The complete Reading Practice Test 1 in the official MET structure: Grammar (20 questions), single-text reading (2 passages, 10 questions) and multiple-text reading (2 sets, 20 questions) — 50 questions in 65 minutes.
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Part 1 — Grammar (20 questions)
Each sentence has a missing word or phrase. Choose the best option to complete the sentence.
1. If the weather _____ better tomorrow, we could go hiking in the mountains.
- is
- will be
- were
- had been
Why: Second conditional uses 'were' for hypothetical present/future situations.
2. The bridge, _____ in 1923, still carries thousands of vehicles daily.
- built
- building
- was built
- being built
Why: Past participle 'built' acts as a reduced passive relative clause.
3. She insisted that the document _____ reviewed before the meeting.
- is
- were
- was
- be
Why: Subjunctive mood requires the base form 'be' after 'insisted that'.
4. _____ the heavy snowfall, all flights departed on schedule.
- Although
- Because of
- Despite
- Since
Why: 'Despite' is a preposition introducing a contrast with a noun phrase.
5. The scientist avoided _____ any conclusions until all data had been analyzed.
- to draw
- drawing
- draw
- drew
Why: 'Avoid' is followed by a gerund.
6. Not only _____ fluent in French, but she also speaks Japanese and Arabic.
- she is
- is she
- she was
- does she
Why: 'Not only' at the start triggers subject-verb inversion.
7. There are _____ seats available for the late showing than the early one.
- fewer
- less
- few
- little
Why: 'Fewer' is used with countable nouns (seats) for comparisons.
8. He told me that he _____ the package the previous afternoon.
- sends
- sent
- has sent
- had sent
Why: Reported speech shifts past simple to past perfect.
9. The harder she practiced, _____ her performance became.
- more polished
- the most polished
- polishing the most
- the more polished
Why: Double comparative structure: 'the + comparative..., the + comparative...'
10. By next December, she _____ at the firm for twenty years.
- will work
- will have worked
- works
- has worked
Why: Future perfect expresses an action completed by a specific future time.
11. The charity received _____ donations this year than ever before.
- many
- much
- more
- most
Why: Comparative 'more' is needed with 'than' for an unequal comparison.
12. The museum, _____ entrance fee was recently waived, has seen record attendance.
- which
- whose
- where
- that
Why: 'Whose' is the possessive relative pronoun for 'its entrance fee'.
13. She looked _____ the cause of the engine failure for several hours before finding it.
- into
- over
- after
- up
Why: 'Look into' is a phrasal verb meaning 'investigate'.
14. The supplies _____ to the remote village by helicopter every month.
- deliver
- are delivered
- delivering
- have delivered
Why: Passive voice is needed because the supplies receive the action.
15. I would have called you if I _____ your number.
- knew
- know
- had known
- would know
Why: Third conditional requires past perfect in the if-clause.
16. She wondered whether the results _____ accurate given the small sample size.
- are
- were
- will be
- have been
Why: Past tense is used in reported questions when the reporting verb is past.
17. ______ of the applicants met all the qualifications listed in the job posting.
- Any
- Many
- None
- Each
Why: 'None' takes a singular verb when referring to 'not one' of a group.
18. The professor encouraged her students _____ questions during lectures.
- ask
- to ask
- asking
- asked
Why: 'Encourage' is followed by the infinitive form.
19. Rarely _____ so many experts agree on a single course of action.
- that
- can
- have
- do
Why: 'Rarely' at the beginning triggers subject-verb inversion with auxiliary 'do'.
20. We decided to call _____ the picnic because of the forecast of thunderstorms.
- out
- off
- in
- down
Why: 'Call off' is a phrasal verb meaning 'cancel'.
