CELPIP Reading Practice Test 1 — All 4 Parts With Passages & Answers

Free CELPIP Reading practice test 1: Reading Correspondence, Applying a Diagram, Reading for Information and Viewpoints — full passages, 38 questions and the answer key.

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CELPIP Reading practice test in the official four-part order: 38 questions across correspondence, applying a diagram, reading for information and viewpoints.

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Part 1 — Reading Correspondence

Dear Mr. Okafor,

Thank you for booking the Garden Pavilion at the Blue Horizon Hotel for your daughter's wedding reception on Saturday, August 16th. We are delighted to host your celebration. As we discussed by phone, the pavilion holds up to 140 guests and opens at 4:00 PM for setup. Your event runs from 5:30 PM to 11:00 PM.

The catering package includes a plated dinner with a choice of chicken, salmon, or vegetarian entree, plus a three-tier cake from our partner bakery. We have also reserved the outdoor terrace for cocktail hour, weather permitting. A deposit of $1,500 was paid on June 2nd, with the remaining balance of $3,500 due by July 20th.

Please confirm the final guest count and entree selections by August 1st. If you have any questions, I am happy to help.

Sincerely,
Laura Bennett
Events Coordinator, Blue Horizon Hotel

Questions on the message

1. What is the main purpose of this email?

  1. To cancel a booking
  2. To confirm wedding reception details
  3. To complain about service
  4. To advertise the hotel
Answer: B

Why: Laura confirms the booking details for the wedding reception.

2. On what date is the reception scheduled?

  1. July 20th
  2. August 1st
  3. August 16th
  4. June 2nd
Answer: C

Why: The email states the reception is on Saturday, August 16th.

3. How many guests can the Garden Pavilion hold?

  1. 100
  2. 120
  3. 140
  4. 160
Answer: C

Why: The pavilion holds up to 140 guests.

4. What time does the event begin?

  1. 4:00 PM
  2. 5:30 PM
  3. 11:00 PM
  4. 4:30 PM
Answer: B

Why: The event runs from 5:30 PM to 11:00 PM.

5. How much is the remaining balance due July 20th?

  1. $1,500
  2. $2,000
  3. $3,500
  4. $5,000
Answer: C

Why: A $1,500 deposit was paid; the remaining balance is $3,500.

6. By when must the final guest count be confirmed?

  1. June 2nd
  2. July 20th
  3. August 1st
  4. August 16th
Answer: C

Why: The email asks to confirm the count by August 1st.

The reply — choose the best option for each gap

Hi Laura,

Thank you for the details about the {BLANK_1} reception. We are so excited! A few follow-ups: you mentioned the pavilion opens at {BLANK_2} for setup, which works perfectly for our decorator. We would like to add the {BLANK_3} option for about twenty guests, since several are vegetarian. Also, we will pay the {BLANK_4} balance by the July 20th deadline as agreed. Finally, if it rains we will move cocktail hour indoors rather than use the {BLANK_5}.

Looking forward to a wonderful evening!
Daniel Okafor

7. Blank 1 — choose the option that fits the passage

  1. wedding
  2. birthday
  3. anniversary
  4. conference
Answer: A

Why: Passage A states this is a wedding reception, so the reply references the wedding.

8. Blank 2 — choose the option that fits the passage

  1. 5:30 PM
  2. 3:00 PM
  3. 11:00 PM
  4. 4:00 PM
Answer: D

Why: Passage A says the pavilion opens at 4:00 PM for setup.

9. Blank 3 — choose the option that fits the passage

  1. beef
  2. chicken
  3. salmon
  4. vegetarian
Answer: D

Why: Passage A lists vegetarian as one of the entree choices; the reply adds it for twenty guests.

10. Blank 4 — choose the option that fits the passage

  1. $3,500 remaining
  2. $500 tip
  3. $5,000 total
  4. $1,500 deposit
Answer: A

Why: Passage A states the remaining balance of $3,500 is due July 20th.

