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English Placement Test

The placement test focuses on knowledge of basic grammatical structures; it does not evaluate oral and written skills. The placement test contains 50 multiple choice questions. It is recommended that students do the test without the use of any study aids to obtain a more accurate result.

Once you begin, you should complete the entire placement test and only complete it once. Your score will be shared with the Department of Continuous Professional Learning, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Sciences.

For more information, please contact us by email at cplliberalarts@humber.ca

Multiple Choice: Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

1. He has worked for the same company for 10 years, and he works very hard every day. He consistently helps his co-workers and works on extra projects. Frank is speaking to his boss tomorrow to tell her that he deserves _____________.

a promotion
a job
a manager
a salary

2. Please don’t _____________ to stop at the grocery store on your way home today.

think
forget
go
take

3. Our doctor is great. We _____________ have to wait long for an appointment.

rarely
suddenly
previously
lately

4. Linda and Sam wanted to go to a restaurant on Saturday; however, they could not get a reservation, so they called the restaurant to order in instead. What did Linda and Sam do?

They ate at the restaurant later.
They reserved another day.
They ate at home.
They picked up the food.

5. When we finish work, we _____________ go home.

are able
can
have
to

6. We won’t be able to go to the mall _____________ you finish your homework.

until
because
if only
in order

7. Can you _____________ me with those glasses?

see
look
view
stare

8. _____________ he remembered that it was his partner’s birthday, he felt relieved.

What
Why
Who
When

9. Instructors are expected to ____________ to student emails within 36 hours.

complete
write
answer
respond

10. Elias wanted to see an R rated movie with his friends, but he needed his mom’s permission. He explained why he should be allowed to see the movie, but his mom _____________ to give him permission.

concerned
believed
unchanged
refused

11. You shouldn’t _____________ studying, or you might fail the exam.

put up
put on
put off
take off

12. The animals at the zoo live in an _____________ area.

enclosed
confined
expelled
constricted

13. The amount of money raised for Bill’s surgery was _____________ of how much people appreciate him.

an organization
a testament
an appreciation
a reflection

14. Isaac and Linda have a goal to buy a house next year, so they are no longer eating lunch out every day. Instead, they are bringing their lunch from home. What are Isaac and Linda doing?

They are being healthier.
They are planning to keep their home.
They are trying to save some money.
They are eating their lunch at home.

15. Home buyers need to be ______________ when buying a house; otherwise, they may buy a house they don’t like.

caring
patient
quick
difficult

16. We wanted to reserve a room at the hotel, so we put down a _____________.

money
cash
deposit
reserve

17. They couldn’t go skiing _____________ the avalanche.

except for
due
because of
although

18. She ___________ movies all day.

watching
has been watching
has watching
watch

19. Which request is the most polite?

Can I borrow your phone?
I want to borrow your phone.
Will you let me borrow your phone?
May I borrow your phone?

20. Select the best response: "I love going to the movies on the weekends!"

"Yes, I do."
"Also me."
"So do I."
"Me neither."

21. Marcus is having a party on Saturday, and he asked his guests to confirm if they will be attending by Thursday. What must the guests do by Thursday?

Tell Marcus if they will attend his party.
Help Marcus plan the party.
Attend Marcus's party.
Call Marcus on Thursday.

22. The printer in my office _____________ coloured ink, so I went to Staples to get some more.

ran into
ran out of
ran by
ran over

23. Select the best response: “I would like to book an appointment with Dr. Smith.”

"Great, you're welcome."
"Would you like to book an appointment?"
"Sure. There is an appointment available for Tuesday at 1:00 pm."
"What time is your appointment?"

24. Select the best response: “What did you do yesterday?”

"I am visiting my grandmother."
"I have done my homework."
"I met with a friend at a coffee shop."
"I'll shop for Christmas gifts at the mall."

25. Select the best response: “I am feeling sick. I woke up with a sore throat. Do you have any advice?”

"You ought to take some medicine."
"You would see the doctor."
"You will rest at home."
"You may go to the pharmacy."

26. Brian is _____________ person in his family.

taller
tallest
most tall
the tallest

27. Do you _____________ music well with headphones?

hear
get
pay attention
listen

28. Fillipe went to buy a new car yesterday. The car salesperson showed Fillipe four cars, and now Fillipe needs to decide which car he wants to buy. What is true about Fillipe?

He has picked a car to buy.
He hasn't chosen a car to buy.
He bought a new car.
He liked all four cars.

29. Jenna went for a run instead of resting like her doctor recommended. What happened?

She listened to her doctor.
She went to the gym.
She went to see her doctor.
She didn't listen to her doctor.

30. Tom is passionate about singing, but nobody _____________ heard him sing before because he is shy.

hasn't
has
have
does

31. I have ______________ car.

one bright red
one red bright
bright red one
red bright one

32. They know they _____________ stop fighting, but they are too angry.

need
want
should
had to

33. Jake and Clara are _____________ because their business plan fell through.

relaxed
embarrassed
worry
confident

34. The book is _____________.

his
him
himself
he's

35. Joey likes to _____________ the airplanes land.

look
stare
visit
watch

36. The Smith family went to the supermarket to get food for dinner. They got chicken, ingredients for a salad, and rice. What did the Smith family do?

They bought groceries.
They made dinner.
They stayed home.
They went to a restaurant.

37. __________ the children were happy.

Not
No
None
Neither of

38. She _____________ school every day.

go to
going to
goes to
has gone

39. My mom moved to a __________ neighbourhood so that she could have a farm.

city
rural
suburban
quieter

40. Linda has been working for 10 hours straight. She should take a _____________.

break
stop
trip
picture

41. The beginner ESL class was too easy for Rebecca, so she _____________.

dropped off
dropped out
dropped by
dropped

42. The pipes _____________ by the plumber immediately.

must be repaired
should fix
will have replaced
can install

43. Leena couldn’t wait to get home after getting stuck in the rain. She was soaked from head to toe because she forgot her umbrella at home. What is true about Leena?

She waited in the rain.
Her clothes are dry.
She got rained on.
She has an umbrella in her bag.

44. Jim’s favourite way to travel is by airplane because it is fast, and he likes to look out the window at the sky. What is true about Jim?

He doesn't like travelling by car.
Travelling is his favourite hobby.
He travels a lot.
He enjoys flying.

45. The chemical spill could have been avoided if the company had listened to the experts’ _____________.

advice
news
ability
suggest

46. She _______________ going to the dance tomorrow, but she decided not to because she had too much homework.

thought
wanted
contemplated
established

47. The _____________ of the ocean water makes me want to swim.

clarity
seaweed
length
cloudiness

48. Shelter is a _____________ right for the people.

insightful
fundamental
triumph
clarity

49. Select the best response: “I am going to have sushi for lunch.”

"No thank you."
"I think I'll join you."
"I'll see you on Wednesday."
"I'm not interested."

50. After carefully considering her options, Jaclyn _____________ to go back to school.

decide
deduced
deducts
decided