READING
COMPREHENSION
Exercise 1
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
Read the passage and answer the questions
Are you setting up a small business? Worried about the costs of renting office space and
employing the right people?
Rebus Virtual Office World can help you in setting up your business. With our Basic
Office Deal, we can set up a virtual office for you practically overnight.
We will give your business a professional image and our polite, friendly staff will handle
your calls and present your business in the best possible way. We can provide you with: a
professional business address, a local phone number and we will also handle mail.
For a more personal approach, with the option of forwarding mail and messages to your
home address, don’t hesitate to ask us about our Premier Office Deals.
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
1) Where is the text from?
a. A message from a business to a current client
b. An advertisement for a new business service
c. An email from one business worker to another
d. A newspaper article about a new business’s success
2) What does the service provide?
a. Off-site staff to perform general office duties
b. A site where several businesses can locate their offices
c. Advice on how to make your business more professional
d. Temporary staff for local businesses
3) Which of the following is not included in the Basic Office deal?
a. A polite receptionist
b. A mail-forwarding service
c. A professional address
d. A telephone-answering service
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
1) Where is the text from?
a. A message from a business to a current client
b. An advertisement for a new business service
c. An email from one business worker to another
d. A newspaper article about a new business’s success
2) What does the service provide?
a. Off-site staff to perform general office duties
b. A site where several businesses can locate their offices
c. Advice on how to make your business more professional
d. Temporary staff for local businesses
3) Which of the following is not included in the Basic Office deal?
a. A polite receptionist
b. A mail-forwarding service
c. A professional address
d. A telephone-answering service
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
Read the passage and answer the questions
Dear Helen,
I would like to congratulate you on organizing such an excellent and informative workshop. I
know a lot of people learnt a great deal from it. Can you pass on my thanks to Doctor
Friedman for his fascinating talk on Staff Motivation? I realize how lucky we were that he was
able to find the time for us. The feedback from the staff was very positive. Let’s hope we
actually see an improvement in staff motivation as a result!
By the way, I’m missing my list of addresses of the delegates who attended. Did I happen to
leave it in your office? It’s just that I haven’t seen it since our meeting on Friday.
Thanks again for a great day,
Anne
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
1) What is the main objective of the message?
a. To inform
b. To accuse
c. To make a request
d. To praise
2) What can be implied about the workshop?
a. All the delegates were staff from the same office.
b. It included several talks.
c. It lasted one day.
d. Motivation was the only topic discussed.
3) What can be implied about Dr Friedman?
a. He works in the same office as Anne.
b. He has a very busy schedule.
c. He is a leading expert on staff motivation.
d. Anne knows him better than Helen does.
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
1) What is the main objective of the message?
a. To inform
b. To accuse
c. To make a request
d. To praise
2) What can be implied about the workshop?
a. All the delegates were staff from the same office.
b. It included several talks.
c. It lasted one day.
d. Motivation was the only topic discussed.
3) What can be implied about Dr Friedman?
a. He works in the same office as Anne.
b. He has a very busy schedule.
c. He is a leading expert on staff motivation.
d. Anne knows him better than Helen does.
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
Read the passage and answer the questions
Here’s a mouth-watering cookie recipe for you to try at home. You will need two cups each of
margarine, white sugar and brown sugar; four eggs, four cups of flour, 1 teaspoon of baking
powder, a pinch of salt and a cup of milk chocolate chips. First of all, pre-heat the oven to
350 degrees Fahrenheit. Take a large bowl and cream together the margarine and sugar until
they are smooth. Then add the eggs, one by one. Sift the flour and baking powder into the
mixture and add the salt. Finally add the chocolate chips. Drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto
ungreased cookie sheets and bake for eight to ten minutes until the edges are golden
brown. Cool for one hour before eating.
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
1) Which of the following is NOT an ingredient in the recipe?
a. Cream
b. Flour
c. Eggs
d. Margarine
2) What must the cook do first?
a. Put the margarine and sugar in a bowl
b. Turn on the oven
c. Sift the flour
d. Break the eggs
3) Which of the following ingredients is added last?
a. Salt
b. Baking powder
c. Chocolate chips
d. Eggs
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
1) Which of the following is NOT an ingredient in the recipe?
a. Cream
b. Flour
c. Eggs
d. Margarine
2) What must the cook do first?
a. Put the margarine and sugar in a bowl
b. Turn on the oven
c. Sift the flour
d. Break the eggs
3) Which of the following ingredients is added last?
a. Salt
b. Baking powder
c. Chocolate chips
d. Eggs
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
Read the passage and answer the questions
MEMORANDUM
TO: All Office Employees
FROM: Ruth Crawford
RE: New Phone System
DATE: May 22
As you know, we badly need to modernize our communications system. I have enclosed with
this memo some descriptions of phone systems sent by sales representatives. Please read
the materials carefully and send your recommendations to me.
