CELPIP Reading Practice Test 9 — All 4 Parts With Passages & Answers

Free CELPIP Reading practice test 9: 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 Professor Adeyemi, I am writing to request a short extension on the research essay for History 210, which is due Friday, March 13. I have completed the reading and drafted three of the five required sections, but I was ill for a week and fell behind. My doctor's note is attached. The essay must be 2,500 words using at least six academic sources, and I plan to focus on the economic causes of the 1930s Depression. Could I have until Wednesday, March 18 to finish? A draft of the outline was submitted on February 20, and the final word count limit is strict at 2,500. Thank you for considering this. Sincerely, Tomas Varga

Questions on the message

1. What is the main purpose of Tomas's email?

  1. To drop the course
  2. To request an extension
  3. To complain about grades
  4. To submit the essay
Answer: B

Why: He writes to request a short extension on the essay.

2. What is the original due date?

  1. February 20
  2. March 13
  3. March 18
  4. March 1
Answer: B

Why: The essay is due Friday, March 13.

3. How many sections has he drafted?

  1. Two
  2. Three
  3. Five
  4. Six
Answer: B

Why: He has drafted three of the five required sections.

4. What is the essay's required length?

  1. 2,000 words
  2. 2,500 words
  3. 3,000 words
  4. 1,500 words
Answer: B

Why: The essay must be 2,500 words.

5. What topic does he plan to focus on?

  1. World War II
  2. The 1930s Depression's economic causes
  3. The Cold War
  4. Ancient Rome
Answer: B

Why: He plans to focus on economic causes of the 1930s Depression.

6. When was the outline draft submitted?

  1. February 20
  2. March 13
  3. March 18
  4. January 20
Answer: A

Why: A draft outline was submitted on February 20.

The reply — choose the best option for each gap

Hi Tomas, I received your request about the {BLANK_1} for History 210. Given your illness, I can extend the {BLANK_2} deadline to March 18 as you asked. Please keep the strict {BLANK_3} word limit, and remember the requirement of at least {BLANK_4} academic sources. Your {BLANK_5} was already received back in February, so just send the full essay when ready. Hope you feel better. Prof. Adeyemi

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

  1. exam
  2. research essay
  3. project
  4. lab
Answer: C

Why: Passage A is a request about the research essay for History 210.

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

  1. March 13
  2. February 20
  3. March 18
  4. outline
Answer: D

Why: Passage A's original due date is March 13, which he extends.

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

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

Why: Passage A states the strict 2,500-word limit.

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

  1. three
  2. six
  3. five
  4. ten
Answer: B

Why: Passage A requires at least six academic sources.

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

  1. essay
  2. outline
  3. note
  4. sources
Answer: B

Why: Passage A says the outline draft was submitted in February.

Part 2 — Reading to Apply a Diagram

The table below shows the 2025 municipal budget allocation (in millions of dollars) for a mid-sized city, comparing the proposed amount with the previous year. Department | 2024 | 2025 Transit | 42 | 50 Parks & recreation| 18 | 22 Police | 55 | 55 Libraries | 12 | 14 Waste management | 20 | 19 Overall the budget rose by 18 million. Transit and parks gained the most, while waste management saw a small cut and police funding stayed flat.

Questions

1. Which department had the largest 2025 budget?

  1. Transit
  2. Police
  3. Parks
  4. Libraries
Answer: A

Why: Police at 55 million is the largest.

2. How much did transit receive in 2025?

  1. 42
  2. 50
  3. 55
  4. 22
Answer: B

Why: Transit rose to 50 million in 2025.

3. Which department saw a small cut?

  1. Libraries
  2. Parks
  3. Waste management
  4. Police
Answer: C

Why: Waste management fell from 20 to 19 million.

4. Which department's funding stayed flat?

  1. Transit
  2. Police
  3. Libraries
  4. Parks
Answer: D

Why: Police stayed at 55 million both years.

5. By how much did the overall budget rise?

  1. 8 million
  2. 14 million
  3. 18 million
  4. 20 million
Answer: A

Why: The budget rose by 18 million overall.

6. What was parks & recreation's 2024 budget?

  1. 18
  2. 22
  3. 14
  4. 20
Answer: B

Why: Parks & recreation was 18 million in 2024.

7. Which area gained the most in dollars?

  1. Libraries
  2. Transit
  3. Parks
  4. Waste
Answer: C

Why: Transit gained 8 million (42 to 50), the largest increase.

8. What was libraries' 2025 allocation?

  1. 12
  2. 14
  3. 18
  4. 22
Answer: D

Why: Libraries rose to 14 million in 2025.

