STEP Practice Test 2 — 50 Questions
اختبار STEP تدريبي — 50 سؤالاً
A comprehensive B2–C1 STEP-style practice assessment.
Mansoor Academy
STEP Practice Test 2 — 50 Questions
Name: ____________________ Date: ____________
Rarely _____ such rapid growth in a newly established company.
- A) we have seen
- B) have we seen
- C) we saw
- D) did we have seen
If he had accepted the scholarship last year, he _____ in London now.
- A) studied
- B) would have studied
- C) would be studying
- D) will study
_____ the final draft, the editor sent the report to the publisher.
- A) Having reviewed
- B) Reviewed
- C) Being reviewed
- D) To reviewing
You _____ me earlier; I could have helped you solve the problem.
- A) must call
- B) should call
- C) would call
- D) should have called
A number of applicants _____ already completed the online interview.
- A) has
- B) have
- C) is
- D) was
We are going to have the air-conditioning system _____ before summer begins.
- A) repair
- B) repairing
- C) repaired
- D) to repair
The consultant to _____ we spoke recommended a different strategy.
- A) whom
- B) who
- C) whose
- D) which
The new policy is expected _____ by the board next month.
- A) approving
- B) to approve
- C) approved
- D) to be approved
The research team succeeded in _____ the source of the error.
- A) identify
- B) identifying
- C) to identify
- D) identified
She said that she _____ the documents the previous day.
- A) submits
- B) has submitted
- C) had submitted
- D) will submit
After graduation, Sara hopes to become _____ architect.
- A) an
- B) a
- C) the
- D) —
Only _____ information was available when the investigation began.
- A) few
- B) many
- C) a number of
- D) a little
It is essential that every participant _____ identification at the entrance.
- A) shows
- B) show
- C) showed
- D) will show
The engineers _____ the system since early this morning, but they still have not found the fault.
- A) test
- B) tested
- C) have been testing
- D) had tested
_____ the weather conditions were difficult, the rescue team continued its work.
- A) Although
- B) Because of
- C) Despite of
- D) In spite
_____ you require further assistance, please contact the support team.
- A) Had
- B) Were
- C) Would
- D) Should
They purchased a _____ table for the conference room.
- A) wooden large round
- B) large round wooden
- C) round wooden large
- D) wooden round large
I wish I _____ more attention during yesterday's briefing.
- A) pay
- B) would pay
- C) had paid
- D) have paid
The manager denied _____ confidential information to the press.
- A) leaking
- B) to leak
- C) leak
- D) to have leak
No sooner had the presentation begun _____ the projector stopped working.
- A) when
- B) then
- C) as
- D) than
The researchers found a _____ difference between the two groups.
- A) temporary
- B) reluctant
- C) substantial
- D) fragile
The university decided to _____ more funds to scientific research.
- A) allocate
- B) eliminate
- C) hesitate
- D) restore
The explanation sounded _____ at first, but further investigation showed that it was incorrect.
- A) inevitable
- B) obsolete
- C) scarce
- D) plausible
If the equipment is not maintained regularly, its condition may _____ rapidly.
- A) retain
- B) deteriorate
- C) compile
- D) enhance
The instructions were so _____ that several employees interpreted them differently.
- A) explicit
- B) mandatory
- C) ambiguous
- D) reliable
The proposed timetable is _____, provided that enough instructors are available.
- A) feasible
- B) hostile
- C) random
- D) temporary
The company introduced flexible hours to _____ experienced employees.
- A) derive
- B) suspend
- C) restrict
- D) retain
There is _____ evidence that regular exercise improves overall health.
- A) narrow
- B) compelling
- C) fragile
- D) minor
Online banking has become increasingly _____ among older customers as digital literacy has improved.
- A) isolated
- B) inevitable
- C) prevalent
- D) reluctant
Given the severe weather conditions, some delays were almost _____.
- A) inevitable
- B) optional
- C) accurate
- D) flexible
Remote work was once viewed mainly as an employee benefit, but many organisations now treat it as a long-term operating model. Studies suggest that employees can be equally or even more productive at home when their work requires concentration. However, remote work can make spontaneous communication more difficult and may weaken informal relationships between colleagues. For this reason, some organisations have adopted hybrid schedules that combine home and office work.
