Perspectives Placement Test – Answer Key

Perspectives Placement Test – Answer Key

GRAMMAR 17 The people ...... waiting at the bus stop are all freezing cold.
a are b which c who are
Pre-intermediate 18 We were just ...... the new timetable when they decided to
change it again.
1 We ...... out for dinner. a getting used to b used c got used to
a go sometimes b never go c go once a week
2 All employees ...... to wash their hands. Advanced
a must b have c can’t
19 A: ‘Where is Adrian?’ B: ‘He ...... to Paris for the weekend’.
3 Look in the cupboards. There are ...... tins in there.
a has gone b has been c has been going
a much b any c a lot of
20 ...... the right experience for the job, I wasn’t invited for an
4 Sasha ...... for school.
interview.
a is often late b often is late c late is often
a I don’t have b Having c Not having
5 Can you believe it? Ricardo is as ...... as Enrique.
21 I don’t eat very much. ...... finish a plateful of food.
a old b older c oldest
a Rarely I b Rarely do c Rarely do I
6 Would you walk to work if the weather ...... nice?
22 The horse was ...... win the race, but we bet on it anyway.
a would be b will be c was
a bound to b about to c unlikely to

Intermediate 23 Aisha knows Jack isn’t right for her but she can’t ...... .
a give up him b him give up c give him up
7 We ...... it’s true. 24 He worked so hard that he passed the final exam ...... .
a know b are knowing c is knowing a easy b in an easy way c easily
8 My car ...... three times this week!
a has broken down b is broken down VOCABULARY
c has been breaking down
9 That meal was ...... than the one we had last time. Pre-intermediate
a delicious b more delicious c most delicious
25 I spend a lot of time in the ...... where I read or watch TV.
10 He ...... a long story about his family.
a kitchen b living room c dining room
a said me b told to me c told me
26 My mother’s father is my ….. .
11 The book ...... me for my birthday is really interesting.
a grandfather b husband c son
a you gave b who you gave c which gave
27 Freya broke her ….. so it is hard for her to write.
12 They said they ...... here by the time we got home.
a foot b finger c leg
a are b ’d be c ’ll be
28 If you don’t know the meaning, look it up in a ...... .
Upper intermediate a dictionary b map c library
29 A person who grows food as a job is a ...... .
13 I’m sure this towel ...... before. It isn’t clean. a nurse b cook c farmer
a has been used b was using c uses
30 When you buy something, you ...... money.
14 Before I went to Australia last summer, I ...... Europe! a save b spend c sale
a never left b had never been leaving
c had never left
Intermediate
15 I’d like ...... sugar with that, if that’s all right.
a a little b a bit c little 31 Rachel was very ...... when she heard the bad news.
a upset b excited c bored
16 ...... is absolutely icy today! Wrap up warm!
a Wind b The wind c A wind 32 A bus always follows the same ...... .
a station b route c excursion

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 Perspectives Placement Test – Answer Key

33 They were very disappointed when they didn’t ...... a medal. LISTENING
a beat b win c score
34 If you add chilli powder the food will be too ...... . Pre-intermediate
a spicy b salty c sweet
35 Your ...... controls your body. Track 1
a lungs b blood vessels c brain 1 This afternoon, Anthony will take a painting class.
2 Anthony likes to paint fruit and flowers.
36 I like to ...... with my friends on Saturday afternoons. 3 Julie really likes action films.
a hang out b fall behind c hold on 4 The film is about a superhero as a child and teenager.
5 The film has mostly classical music.
Upper intermediate 6 DJ Spooky is getting more and more famous.

37 My father always ...... a bike ride on Sunday morning. Intermediate

a takes b goes for c gets to
38 She’s in ...... of the whole department. Track 2
a responsible b distribution c charge 7 He feels (annoyed / thoughtless ) .
8 He feels ( sympathetic / proud ) .
39 I’m ...... yoga every morning now. 9 He is coming up with ( a plan / an inspiration ) .
a doing b playing c training 10 He is ( motivated / excited ) .
40 At least 10,000 people ...... the festival. 11 He is ( irritated / nervous ) .
a attracted b attended c came 12 He is ( disappointed / miserable ) .

