ENGLISH TEST

POC READING TEST

MOCK TEST

READING PART 1 and 2

The POC Reading section has two parts: one intermediate-level passage of about 250 words in length, followed by four multiple-choice questions, and one upper-level passage about 450 words in length followed, by six multiple-choice questions. This section of the exam is 25 minutes long.

POC READING TEST PART 1

Instructions: In Part 1 of this section for the Academic and Business exams the examinee will read a short passage (250 words) and answer 4 questions. 

 Norwegian Coastal Express

In the city of Bergen on the southwest coast of Norway, a ship begins a voyage that covers almost three thousand miles. As it sails along Norway’s rugged coast, the ship services cities, towns, and villages. This ship is sailing the route known as the Norwegian Coastal Express. In total, eleven ships sail this route. It is considered one of the most beautiful voyages in the world. Because of its gorgeous vistas, the Norwegian Coastal Express is a popular cruise journey. It also serves the practical function of ferrying goods and mail as far north as the Arctic Circle.

Many times, polar waters are subject to winter ice that can completely close off regular shipping lanes. Norway, however, is influenced by the warm waters of the North Atlantic Current and mild westerly winds. The combination of these factors blesses Norway with a more moderate climate. This keeps its ports almost ice-free, even during winter.

A sea captain named Richard With is largely responsible for beginning this regular shipping service along the Norwegian coast. Because of his determination, the first ship left Trondheim on July 2, 1983, bound for the port of Hammerfest. While many people did not foresee that the Coastal Express would last long, the service was successful. Soon after, it was expanded to include thirty-four ports, which remain in use to this day. The fact that this beautiful maritime route has proven not only successful but also important, is clear from the unofficial name the locals have given it: Highway No. 1.

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POC READING TEST

POC READING TEST PART 1

 

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POC Reading Test Part 1

1. As used in the passage, "vistas" means:

a) heights

b) history

c) views

d) jewels

The noun source describes an origin, like the source who gave the journalist the information that broke a new story, or the place something originates, like the source of a river, or the Web site that is your source for celebrity gossip.

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POC Reading Test Part 1

2. As used in the passage, "blesses" means:

a) modifies

b) drops

c) believes

d) gives

The noun source describes an origin, like the source who gave the journalist the information that broke a new story, or the place something originates, like the source of a river, or the Web site that is your source for celebrity gossip.

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POC Reading Test Part 1

3. According to the passage, why is Highway No. 1 the unofficial name of the Norwegian Coastal Express?

a) It is the most beautiful route in Norway.

b) It helps sailors avoid the Arctic Circle.

c) It has been very successful for shipping.

d) It recently added cars and trucks to its route.

The noun source describes an origin, like the source who gave the journalist the information that broke a new story, or the place something originates, like the source of a river, or the Web site that is your source for celebrity gossip.

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POC Reading Test Part 1

4. According to the passage, why is Norwegian Coastal Express considered practical?

a) It helps ships deliver goods and mail.

b) It is influenced by the North Atlantic Current.

c) It travels on beautiful warm waters.

d) It relies on mild westerly winds.

The noun source describes an origin, like the source who gave the journalist the information that broke a new story, or the place something originates, like the source of a river, or the Web site that is your source for celebrity gossip.

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POC READING TEST PART 2

Instructions: In Part 2 of this section for the Academic and Business exams the examinee will read a short passage (450 words) and answer 6 questions. 

The Panama Canal

For centuries, there was no quick or easy way to transport goods across North American by boat.  Instead, ships had to go around the southern tip of South American, where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet. These trips were long and difficult. A ship going from New York to San Francisco had to travel about 13.000 miles, and the trip took almost three months! In the nineteenth century, new technologies helped to connect countries from all over the globe, and the number of goods being transported around the world began increasing. It was clear that a more efficient route across North and South American was needed, and engineers from France thought they had the answer.

The engineers thought it would be possible to build a canal, or water passages, across the country of Panama in order to connect the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Panama is a small country located on the narrow strip of land that connects North American to South American. It was chosen because there is a place where the two oceans are only separated by fifty miles of land. Construction began on the new canal in the late nineteenth century, but there were many challenges for the engineers and workers. The work was difficult and slow, and construction costs soared. Eventually, the engineers from France abandoned the project, and plans for a canal were put on hold for several years.

Then, in the early twentieth century, the United States restarted the construction with a new set of plans. Instead of building a waterway directly across the land. American engineers decided to create a large lake to cover the center part of the canal, then build a set of locks at each end to connect the lake to the oceans. A lock is a short section of the canal where the water level can be changed using a system of gates. Since the new lake was higher than the oceans of either side, the locks were an important part of the design. To pass through the canal, a ship moves from oceans into one of the locks, and the gate closes at each end. Then, the water inside the lock is raised to the same level as the lake. The gates open and the ships can easily cross the lake. Finally, on the other side of the lake, the ship enters a different set of locks and is lowered back down to the level of the ocean.

During construction, thousands of workers moved millions of tons of earth dug through mountains, and re-directed rivers to build the canal. Choice 1* After more than a decade of work the Panama Canal was finally completed in 1914. Choice 2* Since then, it has helped to transform transportation. Choice 3* Today, more than 14.000 ships use the Panama Canal each year. Goods such as electronics, clothing, and building materials are produced in factories and then shipped all over the world to be sold. Choice 4* Without the Panama Canal, none of this would be possible. 

