NO-CHOICES-CELPIP Preparation Program – Practice Tests 1 – Reading

Dear Jenny,

Thank you for your lovely note! At first, I was surprised that you and Nicolas didn’t get the place close to town. Still, I’m happy to hear that you two found the ranch of your dreams. I must confess, when you and Nicolas moved to Saskatchewan, I thought you were both crazy. After all, the weather is so very different from the coast. Still, after seeing the pictures you attached, I can see I was wrong. The log cabin looks gorgeous, and the land is beautiful. Forty acres is a lot of space, and I’m sure you’ll make great use of it. I can’t wait to come visit you for the holidays.

I’ve also moved recently. I had to move as my landlord was putting the house on the market. It was actually a relief because I wasn’t too happy in that basement suite as there simply wasn’t enough light. The new apartment I’m in is great. It’s small, but it’s on the top floor and has a skylight and large windows. It’s also very close to the transit line, which was a major deciding factor since I don’t own a car. The rent is a bit more than I paid before, but not by much.

Things also changed in my work situation. As you know the art market has really taken a dive, and sales were not going as expected. I finally had enough when 10 other artists and I were invited to auction our paintings to raise money for high school art programs. We were to get 60% of each sale. At first I was happy because I ended up selling all five of my paintings. The buyers took my paintings home, and the fundraiser committee wrote down which paintings I had sold, or so I thought! After not getting my cheque in the mail for 2 weeks, I called the organizing committee. It turns out that they had lost their record book and didn’t have any verification of my sales! The lady on the phone said they couldn’t pay me since they couldn’t confirm how much I had made. Luckily, I was able to speak to the buyers and they contacted the committee stating how much they had paid for my paintings, and in the end, they paid me, but only after many phone conversations with the head manager. I decided it was time for a more conventional job, so I got a position at the Vancouver Art Gallery, taking visitors through the exhibitions. I miss painting but I’m enjoying the stability and being surrounded by so many different artistic styles and personalities.

Other than that, life is good. I’ve just adopted a kitten and am enjoying my work and my new location.

All the best,
Sarah

A. National parks have existed in Canada for well over a century. The Canadian National Park system is aimed at preserving and representing natural areas of all the 13 provinces and territories in the country. This system comprises over 40 national parks that protect ecological integrity, and allow the public to explore, learn about, and enjoy Canada’s natural spaces. Among Canadian national parks, Kluane National Park and Reserve stands out, being declared a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site in 1979 for its magnificent glacier and icefield landscapes and wildlife, which include grizzly bears, caribou, moose, wolves, and Dall sheep.

B. Kluane National Park and Reserve is situated in the southwestern Yukon territory, and is over 22,000 Km2. It includes the St. Elias Mountains where the highest peak in Canada, Mount Logan, is located. The park is also the site of one of Canada’s oldest climate research bases. Founded in 1961, The Arctic Institute’s Kluane Lake Research Station has been a major hub for researchers from scientific organizations of diverse disciplines from all over the country and the world. On any day, research groups may be conducting studies in a number of fields including geology, biology, botany, and anthropology.

C. Archaeological evidence suggests humans may have lived in the area following the last Ice Age, over 10,000 years ago. Evidence also suggests that the Tutchone aboriginal people have lived in the area for hundreds of years. The Tutchone settled in the area after long migration periods through the Kluane Lake area, where they would hunt, fish, and gather food. In the early 1890s, explorers, prospectors, climbers, and hunters also settled around Kluane. In the 1940s, the completion of the Alaska Highway made the area accessible. Soon after, in 1942, the area was declared a wildlife reserve, cutting off natural resources to the people who depended on it.

D. In 1972 the Canadian Government designated the area as a national park and reserve, which meant aboriginal peoples regained access to natural resources. Federal and provincial governments joined forces to reach a series of agreements with the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, and Kluane First Nation. Nowadays, status aboriginals from these nations are entitled to harvest resources within Kluane National Park. Government branches and aboriginal peoples have also found ways to boost economic activity in the area, investing in sustainable forestry to promote economic stability for on-reserve aboriginals.

E. Not given in any of the above paragraphs.