CELPIP Mock Exam 1

All 38 questions in this test

Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.

1. Few sounds signal autumn in the suburbs like the roar of a gas-powered leaf blower. Now several municipalities are debating whether to ban them. Supporters of a ban point to noise and pollution. Dr. Helen Fraser, an environmental health researcher, notes that small two-stroke engines burn fuel inefficiently and release far more pollution per hour than their size suggests. Residents who work night shifts also complain that the machines make daytime sleep impossible. Landscaping companies see the issue differently. Marco Bellini, who runs a twelve-person crew, says battery-powered models are improving but still struggle with wet leaves on large properties. "A ban would double the time each job takes," he says, "and customers would pay for that." He would prefer limits on the hours blowers can be used rather than an outright ban. City councillor Amira Shah has proposed a compromise: a ban on gas blowers starting in 2028, with a rebate program to help small businesses buy electric equipment before then. Critics on both sides say her plan goes either too far or not far enough, but it may be the only option that can win a majority on council.

   A reader comments: 'I run a small garden service, and a rebate would help ______ the cost of switching.' Which word best fills the blank?

   1. outset
   2. offset
   3. offend
   4. upset

2. Rental e-scooters arrived in Lakeport two summers ago as a pilot project. City council must now decide whether to keep them. Fans of the program, many of them university students, say the scooters fill a gap in the transit system. Bus routes in the east end run only every 30 minutes, and a scooter can cover the two kilometres to the nearest rapid-transit station in under ten minutes. The operator reports more than 400,000 trips last year. Opponents focus on safety and clutter. A seniors' advocacy group says scooters left lying on sidewalks are a tripping hazard, especially for people with poor eyesight or those using walkers. Emergency room doctors have also reported a steady stream of injuries, most involving riders who were not wearing helmets. The operator has proposed changes: parking only in marked zones, enforced by fines charged to riders' accounts, and a lower speed limit of 15 km/h in the downtown core. Councillor Ben Tremblay says those changes are a good start, but he wants the city to track injuries for another year before signing a long-term contract.

   Who are many of the supporters of Lakeport's e-scooter program?

   1. Emergency room doctors
   2. Seniors' groups
   3. University students
   4. Bus drivers

3. After three years of letting staff work from home, the City of Brookfield has ordered its 2,000 municipal employees back to the office at least four days a week. Mayor Denise Okoro says the decision is about service and teamwork. She believes new employees in particular learn faster when they can watch experienced colleagues and ask quick questions in person. She also points to the downtown cafés and shops that lost business when office towers emptied. The employees' union strongly disagrees. Union president Raj Patel says productivity rose during the remote-work period and that many staff moved farther from downtown to afford housing. "For some members, four days in the office means four extra hours of commuting each day," he says. The union has filed a formal grievance. Workplace consultant Erin Walsh thinks both sides are partly right. In her experience, the most successful employers let each team decide which days it meets in person, based on the work it does. "A blanket rule is easy to announce," she says, "but it rarely fits every department."

   Which reason does Mayor Okoro give for the new rule?

   1. Office rents have gone up
   2. New staff learn faster in person
   3. Productivity fell at home
   4. Employees asked to return

4. A. Last year Halden Software, a 120-person company in Waterloo, tried a four-day work week for six months. Staff kept their full salaries but worked 32 hours instead of 40, with every Friday off. B. Managers measured the results carefully. The number of completed projects stayed almost exactly the same, and sick days fell by about a quarter. In an anonymous survey, nine out of ten employees said they felt less stressed. Customer satisfaction scores, however, dipped slightly in the first two months, mainly because clients could not reach anyone on Fridays. C. To fix that problem, the company created a small rotating team that works Fridays and takes a different weekday off instead. Halden has now made the four-day week permanent. Its chief executive admits the model may not suit every business, especially those that must serve customers in person every day.

   Why did customer satisfaction dip early in the Halden trial?

   1. Projects were delivered late to many clients
   2. Staff salaries were reduced
   3. Too many staff were off sick
   4. Clients could not reach staff on Fridays

5. Few sounds signal autumn in the suburbs like the roar of a gas-powered leaf blower. Now several municipalities are debating whether to ban them. Supporters of a ban point to noise and pollution. Dr. Helen Fraser, an environmental health researcher, notes that small two-stroke engines burn fuel inefficiently and release far more pollution per hour than their size suggests. Residents who work night shifts also complain that the machines make daytime sleep impossible. Landscaping companies see the issue differently. Marco Bellini, who runs a twelve-person crew, says battery-powered models are improving but still struggle with wet leaves on large properties. "A ban would double the time each job takes," he says, "and customers would pay for that." He would prefer limits on the hours blowers can be used rather than an outright ban. City councillor Amira Shah has proposed a compromise: a ban on gas blowers starting in 2028, with a rebate program to help small businesses buy electric equipment before then. Critics on both sides say her plan goes either too far or not far enough, but it may be the only option that can win a majority on council.