Part 3 — Reading for Information

A Geothermal energy taps heat stored beneath the Earth's surface. In volcanic regions, hot water and steam trapped in rock can be brought to the surface through deep wells, where the steam spins turbines to generate electricity with very low carbon emissions.
B A geothermal plant has a small surface footprint compared with wind or solar farms, and it can run day and night regardless of weather. Once built, its operating costs are low because no fuel is burned and the heat source is essentially free.
C Beyond power, geothermal heat is used directly for district heating, greenhouse agriculture, and drying crops. In some cities, warm water from wells heats whole neighbourhoods through underground pipe networks instead of furnaces.
D The main drawback is location: viable sites are limited to geologically active areas, and drilling is expensive and can trigger minor earthquakes if done poorly. Researchers are developing enhanced geothermal systems to widen where the technology can work.

Match each statement to the correct paragraph

1. Geothermal taps heat beneath the Earth's surface via deep wells.

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

Why: Paragraph A describes how geothermal heat is accessed.

2. A geothermal plant has a small footprint and runs day and night.

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

Why: Paragraph B notes the small footprint and constant operation.

3. Geothermal heat directly warms districts and dries crops.

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

Why: Paragraph C covers direct heating uses.

4. Viable sites are limited to active areas and drilling is costly.

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

Why: Paragraph D explains the location drawback.

5. Geothermal plants can power an entire country with no limits.

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

Why: Not stated; Paragraph D stresses location limits, not unlimited power.

6. Operating costs are low because no fuel is burned.

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

Why: Paragraph B says low operating costs come from free heat and no fuel.

7. Warm well water heats neighbourhoods through underground pipes.

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

Why: Paragraph C describes district heating networks.

8. Poor drilling can trigger minor earthquakes.

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

Why: Paragraph D mentions induced minor earthquakes.

9. Geothermal energy is the cheapest source worldwide already.

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

Why: Not stated; the passage notes high drilling cost, not cheapest everywhere.

Part 4 — Reading for Viewpoints

Some provinces are considering a minimum age for social media accounts. Child psychologist Dr. Amir Khan argues for a ban under age 16. He says heavy use harms sleep, attention, and self-esteem in teens, and that parents cannot easily enforce limits alone. He believes a legal age gives families backup. Tech-policy researcher Elena Vargas disagrees. She warns a ban drives teens to hidden, unmoderated platforms and strips them of digital literacy lessons. She argues schools should teach safe use and that age verification is easy to evade, so regulation should focus on platform design, not user age.

Questions on the article

1. Dr. Khan supports an age ban because…

  1. it teaches literacy
  2. heavy use harms sleep and self-esteem
  3. it helps platforms
  4. parents manage easily
Answer: B

Why: He says heavy use harms sleep, attention, and self-esteem.

2. What minimum age does Khan propose?

  1. 13
  2. 16
  3. 18
  4. 21
Answer: B

Why: He argues for a ban under age 16.

3. Vargas's main worry about a ban is…

  1. lost ad revenue
  2. teens move to hidden platforms
  3. less sleep
  4. more homework
Answer: B

Why: She warns a ban drives teens to unmoderated platforms.

4. What does Vargas say schools should do?

  1. Ban phones
  2. Teach safe use
  3. Verify age
  4. Close platforms
Answer: B

Why: She argues schools should teach safe use.

5. According to Vargas, age verification is…

  1. strict
  2. easy to evade
  3. already working
  4. required by law
Answer: B

Why: She says age verification is easy to evade.

A reader responds — complete the comment

I find {BLANK_1} convincing that screens hurt teen well-being, and a law gives parents backup. But {BLANK_2} is right that bans push kids underground. The better route is her {BLANK_3} approach through schools, paired with fixing {BLANK_4} design rather than Khan's focus on user {BLANK_5}.

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

  1. Khan
  2. Vargas
  3. the school
  4. the parent
Answer: B

Why: The commenter agrees with Khan's well-being concern from Passage A.

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

  1. Khan
  2. Vargas
  3. the researcher
  4. the doctor
Answer: B

Why: Vargas raised the 'bans push underground' point in Passage A.

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

  1. ban
  2. literacy-teaching
  3. age-verification
  4. platform
Answer: B

Why: The commenter endorses Vargas's school-based digital literacy approach.

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

  1. phone
  2. platform
  3. school
  4. law
Answer: A

Why: The commenter aligns with Vargas's focus on platform design.

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

  1. age
  2. literacy
  3. sleep
  4. design
Answer: B

Why: The commenter contrasts with Khan's focus on the user's age.

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