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POC READING TEST PART 2

POC READING TEST PART 2

 

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POC Reading Test Part 2

Following is a sentence that begins a summary of the main points of the passage:

"The Panama Canal plays an important role in transportation today"

Continue the summary by choosing 3 of the 6 sentences below that best represent MAIN points in the passage. Mark your 3 answers by selecting the appropriate checkboxes. To change an answer, click on the checkbox to remove the check mark.

A quicker route was needed to cross North and South America.

Ships used to travel 13,000 miles to get from New York to San Franscisco.

Building the canal required years of planning and hard work.

Ships transport electronics and clothing through the Panama Canal.

Panama was a good place to build the canal because of the short distance between the two oceans there.

Technology connects countries all over the world.

The noun source describes an origin, like the source who gave the journalist the information that broke a new story, or the place something originates, like the source of a river, or the Web site that is your source for celebrity gossip.

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POC Reading Test Part 2

2. What is one way that building the Panama Canal was a challenge?

a) The weather was too cold for workers.

b) Tons of earth had to be dug up and moved.

c) The landscape was too flat for ships to cross.

d) Engineers designed the locks incorrectly.

The noun source describes an origin, like the source who gave the journalist the information that broke a new story, or the place something originates, like the source of a river, or the Web site that is your source for celebrity gossip.

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POC Reading Test Part 2

3. According to the passage, why do ships go through a series of locks in order to cross the Panama Canal?

a) To move between the oceans and the lake.

b) To wait of other ships to pass through the gates.

c) To make sure all of the goods are safe and secure.

d) To avoid difficult conditions and landscape.

The noun source describes an origin, like the source who gave the journalist the information that broke a new story, or the place something originates, like the source of a river, or the Web site that is your source for celebrity gossip.

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POC Reading Test Part 2

4. The work was hard, and many of the workers became sick due to the difficult conditions, such as the tropical climate and rough landscape.

Click on a circle [o] to insert the new sentence in the passage. To change your answer, click on a different circle.

During construction, thousands of workers moved millions of tons of earth dug through mountains, and re-directed rivers to build the canal. Choice 1* After more than a decade of work the Panama Canal was finally completed in 1914. Choice 2* Since then, it has helped to transform transportation. Choice 3* Today, more than 14.000 ships use the Panama Canal each year. Goods such as electronics, clothing, and building materials are produced in factories and then shipped all over the world to be sold. Choice 4* Without the Panama Canal, none of this would be possible.

Choice 1

Choice 2

Choice 3

Choice 4

The noun source describes an origin, like the source who gave the journalist the information that broke a new story, or the place something originates, like the source of a river, or the Web site that is your source for celebrity gossip.

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POC Reading Test Part 2

5. According to the passage, why was it important to build the Panama Canal?

a) Ships needed a shorter route across the Americas.

b) It took too long to cross North American in a boat.

c) People wanted to travel quickly to San Francisco.

d) Too many goods were sent from New York to South American.

The noun source describes an origin, like the source who gave the journalist the information that broke a new story, or the place something originates, like the source of a river, or the Web site that is your source for celebrity gossip.

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POC Reading Test Part 2

6. The word “soared” as used in the passage means?

a) To decline

b) To go down

c) To improve

d) To increase

The noun source describes an origin, like the source who gave the journalist the information that broke a new story, or the place something originates, like the source of a river, or the Web site that is your source for celebrity gossip.

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POC WRITING TEST

MOCK TEST

WRITING PART 1 and 2

The examinee has a total of 25 minutes to complete the Writing Section. Part 1 of the Writing Section presents a simple situation or topic, which the examinee will use to write a short note or letter. In Part 2 the examinee will write a longer essay expressing an opinion on a topic and supporting an answer.

POC WRITING PART 1

Instructions: Writing Section Part 1 presents a simple situation or topic which the examinee will use to write a short note or letter (50 – 75 words). The examinee has 5 minutes to complete this task. 

1. You went to a nice party. Write a note to thank the person who gave the party and explain why you enjoyed it so much. 

POC WRITING PART 2

Instructions: In Writing Part 2, the examinee will write an essay of 175-225 words (maximum 250 words) expressing an opinion on the given topic. The examinee has 20 minutes to complete this task. 

2. Many people believe that the minimum wage for workers is currently too low. Do you think it is a good idea for the government to increase the taxes of higher-paid workers in order to increase the minimum wage? Support your answer with specific details.

POC SPEAKING TEST

MOCK TEST

SPEAKING PART 1 and 2

In Part 1 the examinee will hear a question and read it on the screen. The examinee will then have 30 seconds to prepare an answer and 45 seconds to speak. In Part 2 the examinee will only hear, not read, a statement giving two different opinions on a topic. The examinee will then have 45 seconds to prepare an opinion and 60 seconds to speak. In both parts, the examinee may take notes to help prepare an answer. 

POC SPEAKING PART 1

Instructions: In Speaking Section Part 1 the examinee will then have 30 seconds to prepare an answer and 45 seconds to speak. The examinee may take notes to help prepare an answer.

1. Some people like winter, while others may like spring or summer. Which season do you like best and why?

POC SPEAKING PART 2

Instructions: The examinee will hear a 60 to a 90-second statement on a topic expressing two different opinions. The examinee will only hear the statement. The examinee will then have 45 seconds to prepare an opinion and 60 seconds to speak. The examinee may take notes to help prepare an answer. Give reasons and examples to support an opinion. 

 2. Most people are exposed to many advertisements every day in many different places. Some people say that advertising benefits people by letting them know about products and services that can improve their lives. Other people say that advertising makes people want to buy things they don’t need. What are your thoughts on this question? Explain why you think this.