CELPIP: Reading Part 1: Reading Correspondence

All 25 questions in this test

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

1. 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 The lab equipment is out of date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

2. 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

3. 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

4. To the Customer Care Team at Northline Home, On June 2, I ordered a six-seat dining table with a promised delivery window of June 16 to June 20. The table arrived on June 27, a full week late, and only after I had called your office three times. When the delivery crew unpacked it, we found a deep scratch across the top and one leg that was noticeably shorter than the others. The crew agreed the table was damaged and took photos, but they told me they were not allowed to take it back without approval from your office. I had planned to use the table for my daughter's graduation dinner on June 29. Because of the delay and the damage, I had to rent a table at a cost of $85. I am asking for two things. First, please arrange for the damaged table to be picked up and replaced within ten business days. Second, I would like to be reimbursed for the rental, as it was a direct result of your late delivery. I have attached the rental receipt and the crew's photos. I have been a loyal customer for several years and hope we can resolve this quickly. Regards, Fatima Okafor

   Why does Fatima remind the company that she is a long-time customer?

   1. To encourage a quick solution
   2. To explain why she ordered online
   3. To ask for a loyalty reward
   4. To complain about past orders

5. 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

   What makes Daniel think Mei would suit the role?

   1. She was very patient as a player
   2. She made the dean's list
   3. She is studying to be a nurse
   4. She has coached teams before

6. 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

   What happened to Ken's snowblower on Thursday morning?

   1. It was stolen from the driveway
   2. It ran out of fuel in the storm
   3. It began making a grinding noise
   4. It would not start in the cold

7. 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

8. 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

   Why is Coach Daniel writing to Mei?

   1. He is asking for a donation
   2. He wants her to join a team
   3. He needs a nurse at games for first aid
   4. He is looking for volunteer coaches

9. 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

   Ken writes back: 'Don't worry — that old machine tends to ______ every winter.' Which phrase best completes his reply?

   1. break up
   2. break out
   3. break down
   4. break in

10. To the Customer Care Team at Northline Home, On June 2, I ordered a six-seat dining table with a promised delivery window of June 16 to June 20. The table arrived on June 27, a full week late, and only after I had called your office three times. When the delivery crew unpacked it, we found a deep scratch across the top and one leg that was noticeably shorter than the others. The crew agreed the table was damaged and took photos, but they told me they were not allowed to take it back without approval from your office. I had planned to use the table for my daughter's graduation dinner on June 29. Because of the delay and the damage, I had to rent a table at a cost of $85. I am asking for two things. First, please arrange for the damaged table to be picked up and replaced within ten business days. Second, I would like to be reimbursed for the rental, as it was a direct result of your late delivery. I have attached the rental receipt and the crew's photos. I have been a loyal customer for several years and hope we can resolve this quickly. Regards, Fatima Okafor

    How late did Fatima's dining table arrive?

    1. Three days late
    2. Ten business days late
    3. A full week late
    4. Two weeks late

11. 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

    What has Marisol done for Ken while the machine is out of action?

    1. Collected his mail every day
    2. Lent him her own snowblower
    3. Paid his repair shop in advance
    4. Shovelled his front walk and steps

12. 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

    How does Daniel reassure Mei about the responsibility involved?

    1. She would coach for only one month
    2. She would work with an experienced coach
    3. She could pick which children to coach
    4. She would not need a background check

13. To the Customer Care Team at Northline Home, On June 2, I ordered a six-seat dining table with a promised delivery window of June 16 to June 20. The table arrived on June 27, a full week late, and only after I had called your office three times. When the delivery crew unpacked it, we found a deep scratch across the top and one leg that was noticeably shorter than the others. The crew agreed the table was damaged and took photos, but they told me they were not allowed to take it back without approval from your office. I had planned to use the table for my daughter's graduation dinner on June 29. Because of the delay and the damage, I had to rent a table at a cost of $85. I am asking for two things. First, please arrange for the damaged table to be picked up and replaced within ten business days. Second, I would like to be reimbursed for the rental, as it was a direct result of your late delivery. I have attached the rental receipt and the crew's photos. I have been a loyal customer for several years and hope we can resolve this quickly. Regards, Fatima Okafor

    Which of these does Fatima ask Northline Home to do?

    1. Repay the $85 she spent on a rental
    2. Refund the full price of the table
    3. Give her a discount on a future order
    4. Send a different delivery crew

14. 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

    For how long will the east elevator in Arjun's building be closed?

    1. About one week
    2. About three days
    3. About two months
    4. About three weeks

15. Why is Arjun reluctant to rely on the west elevator?

    1. It is too narrow for a walker
    2. It only serves the lower floors
    3. It often stops working on weekends
    4. It is closed for the same upgrade

16. What is the first thing Arjun asks the building manager to arrange?

    1. A ramp at the main entrance
    2. A discount on his March rent
    3. An earlier start for the work
    4. A technician on call on weekends

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

    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

18. 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

    How many children signed up for Eastside Youth Basketball this season?

    1. 140
    2. 90
    3. 100
    4. 50

19. 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

    Who discovered what was wrong with the snowblower?

    1. Ken's usual repair shop
    2. A mechanic in Winnipeg
    3. Marisol's brother-in-law
    4. Marisol's mail carrier

20. 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

21. To the Customer Care Team at Northline Home, On June 2, I ordered a six-seat dining table with a promised delivery window of June 16 to June 20. The table arrived on June 27, a full week late, and only after I had called your office three times. When the delivery crew unpacked it, we found a deep scratch across the top and one leg that was noticeably shorter than the others. The crew agreed the table was damaged and took photos, but they told me they were not allowed to take it back without approval from your office. I had planned to use the table for my daughter's graduation dinner on June 29. Because of the delay and the damage, I had to rent a table at a cost of $85. I am asking for two things. First, please arrange for the damaged table to be picked up and replaced within ten business days. Second, I would like to be reimbursed for the rental, as it was a direct result of your late delivery. I have attached the rental receipt and the crew's photos. I have been a loyal customer for several years and hope we can resolve this quickly. Regards, Fatima Okafor

    Why did the delivery crew not take the damaged table back?

    1. They needed approval from the office
    2. Their truck had no room left
    3. Fatima asked them to leave it
    4. They did not see the damage

22. 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

23. To the Customer Care Team at Northline Home, On June 2, I ordered a six-seat dining table with a promised delivery window of June 16 to June 20. The table arrived on June 27, a full week late, and only after I had called your office three times. When the delivery crew unpacked it, we found a deep scratch across the top and one leg that was noticeably shorter than the others. The crew agreed the table was damaged and took photos, but they told me they were not allowed to take it back without approval from your office. I had planned to use the table for my daughter's graduation dinner on June 29. Because of the delay and the damage, I had to rent a table at a cost of $85. I am asking for two things. First, please arrange for the damaged table to be picked up and replaced within ten business days. Second, I would like to be reimbursed for the rental, as it was a direct result of your late delivery. I have attached the rental receipt and the crew's photos. I have been a loyal customer for several years and hope we can resolve this quickly. Regards, Fatima Okafor

    What event did Fatima need a table for on June 29?

    1. Her own birthday party
    2. A family reunion picnic in the park
    3. Her daughter's graduation dinner
    4. A work holiday lunch

24. 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

    Why does Arjun mention Tuesday mornings in his letter?

    1. He works late every Tuesday
    2. The upgrade work begins that day
    3. His mother has medical appointments then
    4. Maintenance staff are off that day

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

    How long has Grace been living in Saskatoon?

    1. About one year
    2. Almost four months
    3. Almost four weeks
    4. Since last September