PLACEMENT TEST
READING TEST
READING PASSAGE 1: VENUS
The planet Venus, named after the Roman Goddess of love, is the second closest planet
to the Sun ( Mercury is the closest) , and the second brightest natural object in the night
sky ( after the Moon).
From Earth, Venus is the brightest just after sunset and just before dawn. Because of this,
the planet is often known as the Morning Star or the Evening Star. Venus is also
sometimes known as the Earth’s sister because both planets share similarities in terms of
size-Venus’ surface area and volume are just a little smaller than Earth's. However,
scientists believe that, several billion years ago, Venus and Earth were much more similar
than they are today. Back then, Venus’ atmosphere was more than like Earth’s and there
was almost certainly water in liquid form on the surface. Over time, Venus became hotter,
and this water evaporated. Today, the planet’s surface is a dry dusty desert.
Above the ground on Venus are sulphuric acid clouds. These thick clouds prevent the
surface of the planet being seen from Earth. Indeed, it is only in last few decades these
scientists have discovered what the surface of the planet is really like. In the early 1990s,
NASA’s Magellan spacecraft mapped the surface of Venus in detail for the first time. Its
radar images of hills, ridges and crafts are almost photographic in their quality.
Questions 1-3
Which THREE of the following statements are true, according to the passage?
Write down A - G in the box choosing 3 correct answers from the list:
Note: Your answers may be given in any order.
1 ………………
2 ………………
3 ………………
A. The Moon is the brightest natural object in the night sky.
B. From Earth, Venus is at its brightest in the middle of the night.
C. Venus is a slightly larger planet than Earth.
D. Venus’ atmosphere has changed greatly over billions of years.
E. A telescope is required to see Venus’ surface from Earth.
F. Scientists now have a detailed map of the surface of Venus.
G. The surface of Venus is almost completely flat.
Questions 4-10
Complete the sentences.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
4. The ancient Romans had a ………… called Venus.
5. Only ………… is closer to the Sun than Venus.
6. Venus has been called the ……………………, the Morning Star and the Evening Star.
7. It is likely that there was………….. on Venus in the past.
8. Venus is a much ……………… planet than it used to be.
9. Venus’ thick clouds are made of ………………….
10. The spacecraft Magellan used………………… to create pictures of the surface of Venus.
READING PASSAGE 2: SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
In 1908, Heike Kamerlingh Onnes became the first scientist to produce liquid helium,
achieving the lowest temperatures recorded up to that point. A number of researchers
had suggested that materials behaved differently at very low temperatures, and this
substance was important in allowing experiments that confirmed it. Working with solid
mercury, Onnes demonstrated the phenomenon of superconductivity. This is when the
electrical resistance of the metal drops suddenly to zero. No energy is lost as electric
current travel through the material, making it very efficient for storing or transmitting
power. Since the work done by Onnes, other superconducting materials have been
discovered that can be used at higher temperatures and which are therefore more
economical.
There are a number of practical applications of superconducting materials. Many of these
applications are based on the fact that the materials can be made into extremely powerful
electromagnets. These are used in scientific experiments to direct beams of particles.
They also form part of maglev trains –trains that float a small distance above the rails
because of magnetic forces. Because there is no contact between the train and the rail,
this form of transport is capable of very high speeds, although it is unlikely to be in
widespread use until costs drop considerably.
Questions 11-15
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the reading
passage?
Write :
TRUE, if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE, if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN, if there is no information on this:
11. Many people had tried to produce liquid helium before Onnes.
12. Onnes was the only scientist interested in very low temperatures.
13. liquid helium was used for science at very low temperatures.
14. Only metals can be used as superconductors.
15. Superconductors that work at higher temperatures are more expensive.
Questions 16-20
Complete the summary of the given paragraph
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Superconductors are used in a variety of contexts. Very 16………..…….. can be, made out
of superconducting materials and scientists use them in 17.....………….. In transport,
maglev trains rely on the 18..…………..…….. Produced in superconductors to raise the
train above the rails, the lack of 19..…………..…….. meaning that high velocities can be
reached. The 20..……..………….. of maglev systems limit their use.