41 Does that information help you ...... your point?

a prove b dissolve c research Upper intermediate
Track 3
42 When the show had finished, the audience ….. . 13 Old Town is ideal for someone who enjoys visiting tourist
attractions. (True)
a applauded b recovered c relieved 14 Volk’s Tavern is best to experience during the daytime.
(False)
Advanced 15 The castle should be a highly prioritised destination for
tourists. (True)
43 He’s very ...... – he likes meeting new people. 16 The beach is the only place that is worth visiting in the
a successful b determined c sociable area. (False)
17 Camden Market is a unique area for tourists to visit. (True)
44 I loved the play. It was incredibly ...... . 18 Visiting the TV tower is not nearly as interesting as
a slow-moving b overrated exploring the aquarium. (False)
c thought-provoking
45 The charity was set up to help protect ...... species. Advanced
a endangerment b endangered c endanger
46 This school has a problem with ...... . Most of the school Track 4
property is damaged. 19 Ashley ( accepted / rejected ) an offer for a local
a vandalism b bullying c exclusion internship.
20 Ashley will work on ( an environmental project / a tourism
47 ...... will have a positive effect on your well-being. project ) in Belize.
a Stress b Relaxation c Lifestyle 21 Ashley plans to stay in Belize for ( just over two weeks /
48 It’s important to ...... if you want to make a good around eight weeks ) .
impression. 22 Ashley is going to depart in about ( a week and a half /
a blush b make eye contact two months ) .
c lose your train of thought 23 Ashley is allowed to take her exams ( at the end of this
week / early next week ) .
24 Ashley has been ( too busy to prepare / unable to study ) .

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 Perspectives Placement Test – Answer Key

WRITING

Pre-intermediate
1 Think of a place where you like to study. It can be anywhere —at the library, a coffee shop, or a room in your home. Write a short
description of this place.

Example Answer:
I like to study at my favourite coffee shop. It is a five-minute walk from my flat. When I walk in the door, I am ready to work. There
are ten tables and four couches at this coffee shop. I usually bring my laptop to the couch if it is available. Then, I can be comfortable
while I study and drink my coffee. I really like being around other people when I do work. When I try to study at home, I often get
distracted by my to-do list, my chores, or with social media!

Intermediate
2 Think about the first time you met one of your close friends. Write a story that starts with the sentence: I will always remember
when I first met [friend’s name].

Example Answer:
I will always remember when I met my roommate, Glenn. It was three years ago. I had just graduated from University. I was looking
for somewhere to live that was near my new job.

When I knocked on the door, a smiling girl with blonde hair answered it. Even though she seemed nice, I was nervous because I had
lived with difficult roommates in the past.

Luckily, our conversation went well. We both valued cleanliness, but we didn’t get too upset if things were a little out of order. Also,
we had similar hobbies. She enjoyed art and exercise. So did I.

Now, she is my best friend. I am so glad that Glenn and I decided to live together.

Upper intermediate
3 Imagine that you bought something that didn’t work the way you had expected. Write a letter of complaint to the store’s manager.
Tell the manager about the problem and ask for some kind of action.

Example Answer:
Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to complain about the refrigerator that I recently purchased from your store. It was delivered on 16th March and the
reference number is XD561HUL. On 28th March, I had some friends over and I wanted to serve them cold drinks with ice cubes.
However, I found that the ice cube dispenser does not work. Instead, it makes a horribly loud grinding sound.

This is extremely frustrating as it is a brand new refrigerator. I spent over £750 on it. For that price, I expected to receive a high-
quality piece of equipment. It is also very inconvenient not being able to serve cold drinks to my friends.

I am sure that you will understand my frustration with this experience. I would really appreciate it if you could send someone to my
home to fix my refrigerator as soon as possible, or provide me with a brand new one instead.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Alan Greene

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 Perspectives Placement Test – Answer Key

Advanced
4 Some people believe that social media negatively affects way we interact with one another. Others believe it is an important
enhancement for today’s social relationships. What is your view? Support your ideas with arguments and examples from your own
experience.