   Why does Bellini think battery blowers are not good enough yet?

   1. They are already banned in some cities
   2. They are louder than gas blowers
   3. They struggle with wet leaves on big jobs
   4. They cost too much to recharge

6. What is Dr. Fraser's main objection to gas leaf blowers?

   1. The danger to their users
   2. The pollution they release
   3. The cost of their fuel
   4. The damage they do to lawns

7. A. Visitors to Cedar Bluff Provincial Park will notice something new this summer: small posts with QR codes along the six-kilometre Ridge Trail. Scanning a code with a phone opens a short recording in which a park interpreter describes the plants, rock formations or wildlife at that spot. B. The project was suggested by a group of high-school students who noticed that many young visitors ignored the printed brochures. The students wrote the first drafts of the scripts, and park staff checked them for accuracy before recording. Recordings are available in English and French, and a version in an Indigenous language, developed with a nearby Cree community, is planned for next year. C. Because cell coverage on the ridge is patchy, the park recommends downloading all the recordings at the visitor centre, where free Wi-Fi is available. Printed brochures will still be offered to visitors who prefer not to use a phone.

   Which paragraph reports how many visitors have used the codes so far?

   1. Paragraph B
   2. Paragraph C
   3. Paragraph A
   4. Not given

8. A. Every February since 1962, the town of Pine Hollow has held a winter carnival on the frozen surface of Mirror Lake. It began as a single afternoon of skating races organized by the volunteer fire department to raise money for new equipment. B. Over the decades the event grew to fill an entire weekend. Today visitors can watch ice-sculpting contests, ride a horse-drawn sleigh or cheer on the famous bed race, in which teams push decorated beds on skis along a 200-metre course. The carnival now attracts around 15,000 people, roughly five times the town's population. C. Warmer winters have created new challenges. In three of the last ten years the ice was too thin for safe use, and organizers had to move activities to the arena parking lot. The committee is now considering a permanent move to the fairgrounds, although many long-time residents argue that the carnival would lose its character away from the lake.

   Which paragraph describes what visitors can do at the carnival today?

   1. Paragraph C
   2. Paragraph B
   3. Not given in the passage
   4. Paragraph A

9. Dear Mei, I hope your first year of nursing school is going well. Your mother told me you made the dean's list, which did not surprise me one bit. I'm writing because the Eastside Youth Basketball program is growing faster than we expected. We have 140 children registered this season, up from 90 last year, and I am short of volunteer coaches for the under-10 division. You were one of the most patient players I ever coached, and the younger kids always looked up to you. I know your schedule is busy, so I want to be clear about what is involved. Practices are on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 7:30, and games are on Saturday mornings. You would be paired with an experienced head coach, so you would never be in charge of a team on your own. We also cover the cost of the required first-aid course and background check. If you can only help on Saturdays, that would still make a big difference. Please let me know by October 15 so I can finalize the coaching list before the season starts on October 28. All the best, Coach Daniel

   By what date does Daniel need Mei's answer?

   1. September 30
   2. October 15
   3. October 1
   4. October 28

10. When the provincial museum dropped its $22 admission fee for a one-year trial, attendance nearly doubled. Now the government must decide whether to make free entry permanent. Museum director Paul Arsenault is strongly in favour. He says the trial brought in many first-time visitors, especially families from lower-income neighbourhoods who had never been able to afford a visit. "A public museum belongs to everyone," he argues, "and a ticket price sends the message that it doesn't." Finance critics are less enthusiastic. Admission fees used to cover about a fifth of the museum's operating budget, and the trial was funded by a one-time grant. Taxpayer advocate Linda Moreau questions whether residents of distant towns, who rarely travel to the capital, should pay for a service they seldom use. Some suggest a middle path: free admission for residents one evening a week, with regular fees at other times. Arsenault dismisses the idea as "free entry for people who already have free evenings," noting that shift workers and parents of young children would be the least likely to benefit.

    Why does Paul Arsenault support free admission?

