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CELPIP Practice Reading: Apply a Diagram ID: #63006 Hard Choosing a Housewarming Gift

Read the following email message about the diagram on the left. Complete the email by filling in the blanks. Select the best choice for each blank from the drop-down menu (▾).

To: Len
From: Casey
Date: October 14
Subject: Why I chose 1.
for Maya

Hi Len,

I am buying Maya a housewarming gift. She needs something for serving snacks, but her two cats climb on everything. I will carry it on a crowded train, so glass or anything fragile is out.

After comparing the guide, I found only one gift that meets all of those needs. The woven mat was tempting. Sadly, the guide says that it 2.
, so I had to rule it out.

She may already own something similar, so an exchange must be possible. I also want to write my own note, so I will ask the studio for 3.
.

I can reach the studio by 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, but I work until 6:00 p.m. on Friday. Maya should not have to sign for her own surprise, so 4.
is my only choice.

Could you check her cupboard for a similar piece? If she does not have one, I will buy it and tell her that it must be 5.
after each use.

Thanks,
Casey

Using the drop-down menu (▾), choose the best option.

Casey is mainly writing to 6.


On the train home, the gift will most likely be 7.


Casey's approach to choosing the gift is best described as 8.
AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.

Correct Answer: Gather

Why this is correct: Casey needs a gift for serving food that is safe for cats and not fragile or glass. Gather is food-safe and pet-safe and is not marked fragile, so it meets every need.

Tips: When the Subject line is empty, first list the writer's needs. Then test every row against all of them.

Why the other options are wrong:

  • Hearth: Hearth is safe for food and pets, but it is marked fragile and comes in a padded box.
  • Loom: Loom is not for use with food, so it cannot be used for serving snacks.
  • Glow: Glow is not pet-safe and comes in glass jars, which breaks two of Casey's rules.

Correct Answer: is not meant to touch food

Why this is correct: The woven mat is Loom. The Loom row says it is not for use with food, and Casey wants something for serving snacks.

Tips: When the email names an item in other words, like woven mat, find its row by the description.

Why the other options are wrong:

  • is marked fragile: Loom is not marked fragile. The fragile item in the guide is the Hearth platter.
  • is not safe around pets: The Loom row lists a pet-safe wool dye. The gift that is not safe around pets is Glow.
  • comes in glass jars: Loom folds flat into a paper bag. The glass jars belong to the Glow lights.

Correct Answer: a blank label

Why this is correct: Casey wants Maya to be able to exchange the gift and wants to write a personal note. The footer says engraved and dated labels are final sale. Only a blank label has room for your own note.

Tips: Rules in the footer can rule out choices that look fine in the row. Check both places.

Why the other options are wrong:

  • a standard label: A standard label can be exchanged. But only a blank label has room for Casey's own note.
  • an engraved label: The footer says engraved labels are final sale, so Maya could not exchange the gift.
  • a dated label: The footer says dated labels are final sale too, so they would stop an exchange.

Correct Answer: Thursday studio pickup

Why this is correct: Gather can be picked up at the studio or the market, or delivered. The market closes at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, while Casey works until 6:00 p.m. Home delivery needs the recipient to sign, so studio pickup on Thursday is the only choice left.

Tips: For hard questions, combine the writer's times with the times and rules in the diagram.

Why the other options are wrong:

  • Friday market pickup: Market pickup ends at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, but Casey works until 6:00 p.m. that day.
  • Saturday home delivery: The footer says the recipient must sign for home delivery, so Maya would learn about the gift.
  • Saturday kiosk pickup: Only the Glow lights offer kiosk pickup. Gather can only use the studio, the market or delivery.

Correct Answer: washed by hand

Why this is correct: Casey has chosen the Gather board. The Gather row says wash by hand only.

Tips: Some gaps depend on an earlier answer. Use the choice you made in the first gap.

Why the other options are wrong:

  • put in the dishwasher: The dishwasher is fine for the Hearth platter, but Gather must be washed by hand.
  • machine washed: Machine washing is the care for the Loom mat, not for a maple board.
  • wiped clean: Wipe clean only is the care for the Glow lights, not for the Gather board.

Correct Answer: share a gift plan and ask Len to check Maya's cupboard

Why this is correct: Casey explains which gift, label and pickup will work, then asks Len to check Maya's cupboard. The email shares a plan and makes a request.

Tips: The main purpose often includes both what the writer explains and what the writer asks for.

Why the other options are wrong:

  • ask Len to collect the gift at the Friday market: Casey will pick up the gift at the studio on Thursday. Len does not need to go to the market.
  • ask Len which label Maya would like best: Casey has already decided on the label and does not ask Len what Maya would like.
  • invite Len to Maya's housewarming party: Casey does not invite Len to any party. The request is only about Maya's cupboard.

Correct Answer: in a flat padded sleeve

Why this is correct: Casey has chosen Gather. The Gather row says it comes in a flat padded sleeve. That is easy to carry on a crowded train.

Tips: To answer what will happen next, find the writer's choice in the diagram and read its details.

Why the other options are wrong:

  • in a padded box marked fragile: A padded box marked fragile is how the Hearth platter is packed, not the Gather board.
  • folded flat in a paper bag: Folding flat into a paper bag is how the Loom mat is packed, not Gather.
  • in a small carton: A small carton holds the glass jars of the Glow lights, not the Gather board.

Correct Answer: careful and thoughtful

Why this is correct: Casey checks the cats, the train, the label and the pickup times before choosing. Casey also asks Len to check for a similar piece. This shows a careful and thoughtful approach.

Tips: For attitude questions, think about how the writer deals with problems, not just the feelings they name.

Why the other options are wrong:

  • quick and careless: Casey compares every gift against many needs, so the choice is not quick or careless.
  • unsure and ready to give up: Casey has a clear plan and a way to solve each problem, so Casey is not giving up.
  • focused only on its looks: Casey thinks about safety, care and pickup, not only about how the gift looks.

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