CELPIP Writing Practice Course: Organization and cohesion

1. Question 1 of 17

   What does official CELPIP advice recommend doing before you start writing?

   • AMake an outline of your ideas
   • BWrite the conclusion first
   • CStart typing at once to save time
   • DCopy the prompt into your response
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   Answer: A. Make an outline of your ideas

   The official tips page says making an outline before you write is the best way to make sure your ideas fit well together.

2. Question 2 of 17

   When should you start a new paragraph?

   • AAfter every single sentence you write
   • BNever, because one paragraph is best
   • CWhen you begin a new main idea
   • DOnly when you reach 100 words
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   Answer: C. When you begin a new main idea

   Start a new paragraph for each main idea. Paragraphing is part of the Readability dimension.

3. Question 3 of 17

   Which connector shows a contrast?

   • AFor example
   • BIn addition
   • CHowever
   • DAs a result
   Show answer

   Answer: C. However

   "However" shows that the next idea is different from or opposite to the one before.

4. Question 4 of 17

   Which connector shows a result?

   • AFor instance
   • BAs a result
   • CAlthough
   • DFurthermore
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   Answer: B. As a result

   "As a result" introduces something that happens because of the idea before it.

5. Question 5 of 17

   Which connector adds another point that supports the same idea?

   • AAlthough
   • BIn addition
   • CHowever
   • DOn the other hand
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   Answer: B. In addition

   "In addition" adds a new point in the same direction. The other connectors show contrast.

6. Question 6 of 17

   Which connector introduces an example?

   • AIn conclusion
   • BTherefore
   • CEven though
   • DFor instance
   Show answer

   Answer: D. For instance

   "For instance" means the same as "for example". It introduces a specific case that supports your point.

7. Question 7 of 17

   Choose the best connector: "The bus is cheaper than a taxi. ___, it takes much longer."

   • AAs a result
   • BHowever
   • CFor example
   • DIn addition
   Show answer

   Answer: B. However

   The second sentence gives a disadvantage that contrasts with the first, so "However" is correct.

8. Question 8 of 17

   Choose the best connector: "The parking lot is often full by 8:30 a.m. ___, some staff arrive late."

   • AHowever
   • BFor instance
   • CAlthough
   • DAs a result
   Show answer

   Answer: D. As a result

   Arriving late happens because the lot is full, so a result connector fits.

9. Question 9 of 17

   Which connector best introduces the final sentence of a survey response?

   • AOn the other hand
   • BFor example
   • CIn the first place
   • DFor these reasons
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   Answer: D. For these reasons

   "For these reasons" signals a conclusion that sums up the reasons you have already given.

10. Question 10 of 17

    Which sentence joins the two ideas correctly? Ideas: "The gym is expensive." / "I go every week."

    • ABecause the gym is expensive, I go every week.
    • BAlthough the gym is expensive, I go every week.
    • CThe gym is expensive, so I go every week.
    • DThe gym is expensive, for example I go every week.
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Although the gym is expensive, I go every week.

    The ideas contrast, so "although" is the right link. "Because" and "so" wrongly suggest that the cost is the reason for going.

11. Question 11 of 17

    What is the best order for the parts of a Task 1 email?

    • AA paragraph per point, purpose, greeting, sign-off, closing
    • BPurpose, sign-off, greeting, a paragraph per point, closing
    • CSign-off, greeting, closing, purpose, a paragraph per point
    • DGreeting, purpose, a paragraph per point, closing, sign-off
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Greeting, purpose, a paragraph per point, closing, sign-off

    An email starts with a greeting and a purpose statement, covers each point in its own paragraph, and ends with a concluding statement and sign-off.

12. Question 12 of 17

    Which is the best topic sentence for a paragraph about how a transit pass saves money?

    • ATransit passes are small plastic cards with the rider's photo on them.
    • BThe main benefit of a transit pass is that it saves staff money.
    • COur office is on the corner of King Street and Main Street downtown.
    • DSome people like to read a book or a newspaper while they ride the bus.
    Show answer

    Answer: B. The main benefit of a transit pass is that it saves staff money.

    A topic sentence states the main idea of the paragraph. The other sentences are details that do not introduce the money-saving point.

13. Question 13 of 17

    What is the best advice about connectors such as "moreover" and "however"?

    • AAvoid them, because they are not allowed
    • BUse the same one in every paragraph
    • CStart every sentence with one of them
    • DUse them only when they show a real link
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    Answer: D. Use them only when they show a real link

    Connectors help when they show a real relationship. Using them in every sentence makes writing sound forced and can confuse the meaning.

14. Question 14 of 17

    Read the paragraph. Which sentence should be removed because it does not support the main idea?

    Sample paragraph from a survey response:

    (1) The main reason I prefer the community pool is that it would give children a safe place to be active in summer. (2) Many families in our area cannot afford private swimming lessons. (3) My cousin lives in Halifax, where the winters are very windy. (4) A public pool with low-cost lessons would let every child learn to swim.

    • ASentence 1
    • BSentence 2
    • CSentence 4
    • DSentence 3
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Sentence 3

    Sentence 3 is about a cousin and the weather in another city, so it is not relevant. Relevance is part of Task Fulfillment.

15. Question 15 of 17

    Read the sample response. Which change would most improve it?

    Sample response:

    I think the city should build the dog park because many people in my area own dogs and there is no safe place for them to run off leash and also a dog park would help owners meet each other and make friends which is good for the community and the other option which is more benches downtown is nice but there are already some benches near the library so the dog park is better and I hope the city chooses it.

    • ASplit it into shorter sentences and paragraphs
    • BWrite the whole response in capital letters
    • CRemove the opinion statement at the very start
    • DAdd more uses of "and" to join all of the ideas
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    Answer: A. Split it into shorter sentences and paragraphs

    The ideas are reasonable, but they run together in one sentence with no paragraphs. Separate sentences, paragraphs and clear connectors would make it much easier to read.

16. Question 16 of 17

    Which rating dimension is most affected by the missing sentence breaks and paragraphs in this response?

    Sample response:

    I think the city should build the dog park because many people in my area own dogs and there is no safe place for them to run off leash and also a dog park would help owners meet each other and make friends which is good for the community and the other option which is more benches downtown is nice but there are already some benches near the library so the dog park is better and I hope the city chooses it.

    • AReadability
    • BNone of the four dimensions
    • CTask Fulfillment
    • DVocabulary
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Readability

    Readability includes format and paragraphing, sentence structure and punctuation, so a single run-on block lowers it most directly.

17. Question 17 of 17

    Read the paragraph. Which connector should be changed?

    Sample paragraph:

    (1) The new schedule starts at 7 a.m. (2) However, many staff take the first bus, which arrives at 7:20 a.m. (3) However, they would be late every day. (4) For this reason, I suggest a 7:30 a.m. start time.

    • A"However" in sentence 2 should be "For example"
    • B"For this reason" in sentence 4 should be "However"
    • C"For this reason" in sentence 4 should be "Although"
    • D"However" in sentence 3 should be "As a result"
    Show answer

    Answer: D. "However" in sentence 3 should be "As a result"

    Being late is a result of the bus time, not a contrast, so sentence 3 needs a result connector such as "As a result".

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