    1. He finds tickets hard to sell
    2. He believes the museum belongs to everyone
    3. He wants to cut the museum's staffing costs
    4. He expects more donations

11. MAPLEWAVE MOBILE — MONTHLY PLANS Basic: $35 — 10 GB data, unlimited Canada-wide calling, no international texts Plus: $50 — 40 GB data, unlimited Canada-wide calling, unlimited international texts Travel: $65 — 40 GB data, unlimited calling and international texts, plus 2 GB of U.S. roaming data each month Extra line: $25 per month; shares the main plan's data All plans require a 24-month agreement, except Basic, which is month-to-month. Hi Omar, You mentioned you're switching providers, so I thought I'd ask your advice. I use about 30 GB a month, mostly for video calls with my parents in Manila, and I text my cousins in Dubai every day. I'm also driving to Seattle twice this year for work. The problem is that I may move to another province next spring, so I don't want to be locked into a long contract. Any thoughts? Jun

    What is the main drawback of the Plus plan for Jun?

    1. It costs more than the Travel plan
    2. It has no international texting
    3. It requires a 24-month agreement
    4. It offers only 10 GB of data

12. APARTMENTS FOR RENT — LAKESHORE PROPERTY GROUP Unit 1: 1 bedroom, 3rd floor, $1,450/month, heat included, no pets, 10-minute walk to subway Unit 2: 2 bedrooms, ground floor, $1,900/month, heat and hydro included, cats only, 25-minute walk to subway Unit 3: 2 bedrooms, 8th floor with elevator, $1,750/month, utilities extra, small dogs allowed, 5-minute walk to subway Unit 4: 1 bedroom + den, 2nd-floor walk-up, $1,600/month, heat included, pets allowed, 15-minute walk to subway First and last month's rent are due at signing. Hi Kwame, My partner and I are looking for a new place. We need two bedrooms because we both work from home, and we have a small beagle named Biscuit. Our budget is $1,800 a month before utilities. I'm having knee surgery next month, so I'd like to avoid stairs for a while. We both commute downtown twice a week. Thanks for any help, Nadia

    What extra monthly cost should Nadia expect if she rents Unit 3?

    1. A parking charge
    2. A monthly pet fee
    3. Utilities on top of rent
    4. An elevator charge

13. Hi Tomás, It has been far too long! I finally feel settled in Saskatoon after almost four months, so I wanted to send you a proper update instead of another quick text. The new job at the hospital lab is going well. The work is similar to what we did in Regina, but the team is bigger and I'm learning a lot about the new testing equipment. The only downside is the schedule: I work four ten-hour shifts, which leaves me exhausted by Thursday but gives me a long weekend every week. I've been using those long weekends to explore. Last month I rented a canoe and paddled part of the South Saskatchewan River. It was beautiful, even though I got soaked when I tried to stand up to take a photo. Here's my real reason for writing: my landlord has offered the apartment next door to my sister, who is starting university here in September. You mentioned that your nephew rented in this neighbourhood a few years ago. Do you know if he had any problems with noise or parking? I'd like an honest opinion before she signs a lease. Hope the family is well. Call me any Friday! Grace

    What is the real purpose of Grace's message to Tomás?

    1. To invite him on a canoe trip
    2. To ask him to call on Friday
    3. To ask about the area for her sister
    4. To tell him about a lab job

14. Hi Ken, I hope you and Linda had a relaxing trip to Halifax. I wanted to thank you again for letting me borrow your snowblower while you were away. The storm last Tuesday dropped almost forty centimetres on our street, and I honestly don't know how I would have cleared the driveway without it. Unfortunately, I have some bad news. On Thursday morning the machine started making a grinding noise, so I switched it off right away. My brother-in-law, who repairs small engines, took a look and found that a bolt had come loose inside the auger. He says it is a simple fix, but the replacement part has to be ordered from Winnipeg and will take about a week to arrive. I feel terrible about this, and of course I will cover the cost of the repair. In the meantime, I have cleared your front walk and steps twice with a shovel, so your mail carrier should have no trouble getting to the door. If you would rather take the snowblower to your usual repair shop, just let me know and I will drop it off there instead. Warm regards, Marisol

    Why will the snowblower repair take about a week?

    1. A part has to be ordered from Winnipeg
    2. Ken must approve the cost first
    3. The repair shop is closed for the holidays
    4. Marisol's brother-in-law is away until then

15. Rental e-scooters arrived in Lakeport two summers ago as a pilot project. City council must now decide whether to keep them. Fans of the program, many of them university students, say the scooters fill a gap in the transit system. Bus routes in the east end run only every 30 minutes, and a scooter can cover the two kilometres to the nearest rapid-transit station in under ten minutes. The operator reports more than 400,000 trips last year. Opponents focus on safety and clutter. A seniors' advocacy group says scooters left lying on sidewalks are a tripping hazard, especially for people with poor eyesight or those using walkers. Emergency room doctors have also reported a steady stream of injuries, most involving riders who were not wearing helmets. The operator has proposed changes: parking only in marked zones, enforced by fines charged to riders' accounts, and a lower speed limit of 15 km/h in the downtown core. Councillor Ben Tremblay says those changes are a good start, but he wants the city to track injuries for another year before signing a long-term contract.

