UNIVERISTY OF PUERTO RICO, CAYEY CAMPUS

COLECTIVO UNIVERSITARIO PARA EL ACCESO (CUA)

9TH GRADE ENGLISH PRE-TEST
Name_________________________________________

Date_________________________

This test was created to understand what the students know, what they do not know, and what
needs improvement. The student must answer the questions as truthfully as he or she can. If you
have any questions, do not hesitate to ask your tutor.
I. LANGUAGE
Read the following questions and choose the correct answer.
1. What is the difference between a sentence and a phrase?
a. A sentence has a verb and a phrase does not.
b. A sentence does not have a verb, but a phrase does.
c. There is no difference between them.
d. None of the above.
2. What is a verb?
a. A word used in place of a noun or another pronoun.
b. A word that names a person, place, thing, or idea.
c. A word used to express an action, a condition, or a state of being.
d. None of the above.
3. What is a noun?
a. A word used in place of a noun or another pronoun.
b. A word that names a person, place, thing or idea.
c. A word used to express an action, a condition, or a state of being.
d. None of the above.
4. What is a pronoun?
a. A word used in place of a noun or another pronoun.
b. A word that names a person, place, thing or idea.
c. A word used to express an action, a condition, or a state of being.
d. None of the above.
5. What is the difference between an adjective and an adverb?
a. An adjective describes a verb, an adjective or an adverb, but an adverb describes a
noun or a pronoun.
b. An adverb describes a verb, an adjective or another adverb, but an adjective
describes a noun or a pronoun.
c. There is no difference between them.
d. None of the above.
6. In the following sentence identify if the verb phrase is active or passive: The modern
system of classification of plants and animals is called taxonomy.
a. Passive
b. Active

c. Both options
d. None of the above
7. In the following sentence identify ONLY the simple subject and simple predicate:
Storytellers kept the ancient legend alive for centuries.
a. Storytellers kept the ancient legend alive for centuries.
b. Storytellers kept the ancient legend alive.
c. Storytellers kept.
d. None of the above.
8. A compound verb is made up of two or more verbs or verb phrases that share the same
subject. An example of it would be:
a. Either injuries or disease is the cause of most visits to vets.
b. Dogs and cats visit vets regularly for checkups and shots.
c. Vets medicate diseased animals.
d. None of the above.
9. A store must reorder stock before a product runs out. What kind of clause is the part in
bold in the before sentence?
a. Independent clause
b. Compound predicate
c. Subordinate clause
d. None of the above
10. Which words do NOT need capitalization?
a. Family names (e.g., Sister, Cousin)
b. Name of countries (e.g., Spain, Mexico)
c. Name of friends (e.g., Peter, Mary)
d. None of the above.
11. What kind of sentence ends with a period?
a. Interrogative
b. Exclamation
c. Imperative
d. None of the Above

II. READING PART 1

Read the following story and answer the next five questions with it.
The Big Blue Shirt
By: Lorraine Gregoire
She was not what anyone would call pretty. Her face was sad, pixie-like. Blonde curly bits
attempted scraggly escapes from beneath the beat up baseball cap. She sat, thin shoulders

hunched like she was trying to hide the girlie parts beneath that big blue shirt. I couldn't take my
eyes off her. I feared she would disappear into the caverns of the mega-mall where I had first
begun to follow her.
Now, perched across from her at the crowded coffee bar, I sipped my lattepeeking upwards
and sideways though wary eyelashes so watching would not be obvious. Had she been warned
about not speaking to strangers? Should I risk it? Would she make a scene? How much should I
offer her?
I caught the eye of a matron. She pursed her lips and gave me the squint-eyed "I don't approve of
you pervert types" glare. Then, the girl spoke first, "Mister, can I bum a smoke?"
My chance. I had to be tactful. "Sure," I mumbled. "But first I have to ask you a question?, I
breathed deeply. "That blue shirt you're wearing... did you, ah, get it at the Salvation Army?"
Her eyes widened. The thin neck snapped back as if smacked by the poverty police. Before she
could scream or run away I blurted, "It was mine, a favorite---won it bowling. See, my name,
Chuck, on the sleeve. My wife, she accidentally donated it. I would really like to buy it back."
12. What point of view is the story told?
a. First
b. Second
c. Third
d. None of above
13. How many characters SPEAK in the story?
a. Four
b. Three
c. Two
d. None of Above
14. What does pixie-like mean in the story?
a. Pretty
b. Small
c. Colorful
d. None of the above
15. Where does the story take place?
a. A beach
b. An airplane
c. The street
d. None of the above
16. What feeling did Chuck have?
a. Happiness
b. Desperation
c. Sadness
d. None of the Above

II. READING PART 2

The following four questions include its own sentences. The students must read them and chose
the correct definition of the words in bold.
17. The arguing between the sisters made the atmosphere very tense.
a. The gases surrounding the earth
b. A surrounding mood that seems to fill a place, event, or situation
c. A distinctive quality
d. None of the above
18. The atmosphere keeps the earth cold in the night and warmer in the day.
a. The gases surrounding the earth
b. A surrounding mood that seems to fill a place, event, or situation
c. A distinctive quality
d. None of the above
19. An electrical outlet has enough current to injure anyone who touches it with wet hands.
a. A flow
b. Most recent
c. Without delays
d. None of the above
20. Your membership must be current, if not it will expire.
a. A flow
b. Most recent
c. Without delays
d. None of the above
III.

LISTENING

The following three questions must be answered after listening to a short paragraph that your
tutor will read out loud. Pay attention, because the paragraph will be read only twice.
21. What is the second thing Julian must do at his job?
a. Open boxes
b. Tape boxes shut
c. Put books on shelves
d. None of the above
22. What word describes a story that is true?
a. Fact
b. Fiction
c. Fairy tale
d. None of the above
23. What does Julian do during his free time at work?
a. Read books

b. Tell stories
c. Put books on shelves
d. None of the above
IV. WRITING
In the following part, write one paragraph for each prompt written below. Take in consideration
your choice of words, spelling, and remember to be persuasive.
1. Situation: Of all your classes in school, there is one that is your favorite.
Directions: Think about your favorite class and why you like it.
Prompt: Now, write to persuade a student to take that class with you.
2. Situation: Many teens today have cell phones
Directions: Think about whether or not cell phones should be allowed in school and why.
Prompt: Write to persuade your principal to allow or ban cell phones on campus.

Thanks for answering!