Part 2 — Single-text reading (10 questions)
A team of neuroscientists at the University of Zurich has published findings suggesting that chronic sleep deprivation may impair the brain's ability to form new memories. The study, which tracked 120 participants over six months, used MRI scans to observe activity in the hippocampus, a region critical for memory consolidation. Participants who averaged fewer than six hours of sleep per night showed a marked reduction in hippocampal activity compared to those who slept seven to eight hours. Interestingly, the researchers found that the damage was not permanent. After a period of recovery sleep spanning several weeks, the affected participants' brain activity returned to baseline levels. The lead author cautioned, however, that the study focused on healthy adults under forty-five, and the long-term effects on older populations remain unclear. The team now plans to investigate whether napping during the day can offset some of the cognitive costs associated with inadequate nighttime sleep.
21. What is the main finding of the Zurich study?
- Sleep deprivation permanently damages the brain
- Lack of sleep may reduce the brain's memory-forming ability
- Napping has no effect on memory
- Older adults need less sleep than younger adults
Why: The passage states that chronic sleep deprivation may impair the brain's ability to form new memories, supported by reduced hippocampal activity. Permanence is explicitly ruled out later, so the idea that the brain is damaged forever misreads the findings.
22. The word 'consolidation' in the passage is closest in meaning to:
- Strengthening
- Creation
- Destruction
- Storage
Why: Here consolidation means the hippocampus stabilising and strengthening newly formed memories, so strengthening fits best. Storage suggests where memories sit rather than the work of making them durable, and destruction reverses the passage's meaning.
23. What does the passage say about the damage caused by sleep deprivation?
- It is irreversible
- It affects only teenagers
- It appeared to be temporary with recovery sleep
- It affects older people more severely
Why: The passage says the damage was not permanent and that brain activity returned to baseline after several weeks of recovery sleep, so a temporary effect is the accurate reading; irreversible directly contradicts that sentence.
24. How long did the study track the participants?
- Three months
- Six months
- One year
- Two years
Why: The study is described as following 120 participants over six months, so that duration is the one reported; figures such as a year or two years appear nowhere in the account of the research design.
25. What limitation does the lead author mention about the study?
- The sample size was too small
- The MRI technology was outdated
- The results may not apply to older adults
- The participants were not paid enough
Why: The lead author cautions that the study covered healthy adults under forty-five and that long-term effects on older populations remain unclear, so the stated limitation concerns whether the findings apply to older adults.
The rise of remote work has prompted a reevaluation of traditional office design. Many corporations are downsizing their physical footprints, abandoning the cubicle model in favor of flexible, collaborative spaces. Proponents argue that open-plan layouts encourage spontaneous interaction and knowledge sharing, leading to greater innovation. Companies like Google and Microsoft have invested heavily in such designs, incorporating lounge areas, standing desks, and soundproof pods for private calls. However, a 2024 survey by the Workplace Research Institute found that 62 percent of employees in open-plan offices reported higher stress levels and difficulty concentrating compared to those with private workspaces. Critics contend that the loss of personal territory reduces psychological comfort and can actually decrease collaboration as workers retreat into headphones to block out noise. The emerging consensus among designers is a 'hybrid office' that combines quiet zones with communal areas, allowing employees to choose the environment that best suits their task.
26. What issue does this passage primarily discuss?
- The history of office furniture
- The debate over open-plan vs. traditional office layouts
- The financial benefits of remote work
- How to soundproof an office
Why: The passage weighs the case for open-plan layouts against evidence of stress and lost concentration, then points toward a hybrid model, so the central issue is the open-plan versus traditional layout debate.
27. According to the passage, what do supporters of open-plan offices claim?
- They reduce company costs by 50%
- They lead to greater innovation through interaction
- They eliminate the need for managers
- They make employees work longer hours
Why: Proponents argue that open-plan layouts encourage spontaneous interaction and knowledge sharing, which they link to greater innovation. Cost savings, managerial changes and longer working hours are not among the benefits they claim.
28. What percentage of employees in open-plan offices reported higher stress?
- 42%
- 52%
- 62%
- 72%
Why: The Workplace Research Institute survey is reported as finding that 62 per cent of employees in open-plan offices reported higher stress and difficulty concentrating, so that figure matches the statistic quoted in the passage.