    What concern does the seniors' advocacy group raise about scooters?

    1. Scooters on sidewalks can trip people
    2. Rentals are too expensive for most seniors
    3. Scooters are noisy at night
    4. Riders are too young

16. Few sounds signal autumn in the suburbs like the roar of a gas-powered leaf blower. Now several municipalities are debating whether to ban them. Supporters of a ban point to noise and pollution. Dr. Helen Fraser, an environmental health researcher, notes that small two-stroke engines burn fuel inefficiently and release far more pollution per hour than their size suggests. Residents who work night shifts also complain that the machines make daytime sleep impossible. Landscaping companies see the issue differently. Marco Bellini, who runs a twelve-person crew, says battery-powered models are improving but still struggle with wet leaves on large properties. "A ban would double the time each job takes," he says, "and customers would pay for that." He would prefer limits on the hours blowers can be used rather than an outright ban. City councillor Amira Shah has proposed a compromise: a ban on gas blowers starting in 2028, with a rebate program to help small businesses buy electric equipment before then. Critics on both sides say her plan goes either too far or not far enough, but it may be the only option that can win a majority on council.

    How does Councillor Shah's proposal try to help landscaping businesses?

    1. It exempts large properties
    2. It delays the ban indefinitely for small firms
    3. It offers rebates for electric equipment
    4. It bans blowers only at night

17. Hi Tomás, It has been far too long! I finally feel settled in Saskatoon after almost four months, so I wanted to send you a proper update instead of another quick text. The new job at the hospital lab is going well. The work is similar to what we did in Regina, but the team is bigger and I'm learning a lot about the new testing equipment. The only downside is the schedule: I work four ten-hour shifts, which leaves me exhausted by Thursday but gives me a long weekend every week. I've been using those long weekends to explore. Last month I rented a canoe and paddled part of the South Saskatchewan River. It was beautiful, even though I got soaked when I tried to stand up to take a photo. Here's my real reason for writing: my landlord has offered the apartment next door to my sister, who is starting university here in September. You mentioned that your nephew rented in this neighbourhood a few years ago. Do you know if he had any problems with noise or parking? I'd like an honest opinion before she signs a lease. Hope the family is well. Call me any Friday! Grace

    What happened during Grace's canoe trip on the river?

    1. She lost her phone in the water
    2. She got lost for several hours
    3. She got wet trying to take a photo
    4. She paddled the entire river

18. A. Beekeeping is no longer just a rural hobby. In several Canadian cities, residents now keep hives on rooftops, in backyards and even on hotel balconies. Most municipalities allow it with a permit, though the rules vary: some require hives to sit at least three metres from a property line, while others limit each lot to two colonies. B. Supporters say city bees benefit from the variety of flowers in parks and gardens, which can give them a more varied diet than bees surrounded by a single farm crop. Urban hives can also produce surprising amounts of honey; a healthy colony on a sunny roof may yield twenty kilograms or more in a good summer. C. Not everyone is convinced. Some ecologists worry that a rapid rise in honeybee hives could crowd out native bees, which compete for the same pollen and nectar. They encourage would-be beekeepers to plant native wildflowers as well, so that the extra demand does not leave wild species short of food.

    Which paragraph explains a possible risk to wild bee species?

    1. Paragraph B
    2. Paragraph A
    3. Paragraph C
    4. Not given in the passage

19. After three years of letting staff work from home, the City of Brookfield has ordered its 2,000 municipal employees back to the office at least four days a week. Mayor Denise Okoro says the decision is about service and teamwork. She believes new employees in particular learn faster when they can watch experienced colleagues and ask quick questions in person. She also points to the downtown cafés and shops that lost business when office towers emptied. The employees' union strongly disagrees. Union president Raj Patel says productivity rose during the remote-work period and that many staff moved farther from downtown to afford housing. "For some members, four days in the office means four extra hours of commuting each day," he says. The union has filed a formal grievance. Workplace consultant Erin Walsh thinks both sides are partly right. In her experience, the most successful employers let each team decide which days it meets in person, based on the work it does. "A blanket rule is easy to announce," she says, "but it rarely fits every department."

    What approach does Erin Walsh recommend?