11. Blank 5 — choose the option that fits the passage

  1. ballroom
  2. kitchen
  3. lobby
  4. terrace
Answer: D

Why: Passage A reserves the outdoor terrace for cocktail hour; the reply says they'll move indoors if it rains.

Part 2 — Reading to Apply a Diagram

The table below shows the results of a guest-satisfaction survey at the Blue Horizon Hotel. Guests rated areas from 1 (very poor) to 5 (excellent) and the percentage who gave a top score.


Management will add bike racks and promote the nearby seawall path to improve transit access, and will review the outsourced spa for faster service.

AreaAvg% Excellent
Room cleanliness4.765%
Front desk service4.558%
Restaurant quality4.350%
Spa & wellness4.247%
Transit access3.835%

Questions

1. Which area had the highest average rating?

  1. Room cleanliness
  2. Transit access
  3. Restaurant quality
  4. Front desk service
Answer: A

Why: Room cleanliness scored 4.7, the highest.

2. What percentage gave the spa top marks?

  1. 58%
  2. 47%
  3. 35%
  4. 65%
Answer: B

Why: Spa & wellness shows 47% excellent.

3. Which area will management improve with bike racks?

  1. Restaurant quality
  2. Spa & wellness
  3. Transit access
  4. Room cleanliness
Answer: C

Why: The plan targets transit access via bike racks and the seawall path.

4. How is the spa expected to improve?

  1. Longer hours
  2. New equipment
  3. Lower prices
  4. Faster service
Answer: D

Why: Management will review the outsourced spa for faster service.

5. Which area scored lowest on average?

  1. Transit access
  2. Front desk service
  3. Spa & wellness
  4. Restaurant quality
Answer: A

Why: Transit access scored 3.8, the lowest.

6. What share rated room cleanliness excellent?

  1. 50%
  2. 65%
  3. 47%
  4. 58%
Answer: B

Why: Room cleanliness shows 65% excellent.

7. How many areas scored above 4.3 average?

  1. Four
  2. Three
  3. Two
  4. Five
Answer: C

Why: Only room cleanliness (4.7) and front desk (4.5) are above 4.3.

8. Which improvement is NOT mentioned?

  1. Bike racks
  2. Seawall promotion
  3. Spa review
  4. New restaurant menu
Answer: D

Why: A new restaurant menu is not mentioned; the restaurant already changed.

Part 3 — Reading for Information

A The Pacific salmon is born in the freshwater rivers and streams of British Columbia, where it spends the first months of its life. After hatching, the young salmon, called fry, feed on insects and plankton before beginning their journey downstream toward the ocean.
B Once in the Pacific Ocean, salmon mature over two to five years, travelling thousands of kilometres and feeding on shrimp, squid, and smaller fish. During this stage they grow rapidly and build the energy reserves needed for reproduction.
C When ready to spawn, salmon navigate back to the exact river of their birth using their sense of smell. They stop eating, change colour, and swim upstream against strong currents, often leaping waterfalls to reach the gravel beds where they lay their eggs.
D After spawning, most Pacific salmon die, and their bodies enrich the river ecosystem with nutrients that feed trees, birds, and bears. First Nations communities have relied on the salmon run for food, trade, and cultural ceremonies for thousands of years.

Match each statement to the correct paragraph

1. Salmon are born in BC freshwater rivers and streams.

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
  5. E. E
Answer: A

Why: Paragraph A describes the freshwater birth.

2. In the ocean, salmon eat shrimp, squid, and smaller fish while maturing.

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
  5. E. E
Answer: B

Why: Paragraph B covers ocean feeding.

3. Salmon find their birthplace again by using their sense of smell.

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
  5. E. E
Answer: C

Why: Paragraph C explains olfactory homing.

4. After spawning, the fish's remains nourish trees, birds, and bears.

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
  5. E. E
Answer: D

Why: Paragraph D describes nutrient cycling after death.