29. What does 'retreat' refer to in the context of the passage?
- Employees leaving the company
- Employees withdrawing into headphones
- Companies abandoning the office model
- Designers rejecting open layouts
Why: In context, retreat describes workers withdrawing into headphones to escape noise. It refers to a coping behaviour inside the office rather than resigning, downsizing office space, or designers turning against open layouts.
30. What solution does the passage suggest is gaining acceptance?
- Fully remote work for everyone
- A hybrid office with both quiet and communal spaces
- Returning to cubicles exclusively
- Eliminating all private offices
Why: The passage notes an emerging consensus among designers in favour of a hybrid office combining quiet zones with communal areas, letting staff pick the setting that suits the task; a full return to cubicles is not proposed.
Part 3 — Multiple-text reading (20 questions)
New Recycling Program
Starting next month, all residents will be required to separate household waste into four categories: organic, recyclable plastic and metal, paper and cardboard, and general waste. New color-coded bins will be delivered to every household free of charge. Fines for non-compliance will begin at $50 after a two-month grace period.
While we applaud the city's environmental ambitions, the new sorting requirements place an unreasonable burden on families living in small apartments. Where exactly are residents supposed to store four different bins? The council should have consulted residents before finalizing this policy rather than announcing it as a fait accompli.
My family has been composting and recycling for years, so the new rules won't change much for us. The real problem is our building's management — they've been ignoring residents' requests for a proper recycling area. Can the council force landlords to provide adequate facilities?
31. How many waste categories will residents need to separate?
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
Why: The council's announcement states that households must sort their waste into four separate categories, so residents face four streams rather than a single bin or a simpler division.
32. What is the grace period before fines begin?
- One month
- Two months
- Three months
- Six months
Why: Fines do not start straight away: enforcement begins only after a two-month grace period, giving households time to adjust to the sorting routine before penalties can be issued.
33. Why does the editorial criticize the new policy?
- It is too expensive
- It is not environmentally friendly
- It places a burden on apartment residents with limited space
- It excludes certain neighborhoods
Why: The editorial's objection is practical: flat dwellers with little storage space struggle to keep several separate containers, so the measure is criticised as an unfair burden on apartment residents.
34. The word 'fait accompli' in the editorial is closest in meaning to:
- A future possibility
- An accomplished fact
- A failed attempt
- A proposed change
Why: Fait accompli describes something already settled and beyond argument. The phrase signals that the editorial sees the policy as a decision presented as complete fact rather than an open proposal still under discussion.
35. What concern does the forum post raise?
- The cost of the new bins
- Whether landlords will be required to provide recycling facilities
- The quality of the bins
- The deadline for implementation
Why: The forum post asks whether landlords, not tenants, will be obliged to supply recycling facilities, shifting responsibility for the practical side of the scheme onto property owners.
36. Which text is most critical of the new policy?
- The press release
- The editorial
- The forum post
- None of the three criticises it
Why: The editorial calls the sorting requirements an unreasonable burden and criticises the council for announcing the policy without consulting residents, while the press release simply announces it and the forum post focuses on building management.
37. What is the main purpose of the city council's announcement?
- To explain the benefits of composting
- To inform residents about new waste-sorting requirements
- To announce a tax increase
- To promote the sale of recycling bins
Why: The announcement is issued to tell residents what the new waste-sorting requirements are, including how many categories to separate and when enforcement starts, rather than to argue a case or sell anything.
38. According to the press release, how will residents receive the new bins?
- They must purchase them
- They will be delivered free of charge
- They must pick them up at city hall
- They will be available at supermarkets
Why: The press release states that the new containers will be delivered to households at no cost, so no charge or collection trip is involved in the scheme.
39. What do all three texts discuss?
- The cost of living in the city
- The implementation of a new recycling program
- The quality of public transportation
- The election of city officials
Why: All three texts deal with the same new recycling programme: its rules, its free bins, the criticism it attracts and the practical worries it raises among residents and tenants.