    1. Letting each team choose its office days
    2. Paying staff to commute
    3. Keeping all staff fully remote, as before
    4. Requiring five office days

20. RIVERBEND RECREATION CENTRE — WINTER SWIM LESSONS (8 weeks) Starfish (ages 3–5, parent in water): Saturdays 9:00–9:30 a.m. — $64 Minnow (ages 5–7): Mondays 4:30–5:15 p.m. or Saturdays 10:00–10:45 a.m. — $88 Dolphin (ages 7–10): Wednesdays 5:30–6:15 p.m. — $88 Shark (ages 10–13): Wednesdays 6:30–7:30 p.m. — $104 Riverbend residents receive 15% off. Registration closes January 5. Hi Lena, I'm trying to sign up both kids for swimming this winter. Noah just turned 6 and Ava is 9. I work until 5 on weekdays, so Monday afternoon lessons won't work, but Wednesday evenings are fine because my husband is home by then. We'd love the kids to swim on the same day, but I know their ages might not allow it. I'm also not sure whether we live inside the Riverbend boundary. Do you know? Talk soon, Paulina

    Why can't both of Paulina's children swim on Wednesday evening?

    1. The pool closes early on Wednesdays
    2. Ava's class is full on Wednesdays
    3. Noah's level has no Wednesday class
    4. Ava's level only runs on Saturdays

21. A. Every February since 1962, the town of Pine Hollow has held a winter carnival on the frozen surface of Mirror Lake. It began as a single afternoon of skating races organized by the volunteer fire department to raise money for new equipment. B. Over the decades the event grew to fill an entire weekend. Today visitors can watch ice-sculpting contests, ride a horse-drawn sleigh or cheer on the famous bed race, in which teams push decorated beds on skis along a 200-metre course. The carnival now attracts around 15,000 people, roughly five times the town's population. C. Warmer winters have created new challenges. In three of the last ten years the ice was too thin for safe use, and organizers had to move activities to the arena parking lot. The committee is now considering a permanent move to the fairgrounds, although many long-time residents argue that the carnival would lose its character away from the lake.

    Based on the article, roughly how many people live in Pine Hollow?

    1. About 3,000
    2. About 1,500
    3. About 5,000
    4. About 15,000

22. A. When the Northgate branch of the public library began lending power drills and sewing machines last spring, staff expected a few curious borrowers. Instead, the first 200 tools were all checked out within a week, and the waiting list for the tile cutter grew to more than sixty names. B. The program works much like borrowing a book. Members with a card in good standing can take out up to three tools at a time for seven days. Items with blades or engines come with a short safety video that borrowers must watch at the desk, and anything returned dirty or broken is inspected before it goes back on the shelf. C. Library managers say the program fits their mission of giving everyone equal access to resources. A family that needs a ladder twice a year should not have to buy one, explains branch head Rosa Delgado. The library plans to expand the collection to two more branches next year, paid for by a provincial community grant.

    Which paragraph explains how the tool program's expansion will be funded?

    1. Paragraph C
    2. Not given in the passage
    3. Paragraph B
    4. Paragraph A

23. Dear Ms. Kowalski, I live in unit 1407 and received the notice that the east elevator will be out of service from March 3 to March 24 for a full upgrade. I understand the work is necessary, and I appreciate the advance notice. My concern is that my mother, who moved in with me last fall, uses a walker and cannot manage fourteen flights of stairs. The notice says the west elevator will remain available, but residents have told me it often stops working on weekends, when no maintenance staff are on site. Would it be possible to arrange for a technician to be on call during the upgrade period, at least on Saturdays and Sundays? If that is not possible, could you let me know whether any vacant units on a lower floor might be available for a short-term stay? I would be happy to pay a reasonable fee. My mother has medical appointments every Tuesday morning, so a reliable elevator on those days is especially important to us. Thank you for considering this request. I can be reached by phone after 5 p.m. Sincerely, Arjun Mehta

    What does Arjun propose if his first request cannot be met?

    1. Delaying the upgrade until summer
    2. Hiring a private elevator company
    3. Moving his mother to a care home
    4. A short stay in a lower-floor unit

24. A. Visitors to Cedar Bluff Provincial Park will notice something new this summer: small posts with QR codes along the six-kilometre Ridge Trail. Scanning a code with a phone opens a short recording in which a park interpreter describes the plants, rock formations or wildlife at that spot. B. The project was suggested by a group of high-school students who noticed that many young visitors ignored the printed brochures. The students wrote the first drafts of the scripts, and park staff checked them for accuracy before recording. Recordings are available in English and French, and a version in an Indigenous language, developed with a nearby Cree community, is planned for next year. C. Because cell coverage on the ridge is patchy, the park recommends downloading all the recordings at the visitor centre, where free Wi-Fi is available. Printed brochures will still be offered to visitors who prefer not to use a phone.

    What happens when a visitor scans a code on the Ridge Trail?

