Examen de ubicación tipo TOEFL ITP (MCER)

1) What time is the meeting? At 10:30
At 11:00
At 11:30
At noon

2) What will the speaker do before 10:30? Start the report
Send the final version
Attend the meeting
Check the schedule

3) Why does the speaker want to return the shoes? They are too big.
They are too small.
They are damaged.
They are expensive.

4) What does the store offer? A discount
Free shipping
An exchange or a refund
A receipt

5) What chapters are on the quiz? Chapters 1–3
Chapters 3–4
Only chapter 4
Only chapter 3

6) When does the quiz start? At eight
At nine
At ten
At noon

7) What symptom does the speaker still have? A sore throat
A headache
A fever
A cough

8) When should the speaker take the pill? Before breakfast
After lunch
Before dinner
At bedtime

9) Why is the train delayed? Weather conditions
Maintenance
A staff strike
A medical emergency

10) When will the train depart? 6:40
7:05
7:30
Platform 3

11) Where is the modern art gallery? First floor
Second floor
Third floor
Basement

12) How often do guided tours start? Every 30 minutes
Every hour
Twice a day
Only on weekends

13) What is the main goal? Hire more people
Cut costs
Plan a party
Increase travel

14) What does the manager suggest first? Cancel the trip
Reduce travel and supplies
Hire a consultant
Raise prices

15) What will the speaker do? Prepare suggestions
Buy supplies
Cancel the trip
Hire staff

Passage 1 — Community Garden

In many cities, people have started community gardens on empty lots. Neighbors who do not have yards can rent small plots to grow vegetables and flowers. These gardens bring people together and provide fresh, affordable food. Volunteers usually share tools and organize weekend events, such as cooking classes and composting workshops. Local schools sometimes visit to learn about healthy eating and the life cycle of plants. However, community gardens also face challenges: water can be expensive, and theft occasionally occurs. Despite these problems, many residents say that gardens make their neighborhoods cleaner and safer. With bright tomatoes and tall sunflowers, the lots no longer look abandoned; instead, they become welcoming green spaces.

1) What is a common benefit of community gardens? Free housing for families
Fresh, affordable food
Free water for all residents
Fewer schools in the area

2) Who often organizes weekend events? City officials
Volunteers
Police officers
Realtors

3) What do schools learn during visits? How to build apartments
The life cycle of plants
How to repair bikes
The history of the city

4) What is one challenge for gardens? Too many volunteers
Water can be expensive
Too much sunlight
Lack of empty lots

5) The overall tone about gardens is mostly… Negative and fearful
Neutral and distant
Positive but realistic
Confused and uncertain

Passage 2 — The History of Paper

Long before the invention of modern paper, people used clay tablets, palm leaves, or silk to write. Around 105 CE in China, a court official named Cai Lun developed a cheaper, lighter material by mixing tree bark, old rags, and water; he pressed and dried the pulp to create paper. Over centuries, papermaking techniques spread along trade routes to the Islamic world and Europe. The arrival of the printing press in the 15th century increased the demand for paper dramatically. Today, while digital devices have reduced the need for printed books and newspapers, paper remains essential for packaging, hygiene, and art. Recycling helps limit deforestation, but global consumption still challenges forests and water supplies.

6) What was Cai Lun’s main contribution? Inventing the printing press
Creating a cheaper form of paper
Discovering silk
Building trade routes

7) Which event increased the demand for paper? The fall of the Roman Empire
The invention of the printing press
The discovery of electricity
The rise of digital devices

8) Today, paper is still essential mostly because of… printing books
packaging and hygiene
writing on silk
clay tablets

9) The passage suggests that recycling… fully solves environmental problems
is unrelated to forests
helps but is not enough alone
increases water use

10) “Consumption still challenges forests” means… forests are growing faster than before
paper use puts pressure on forests
paper is no longer used
forests are not affected

Passage 3 — Urban Bicycles

Many cities have introduced bike-sharing programs to reduce traffic and pollution. With a mobile app, users can unlock a bicycle at one station and return it at another near their destination. These systems are popular with commuters who combine biking with buses or trains. However, safety concerns remain: some streets still lack protected lanes, and riders need better education about traffic rules. Maintenance is also critical; if bikes are not repaired quickly, people lose trust and stop using the service. Even so, when cities invest in infrastructure and consistent service, bike-sharing can transform short urban trips and help create a healthier environment.

11) What is one goal of bike-sharing? Increase car traffic
Reduce pollution
Eliminate trains
Sell more cars

12) Why do some users combine bikes with public transport? To avoid apps
For long vacations
For commuting efficiency
Because bikes are banned

13) What problem affects user trust? Too many stations
Slow maintenance
Free helmets
Protected lanes

14) What would most likely increase safety? Fewer traffic rules
Better rider education
Removing bike lanes
Closing train stations

15) The overall message of the passage is that bike-sharing… fails in most cities
only works without maintenance
can succeed with investment and service
is mainly for tourists