What is the main idea of the passage?
- A) Remote employees are always more productive than office employees.
- B) Remote work has advantages and disadvantages, leading some organisations to adopt hybrid models.
- C) Office work will soon disappear completely.
- D) Employees generally dislike working from home.
Remote work was once viewed mainly as an employee benefit, but many organisations now treat it as a long-term operating model. Studies suggest that employees can be equally or even more productive at home when their work requires concentration. However, remote work can make spontaneous communication more difficult and may weaken informal relationships between colleagues. For this reason, some organisations have adopted hybrid schedules that combine home and office work.
What can reasonably be inferred from the passage?
- A) Remote work is unsuitable for all collaborative tasks.
- B) Employees should work from home every day.
- C) Productivity depends only on where employees work.
- D) Different kinds of work may benefit from different working arrangements.
Remote work was once viewed mainly as an employee benefit, but many organisations now treat it as a long-term operating model. Studies suggest that employees can be equally or even more productive at home when their work requires concentration. However, remote work can make spontaneous communication more difficult and may weaken informal relationships between colleagues. For this reason, some organisations have adopted hybrid schedules that combine home and office work.
The word 'spontaneous' is closest in meaning to:
- A) unplanned
- B) formal
- C) delayed
- D) written
Remote work was once viewed mainly as an employee benefit, but many organisations now treat it as a long-term operating model. Studies suggest that employees can be equally or even more productive at home when their work requires concentration. However, remote work can make spontaneous communication more difficult and may weaken informal relationships between colleagues. For this reason, some organisations have adopted hybrid schedules that combine home and office work.
According to the passage, what is one disadvantage of remote work?
- A) Employees cannot concentrate at home.
- B) It always reduces productivity.
- C) Informal relationships between colleagues may become weaker.
- D) Organisations cannot use hybrid schedules.
Remote work was once viewed mainly as an employee benefit, but many organisations now treat it as a long-term operating model. Studies suggest that employees can be equally or even more productive at home when their work requires concentration. However, remote work can make spontaneous communication more difficult and may weaken informal relationships between colleagues. For this reason, some organisations have adopted hybrid schedules that combine home and office work.
Why does the author mention hybrid schedules?
- A) To show that remote work has completely failed
- B) To illustrate one response to the strengths and weaknesses of remote work
- C) To prove that offices are unnecessary
- D) To criticise organisations that allow home working
Water scarcity has encouraged many countries to invest in desalination, a process that removes salt from seawater. Modern desalination plants can provide reliable supplies of drinking water, particularly in dry regions. Yet the process requires considerable energy and produces concentrated salty waste known as brine. Researchers are therefore exploring cleaner energy sources and new ways of treating or reusing brine to reduce the environmental impact of desalination.
What is the main idea of the passage?
- A) Desalination should be abandoned because it is too expensive.
- B) Freshwater is naturally abundant in dry regions.
- C) Brine can always be reused without treatment.
- D) Desalination provides useful water supplies but also creates environmental challenges.
Water scarcity has encouraged many countries to invest in desalination, a process that removes salt from seawater. Modern desalination plants can provide reliable supplies of drinking water, particularly in dry regions. Yet the process requires considerable energy and produces concentrated salty waste known as brine. Researchers are therefore exploring cleaner energy sources and new ways of treating or reusing brine to reduce the environmental impact of desalination.
What can be inferred about future desalination technology?
- A) Research is likely to focus on reducing its environmental costs.
- B) It will no longer require seawater.
- C) It will completely replace all other water sources.
- D) It will produce more concentrated waste.
Water scarcity has encouraged many countries to invest in desalination, a process that removes salt from seawater. Modern desalination plants can provide reliable supplies of drinking water, particularly in dry regions. Yet the process requires considerable energy and produces concentrated salty waste known as brine. Researchers are therefore exploring cleaner energy sources and new ways of treating or reusing brine to reduce the environmental impact of desalination.