    1. A park fee is charged
    2. A trail map appears
    3. A short recording opens
    4. A ranger is alerted

25. Hi Tomás, It has been far too long! I finally feel settled in Saskatoon after almost four months, so I wanted to send you a proper update instead of another quick text. The new job at the hospital lab is going well. The work is similar to what we did in Regina, but the team is bigger and I'm learning a lot about the new testing equipment. The only downside is the schedule: I work four ten-hour shifts, which leaves me exhausted by Thursday but gives me a long weekend every week. I've been using those long weekends to explore. Last month I rented a canoe and paddled part of the South Saskatchewan River. It was beautiful, even though I got soaked when I tried to stand up to take a photo. Here's my real reason for writing: my landlord has offered the apartment next door to my sister, who is starting university here in September. You mentioned that your nephew rented in this neighbourhood a few years ago. Do you know if he had any problems with noise or parking? I'd like an honest opinion before she signs a lease. Hope the family is well. Call me any Friday! Grace

    Why does Grace think Tomás can help with her question?

    1. He lives next door to her
    2. His nephew once rented in that area
    3. He used to be her landlord
    4. He works at the university in Saskatoon

26. NEWCOMER CAREER DAY — SATURDAY, APRIL 18, CENTRAL LIBRARY 9:30–10:30 a.m.: Writing a Canadian-style résumé (Room 2), registration required 10:45–11:45 a.m.: Getting your foreign credentials assessed (Room 4) 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.: Mock job interviews with volunteers (Room 1), bring a résumé 1:00–2:00 p.m.: Networking for introverts (Room 2) 1:00–3:00 p.m.: Employer booths (Main Hall), free entry Lunch is not provided; the library café is open until 2 p.m. Free parking is available only before 10 a.m. Hi Sofia, Thanks for telling me about the career day! I'm an engineer from Colombia, and my biggest problem is that employers don't seem to understand my degree. I'd also love to practise interviewing, though my résumé still needs work. I can't get there before 10:30 because I drop my son at soccer. What should I go to? Andrés

    Why can’t Andrés attend the full duration of both the credentials session and the mock interviews?

    1. The two sessions overlap
    2. Both need advance registration
    3. They are on different days
    4. The interviews are for students only

27. Hi Tomás, It has been far too long! I finally feel settled in Saskatoon after almost four months, so I wanted to send you a proper update instead of another quick text. The new job at the hospital lab is going well. The work is similar to what we did in Regina, but the team is bigger and I'm learning a lot about the new testing equipment. The only downside is the schedule: I work four ten-hour shifts, which leaves me exhausted by Thursday but gives me a long weekend every week. I've been using those long weekends to explore. Last month I rented a canoe and paddled part of the South Saskatchewan River. It was beautiful, even though I got soaked when I tried to stand up to take a photo. Here's my real reason for writing: my landlord has offered the apartment next door to my sister, who is starting university here in September. You mentioned that your nephew rented in this neighbourhood a few years ago. Do you know if he had any problems with noise or parking? I'd like an honest opinion before she signs a lease. Hope the family is well. Call me any Friday! Grace

    What does Grace see as the drawback of her new job?

    1. The lab equipment is out of date
    2. Her team is smaller than before
    3. The work is unlike her old job
    4. Her long shifts leave her worn out

28. NEWCOMER CAREER DAY — SATURDAY, APRIL 18, CENTRAL LIBRARY 9:30–10:30 a.m.: Writing a Canadian-style résumé (Room 2), registration required 10:45–11:45 a.m.: Getting your foreign credentials assessed (Room 4) 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.: Mock job interviews with volunteers (Room 1), bring a résumé 1:00–2:00 p.m.: Networking for introverts (Room 2) 1:00–3:00 p.m.: Employer booths (Main Hall), free entry Lunch is not provided; the library café is open until 2 p.m. Free parking is available only before 10 a.m. Hi Sofia, Thanks for telling me about the career day! I'm an engineer from Colombia, and my biggest problem is that employers don't seem to understand my degree. I'd also love to practise interviewing, though my résumé still needs work. I can't get there before 10:30 because I drop my son at soccer. What should I go to? Andrés

    Where can visitors meet employers at the career day?

