IELTS

Placement Test
Time allowed: 2 hours
QUESTION PAPER

DO NOT write on this paper

Instructions:
Please answer all questions
DO NOT use a dictionary
Write all answers on the separate answer sheet

Section 1 - Vocabulary
For questions 1-10, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of
each line to form a word that fits in the space in the same line. There is an example at
the beginning (0). Write your answers on the separate answer sheet.
Example: 0

remarkably

MARMALADE
Marmalade is a type of jam made from oranges. It is (0).

REMARK

popular in Britain, where it is (1) . eaten on toast at

TRADITION

breakfast. However, although it is an (2) . part of life in

DAY

Britain, it is not British.

Marmalade (3) . came from Portugal and the word comes

ORIGIN

from a Portuguese word.

After its (4) . in Britain in 1945, marmalade was at first eaten

ARRIVAL

as an after-dinner sweet. It was often moulded into (5) .

ATTRACT

shapes and then sliced. It was considered a very (6) .

DESIRE

delicacy and an excellent gift and today it is not (7) . for

COMMON

people to give special jars of marmalade as presents.

Marmalade was also used as a (8) . for coughs and it was

TREAT

thought to (9) . the heart.

STRONG

Today, the (10) . ingredient of marmalade is the Seville

BASE

orange, from Spain.

First Certificate Practice Tests 2, Oxford University Press 1997

Section 2 - Reading
Questions 11-24 are based on the reading passage below.
The Risks of Cigarette Smoke
Discovered in the early 1800s and named nicotianine, the oily essence now called
nicotine is the main active ingredient of tobacco. Nicotine, however, is only a small
component of cigarette smoke, which contains more than 4,700 chemical compounds,
including 43 cancer-causing substances. In recent times, scientific research has been
providing evidence, that years of cigarette smoking vastly increases the risk of
developing fatal medical conditions.
In addition to being responsible for more than 85 per cent of lung cancers, smoking is
associated with cancers of, amongst others, the mouth, stomach and kidneys, and is
thought to cause about 14 per cent of leukaemia and cervical cancers. In 1990,
smoking caused more than 84,000 deaths, mainly resulting from such problems as
pneumonia, bronchitis and influenza. Smoking, it is believed, is responsible for 30
per cent of all deaths from cancer and clearly represents the most preventable cause of
cancer in countries like the United States today.
Passive smoking, the breathing in of the side-stream smoke from the burning of
tobacco between puffs or of the smoke exhaled by a smoker, also causes a serious
health risk. A report published in 1992 by the US Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) emphasized the health dangers, especially from side-stream smoke. This type
of smoke contains more, smaller particles and is therefore more likely to be deposited
deep in the lungs. On the basis of this report, the EPA has classified environmental
tobacco smoke in the highest risk category for causing cancer.
As an illustration of the health risks, in the case of a married couple where one partner
is a smoker and one a non-smoker, the latter is believed to have a 30 per cent higher
risk of death from heart disease because of passive smoking. The risk of lung cancer
also increases over the years of exposure and the figure jumps to 80 per cent if the
spouse has been smoking four packs a day for 20 years. It has been calculated that 17
per cent of cases of lung cancer can be attributed to high levels of exposure to second
hand tobacco smoke during childhood and adolescence.
A more recent study by researchers at the University of California at San Francisco
(UCSF) has shown that second-hand cigarette smoke does more harm to non-smokers
than to smokers. Leaving aside the philosophical question of whether anyone should
have to breathe someone elses cigarette smoke, the report suggests that the smoke
experienced by many people in their daily lives is enough to produce substantial
adverse effects on a persons heart and lungs.
The report, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (AMA),
was based on the researchers own earlier research but also includes a review of
studies over the past few years. The American Medical Association represents about
half of all US doctors and is a strong opponent of smoking. The study suggests that
people who smoke cigarettes are continually damaging their cardiovascular system,
which adapts in order to compensate for the effects of smoking. It further states that
people who do not smoke do not have the benefit of their system adapting to the
smoke inhalation. Consequently, the effects of passive smoking are far greater on
non-smokers than on smokers.