5. Salmon can live for up to ten years in freshwater before going to sea.

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
  5. E. E
Answer: E

Why: Not stated; the passage says ocean maturation is two to five years, not ten years in freshwater.

6. Young salmon are called fry and eat insects and plankton.

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
  5. E. E
Answer: A

Why: Paragraph A names the fry and their diet.

7. Spawning salmon stop eating and turn colour as they swim upstream.

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
  5. E. E
Answer: C

Why: Paragraph C describes the spawning migration changes.

8. First Nations have used the salmon run for thousands of years.

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
  5. E. E
Answer: D

Why: Paragraph D notes First Nations reliance.

9. Salmon are farmed in large ocean pens near Vancouver Island.

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
  5. E. E
Answer: E

Why: Not stated anywhere in the passage.

Part 4 — Reading for Viewpoints

Vancouver is debating whether to build a network of protected bike lanes on its busiest streets. Hannah Cho, a small-business owner, argues strongly in favour. She points out that cities such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen saw retail spending rise after adding bike infrastructure, because calmer streets encourage people to shop locally. She believes the upfront cost is justified by long-term economic and health benefits.

Marcus Reid, a delivery driver, disagrees. He warns that removing car lanes will slow deliveries and raise costs for the businesses Hannah wants to help. He argues the city should instead improve transit and keep existing road space for vehicles, saying bike lanes benefit mainly commuters, not commercial drivers.

Questions on the article

1. Hannah Cho supports building bike lanes because…

  1. they reduce retail spending
  2. they may raise local retail spending
  3. they remove car lanes
  4. they help delivery drivers
Answer: B

Why: She cites rising retail spending in Amsterdam and Copenhagen.

2. Which city does Hannah use as a positive example?

  1. Toronto
  2. Amsterdam
  3. Seattle
  4. Montreal
Answer: B

Why: She names Amsterdam and Copenhagen as examples.

3. Marcus Reid's main concern is…

  1. cyclist safety
  2. slower deliveries and higher costs
  3. lack of transit
  4. retail decline
Answer: B

Why: He warns of slower deliveries and higher business costs.

4. Who does Marcus say bike lanes mainly benefit?

  1. commercial drivers
  2. commuters
  3. small businesses
  4. hospitals
Answer: B

Why: He says they benefit mainly commuters, not commercial drivers.

5. What does Marcus suggest instead of bike lanes?

  1. ban cars downtown
  2. improve transit and keep road space
  3. build more parking
  4. close businesses
Answer: B

Why: He argues for improving transit and keeping existing road space.

A reader responds — complete the comment

I agree with {BLANK_1} that calmer streets help local shops — the evidence from European cities is convincing. However, {BLANK_2} raises a fair point that deliveries could suffer. A balanced plan should add bike lanes on {BLANK_3} streets first, while keeping {BLANK_4} routes clear for commercial drivers. We should not treat this as all-or-nothing, but as a {BLANK_5} improvement.

6. Blank 1 — choose the option that fits the passage

  1. the mayor
  2. Cho
  3. Reid
  4. the council
Answer: B

Why: The commenter agrees with Cho's pro-bike-lane, pro-local-shop view from Passage A.

7. Blank 2 — choose the option that fits the passage

  1. Cho
  2. Reid
  3. the engineer
  4. the retailer
Answer: B

Why: Reid is the one who raised the delivery concern in Passage A.

8. Blank 3 — choose the option that fits the passage

  1. highway
  2. rural
  3. industrial
  4. the busiest
Answer: D

Why: The article's debate is about bike lanes on the busiest streets.

9. Blank 4 — choose the option that fits the passage

  1. transit
  2. commercial
  3. cycling
  4. residential
Answer: B

Why: The commenter wants commercial (delivery) routes kept clear, aligning with Reid's concern.

10. Blank 5 — choose the option that fits the passage

  1. gradual
  2. radical
  3. expensive
  4. temporary
Answer: A

Why: The commenter's 'not all-or-nothing' stance implies a gradual, phased improvement.

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