Ways to Borrow from the Local Library
About this practice test
Read information about borrowing books from Hill Street Library, using the front desk, the self-service machine, and online reservations.
What you’ll practice
Finding detail
Locate specific information and evidence.
Interpreting ideas
Connect main points and inferences.
Evaluating arguments
Assess claims, evidence, and limitations.
What to expect:
5 questions with explanations to review after submission.
Study the questions and tasks
Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.
- Practice level
- A2. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.
- Question formats
- Multiple choice
How to approach this practice
Read the passage for its main idea, then return to the relevant sentence or paragraph for each question. Base answers on the passage.
Ways to Borrow from the Local Library
At Hill Street Library, people can borrow books in two main ways. If you have a library card, you can take a book to the front desk. A staff member scans the card and puts the loan on your account. You can also use the self-service machine near the door. First, scan your card. Then place the book on the shelf-shaped pad and wait for the green light. The machine prints a small receipt. If the book you want is out, you can reserve it online or ask the librarian to save it for you. Mia likes the library because borrowing is free and the books can be kept for two weeks. She says the new machine saves time, but she still talks to the staff when she needs help finding a title.
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Question 1 · Multiple choice
Choose all the correct answers.
Choose TWO ways people can borrow a book at Hill Street Library.
Return to the passage, recording or visual- use the self-service machine
- ask the librarian to save the book
- take a book to the front desk
- reserve a book online
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- use the self-service machine; take a book to the front desk
The passage says people can borrow books by taking them to the front desk or by using the self-service machine. Email and the café are not borrowing methods in the text.
you can take a book to the front desk
use the self-service machine near the door
use the self-service machine: Yes. This is one of the two borrowing ways in the passage.
ask the librarian to save the book: No. This is a way to reserve an out book, not a way stated for borrowing it.
take a book to the front desk: Yes. This is one of the two borrowing ways in the passage.
reserve a book online: No. This is a way to reserve an out book, not a borrowing method for an available book.
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Question 2 · Multiple choice
Choose all the correct answers.
Choose TWO things a person does at the self-service machine.
Return to the passage, recording or visual- scan your card
- take the book to the front desk
- place the book on the shelf-shaped pad
- ask the librarian to save the book
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- scan your card; place the book on the shelf-shaped pad
At the machine, the reader first scans the card and then places the book on the pad. Asking a librarian and paying with cash are not part of the machine steps.
First, scan your card. Then place the book on the shelf-shaped pad
The machine prints a small receipt.
scan your card: Yes. The passage gives this as the first step.
take the book to the front desk: No. This is another borrowing method, not a step at the machine.
place the book on the shelf-shaped pad: Yes. This is the next step in the machine process.
ask the librarian to save the book: No. This is an option when the book is out, not a machine step.
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Question 3 · Multiple choice
Choose all the correct answers.
Choose TWO things a person can do if the book they want is out.
Return to the passage, recording or visual- reserve it online
- use the self-service machine
- ask the librarian to save it for you
- take it to the front desk
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- reserve it online; ask the librarian to save it for you
The passage gives two choices when a book is out: reserve it online or ask the librarian to save it. Buying a new card and reading only in the café are not stated.
you can reserve it online or ask the librarian to save it for you
reserve it online: Yes. This is one of the two choices given in the passage.
use the self-service machine: No. The passage gives this for borrowing a book, not for an out book.
ask the librarian to save it for you: Yes. This is the other choice given in the passage.
take it to the front desk: No. The passage does not give this as a way to get a book that is out.
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Question 4 · Multiple choice
Choose all the correct answers.
Choose TWO reasons Mia likes the library.
Return to the passage, recording or visual- the self-service machine saves time
- borrowing is free
- the staff find every title for her
- the books can be kept for two weeks
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- borrowing is free; the books can be kept for two weeks
Mia gives two clear reasons: borrowing is free and books can be kept for two weeks. The other choices are not her reasons in the passage.
Mia likes the library because borrowing is free and the books can be kept for two weeks
the self-service machine saves time: No. Mia says this about the machine, but she gives different reasons for liking the library.
borrowing is free: Yes. Mia says this directly.
the staff find every title for her: No. Mia talks to staff when she needs help finding a title; this is not given as a reason she likes the library.
the books can be kept for two weeks: Yes. Mia says this directly too.
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Question 5 · Multiple choice
Choose all the correct answers.
Choose TWO true statements about the self-service machine.
Return to the passage, recording or visual- a staff member puts the loan on your account
- it is near the door
- it prints a small receipt
- it keeps books for two weeks
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- it is near the door; it prints a small receipt
The machine is near the door, and it prints a small receipt. The front desk scan and the two-week loan are different parts of the library service, not machine facts.
the self-service machine near the door
The machine prints a small receipt.
a staff member puts the loan on your account: No. That happens at the front desk, not at the machine.
it is near the door: Yes. The passage says this about the machine.
it prints a small receipt: Yes. The passage says this about the machine.
it keeps books for two weeks: No. The two-week period describes how long books can be kept, not a feature of the machine.
What to review next
Find the words that support each answer. For a mistake, compare the question with the evidence and identify the detail or inference you missed.
A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.
Before you practise: a worked example
Look for evidence in the text. Separate what the writer says from what you already know about the topic.
The library normally closes at six, but on Fridays it stays open until eight. When does it close on Friday?
The answer is eight. But introduces an exception to the normal closing time, so the first time mentioned is not the answer.
This teaching example is separate from the scored questions. After your test, compare any mistakes with the explanation and revisit the topic before trying again.