Mini test 1

Name: __________________________ Date: _____________

Reading Comprehension: True/False

Mark each statement as T (true) or F (false) according to the information in the reading passage.

Read this passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Multichunking
Several studies have shown that the incredible ability of Americans to juggle many tasks at once
(multitasking) might not be as beneficial as people think. When a person writes an e-mail, talks
on the phone, and reads a document all at the same time, it has been suggested, that none of the
tasks is done well. In addition to lower quality of work, research has shown that these tasks done
together actually take longer than if each had been done separately. Some researchers have found
that creating chunks of time in which to complete specific tasks (multichunking) is as a more
time-efficient method of working.

The idea is that, although the hours of work are the same, when a person is allowed to put all of
her attention toward one task at a time, the continuity allows her to complete the task more
quickly and with more efficiency than when the task is completed during smaller time segments
while juggling other tasks.

In a business situation, employees might not consider multichunking an option. People cannot
ignore the phone ringing. They are part of a team and the person calling may have an issue that
needs to be solved right away. Or, a person typing a letter might have to stop to reply to an e-
mail. These kinds of interruptions are what require multitasking in most workplaces.

Supporters of multichunking, however, do not negate the need for multitasking. What they
suggest is that people set aside several one-hour blocks during their week and possibly a couple
of two-hour blocks in which to work on certain projects. For example, an employee might make
it clear that from 9 to 10 a.m. and from 3 to 4 p.m. every day of the week, he or she is
unavailable. This scheduled “chunking” time is identified in advance and will allow the
employee to completely focus on a particular project or task.

Using this example, on a Monday morning, the employee would answer questions and return
phone calls from 8 to 9, and then turn off his or her phone for an hour. Other employees in the
company would get used to this hour being a normal “focus” time for that particular employee.
Theoretically, this hour of working on a particular project would be more productive than if the
employee completed the same work while also answering e-mails and phone calls.

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Every new theory has its problems. Supporters of chunking admit that the hours set aside may
not always be utilized with complete focus. Someone might set aside twenty chunking hours but
only be able to complete ten of those hours, whereas someone else might be successful at
completing fifteen. The supporters, however, propose that even those ten or fifteen hours will
help to eliminate the stacks of work on someone's desk better than a full week of multitasking.

1. An example of multitasking would be someone trying to focus on one project for one to
two hours before moving on to another project.
A) True

B) False

2. Multichunking has been shown to be less efficient than previously thought.

A) True

B) False

Reading Comprehension: Multiple Choice

Choose the option that best completes each sentence.

3. Although not directly stated in the reading, the reason why multitasking is not as
efficient as doing each task separately is probably because ____.
A) people do not know how to do two things at once

B) a person has to transition between tasks and this takes up time

C) a person will likely get bored with just one task and want to start another

D) when multitasking, no single task is done very well

4. Multichunking is suggested as a more efficient way of working because ____.

A) employees can focus on one task at a time

B) businesses run more smoothly when the atmosphere is quiet

C) phone calls and e-mails are not as important as other tasks

D) bosses will know where an employee is for a few hours a day

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Vocabulary: Word Families
Choose the word form that correctly completes each sentence.

5. Luisa enrolled in keyboarding classes in order to fulfill a common ____ for secretarial
positions.
A) requirement

B) require

C) required

6. The employer was not allowed to ____ that his female employees dress fashionably, but
he encouraged it often.
A) requirement

B) require

C) required

7. Having a quiet environment with minimal distractions is thought to be ____ for students
with attention difficulties.
A) benefit

B) benefited

C) beneficial

8. Knowing that Victoria would be a ___ to the company, her supervisor created a full-
time position for her after the temporary project was completed.
A) benefit

B) benefited

C) beneficial

Vocabulary: Multiple Choice

Choose the word that best completes each sentence.

9. The professor was surprised when the students attending his ____ applauded at the end
of it.
A) identification

B) requirement

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 C) benefit

D) lecture

10. Difficulty with acclimating to a new culture is a ___ part of the immigration process
because it seems to happen to almost everyone.
A) required

B) normal

C) beneficial

D) mediating

11. Mourning the death of someone close to you is a(n) ___ process that can take many
different forms. Each person's experience is unique and difficult.
A) complex

B) consistent

C) evident

D) instructional

12. The evidence that the children are thriving does not ___ the need for additional
resources.
A) instruct

B) negate

C) mediate

D) research

13. The ___ of individualized instruction are enthusiastically explained in the conference
brochure.
A) benefits

B) evidence

C) normality

D) mediation

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 14. Although considered a nontraditional type of ___, leaving teenagers in the wilderness to
learn survival skills on their own has proved effective.
A) benefit

B) lecture

C) instruction

D) research

Vocabulary: Fill in the blank

Use the words below to complete the sentences. Use each word one time.

instruct psychology required

whereas mediate

15. In an American academic setting, asking for clarification is expected, ______________

in some countries it is considered rude.