40. What can be inferred about the forum post author?
- They are new to recycling
- They already practice waste separation at home
- They oppose the policy entirely
- They work for the city council
Why: The forum poster refers to habits already in place at home, which indicates someone who separates waste routinely, rather than a newcomer to recycling or a council employee writing officially.
Electric Scooter Regulation
Effective immediately, electric scooters are prohibited on all sidewalks in the central business district. Riders must use bike lanes where available; otherwise, they may use the road while staying to the right. Helmet use is strongly recommended, and riders must be at least sixteen years old.
E-scooter company ZipRide has seen a 300% increase in ridership over the past year, driven largely by commuters avoiding crowded subway cars. However, accidents involving scooters have also tripled, prompting calls for tighter regulations. ZipRide has announced plans to offer free helmets to frequent riders through its app.
These new scooter rules are a joke. I nearly got hit by one on the sidewalk yesterday, and the rider just kept going! The real problem is enforcement — I've never seen anyone get fined. Make the companies responsible for rider behavior, or nothing will change.
41. Where are e-scooters now prohibited according to the transport authority?
- On all roads
- On bike lanes
- On sidewalks in the central business district
- In parks
Why: The transport authority's notice restricts e-scooters on pavements in the central business district, leaving other locations such as bike lanes and parks outside that specific ban.
42. What rise in ridership does ZipRide report?
- 100%
- 200%
- 300%
- 400%
Why: ZipRide reports that ridership has risen by three hundred per cent, a threefold increase in journeys compared with the period before the scheme was expanded in the city.
43. Why does the tech blog mention that accidents have tripled?
- To explain why regulations are being tightened
- To promote scooter sales
- To criticize the transport authority
- To announce a new product
Why: The blog cites the tripling of accidents as evidence that existing rules are failing, which supports the case for tighter regulation rather than promoting sales or attacking the authority.
44. What is ZipRide's response to safety concerns?
- Raising rental prices
- Reducing the number of scooters
- Offering free helmets to frequent riders
- Shutting down operations
Why: ZipRide answers safety criticism with a practical offer: free helmets for frequent riders, a measure the company presents as encouraging safer riding rather than restricting its service.
45. What is the social media user's main complaint?
- Scooters are too expensive
- There is no enforcement of rules
- The city needs more bike lanes
- Helmets are uncomfortable
Why: The complaint is that rules already exist but nobody enforces them, so scooter riders keep breaking the law; price, cycle lanes and helmet comfort are not the point being made.
46. The word 'prohibited' in the transport authority notice is closest in meaning to:
- Encouraged
- Banned
- Monitored
- Discussed
Why: Prohibited means officially forbidden, so banned is the closest equivalent. Monitored suggests mere observation and discussed suggests only talk, neither of which conveys an enforceable restriction.
47. What minimum age does the transport authority set for scooter riders?
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Eighteen
Why: The notice sets sixteen as the minimum age for riding, so younger teenagers are excluded; eighteen is the age required for driving or full adult rights, not for scooters under this rule.
48. Which text provides statistical data about scooter usage?
- The transport authority notice
- The tech blog report
- The social media thread
- All three equally
Why: The statistics quoted, such as the tripling of accidents, come from the tech blog's report, whereas the notice states rules and the social media thread gives personal complaints without figures.
49. What is the overriding theme across all three texts?
- The environmental benefits of scooters
- The need to regulate e-scooter use and address safety
- The financial success of scooter companies
- The history of urban transportation
Why: Each text approaches the same problem: a fast-growing scooter market, rising accidents, and a city trying to impose workable rules and safety measures on riders in its centre.
50. How does the tone of the social media thread differ from the other texts?
- It is more formal
- It is more frustrated and confrontational
- It is more optimistic
- It is more technical
Why: The thread reads as an angry personal outburst, whereas the notice is bureaucratic and the blog is measured reporting, so the tone is frustrated and confrontational.