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SUMMER I.C.E

Diagnostic assessment

Please wait to turn the page and begin the assessment until instructed to do so by

the assessment administrator

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DIRECTIONS: In the passage that follows, certain words and phrases are underlined andnumbered. In the right-hand column, you will find alternatives for the underlined part. In mostcases, you are to choose the one that best expresses the idea, and uses the correct writtenregister and form. If you think the original version is best, choose “NO CHANGE.” The final item

asks you to be the “editor” by asking you questions about the passage as a whole.

For each question, highlight the alternative you consider best. The first question is alreadycompleted. You have 12 minutes to complete this task.

My name is Amir and I am from Astana,

Kazakhstan. I have 17 years 1, and I would

like to study in USA 2 because it is a great

opportunity for me. I am interesting in the

computers 3, and my dream is to study

computer science at MIT, Harvard, or

Stanford. Maybe someday I can start a

technology firm like 4 Facebook or Google.

1. a) NO CHANGEb) I am 17 years

c) I have 17 years oldd) I am 17 years old

2. a) NO CHANGEb) in the USAc) at USAd USA

3. a) NO CHANGEb) I am interesting in computersc) I am interested in computers

d) I am interested in the computers

4. a) NO CHANGEb) start technology firm asc) start the technology firm asd) start technology firm like

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For me, America is something what is very

exciting 5. I enjoy traveling abroad; I have

visited the UK 6, Turkey, and Russia.

I have been to London last summer 7 to

attend an English course, and I made many

new friends from other countries.

In America is many opportunity for 8 meet

new people and get new knowledges 9

about culture, business, and technology.

In my hometown, I go to high school and in

my free time I play 10 ice hockey and online

games

with my friends. I have two older

sisters, which 11 study at university. My

father works like engineer for the 12 large

5. a) NO CHANGEb) something where is very excitingc) very excitingd) where is very exciting

6. a) NO CHANGEb) I am visiting the UKc) I visited the UKd) I visit the UK

7. a) NO CHANGEb) I went to London last summerc) I have gone to London last summerd) I go to London last summer

8. a) NO CHANGE

b) In America are many opportunities toc) In America, there are many

opportunities ford) In America, there are many

opportunities to

9. a) NO CHANGEb) knowledgec) knowingd) know

10. a) NO CHANGEb) I am playingc) I have been playingd) I will play

11. a) NO CHANGEb) sisters, whoc) sisters whichd) sisters who

12. a) NO CHANGEb) works as engineer for ac) works like an engineer for thed) works as an engineer for a

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petrochemical firm, and my mother is

teacher. 13 They are working very hardly 14

for our family.

I am knowing 15 Kazakh and Russian, and I

am studying 16 English for seven years.

English is very important for my life and

career, and I must to improve 17 my speaking

and writing. I am good in reading 18 English,

but in Kazakhstan is few chance for speak

with native speakers. 19 To study in the USA

is best solution for improving 20my English

and my future.

13. a) NO CHANGEb) is the teacherc) is a teacherd) is an teacher

14. a) NO CHANGEb) work very hardc) work very hardlyd) are working very hard

15. a) NO CHANGEb) I am speakingc) I speakd) I can

16. a) NO CHANGE

b) I studyc) I studiedd) I have been studying

17. a) NO CHANGEb) must improvec) must improvingd) must have improved

18. a) NO CHANGEb) good in read

c) good at readingd) good for reading

19. a) NO CHANGEb) in Kazakhstan are few chances to

speak with native speakers.c) there are few chances to speak with

native speakers in Kazakhstan.d) there are few chances for speaking

with native speakers in Kazakhstan.

20. a) NO CHANGEb) Studying in the USA is the best way

to improvec) Studying in the USA is the best way

how to improved) To study in the USA is the best

solution to improve

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21. Amir wrote this essay to answer thefollowing prompt: Why do you want tostudy in the USA? Do you think his essay answers theprompt effectively?

a) No, the essay does not discuss whathe wants to study.

b) No, the essay gives too muchinformation about his family.

c) Yes, the essay discusses his goals forstudying in the USA.

d) Yes, the essay discusses his hobbies.

GO ON TO NEXT PAGE

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DIRECTIONS: Read the following passage carefully and respond to the questions that follow. Youhave 12 minutes to complete this task.

The following passage was written by Jane Goodall, a British primatologist who is widely considered to be the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees.

[Paragraph 1] As we move into this millennium it is easy to be overwhelmed by feelings of hopelessness. We humans have destroyed the balance of nature: Forests are being destroyed,deserts are spreading, there is terrible pollution of air, earth, and water. Climate is changing, peopleare starving. There are too many humans in some parts of the world, over-consumption in others.There is human cruelty to “man” and “beast” alike; there is violence and war. Yet I do have hope.Let me share my four reasons.

[Paragraph 2] Firstly, we have at last begun to admit to the problems that threaten the survival of life on earth. And we are problem-solving creatures. Our amazing brains have created moderntechnology, much of which has greatly benefited millions of people around the globe. Sadly, along

with our tendency to overproduce, technology has also resulted in massive destruction andpollution of the natural world. But can we not use our awesome problem-solving ability to now findmore environmentally friendly way s to conduct our business? Good news: It’s already happening ashundreds of industries and businesses adopt new “ green ” ethics. And we must play our part – inour billions we must adopt less-harmful lifestyles. Refuse to buy products from corporations that donot conform to new environmental standards. We can change the world.

[Paragraph 3] Secondly, nature is amazingly resilient. Given the chance, poisoned rivers can liveagain. Deforested land can be coaxed – or left – to blossom again. Animal species, on the verge of extinction, can sometimes be bred and saved from a few individuals.