Example Answer:
Social media has revolutionised the landscape of communication. However, it is not the first time that technology has transformed
the way that we interact with one another. There was a time where the best form of distance communication was done by a
messenger on a horseback! It was not until the invention of the telephone that we had the ability to converse with one another in
real-time. Email and instant messaging (IM) took this to a new level by providing people with the ability to instantaneously
communicate through the written word. Social media then transported this concept to a whole new dimension by providing
individuals with interactive online spaces where they could share and converse with individuals through a variety of mediums;
namely text, images, and video. Especially in distanced relationships, individuals had a whole new way to interact with groups of
family and friends. However, some would argue that excessive use of this form of intercommunication develops somewhat artificial
relationships and warped views of the people with whom they are interacting. Either way, like the horseback messenger, this
technology is here to stay until something more enticing eventually takes its place.

The written word is easy to misinterpret, and images and videos can easily obscure the reality of who a person is and how they live
their life. Additionally, social media is no substitute to being in the same physical space as another person. As humans, we often
connect more with forms of non-verbal communication such as gestures, facial expressions, and touch. Social media does not
provide this integral part of communication.

With an educated understanding that this is the case, utilising social media to interact with family and friends can be a very positive
experience. This is especially the case if ‘life’ limits your ability to interact in person with those lives of others whom you care about
most. Close friends or family may live at great distances from one another and even in different time zones. Here, social media
provides an endless window of communication to stay in touch and socialise with one another even if you sleep at completely
different times.

Human connection is one of our most fundamental natural needs, and social media is a means of feeding that hunger. Social
media’s global reach is an extremely powerful medium for connecting with friends and family on a regular basis. It allows groups of
people to interact with one another from anywhere in the world. Imagery and videos further enhance this experience by allowing
us to actually see the world through the eyes of other individuals. However, as enticing and useful as this technology is for
distanced communications, it will never be a substitute for being in the same physical space with another individual. When that is
not physically possible, video chats and phone calls provide a far more compelling medium for remote human connection and
communication.

SPEAKING

Pre-intermediate
1 Introduce yourself. Tell me about your hobbies and interests. What are your likes and dislikes?

Example Answer:
My name is Eduardo. I enjoy running, reading, and going to baseball games. The best thing about running is how it makes me feel. I
love being outside in the fresh air. I don’t like surfing the Internet because it wastes my time. I don’t mind watching films online, but
I can’t stand social media.

Intermediate
2 Think about a film that you have recently seen. What happened in it? Did you enjoy it? Why or why not?

Example Answer:
I recently watched a comedy called “Take My Money” starring Rodney Freedman and Sharon Ray. It came out in January. It’s about a
married couple who were struggling comedians in New York City. One day, they found out that they won the lottery. After a few days,
they accidentally donated all of the money to charity! It was an enjoyable film. I recommend it to anyone who likes feel-good

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 Perspectives Placement Test – Answer Key

comedies.

Upper intermediate
3 Think about a popular restaurant near your home. Have you ever been there? What kind of food does it serve? How is the
atmosphere of the restaurant? Describe it in as much detail as possible.

Example Answer:
There is a restaurant near my home called The Lobster Shack. I go there for dinner around once a month. If fresh and delicious
seafood is your thing, then I would highly recommend this restaurant to you. My favourite meals there are the surf n’ turf, the
shrimp scampi, and the oven roasted sea bass. It is usually crowded so be sure to call ahead and make a reservation before showing
up. When the weather is pleasant, I prefer to sit at one of the outdoor tables that is facing the inlet. On Saturday nights, there is
usually a band playing relaxing music for everyone to enjoy while they eat. If you ask me, The Lobster Shack is the best restaurant in
town.

Advanced
4 Tell a story about an interesting experience. It can be something that you have personally experienced, or it can be made up.
Describe this story in as much detail as possible.

Example Answer:
Have I told you about my trip to Disney World? It was the most magical experience. My family decided to travel to Florida during
the winter holidays last year. We stayed at a hotel right next to Epcot so that we could easily get into all of the theme parks. We
visited Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Universal Studios, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot, of course! Since we purchased a Fast
Pass, we were able to bypass the queues once per hour. In between our Fast Pass reserved rides, my dad used a Disney application
to figure out which rides had the shortest queues. It’s really incredible how technology enabled us to avoid the crowds and get the
very most out of our trip. My favorite part of the entire trip was watching my younger brother’s face light up whenever we came
across a Disney character, or whenever we went to a show that he enjoyed. The weather was absolutely gorgeous! When we
weren’t at the theme parks, we were relaxing by our hotel pool. I would love to go back again someday.