A College’s New Equipment-Loan Scheme

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

B1. 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

Fill in the blank (dropdown)

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.

1. Question 1 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The library opened the scheme because students often had to share ___.

   Return to the passage, recording or visual

   Choices for blank 1

   1. an expensive camera or tablet
   2. a calculator or tripod
   3. a library computer or textbook
   4. portable lights or headphones
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   an expensive camera or tablet

   Students often had to share expensive equipment, including cameras, tablets, and microphones. The other choices combine items from the equipment list or planned improvements but do not describe the original problem.

   students in design, media, and engineering often had to share one expensive camera, tablet, or microphone

   To reduce that pressure, the library opened an equipment-loan scheme at the start of term

2. Question 2 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   Students can keep the equipment for ___.

   Return to the passage, recording or visual

   Choices for blank 1

   1. a full week
   2. one school term
   3. three days
   4. until the year ends
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   three days

   The text gives the borrowing time as three days. The other options are much longer periods and do not match the passage.

   Any student with a valid card can borrow small items for three days

3. Question 3 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   To borrow an item, students must ___.

   Return to the passage, recording or visual

   Choices for blank 1

   1. ask a friend to sign for it
   2. book online and collect it after classes
   3. pay the full price at reception
   4. return it cleaned the same day
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   book online and collect it after classes

   Students first book the item online and then collect it from the help desk after classes. The other choices are not part of the stated process.

   Before taking anything, students book it online and collect it from the help desk after classes

4. Question 4 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   If an item is already reserved, the system ___.

   Return to the passage, recording or visual

   Choices for blank 1

   1. suggests another time
   2. asks students to wait outside
   3. cancels the booking without warning
   4. allows two students to borrow it
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   suggests another time

   The system suggests another time instead of allowing double bookings. The other choices contradict this arrangement.

   If an item is already reserved, the system suggests another time instead of allowing double bookings

5. Question 5 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   When they return items, borrowers should ___.

   Return to the passage, recording or visual

   Choices for blank 1

   1. return them clean and complete
   2. leave them on the help desk
   3. return only damaged parts
   4. keep the cables for later
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   return them clean and complete

   Borrowers should return items cleaned and with all parts packed together. The other choices do not follow the college’s return rule.

   return items cleaned and with all parts packed together

6. Question 6 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   The college gives this reminder because ___.

   Return to the passage, recording or visual

   Choices for blank 1

   1. the equipment was too expensive
   2. the help desk closed early
   3. students forgot to book online
   4. missing cables had caused delays
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   missing cables had caused delays

   The reminder is necessary because missing cables had caused delays in the past. The other choices are not given as reasons.

   because missing cables had caused delays in the past

7. Question 7 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   If something is lost or damaged, the student pays ___ unless the item was borrowed carelessly.

   Return to the passage, recording or visual

   Choices for blank 1

   1. no fee at all
   2. only a small repair fee
   3. a fee for returning it late
   4. the full price immediately
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   only a small repair fee

   The usual charge is only a small repair fee, not the full price. The exception is careless borrowing, as stated in the prompt.

   the student pays only a small repair fee, not the full price, unless the item was borrowed carelessly

8. Question 8 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   This rule matters because ___.

   Return to the passage, recording or visual

   Choices for blank 1

   1. most borrowers are careless
   2. the library needs more book space
   3. fewer students use the media room
   4. several courses use the items
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   several courses use the items

   The rule matters because many pieces are used by several courses each week. The other choices are not mentioned.

   This rule matters because many pieces are used by several courses each week

9. Question 9 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

   Choose the correct option for each blank.

   After a month, tutors noticed that ___.

   Return to the passage, recording or visual

   Choices for blank 1

   1. fewer students borrowed from friends
   2. classes became longer
   3. students bought their own equipment
   4. the loan period became shorter
   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   fewer students borrowed from friends

   Tutors noticed that fewer students were borrowing equipment from friends. The other changes are not reported.

   tutors said fewer students were borrowing equipment from friends

10. Question 10 · Fill in the blank (dropdown)

    Choose the correct option for each blank.

    Maya Singh was pleased that ___.

    Return to the passage, recording or visual

    Choices for blank 1

    1. shy students used the service too
    2. only engineering students applied
    3. students no longer needed help
    4. the first stage had ended
    Check answers and explanations

    Blank 1

    shy students used the service too

    Maya was pleased that shy students were using the service as well. The other choices do not match her comment.

    she was pleased that shy students were using the service as well

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.