READING TEST

Read each text and choose the best answer for each question by writing the letter of the correct
answer.

London

London, is the largest city in Europe. It has held this title for over four hundred years. Over seven
million people call London, the capital of the United Kingdom, home. One in ten people, who live in the
United Kingdom, live in London. Three hundred fifty thousand people travel each day into London to
work.

Due to London's location, it is a very dry all year. Although it is dry, London is often very cloudy. On
average it rains mildly just about every other day.

More than a hundred of the world's major companies have their headquarters in London, making the
city a major world influence. Most people from London work in a job that involves printing or
publishing.

ANSWER THE QUESTIONS:

1. How long has London been the largest city in Europe?
a. 100 years

b. 200 years

c. 300 years

d. 400 years

2. London is the capital city of what country?

a. United States b. France

c. United Kingdom d. Spain

3. What of the following is true about London?
a. it's very wet b. it's very cold

c. it's very dry d. it's very hot

4. Most of the people that work in London work in which industry?

a. construction

b. law enforcement

c. professional soccer

d. publishing

The Post Office

The colony of Massachusetts established the first post office within the United States in 1639. In 1789
Congress authorized the postal service under the U.S. Constitution. At the time, the nation had 75
local post offices and delivered mail over an area of 1875 mi.
Today, the postal service is an independent agency responsible for postal regulation and delivery. The
Postal Services main responsibilities are the collection and delivery of printed material and hard goods.
The Postal Service also issues domestic and foreign money orders. In a single year, the Postal Service
handles more than 160 billion pieces of mail.
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS:
5. What U.S. State is credited with the Invention of the post office?
a. New Hampshire b. Maine

c. Massachusetts d. New Jersey

6. About how long was it between when the first post office was in operation and when the U.S.
congress authorized the postal service?
a. 50 years b. 75 years

c. 100 years d. 150 years

7. How can you send and receive money through the post office?
a. with a postal money order b. with postal crazy bucks

c. with a postal check d. with a postal decoder ring

8. The post office handles just over 160 _________ pieces of mail a year.
a. thousand b. million

c. billion d. trillion

How Shall Employees Conduct Themselves?

Guidelines for Conducting Business with Those outside Our Company

Our employees are the most effective advertisement of our values, beliefs, and abilities. Always keep
in mind that when you are acting in your capacity as our employee, you are contributing materially to
the public image and the ultimate success of this company.

(5) Gifts for Influence

No payment or gift of money, goods, or services should be given or received to influence
government or business decisions. Accurate and complete records for all accounts will be
strictly monitored for everyone’s protection.
(10)
If it becomes apparent to you in the course of the performance of your business responsibilities
that a payment of some kind is expected by your business associate, please contact your
division president.

Conflict of Interest
A conflict of interest can be described as a situation where a person has a vested interest in
two areas of the business world that may give him or her an unfair advantage in business
dealings.
(15)
Our employees should be sensitive to any relationship that creates such a relationship—or even
creates the appearance of such a relationship.

Keep these rules in mind:

• Throughout your employment period, be vigilant about potential conflicts of interest
between this company’s interests and your personal or immediate family’s interests.
• Don’t use your position with this company to obtain a personal benefit of any kind.
• Avoid any action or relationship that creates, or even creates the appearance of, a
conflict of interest. For example, having an interest in a nonpublic company that competes or
(20)
does business with our company or any of its affiliates might create the appearance of a conflict
of interest and might prompt accusations and/or an investigation.

Disclosure
This company respects your privacy, as well as your right to conduct your personal affairs
(25) without interference; however, you must make prompt, complete, and continuing disclosure of
all facts relating to any factual or potential conflict of interest.

Investigations
(30) Inquiries or investigations may be undertaken at this company’s direction by its attorneys,
investigators, internal auditors, or independent public accountants. Employees should regard
this vigilance as the company’s commitment not only to fair competition but also to the
protection of its employees. Your cooperation is needed for your protection as well as that of
this company, and it is a condition of your employment.
 This excerpt is a composite of information from several business documents.