The word 'considerable' is closest in meaning to:
- A) temporary
- B) uncertain
- C) substantial
- D) unnecessary
Water scarcity has encouraged many countries to invest in desalination, a process that removes salt from seawater. Modern desalination plants can provide reliable supplies of drinking water, particularly in dry regions. Yet the process requires considerable energy and produces concentrated salty waste known as brine. Researchers are therefore exploring cleaner energy sources and new ways of treating or reusing brine to reduce the environmental impact of desalination.
In the final sentence, 'therefore' indicates that researchers' work is:
- A) unrelated to desalination's disadvantages
- B) a response to the environmental problems described earlier
- C) intended to increase the amount of brine
- D) evidence that water scarcity has ended
Water scarcity has encouraged many countries to invest in desalination, a process that removes salt from seawater. Modern desalination plants can provide reliable supplies of drinking water, particularly in dry regions. Yet the process requires considerable energy and produces concentrated salty waste known as brine. Researchers are therefore exploring cleaner energy sources and new ways of treating or reusing brine to reduce the environmental impact of desalination.
Which challenge of desalination is specifically mentioned?
- A) It cannot produce drinking water.
- B) It works only in cold regions.
- C) It requires freshwater as an input.
- D) It consumes substantial energy.
Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.
- A) The project was delayed however, the team completed it successfully.
- B) The project was delayed however the team, completed it successfully.
- C) The project was delayed; however, the team completed it successfully.
- D) The project was delayed, however the team completed it successfully.
Choose the best combination: 'The road was flooded. The drivers used another route.'
- A) Because the road was flooded, the drivers used another route.
- B) Although the road was flooded, because the drivers used another route.
- C) The road was flooded, but because another route.
- D) Being another route, the road was flooded.
Choose the sentence with the clearest modifier placement.
- A) Walking through the laboratory, the equipment appeared unusually quiet.
- B) The equipment, walking through the laboratory, appeared unusually quiet.
- C) Walking through the laboratory, unusually quiet equipment appeared.
- D) Walking through the laboratory, the technician noticed that the equipment was unusually quiet.
The company invested heavily in staff training. _____, employee performance improved significantly.
- A) In contrast
- B) Consequently
- C) Nevertheless
- D) For instance
Choose the sentence with correct parallel structure.
- A) The job requires analysing data, to prepare reports, and presenting findings.
- B) The job requires analysis of data, preparing reports, and to present findings.
- C) The job requires analysing data, preparing reports, and presenting findings.
- D) The job requires to analyse data, preparing reports, and presentation of findings.
Choose the most concise sentence.
- A) The team postponed the meeting because several members were absent.
- B) Due to the fact that several members were absent, this caused the team to postpone the meeting.
- C) The reason why the meeting was postponed was because several members were absent.
- D) Several members being absent was the reason as to why the team postponed the meeting.
Choose the sentence with the clearest pronoun reference.
- A) When Ahmed spoke to Khalid, he said the report was incomplete.
- B) Ahmed told Khalid that he had an incomplete report.
- C) After Ahmed spoke to Khalid, he told him it was incomplete.
- D) Ahmed told Khalid, 'The report is incomplete.'
Choose the sentence that correctly fixes the run-on sentence: 'The deadline was approaching everyone worked late.'
- A) The deadline was approaching everyone, worked late.
- B) The deadline was approaching, so everyone worked late.
- C) The deadline, was approaching so everyone worked late.
- D) The deadline was approaching because, everyone worked late.
Which sentence best follows this statement? 'The university introduced a new online registration system.'
- A) Universities were first established centuries ago.
- B) Some students prefer studying in the library.
- C) As a result, students can now register for courses more quickly.
- D) The weather was unusually warm during registration week.
Choose the sentence most appropriate for formal academic writing.
- A) The results indicate that further investigation is necessary.
- B) The results kind of show that we need to look into this some more.
- C) The results are pretty clear, so we should check it out again.
- D) The results basically say more research would be a good idea.
Question 1 of 50
60:00Rarely _____ such rapid growth in a newly established company.