[Paragraph 4] My third reason for hope lies in the tremendous energy, enthusiasm, andcommitment of young people around the world. Young people want to fight to right the wrongs, forit will be their world tomorrow —they will be the ones in leadership positions, and they themselveswill be parents. This is why the Jane Goodall Institute started Roots & Shoots, an environmentaleducation and humanitarian program for youth. Roots creep under the ground to make firmfoundation. Shoots seem small, but to reach light they can break brick walls. Hope —millions of roots and millions of shoots can break through, break all the problems humans have created, makechange. Roots & Shoots groups, from kindergarten to college, work to make the world a betterplace for animals, the environment, and the human community. The central message of Roots &Shoots is that every individual matters, every individual has a role to play, every individual makes adifference.

[Paragraph 5] My fourth reason for hope lies in the indomitable nature of the human spirit. Thereare so many people who have dreamed seemingly unattainable dreams and, because they nevergave up, achieved their goals against the odds, or blazed a path along which others could follow.[Paragraph 6] So let us move into this millennium with hope--with faith in ourselves, in our intellect,in our indomitable spirit. Let us develop respect for all living things. Let us try to replace violenceand intolerance with understanding and compassion. And love.

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DIRECTIONS: For each question, highlight the option you consider best.

1. Why does the author mention “modern technology” in paragraph 2? a. as an example of what humankind is capable of b. as an analogy for human brains

c. as a description for what will happen in the futured. as an example of human failure

2. What does the author mean by the term “green” in paragraph 2? a. eco-friendlyb. enviousc. inexperiencedd. nauseous

3. In the context of the passage, coaxed most likely means what in paragraph 3?a. forced

b. encouragedc. intimidatedd. tempted

4. Why does the author mention “young people” in paragraph 4?a. because they deforested a lot of landb. because they started a humanitarian programc. because they have the most invested in the futured. because they buy products from corporations

5. What are the “shoots” an analogy for in the Roots & Shoots program in paragraph 4?

a. people who make change in the worldb. people who create problems in the worldc. people who break brick wallsd. people who are in college

6. In paragraph 4, why was the Roots & Shoots program created?a. so that young people can be individualsb. to show that individuals do not play a role in the environmentc. so that parents can be leadersd. to provide an avenue for young people to make change

7. What is the overall theme of this essay?a. there is hope for the futureb. it is unlikely that people can make a difference for the environmentc. the climate is changingd. endangered species can sometimes be saved

STOP[5 minute break]

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DIRECTIONS: Read the following passage. Make note of the overall message of the passage andthe main points that the author presents. You have 5 minutes to read.

The “Overkill Hypothesis” in North America The late Pleistocene was a geological period that occurred about 13,000 years ago.

Many mammals in North America became extinct during the late Pleistocene. According to arecently published article, the ‘overkill hypothesis’ explains the extinctions. The article pointsout that humans arrived in North America during the late Pleistocene. According to the ‘overkill hypothesis ’, humans hunted the mammals until they became extinct.

Scientific records show that humans have often caused many animals to becomeextinct. For example, only a few hundred years after humans arrived on New Zealand, dozens of species went extinct. There is clear evidence for similar extinctions on the Cook Islands andmany of the islands in the Mediterranean.

The earliest evidence of humans in North America is at a place known as Clovis. Humantools found at the Clovis site are from the late Pleistocene. Also during the late Pleistocene, weknow that 35 different types of mammals disappeared from North America. The coincidence of the arrival of the first humans and the mammal extinctions is strong e vidence for the ‘overkillhypothesis’.

Finally, at least 14 confirmed ‘kill sites’ found in North America show that Clovis peoplehunted and killed large mammals like mastodons and mammoths. If Clovis people were capableof repeatedly hunting such massive creatures, then we may logically conclude that they wereequally capable of hunting smaller mammals until they became extinct as well.

DIRECTIONS: Now listen to part of a lecture on the topic you just read about. You may takenotes as you listen. Double click the icon below to begin audio.

[Test administrator plays a recording of the following lecture:

The ‘overkill hypothesis’ is an idea that makes sense to a lot of non -scientists. Peoplewho are worried about the environment and the impact humans have on it, like to remind usabout human destruction. Most specialists in the field, though, do not think that the overkillhypothesis makes sense.

First of all, it’s true that humans have caused many animal species to go extinct onislands. But, species that live on islands are very different from species that live on continents —like North America. Species on islands are vulnerable to changes in their environment becausethey are isolated for long periods of time from other members of their species. That means thatthey may have lost the ability to deal with the diseases, the predators, and the competitors thattypically arrive with humans. So, just because we know that humans caused island species to

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become extinct does not mean that humans would so easily cause larger, more diverse,continental species to become extinct.

Second, the reading points out that 35 different types of animals went extinct during thelate Pleistocene. And that is true! But the late Pleistocene was a very long period that stretchedover thousands —tens of thousands of years. Many of the species that became extinct during

the late Pleistocene did so before humans arrived. So, while there is a coincidence betweenNorth American extinctions and the Clovis site, it’s just that: a coincidence. In many other partsof the world similar extinctions were also taking place. These other extinctions are all said to bebecause of other causes, so why humans in North America?

Finally, there are only 14 confirmed kill sites of mastodons an d mammoths. That’s notvery many. And there are no kill sites for many of the other animals that the overkill hypothesisclaims were killed by humans . So, it doesn’t make sense to blame humans without very muchevidence.]

Writing prompt: Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how theychallenge the specific points made in the reading passage. You have 20 minutes to completeyour essay. Type your response below:

END OF TEST