ACT WorkKeys Sample Questions - Question List

6. The Different Tests for English as a Second Language
If you are a learner of English as a Second (or third) Language, the decision of which test to take could be (1) overwhelming. If you are a student from China that wants to study Physics in the U.S., should you take the TOEFL or the TOEIC? Which is the best test to take in order to study in the U.K.? This passage is designed to help (2) inform the student of English as a Second Language (ESL) of the different tests that are out there.
The Test of English as a Foreign Language, or more commonly known as TOEFL (“toe full”), was designed by a professor from Stanford University. Its purpose is to examine a student’s ability to understand and use English in settings of (3) higher learning in the United States. Meaning it can be required for admission to colleges and universities all over the country. In addition, businesses, government agencies, and scholarship program (among other institutions) may require the TOEFL.
The Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC, pronounced “toe ick”) is a less popular evaluation tool than the TOEFL that measures someone’s everyday use of English. Although there are some agencies that use the TOEIC in the U.S., this test is highly (4) prevalent in Japan to prepare workers to succeed in international environments. The main difference between the TOEFL and the TOEIC is that one is (5) geared toward students, and the other is tailored to workers.
The International English Language Testing System, or IELTS (“eeeelts”), is managed by several institutions in the United Kingdom. This test has two versions: the Academic Version and the General Training Version. It is mainly used in the U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. There are also several thousand institutions that employ it in the U.S. It is required for immigration to Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The interesting feature of this test, compared to the others, is that it incorporated a variety of accents in its listening portion in an effort to avoid linguistic bias.
So, how do you know which test to take? The best route to take is to contact the institution you are planning to join and see what test they require. Happy studying!



According to the passage, which of the following institutions in the U.S. does NOT require the TOEFL?

7. The Coral Reefs of the Caribbean
Visualize being submerged in the most (1) absolute silence to contemplate the majestic coral reefs. In the Caribbean Sea there are more than 16 thousand square miles (26 thousand square kilometers) of reefs, also known as “tropical rainforests of the sea” because of their immense biodiversity. Their extravagant, intense colors provide the ideal ecosystem for the over four thousand species of fish and thousands of species of plants that are found there.
Our lives, too, depend on these (2) formations: the coral reefs of the Caribbean protect the coasts of Florida and the Caribbean nations from hurricanes. Their enormous structures weaken the force of the storms before they arrive to the coasts, acting as natural barriers. They also protect beaches from erosion and are a refuge for many species of (3) endangered animals.
In the far eastern periphery of Cuba, the María la Gorda reef stands out from the others. In this highly protected zone, there are more than 20 species of corals that form (4) subterranean “mountain ranges”, caves, and tunnels.
Unfortunately, the reefs in the Caribbean are in danger due to acts of destruction. Coastal construction and water pollution cause the water to cloud, which in turn takes away the light that the coral needs to survive. Other enemies to the coral are uncontrolled fishing, (5) excessive tourism, and the collecting of coral by scuba divers. Some experts say that 70% of the coral will disappear in some 40 years. If you are lucky enough to visit these coral reefs, please protect them. Their future depends on us.



According to the author, which of the following is a reason that our livelihood depends on coral reefs?

8. DOMA and Its Demise
Many same-sex couples, as well their allies, celebrated when “The Defense of Marriage Act”, known as DOMA, was overturned by the Supreme Court in the summer of 2013. Homosexual couples, who were legally recognized as a (1) union in their state of residence, were finally able to enjoy the same benefits at the national level that their heterosexual counterparts have always enjoyed. Nevertheless, the United States has a long way to go before marriage equality is universal.
DOMA was a (2) federal law that was first enacted in 1996 by the Clinton Administration. It sought to block same-sex couples that were legally married (in states that recognized same-sex marriages), from receiving federal marriage benefits. Under DOMA, the government determined that the word “spouse” was to refer to a heterosexual married couple, thus effectively excluding same-sex spouses from the laws applicable to opposite-sex spouses. Therefore, heterosexual married couples were protected under federal law and homosexual married couples were left unprotected.
Countless same-sex couples felt (3) discriminated against under DOMA and believed that the law was (4) unconstitutional. The Obama Administration, years later, decided it would no longer justify DOMA in court. During the first year of Obama’s second term in office, the law was struck down, and now same-sex couples, who reside in states like Hawaii and Iowa, share the same federal benefits as opposite-sex couples. However, until all of the states in the Union make same-sex marriage legal, the US will not get first place in the (5) race toward equality for everyone.



The word “federal”, in bold after the (2) in paragraph 2, is closest in meaning to

9. The Electoral College of the U.S.
Did you know that the President and the Vice President aren’t elected by (1) popular vote in the U.S.? Essentially, every four years, it isn’t the American people who elect the rulers of our nation. Instead, when a registered voter casts his or her vote for President and Vice President, he or she also votes for an unknown “elector”, or voting member, who will cast a ballot in a separate election that ultimately will choose the president. Thus, by voting for a Democrat presidential candidate, for example, a voter is really voting for a member of the Electoral College who is expected--but not required--to vote along (2) party lines, too.
You might be thinking, “Then, why do we vote?” Historically, before the (3) advent of television and radio, the Electoral College was established to avoid unfairness. People who lived in bigger cities, where there tends to be a more concentrated, greater population, had more of an advantage of knowing about the candidates compared to those who lived in more rural, secluded areas.
The electors, which are chosen by popular vote, are divided up among each state and the District of Columbia. The amount of voting members in each state is equal to the number of members of Congress. In total, there are 538 electors: 435 representatives and 100 senators, plus the three (4) constituents from the District of Columbia.
In almost every state electors are selected on a "winner-take-all" basis. To be more precise, the candidate for elector that wins the most votes in a state becomes elector for that state. During an election, each elector is required to cast one vote for President and another vote for Vice President. The presidential candidate that receives the majority of electoral votes (270 out of 538) for the offices of President or Vice President is elected to that (5) office.



According to the author, what is the different between popular vote and electoral vote?

10. The Different Tests for English as a Second Language
If you are a learner of English as a Second (or third) Language, the decision of which test to take could be (1) overwhelming. If you are a student from China that wants to study Physics in the U.S., should you take the TOEFL or the TOEIC? Which is the best test to take in order to study in the U.K.? This passage is designed to help (2) inform the student of English as a Second Language (ESL) of the different tests that are out there.
The Test of English as a Foreign Language, or more commonly known as TOEFL (“toe full”), was designed by a professor from Stanford University. Its purpose is to examine a student’s ability to understand and use English in settings of (3) higher learning in the United States. Meaning it can be required for admission to colleges and universities all over the country. In addition, businesses, government agencies, and scholarship program (among other institutions) may require the TOEFL.
The Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC, pronounced “toe ick”) is a less popular evaluation tool than the TOEFL that measures someone’s everyday use of English. Although there are some agencies that use the TOEIC in the U.S., this test is highly (4) prevalent in Japan to prepare workers to succeed in international environments. The main difference between the TOEFL and the TOEIC is that one is (5) geared toward students, and the other is tailored to workers.
The International English Language Testing System, or IELTS (“eeeelts”), is managed by several institutions in the United Kingdom. This test has two versions: the Academic Version and the General Training Version. It is mainly used in the U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. There are also several thousand institutions that employ it in the U.S. It is required for immigration to Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The interesting feature of this test, compared to the others, is that it incorporated a variety of accents in its listening portion in an effort to avoid linguistic bias.
So, how do you know which test to take? The best route to take is to contact the institution you are planning to join and see what test they require. Happy studying!



According to the author, what is the best approach to knowing, which test to take?