This report emphasizes that cancer is not caused by a single element in cigarette
smoke; harmful effects to health are caused by many components. Carbon monoxide,
for example, competes with oxygen in red blood cells and interferes with the bloods
ability to deliver life-giving oxygen to the heart. Nicotine and other toxins in
cigarette smoke activate small blood cells called platelets, which increases the
likelihood of blood clots, thereby affecting blood circulation throughout the body.
The researchers criticize the practice of some scientific consultants who work with the
tobacco industry for assuming that cigarette smoke has the same impact on smokers
as it does on non-smokers. They argue that those scientists are underestimating the
damage done by passive smoking and, in support of their recent findings, cite some
previous research which points to passive smoking as the cause for between 30,000
and 60,000 deaths from heart attacks each year in the United States. This means that
passive smoking is the third most preventable cause of death after active smoking and
alcohol-related diseases.
The study argues that the type of action needed against passive smoking should be
similar to that being taken against illegal drugs and AIDS (SIDA). The UCSF
researchers maintain that the simplest and most cost-effective action is to establish
smoke-free work places, schools and public places.

Questions 11-13
Choose the appropriate letters A-D and write them on your answer sheet.
11.

According to information in the text, leukaemia and pneumonia

A
B
C
D

are responsible for 84, 000 deaths each year.

are strongly linked to cigarette smoking.
are strongly linked to lung cancer.
result in 30 per cent of deaths per year.

12. According to information in the text, intake of carbon monoxide

A
B
C
D

inhibits the flow of oxygen to the heart.

increases absorption of other smoke particles.
inhibits red blood cell formation.
promotes nicotine absorption.

13. According to information in the text, intake of nicotine encourages

A
B
C
D

blood circulation through the body.

activity of other toxins in the blood.
formation of blood clots.
an increase of platelets in the blood.

Questions 14-17
Do the following statements reflect the claims of the writer in the reading
passage?
On your answer sheet write
YES
NO
NOT GIVEN
14.
15.
16.
17.

if the statement reflects the claims of the writer

if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

Thirty per cent of deaths in the United States are caused by smoking-related
diseases.
If one partner in a marriage smokes, the other is likely to take up smoking.
Teenagers whose parents smoke are at risk of getting lung cancer at some time
during their lives.
Opponents of smoking financed the UCSF study.

Questions 18-20
Choose ONE phrase from the list of phrases A-J below to complete each of the
following sentences (Questions 18-20).
Write the appropriate letters on your answer sheet.
18.
19.
20.

Passive smoking
Compared with a non-smoker, a smoker
The American Medical Association

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J

includes reviews of studies in its reports.

argues for stronger action against smoking in public places.
is one of the two most preventable causes of death.
is more likely to be at risk from passive smoking diseases.
is more harmful to non-smokers than to smokers.
is less likely to be at risk of contracting lung cancer.
is more likely to be at risk of contracting various cancers.
opposes smoking and publishes research on the subject.
is just as harmful to smokers as it is to non-smokers.
reduces the quantity of blood flowing around the body.

Questions 21-24
Classify the following statements as being
A
B
C
D

a finding of the UCSF study

an opinion of the UCSF study
a finding of the EPA report
an assumption of consultants to the tobacco industry

Write the appropriate letters A-D on your answer sheet.

NB You may use any letter more than once.
21.
22.
23.
24.

Smokers cardiovascular systems adapt to the intake of environmental smoke.

There is a philosophical question as to whether people should have to inhale
others smoke.
Smoke-free public places offer the best solution.
The intake of side-stream smoke is more harmful than smoke exhaled by a
smoker.

Cambridge IELTS 3, Cambridge University Press 2002

Section 3 -Writing
Present a written argument on the following topic:
The best way to reduce the number of traffic accidents is to make all young drivers
complete a safe driving education course before being licensed to drive.
You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your
arguments with examples and relevant evidence.
You should write at least 250 words.
Please write your answer in the answer booklet.

Gibson, C, et al, 1996, IELTS Practice Now, Adelaide, CALUSA

IELTS
Placement Test - Answer Sheet
Time allowed: 2 hours
Name: _____________________________________________
Class: ___________________

Date: ___________________

Course Dates: _____________

No. of Weeks: ___________

IELTS Exam:

Campus: _______________

Yes

No

Write all your answers on this answer sheet

Please DO NOT USE dictionaries
Office Use

Student No.: ______________

Writing _______/20 Other _______/24

Total _______%

Speaking _____________________________________________________________
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Accepted

Rejected

Waiting List

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IELTS
Placement Test - Answer Sheet
Section 1 Vocabulary (1 mark each)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
_______/10
Section 2 Reading (1 mark each)
11
2
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
_______/14

Total Score: ______/24

Section 3 Writing
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