at all.
  4. The novel's dialogue is unrealistic.

Explanation

The reviewer balances praise for dialogue and characters against criticism of the plot, then concludes it is worth reading for the characters. This is a qualified recommendation. It contradicts claims that the plot is strong or the book unreadable.

Question 41English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "Unlike earlier models, which required manual calibration, the new device adjusts itself automatically. Operators now spend less time on setup and more on interpreting results." What is the main advantage described?

  1. The device produces more accurate results than before.
  2. The device costs less than earlier models.
  3. Operators no longer need any training.
  4. Operators can devote more time to interpreting results. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage contrasts manual calibration with automatic adjustment and states the practical benefit: less setup time, more time for interpretation. Accuracy, cost and training are not mentioned. The advantage is about time and workflow.

Question 42English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this sentence: "The scheme was scrapped after just six months, having failed to attract enough users." What does "scrapped" mean here?

  1. Expanded
  2. Postponed
  3. Funded
  4. Abandoned Correct answer.

Explanation

"Scrapped" means cancelled or abandoned, which fits the context of failure to attract users. The other options describe continuing or supporting the scheme, which contradicts the reason given. Context clues such as "failed" confirm the negative meaning.

Question 43English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "The lecturer distributes slides before each class. Some students argue this reduces note-taking; others say it frees them to listen. The lecturer now pauses every fifteen minutes for discussion, which she says has improved engagement." What is the lecturer's own view?

  1. Pausing for discussion has improved engagement. Correct answer.
  2. Students should stop taking notes entirely.
  3. Slides should be withheld until after class.
  4. Distributing slides has reduced note-taking.

Explanation

The final sentence reports the lecturer's view: the discussion pauses have improved engagement. The point about reduced note-taking belongs to some students, not the lecturer. The other options are not attributed to her.

Question 44English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "The volunteers recorded every bird they saw during one hour each morning. Because observations were limited to a single hour, species active later in the day were rarely counted." What limitation of the study is described?

  1. The volunteers were not trained to identify birds.
  2. The short observation window missed some species. Correct answer.
  3. The study ran for only one morning.
  4. The birds moved away from the area.

Explanation

The limitation is the one-hour window, which meant species active later in the day were undercounted. The study ran every morning, not once. Training and bird movement are not raised as issues.

Question 45English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "The manufacturer claims the filter removes 99 per cent of particles. Independent tests confirmed high removal rates but noted that performance fell sharply once the filter was more than two months old." What qualification do the independent tests add?

  1. The filter works better when old.
  2. The manufacturer's figure is entirely false.
  3. Particles are too small to measure.
  4. Effectiveness declines with the age of the filter. Correct answer.

Explanation

The tests accept high removal rates but add a condition: performance drops after about two months of use. This qualifies the claim rather than rejecting it outright. The other options contradict the passage or introduce unmentioned points.

Question 46English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "The author presents automation as a benefit for workers, arguing that machines take over dull tasks. She mentions retraining only briefly and offers no data on its cost or success. A reader might therefore question how complete her case is." What is the passage's criticism of the author?

  1. She treats retraining too lightly to support her argument. Correct answer.
  2. She focuses excessively on workers' opinions.
  3. She ignores the benefits of automation.
  4. She provides too much data about machine costs.

Explanation

The criticism concerns the thin treatment of retraining: it is mentioned briefly with no evidence on cost or success, which weakens the argument. The passage does not accuse her of ignoring benefits or overusing data. It notes the absence of data, not an excess.

Question 47English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "The two reports agree that rents have risen, but they disagree on the cause. One blames short-term holiday lets; the other points to a slowdown in construction. Both present local figures, yet neither examines the other's data." What does the final sentence imply?

  1. The disagreement may stem from analysing different evidence. Correct answer.
  2. The two reports used identical data sets.
  3. Construction is the proven cause of higher rents.
  4. Both reports are certainly correct.

Explanation

If each report relies on its own local figures without examining the other's data, they may be drawing different conclusions from different evidence. This implies the dispute is partly about evidence, not only about theory. It does not confirm either cause or claim identical data.

Question 48English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "The claim that the policy reduced unemployment rests on a comparison with the previous year. During that year, however, a major employer had closed, temporarily raising joblessness. The comparison therefore overstates the policy's effect." Why does the writer reject the claim?

  1. Unemployment figures were never collected.
  2. The major employer reopened during the policy.
  3. The policy was introduced too recently to assess.
  4. The baseline year was distorted by an unusual event. Correct answer.

Explanation

The argument is that the baseline year was unusually bad because of a factory closure, so improvement against it exaggerates the policy's impact. This is a flaw in the comparison, not an absence of data or a timing issue. The reopening of the employer is not mentioned.

Question 49English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "The editor defends the decision to publish the letters, arguing that they shed light on the writer's working methods. Critics reply that the writer had asked for them to remain private. The editor's argument addresses scholarly value but not the writer's stated wish." What weakness does the passage identify?

  1. The editor answers one concern while leaving another unaddressed. Correct answer.
  2. The letters have no scholarly value whatsoever.
  3. The writer never expressed a preference about privacy.
  4. The critics support publication for different reasons.

Explanation

The passage notes that the editor justifies publication on scholarly grounds but does not respond to the writer's request for privacy. The weakness is an incomplete reply, not a total lack of value. The critics oppose publication, and the writer's wish is explicitly stated.

Question 50English language proficiency (reading comprehension)

Read this passage: "Surveys suggest that most readers prefer short articles. Yet the same readers spend more time on long pieces when these are opened. Preference, it seems, reflects what people say they want rather than what holds their attention." What distinction does the passage draw?

  1. Between short articles and poorly written ones
  2. Between stated preference and actual behaviour Correct answer.
  3. Between readers of different age groups
  4. Between surveys and interviews as methods

Explanation

The passage contrasts what readers say they prefer (short articles) with what they actually do (spend longer on long pieces). This is the classic gap between expressed preference and observed behaviour. Age, interviews and writing quality are not part of the distinction.