ESL EXIT TEST
READING
WORKSHOP
Reading Section: Basics
1.
ACT Test
2. Standard American English
3.
Assess skills related to “Referring” and “Reasoning”
a.
“Referring” means you answer questions about clearly stated
material.
b.
“Reasoning” means you make inferences about what is stated
in the text.
3. Increases with difficulty.
4. May include reading pictures, sentences, paragraphs, articles, charts,
and graphs
Screen Layout
Directions: Read the
article on global internet
use
The number of devices
connected to the Internet
worldwide grew by nearly
3% in the third quarter of
2012 as average
connection speed scaled
11%, according to Akamai's
third-quarter 2012 State of
the Internet
report.
DOWN
Read the Question(s)
1. When did the number of
connected devices increase by
3%?
a. January – March 2012
b. April – June 2012
c. July – September 2012
d. October – December 2012
1
2
3
4
Move On
Reading Strategies
Pre:
1. Read directions for Context and Topic
2. Scan for structure and format: pictures,
graphs, charts, one sentence, two,
paragraphs?
During:
1. Skim for general idea
2. Read Questions
3. Scan for answers
Going from 114
214
Students typically recognize most letters of the English alphabet and recognize
a few sight words, especially those from the environment, such as common
signs and words, phrases, or short sentences supported by pictures.
Students typically are able to read brief prose composed of short, simple
sentences related to everyday needs (e.g., numbers, street signs, short
informational signs, simple instructions).
Going from 214
314
Students can understand high-frequency structures, such as present, simple
past, and simple future tenses. They usually understand some of the more
common idioms and colloquial expressions.
Students can compare facts to make choices (e.g., making a purchase), and
they may draw simple conclusions from their reading.
114
214 (Exit Beginning Reading)
Reading Handout
Reading #1: Look at the picture.
Which sentence describes the picture?
A.The people are sitting together under a tree.
B.The family is standing in the rain.
C.The family is walking together in the park.
114
214 (Exit Beginning Reading)
Reading Handout
Reading #2
Reading #2:
Donna got dressed. It was cold outside, so she put on a warm jacket and warm hat. She
also put on some warm gloves. She walked outside, and it was cold. She could see her breath. She
could see everyone's breath. She walked to the house on the corner. She knocked on the door. Mrs.
White opened the door. "Hi, Donna," she said. "Come in, dear. It's so cold outside. Let me make you
a cup of hot chocolate." Donna went in. She drank two cups of hot chocolate. Then she said goodbye
to Mrs. White. She walked down the street and went to the next house. She knocked on the door.
Mrs. Brown opened the door. "Hi, Donna," she said. "Come in, dear. It's so cold outside. Let me make
you a cup of hot chocolate." Donna said, "Oh, thank you, Mrs. Brown."
1.
True or False: Donna put on her warm hat and gloves because it was cold outside.
a. True
b. False
2. Where does Mrs. White live?
a. Down the street
b. The next house
c. next to Donna
d. on the corner
3. How many cups of hot chocolate did Donna drink that day?
214
314
Reading Handout
Reading #1: Read the paragraph about the emporium in Galveston.
Shoppers enter the emporium, which is on the ground floor, through the original 14-foot doors. You can eat a sandwich inside while sitting on a wooden seat at an umbrella-covered table, or you can buy meats and cheeses by the pound for a picnic on the beach. There is also a wide selection of Texas foods, beers, chocolates, books, baskets, and specialty coffees and teas. A wine room features Texas, U.S., and international wines.
Adapted from Ann Gallaway, "A Present from the Past." ©1994 by Texas Highways.
1. In the passage, what does the highlighted word "emporium" mean?
A.Store
B.Beach
C.Bar
D.Hotel
2.What can you buy at the emporium?
A.14-foot doors
B.Wooden seats
C.Meats and cheeses
214-314: Reading #2: Electric Cars
Where do cars get their energy from? For most cars, the answer is gasoline (petrol). But some cars use electricity. These cars have special motors that get their power from large batteries. In addition, there are some cars that have both an electric motor and a gasoline motor. These types of cars are called hybrid cars.
Most people think of electric cars as a new invention, but they have been around for a long time. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, electric cars were popular because the technology for petrol engines was not very advanced. But once the petrol engine became easier to make and more powerful, these types of engines became the most popular. Interest in Electric cars was high in the 1970s and 1980s because oil became very expensive. Recently, electric cars have again become popular because people want cars that pollute less. Electric cars are better than petrol cars in several ways. The biggest benefit is reduced pollution. In areas where there is a high
percentage of electric cars, there is less pollution. But it is important to understand that electric cars still cause pollution. Remember that the electricity to power electric cars has to come from somewhere, which is most likely a power station. Unless these power stations run on solar or wind energy, they are most likely burning fossil fuels to make electricity. The second benefit of electric cars is a reduction in the dependence on foreign oil. There are several countries, including the United States, that don’t want to rely on oil coming from other countries to power their transportation systems. They want the power to come from within their country, and because electric cars can run on electricity from coal or nuclear power stations, there is less of a need to import oil.
Despite the benefits of electric cars, there are some problems with themas well. One disadvantage is that electric cars are more
expensive than normal cars. This is mostly due to the high cost of the batteries these cars need. Electric cars run on batteries, just like a mobile phone does. But unlike a mobile phone, you cannot charge your electric car’s battery by plugging itinto a wall. They need to be charged in special places. Right now, there is a lack of places where people can charge the batteries of their electric car. Another
problem is that electric cars cannot travel as far as gas cars. Some people are afraid that the battery will run out of electricity (and the car will stop) before they reach their destination.
Despite these problems, many people, including automobile industry experts, believe that the percentage of electric cars will increase in the future.
1.What is the topic of the reading?
a. How to convert a gasoline (petrol) car to an electric car. b. Advantages and disadvantages of electric cars.
c. The future of electric cars and their role in society. 2. What is paragraph 2 about?
a. How to build an electric car. b. Electric car use in the past. c. Why we need electric cars today. d. Electric cars are a new invention. 3. What is paragraph 3 about?
a. The reasons why electric cars are expensive. b. Why governments don't like electric cars. c. The good things about electric cars. d. Electric cars in the past and now.
4 Hybrid cars are the same as electric cars. a. False
b. True c. Not Given
5 Why are electric cars more expensive than gasoline (petrol) cars? a. The batteries cost a lot of money.
b. You cannot drive far in them. c. They need to be charged often. d. They reduce pollution.
6 The word them(in paragraph 4) refers to: a. electric cars
b. batteries c. normal cars
COMPASS ESL Reading TEST QUESTIONS:
http://www.act.org/compass/tests/esl/reading1.html
General Strategies: http://www.act.org/compass/student/tips.html
Helpful Websites
On Test Day Bring:
1. Photo ID
2. Student ID Number
3. Pen or Pencil
