British Council Abu Dhabi

TESOL Arabia YL SIG

Diagnosing Reading Difficulties



The British Council, 2014

The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.

Test 1: The cloze test
Complete the gaps with a correct word.

Return Ticket, Please! by David Hill
The first person ever to stand on the moon was Neil Armstrong on 20 July 1969. As he
stepped out (1)_________ his spacecraft, he said, (2) _________s one small step (3)
_________ a man; one giant (4) _________ for mankind. What would (5) _________ say if
you were (6) _________ first person ever to (7) onto another planet? The (8) _________
States, working with other (9) _________ , is planning a new (10)_________ to Mars by the
(11) _________ 2020. And this time, (12) _________ll be people on (13) _________.
Spacecraft without crews have (14) landing on Mars since (15) _________ 1970s. In 1997,
the (16) _________ Pathfinder landed on Mars, (17) _________ a small, six-wheeled (18)
_________ called Sojourner trundled around, (19) _________ rocks and measuring the (20)
_________ speed.


Test 2: The selective cloze test
In the poem below one word is missing from each line. Find the place and write the missing
word.

Two old men lived near small town.
They were friends they were small children. But
one man bought a car, his friend bought
one too. He was not if his friend was
better him.


Test 3: Factual comprehension test
Read the following sentences. What are the missing words?

When something falls, it goes ___________.
Most children go to ___________ at night.
It is ___________ for children to remain still.


Test 4: Multiple choice comprehension test
Circle the best answer for each question according to the information in the text.

1. What was a giant leap for mankind?
(a) sending a spacecraft to the moon
(b) the United States working with other
countries
(c) sending a mission to Mars
(d) humans landing on the moon
2. trundled (line 9) means
(a) travelled
(b) looked
(c) took many photographs
(d) turned

3. Pathfinder was
(a) a robot
(b) a person
(c) a spacecraft
(d) a computer


Return Ticket, Please! by David Hill




British Council Abu Dhabi
TESOL Arabia YL SIG
Diagnosing Reading Difficulties



The British Council, 2014

The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.

The first person ever to stand on the moon was Neil Armstrong on 20 July 1969. As he
stepped out of his spacecraft, he said, Thats one small step for a man; one giant leap for
mankind. What would you say if you were the first person ever to step onto another planet?
The United States, working with other countries, is planning a new mission to Mars by the
year 2020. And this time, therell be people on board. Spacecraft without crews have been
landing on Mars since the 1970s. In 1997, the spacecraft Pathfinder landed on Mars, and a
small, six-wheeled robot called Sojourner trundled around, testing rocks and measuring the
wind speed. A trip to Mars takes a long time. The astronauts who walked on the moon took
three days to get there, travelling at 6000 km/h in their Apollo spacecraft. At the same
speed, it would take them twenty months to reach Mars. Even with todays more powerful
rockets, it could take at least seven months to reach Mars.


Test 5: Reading out loud test
Read the text out loud to your teacher.

While they were talking together, who should come in but the cat. As soon as the town
mouse saw the cat, she slipped quietly behind a box and hid herself. Her friend, who had
never yet seen a cat, turned to her and asked her who that gentleman was who had come in
so quietly.


Test 6: Grammar recognition test
What are the missing words? Complete the gaps.

I was very surprised by ____________.
It made me ____________.
I was ____________ for at least an hour.


Test 7: The autocue test
Read the story. Choose the best summary.

a) Its bad to live by a river.
b) A lucky escape.
c) An enjoyable cruise on the Yellow River.

www.cueprompter.com