The system should be able to handle at least one hold line and eight extension lines. My
opinion is that a built-in answering machine is necessary. Conference calls and speed-dialing
features are now standard in many systems and could prove useful.
At the present our office uses twelve phones, and although we do not have a fixed limit for
the unit price it should be mid-range. Recommendations should be in my office by the end of
the week. An order of 50 can be placed through Supplies and Equipment by the first of the
month.
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
1) What does the memo discuss?
a. Holding a conference on telecommunications
b. Repairing old telephone units
c. Communicating by telephone less frequently
d. Choosing a new telephone system
2) What should people do after reading the memo?
a. Organize a conference to discuss the matter
b. Order new phones right away
c. Notify Ruth Crawford of a preference
d. Contact Supplies and Equipment as soon as possible
3) What is a criterion for selecting equipment?
a. Use of standard colors
b. One hold line and at least eight extension line
c. Separate answering machine
d. Low price per unit
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
1) What does the memo discuss?
a. Holding a conference on telecommunications
b. Repairing old telephone units
c. Communicating by telephone less frequently
d. Choosing a new telephone system
2) What should people do after reading the memo?
a. Organize a conference to discuss the matter
b. Order new phones right away
c. Notify Ruth Crawford of a preference
d. Contact Supplies and Equipment as soon as possible
3) What is a criterion for selecting equipment?
a. Use of standard colors
b. One hold line and at least eight extension lines
c. Separate answering machine
d. Low price per unit
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
Read the passage and answer the questions
Memorandum
To: Supervisors
From: Judy Linquiest, Human Resource Manager
Sub: Probation periods
As of January 1st all new employees will be subject to a 3 month probationary period.
Medical, holiday, and flextime benefits will not apply to new staff members until the full 3
months have expired. After the three months have been completed, please contact your
employees and inform them that their probationary period has ended. The HR department will
contact you by email 2 days in advance to remind you of the date. Thank you for your
cooperation.
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
1) What is the main purpose of this memo?
a. To inform all employees of a new expiration date
b. To put staff members on probation
c. To introduce the HR department
d. To inform supervisors of a change in policy.
2) When does the change come into effect?
a. Today
b. In 2 days
c. In 3 months
d. On January 1st
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
1) What is the main purpose of this memo?
a. To inform all employees of a new expiration date
b. To put staff members on probation
c. To introduce the HR department
d. To inform supervisors of a change in policy.
2) When does the change come into effect?
a. Today
b. In 2 days
c. In 3 months
d. On January 1st
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
Read the passage and answer the questions
The advantages that made us #1 in Asia
YES! Please send me your student travel catalog.
Experience
We have the most experience in overseas student travel: 47 years of discovering the best
sights and events, the best hotels and restaurants, the best staff here and abroad- all priced
for a student's budget
References
We stand by our reputation. We'll give you the names of past participants so you can get a
firsthand impression.
Savings
We can pass on greater volume discounts, so your dollars will buy you more.
Popularity
More students choose our Out to Asia trips than any other. Member, Association of World
Travel Organizations.
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
1) Why should someone choose Out to Asia?
a. It offers varied travel packages.
b. It has a good safety record
c. Its packages are all-inclusive
d. Other people like it
2) How can you do grassroots research into Out to Asia?
a. Talk to a former Out to Asia traveler
b. Call the Association of World Travel Organizations
c. Order its catalog
d. Contemplate its experience
3) What describes the cost of Out to Asia tours?
a. They're very expensive because they include study opportunities
b. They're quite expensive, but everything's the best.
c. They're cheap because they're planned for big numbers
d. They're in middle price range
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
1) Why should someone choose Out to Asia?
a. It offers varied travel packages.
b. It has a good safety record
c. Its packages are all-inclusive
d. Other people like it
2) How can you do grassroots research into Out to Asia?
a. Talk to a former Out to Asia traveler
b. Call the Association of World Travel Organizations
c. Order its catalog
d. Contemplate its experience
3) What describes the cost of Out to Asia tours?
a. They're very expensive because they include study opportunities
b. They're quite expensive, but everything's the best.
c. They're cheap because they're planned for big numbers
d. They're in middle price range
© 2013 wheresjenny.com