16. The student's music project focused more on the ______________ of music appreciation
than the technical aspects of music.

17. The keyboarding professor attempted to ______________ her group of older computer
users in a way that they could understand and relate to.

18. The coach was forced to ______________ the dispute between the two teenage girls
even though he had no interest in doing so.

19. In order to meet their deadlines, Suzanne and her team ______________ that no one
interrupt them during their planning sessions.

Vocabulary: Multiple Choice

Choose the option that best completes each sentence.

20. The highly paid actress considered all of the crew members to be her ____ and ordered
them around.
A) margins

B) visions

C) subordinates

D) components

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21. The production company said that there was just one ____ missing from the script: a
love interest for the main character.
A) component

B) vehicle

C) bond

D) adjustment

22. The movie reviewer ____ the director's use of computer animation and discussed how it
enhanced the film.
A) retained

B) highlighted

C) adjusted

D) schemed

23. In order for the director to get his four first-choice actors for his new film, they had to
make a lot of ____ in the filming schedule.
A) vehicles

B) margins

C) bonds

D) adjustments

24. The intern hoped that he would ____ be offered a paid position at the company, but he
knew he would have to be patient.
A) thereby

B) eventually

C) finally

D) marginally

25. When working with precision equipment, the ____ of error is very tight. You have to be
accurate in your calculations.
A) bond

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 B) vehicle

C) margin

D) vision

Vocabulary: Fill in the blank

Use the words below to complete the sentences. Use each word one time.

adjust finally marginal

Eventual Forthcoming

26. The course was difficult, but the _______________ reward of finishing it would make it
all worthwhile.

27. Mr. Black did not lie to the police, but he was not _______________ with the
information that he knew about the situation.

28. Brenna read the computer manual for a second time, but any increase in her knowledge
was _______________.

29. Because of the rain, the photographer had to _______________ his schedule so that he
could stay in Jamaica an extra week and finish the photo shoot.

30. After their thirteenth rejection, Christa and her writing partner _______________
agreed to revise their screenplay to include more action.
Vocabulary: Multiple Choice
Choose the option that best completes each sentence.

31. The outdoor music festival was a big success, though the extreme heat during the day
did ____ the experience for some people.
A) manipulate

B) incorporate

C) diminish

D) confer

32. Without any ____ evidence, the prosecutor could not convince the jury of the
defendant's guilt.
A) primal

B) physical

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 C) refined

D) manipulative

33. You are a good violinist, but a good teacher could help you ____ your skills so that you
could have a chance at a job with a professional orchestra.
A) refine

B) incorporate

C) diminish

D) stress

34. The ____ that music appreciation is passed down from generation to generation has yet
to be proven.
A) foundation

B) projection

C) stress

D) theory

35. He was arrested immediately once it was found that he had ____ the accounting records
of the firm to suggest it had more money than it actually had.
A) diminished

B) manipulated

C) projected

D) conferred

Vocabulary: Fill in the blank

Use the words below to complete the sentences. Use each word one time.
confer incorporation
foundation
14. A(n) _______________ stressed
example of commercialism is schools using class time to show
fundamental prime
“news shows” that include ads for junk food, Hollywood movies, and trendy fashions.

15. A police agency may not interfere with a citizen's _______________ rights as listed in
the Constitution.

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 16. Despite the _______________ of several well-established rules of business, the video
store was bankrupt within a year.

17. She sought a teacher who could provide her daughter with a strong _______________
in grammar and writing.

18. The court rules require that attorneys _______________ with their clients on all issues
that could affect their trials.

19. The young teacher _______________ creativity in all of her lessons because she knew it
would help her students become problem solvers.

Vocabulary: Multiple Choice

Choose the option that best completes each sentence.

42. Our fondness for television is ____ our grandparents' fondness for radio.
A) prohibitive to

B) equivalent to

C) assembled by

D) crucial to

43. His most distinctive ____ is his ability to find the good side of any situation, no matter
how bad it seems.
A) assembly

B) attribute

C) item

D) manual

44. The young explorers were given a list of ____ to bring on their backpacking trip.
A) targets

B) items

C) assemblies

D) variables

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 45. Calculation of the longitude and latitude of our location must be ____, or we will get
lost and run out of food.
A) prohibited

B) enabling

C) precise

D) variable

46. When we get to the campsite, we should ____ the portable stove so that we can begin
making dinner.
A) prohibit

B) assemble

C) vary

D) chart

Vocabulary: Fill in the blank

Use the words below to complete the sentences. Use each word one time.

charts precisely target

enabled significant variable

47. One ________________ that is often overlooked when diagnosing the problem is
whether the person traveled to a rural area during the previous year.

48. The explorers relied on ancient ________________ that listed the position of the
planets, stars, sun, and moon on each day of the year.

49. Not even the residents in the town would drink the water because it contained
__________________ amounts of pollution.

50. For each segment of his bicycle trip from Kentucky to California, Thomas
________________ calculated the amount of food and water he would need to carry
with him.

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