9. Based on the information in this excerpt, what would be the company's policy about accepting
gifts or entertainment from people representing your competitors?

Accepting gifts or entertainment from people representing competitors would be considered

a. dangerous
b. practical
c. reasonable
d. unacceptable
e. good business

10. Based on the information in this excerpt, when is it permissible to give money that might be
considered a bribe or a tip to a government official in order to facilitate business?
a. It is never permissible to give a gift or other payment to influence government or
business decisions.
b. It may be necessary in certain foreign countries where it is expected.
c. Payments to government officials can be made at any time with prior approval of the
division president.
d. Modest gratuities can be offered at any time.
e. All payments or gratuities must be worth their fair trade value.

11. What is the meaning of the phrase “or even creates the appearance of” (lines 14–15)?
a. an actual conflict of interest
b. a conflict between the company's interests and your personal or immediate family's
interest
c. a situation that is not truly a conflict of interest but may appear to be
d. the company's high standards for employee personal appearance and behavior
e. a situation that is within your personal affairs

12. What is an example of a conflict of interest?

a. Your cousin works for the same company.
b. You have given gratuities to foreign government officials.
c. You often meet with the employee's union representative.
d. You have cheated on your income tax.
e. Your spouse owns stock in one of the company's competitors.

13. While this excerpt is discussing a very serious topic, it tries to maintain a feeling of sincere
interest in the employee.
Which of the statements below most clearly reflects that feeling?
a. "No payment or gift of money, goods, or services should be given or received to
influence government or business decisions" (line 6-7).
b. "...records for all accounts will be strictly monitored..." (lines 7-8)
c. "Don't use your position with this company to obtain a personal benefit or any kind"
(line 19).
d. "This company respects your privacy, as well as your right to conduct your personal
affairs without interference" (lines 25-26).
e. "Your cooperation...is a condition of your employment" (lines 32-33).

14. How is this excerpt organized?

a. statements of fact supported by personal stories
b. specific topics followed by explanations
c. rules for behavior supported by warnings of consequences
d. general policy statement without specific performance standards
e. debate of public versus personal philosophies

15. Earlier in this document, the company describes how employees of this company are to behave
toward each other. The document includes a statement about complete and enforced intolerance
for discrimination in any form.

Based on this information and the information in this excerpt, why might a potential employee
want to read all this company’s rules and regulations for employee behavior carefully?
a. One mistake with this company could cost an employee his or her job.
b. Competitors have several options for securing their rights
c. Employees and their managers must interact carefully.
d. Unfair labor practices will not be tolerated.
e. This company has high expectations for employee behavior

16. If you were running this company and you wanted to hire someone to enforce these rules, what
primary characteristic would you want in this potential employee?
 a. knowledge about the company's product
b. honesty and integrity
c. communication skills
d. human relations skills
e. familiarity with your employee

For each of the following questions or statements, choose the best answer by writing
the letter.
17. Why should you make reading an integral part of your daily college work?

a. Reading provides you with basic information that you can use to create knowledge of a subject.
b. Reading improves your understanding of others and the world around you by exposing you to new
viewpoints, ideas, and cultures.
c. Reading helps you understand yourself, which will assist you in making better life choices.
d. All of the above

18. What should you do to get the most out of your college reading?

a. Find a comfortable, quiet area to read

b. Set a definite time to read, but establish routine breaks from reading
c. Set a purpose for reading
d. All of the above

19. What is the process called that includes skimming, scanning, breaking down material, building your
vocabulary, taking notes, checking your comprehension, and reviewing and recalling what you have
read?

a. Attention span adjusting

b. Active reading
c. Latin and Greek root word development
d. Cornell note-taking

20. Reading improves your understanding of others and the world around you by exposing you to new
viewpoints, ideas, and cultures.

a. True
b. False