    1. In Room 2
    2. In Room 1
    3. In the library café
    4. In the Main Hall

29. GREENVIEW COMMUNITY GARDEN — 2026 PLOTS Plot A: raised bed, 1 m × 3 m, wheelchair accessible, next to the water tap — $30 per season Plot B: ground level, 3 m × 3 m, full sun, far from the tap — $40 per season Plot C: ground level, 3 m × 6 m, partial shade under maple trees — $55 per season Plot D: raised bed, 2 m × 3 m, full sun, beside the tool shed — $45 per season Every gardener must volunteer 4 hours per season. Seniors (65+) pay half price. Dear Mr. Haddad, I would like to rent a plot this year. My doctor has told me to avoid kneeling, so I need a bed I can work at while standing or sitting. I plan to grow tomatoes and peppers, which need plenty of sun. I turn 66 in March, so I hope I qualify for a discount. Carrying heavy watering cans is also hard for me these days. Best wishes, Edith Park

    Which Greenview plots would allow Edith to garden without kneeling?

    1. Plots B and C
    2. Plots A and B
    3. Plots A and D
    4. Plots C and D

30. A growing number of parents are asking school boards to push back the start of the high-school day from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. or later. Their argument rests largely on sleep research. Teenagers' body clocks naturally shift later during adolescence, so many cannot fall asleep before 11 p.m. no matter how early they go to bed. Pediatrician Dr. Kofi Mensah says that forcing them up at 6:30 leaves many students chronically tired, which affects mood, attention and even driving safety. Not everyone is persuaded. Bus companies often use the same vehicles for elementary and secondary routes, so shifting one schedule affects the other. Some parents also rely on older children to walk younger siblings home, which becomes harder if high school ends later. And coaches warn that later dismissal would push practices and games into the evening. Principal Janet Liu, whose school tried a 9:15 start last year, says the results were mixed but encouraging. Attendance in first period improved noticeably, while complaints about after-school activities rose. "It's not a magic fix," she says, "but I wouldn't go back."

    Why do bus schedules make a later high-school start difficult?

    1. Buses cost more in the morning
    2. Drivers refuse to work later hours
    3. Buses are shared with elementary routes
    4. There are too few bus stops

31. NEWCOMER CAREER DAY — SATURDAY, APRIL 18, CENTRAL LIBRARY 9:30–10:30 a.m.: Writing a Canadian-style résumé (Room 2), registration required 10:45–11:45 a.m.: Getting your foreign credentials assessed (Room 4) 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.: Mock job interviews with volunteers (Room 1), bring a résumé 1:00–2:00 p.m.: Networking for introverts (Room 2) 1:00–3:00 p.m.: Employer booths (Main Hall), free entry Lunch is not provided; the library café is open until 2 p.m. Free parking is available only before 10 a.m. Hi Sofia, Thanks for telling me about the career day! I'm an engineer from Colombia, and my biggest problem is that employers don't seem to understand my degree. I'd also love to practise interviewing, though my résumé still needs work. I can't get there before 10:30 because I drop my son at soccer. What should I go to? Andrés

    What should Andrés know about parking at the library?

    1. It is reserved for employers
    2. It is closed on Saturdays
    3. It is free for the whole day
    4. It is free only before 10 a.m.

32. A. Visitors to Cedar Bluff Provincial Park will notice something new this summer: small posts with QR codes along the six-kilometre Ridge Trail. Scanning a code with a phone opens a short recording in which a park interpreter describes the plants, rock formations or wildlife at that spot. B. The project was suggested by a group of high-school students who noticed that many young visitors ignored the printed brochures. The students wrote the first drafts of the scripts, and park staff checked them for accuracy before recording. Recordings are available in English and French, and a version in an Indigenous language, developed with a nearby Cree community, is planned for next year. C. Because cell coverage on the ridge is patchy, the park recommends downloading all the recordings at the visitor centre, where free Wi-Fi is available. Printed brochures will still be offered to visitors who prefer not to use a phone.

    Which new version of the recordings is planned for next year?

    1. One in Mandarin
    2. One in French for school groups
    3. One in an Indigenous language
    4. One in Spanish

33. After three years of letting staff work from home, the City of Brookfield has ordered its 2,000 municipal employees back to the office at least four days a week. Mayor Denise Okoro says the decision is about service and teamwork. She believes new employees in particular learn faster when they can watch experienced colleagues and ask quick questions in person. She also points to the downtown cafés and shops that lost business when office towers emptied. The employees' union strongly disagrees. Union president Raj Patel says productivity rose during the remote-work period and that many staff moved farther from downtown to afford housing. "For some members, four days in the office means four extra hours of commuting each day," he says. The union has filed a formal grievance. Workplace consultant Erin Walsh thinks both sides are partly right. In her experience, the most successful employers let each team decide which days it meets in person, based on the work it does. "A blanket rule is easy to announce," she says, "but it rarely fits every department."

    Why does Raj Patel say the rule is especially hard on some workers?

