CELPIP Reading for Viewpoints Canada’s Game
CELPIP Reading for Viewpoints Canada’s Game
This Reading Module has 12 questions similar to the kinds of questions that you can expect to find on an actual CELPIP Test. Practice Celpip Test Reading for Reading for Viewpoints Canada’s Game.
Part 1
Directions: Read the following passage.
Most people, including myself, perceive Canada’s national sport to be ice hockey. Interestingly, and perhaps surprisingly, Canada’s national sport is lacrosse, not hockey. However, while lacrosse can lay claim to being the national sport of this nation, hockey is the most popular sport. I’m sure that most Canadians would agree with me when I say that, more than any other sport, hockey is enjoyed by Canadians as both a sport to watch and as a sport to play.
Hockey is known as a winter sport, but it is actually played during other seasons as well. Outdoor and indoor rinks are iced-over playing surfaces on which people of all ages and walks of life can enjoy playing the sport. These rinks welcome children, teens, and adults. They can participate in small, friendly groups, and in bigger community, municipal, and provincial leagues that are comprehensive enough to include all age and skill levels. Additionally, many companies organize hockey teams for their employees to play on recreationally. I think participating in this great sport not only keeps you fit, but provides great fun and entertainment, no matter what your level of play.
At the professional level, there are seven Canadian teams that participate in the NHL, the National Hockey League. Most of these teams have won the coveted Stanley Cup trophy. Of all NHL teams, the Montreal Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup the most. Over the years, NHL franchises have come and gone in certain Canadian cities, but the majority of teams have remained in their current cities for many decades. My favourite team tends to change with the cities I move to. When I was living in Toronto, I used to root for the Maple Leafs. Now that I live in Winnipeg, the Jets are my team.
Hockey is also played internationally. Every year, there are international tournaments held in Europe and North America which host teams from hockey nations. While Canada has historically done very well at such tournaments, teams from other countries have also been winning gold, giving Canada a run for its money. That’s okay by me. It’s more fun to watch a
close game than for it to be lop-sided.
The Olympic Winter Games also play host to ice hockey. Both men and women’s teams from around the world participate in this Olympic sport. Again, while Canadian hockey teams have performed well in terms of medal count at such games, there are strong teams from other countries which also do very well. When I was at the Vancouver Games, I was lucky enough to
see both the men’s and the women’s teams play for the gold medal. It was then that I understood just how passionate Canadians, including myself, were about hockey, Canada’s game.
Part 2
Directions: Answer the questions by choosing the best word or phrase to complete the sentence, referring to the passage when necessary.
1. According to the writer, lacrosse _____.
a. is one of Canada’s national sports.
b. lays claim to a national sport.
c. is a surprising sport.
d. is not as popular as hockey.
2. According to the writer, most Canadians agree that _____.
a. lacrosse is the national sport.
b. Canadians enjoy watching and playing hockey more than other sports.
c. Canadians both enjoy hockey, and watching it.
d. both Canadians enjoy watching hockey, and playing it.
3. Hockey is played _____.
a. only in winter.
b. by many kinds of people.
c. in smaller groups only.
d. only on outdoor rinks in winter.
4. The writer feels that _____.
a. hockey is fun and healthy.
b. it does not matter how much fun you have when you play hockey.
c. should get fit and have fun.
d. keeping fit provides great fun and entertainment.
5. Most of the _____.
a. Montreal Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup.
b. Stanley Cups have been won by Canadian NHL teams.
c. NHL teams in Canada have won a Stanley Cup.
d. Stanley Cups have been won by the Montreal Canadiens.
6. At international tournaments, Canada _____.
a. always wins gold.
b. gives a run for money.
c. does historically well.
d. does not always come in first place.
7. The writer felt fortunate to _____.
a. play hockey.
b. see the Olympics.
c. watch two games.
d. feel passionate about hockey.
8. In the writer’s opinion, _____.
a. competition increases the entertainment value of a hockey game.
b. competition is held in Europe and North America.
c. many people like hockey.
d. he used to root for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Part 3
Directions: Read someone’s comment about the above passage. Answer the questions by choosing the best word or phrase to complete the sentence, referring to the above passage when necessary.
I would like to respond to your essay entitled “Canada’s Game”. Although I (9. argue / disagree / agree / share) with you that hockey is very popular in Canada, I personally prefer to take in a good game of lacrosse. There’s something about lacrosse that I (10. prefer / like / rather / enjoy) to hockey. Maybe it’s because it’s not as violent a sport as hockey. Have you actually ever watched a lacrosse (11. games / competitions / sport / match)? I would say that it’s at least as entertaining as hockey, if not more. I wish Canadians would learn about and appreciate lacrosse more. It (12. need /deserves / should / gives) much more attention than it gets.
Reading for Viewpoints Canada’s Game Answers
1. d
2. b
3. b
4. a
5. c
6. d
7. c
8. a
9. agree
10. prefer
11. match
12. deserves
Answers Explanation
Reading for Viewpoints “Canada’s Game”
1) d: Paragraph 1 says that hockey is the most popular sport.
2) b: The last sentence of Paragraph 1 says that “most Canadians would agree…that, more than any other sport, hockey is enjoyed by Canadians as both a sport to watch and as a sport to play.”
3) b: Paragraph 2 explains that hockey is played by many kinds of people.
4) a: In Paragraph 2, the writer says that “I think participating in this great sport not only keeps you fit, but provides great fun”.
5) c: In Paragraph 3, the sentence “Most of these teams have won the coveted Stanley Cup trophy” has the same meaning as “Most of the NHL teams in Canada have won a Stanley Cup.”
6) d: In Paragraph 4, teams from other countries have also been winning gold” tells us that Canada does not always win gold.
7) c: In the last paragraph, the writer says “I was lucky enough to see both the men’s and the women’s teams play for the gold medal.”
8) a: In Paragraph 4, the writer says “It’s more fun to watch a close game than for it to be lop-sided”, which has the same basic meaning as “competition increases the entertainment value of a hockey game.”
9) agree: the writer of the comment agrees with the writer of the essay that hockey is very popular in Canada.
10) prefer: In the grammar structure “There’s something about lacrosse that I ___ to hockey”, the only possible option is “prefer”.
11) match: If “games” and “competitions” had been in the singular, they would have also been correct answers.
12) deserves: “Deserves” means “should get”, which makes sense in the sentence “It should get much more attention than it gets.”
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