    1. They prefer working alone
    2. They moved far from downtown
    3. They have no desks in the office
    4. They mostly work night shifts

34. A. Last year Halden Software, a 120-person company in Waterloo, tried a four-day work week for six months. Staff kept their full salaries but worked 32 hours instead of 40, with every Friday off. B. Managers measured the results carefully. The number of completed projects stayed almost exactly the same, and sick days fell by about a quarter. In an anonymous survey, nine out of ten employees said they felt less stressed. Customer satisfaction scores, however, dipped slightly in the first two months, mainly because clients could not reach anyone on Fridays. C. To fix that problem, the company created a small rotating team that works Fridays and takes a different weekday off instead. Halden has now made the four-day week permanent. Its chief executive admits the model may not suit every business, especially those that must serve customers in person every day.

    Which paragraph explains how Halden solved its Friday customer problem?

    1. Paragraph C
    2. Not given in the passage
    3. Paragraph B
    4. Paragraph A

35. MAPLEWAVE MOBILE — MONTHLY PLANS Basic: $35 — 10 GB data, unlimited Canada-wide calling, no international texts Plus: $50 — 40 GB data, unlimited Canada-wide calling, unlimited international texts Travel: $65 — 40 GB data, unlimited calling and international texts, plus 2 GB of U.S. roaming data each month Extra line: $25 per month; shares the main plan's data All plans require a 24-month agreement, except Basic, which is month-to-month. Hi Omar, You mentioned you're switching providers, so I thought I'd ask your advice. I use about 30 GB a month, mostly for video calls with my parents in Manila, and I text my cousins in Dubai every day. I'm also driving to Seattle twice this year for work. The problem is that I may move to another province next spring, so I don't want to be locked into a long contract. Any thoughts? Jun

    Which Maplewave plan includes data for Jun's drives to Seattle?

    1. Travel
    2. Basic
    3. Plus
    4. Extra line

36. A. Beekeeping is no longer just a rural hobby. In several Canadian cities, residents now keep hives on rooftops, in backyards and even on hotel balconies. Most municipalities allow it with a permit, though the rules vary: some require hives to sit at least three metres from a property line, while others limit each lot to two colonies. B. Supporters say city bees benefit from the variety of flowers in parks and gardens, which can give them a more varied diet than bees surrounded by a single farm crop. Urban hives can also produce surprising amounts of honey; a healthy colony on a sunny roof may yield twenty kilograms or more in a good summer. C. Not everyone is convinced. Some ecologists worry that a rapid rise in honeybee hives could crowd out native bees, which compete for the same pollen and nectar. They encourage would-be beekeepers to plant native wildflowers as well, so that the extra demand does not leave wild species short of food.

    According to the article, why might city bees eat a more varied diet than some rural bees?

    1. They visit many kinds of flowers
    2. They avoid farm pesticides
    3. They are fed sugar water by owners
    4. They have a longer summer season

37. After three years of letting staff work from home, the City of Brookfield has ordered its 2,000 municipal employees back to the office at least four days a week. Mayor Denise Okoro says the decision is about service and teamwork. She believes new employees in particular learn faster when they can watch experienced colleagues and ask quick questions in person. She also points to the downtown cafés and shops that lost business when office towers emptied. The employees' union strongly disagrees. Union president Raj Patel says productivity rose during the remote-work period and that many staff moved farther from downtown to afford housing. "For some members, four days in the office means four extra hours of commuting each day," he says. The union has filed a formal grievance. Workplace consultant Erin Walsh thinks both sides are partly right. In her experience, the most successful employers let each team decide which days it meets in person, based on the work it does. "A blanket rule is easy to announce," she says, "but it rarely fits every department."

    A reader writes: 'Ms. Walsh's approach seems far more ______ than one rule for everyone.' Which word best completes the comment?

    1. careless
    2. flexible
    3. rigid
    4. expensive

38. A. Beekeeping is no longer just a rural hobby. In several Canadian cities, residents now keep hives on rooftops, in backyards and even on hotel balconies. Most municipalities allow it with a permit, though the rules vary: some require hives to sit at least three metres from a property line, while others limit each lot to two colonies. B. Supporters say city bees benefit from the variety of flowers in parks and gardens, which can give them a more varied diet than bees surrounded by a single farm crop. Urban hives can also produce surprising amounts of honey; a healthy colony on a sunny roof may yield twenty kilograms or more in a good summer. C. Not everyone is convinced. Some ecologists worry that a rapid rise in honeybee hives could crowd out native bees, which compete for the same pollen and nectar. They encourage would-be beekeepers to plant native wildflowers as well, so that the extra demand does not leave wild species short of food.

    Which paragraph states how much a city beekeeping permit costs?

    1. Not given
    2. Paragraph B
    3. Paragraph A
    4. Paragraph C