General Reading P T

IELTS Portal General Reading Test Total Time: 60 minutes. Reading Passage 1 You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-12 which are based on Reading Passage 1 below.

General Information and Strategies

C You are not expected to understand every word in the passage and so deciding whether a word or expression is necessary to complete the task is an important skill. If understanding of a word is not necessary to answer the question then the unknown word can be ignored. For important unknown vocabulary try to guess the meaning through contextual and grammatical clues.

A The reading texts will come from a variety of sources including British, American and Australian English. Minor differences of spelling and vocabulary e.g. between British and American English should not affect your understanding. Your reading skills will be tested by a variety of tasks. These can include Completion, Matching, True/false/does not say, Multiple choice and Labelling tasks.

Multiple Choice Questions B A major challenge of the reading test is the ability to read large amounts of text in a short time. One passage may be up to 900 words in length and the passages together could hit the 2700 word mark. The passages could also include diagrams and graphs. You do not have time to read the whole text in detail, this is not needed and will waste time however it is essential to form a general idea of the content of the passage and how the information is organized. One way to to do this is to read the headings, sub-headings, first paragraph, last paragraph and the first line of each paragraph in between. This will help you form a general picture of the content and organization of the text.

D There are several different types of multiple choice questions. You may be asked to choose one option from a list of four or two or more answers from a longer list. In the latter type it may count as one question or more depending on the difficulty. When they count as one question all parts are needed to get one point. E The general approach to answer these questions is as follows. Firstly, study the options and decide which you think are likely to be correct. Secondly, find the relevant part of the text and read it in detail. There are three key questions to ask yourself for each

-1-

IELTS Portal General Reading Test Total Time: 60 minutes. option. Is the option mentioned in the article, is it true according to the article and is it relevant? The options may look true or logical but are they right according to the text.

text so you should answer them in order. Here you should analyse each question whilst underlining key words. Next find the relevant section of the passage and read it carefully looking for parallel expressions. Sentences with parallel expressions contain the same information as the answer but it is worded in a different way e.g. synonyms are used. The correct answer will be both true according to the passage and grammatically correct.

Completion tasks F There are several types of completion task in the exam. The general strategies are as follows. It is very important to read the questions and to think about what information is missing before you look back at the text. Your final answer must be logical, true according to the text and grammatically correct.

I You may be asked to complete tables, diagrams or charts. It is extremely important to understand the organization of the table or diagram and to form an idea of the information you are looking for. You then scan the text, locate key topics and read around them very carefully. Use words from the passage in your answers.

G In summary completion tasks you have to complete a short summary of the text either with your own words, words or phrases from a list or words you take directly from the text. It is important to read the summary quickly for general understanding and then to read it in more detail. When reading in more detail you should look at the words before and after each gap and decide if the missing word is a verb, noun etc. You must then find the relevant section of the text and read it carefully to find the answer. Your answer must be true according to the text and grammatically correct.

True/false or does not say J In this type of task you have to answer true if the statement exactly matches the information in the text, false if the statement is opposite to the information in the text and not given if the information is not mentioned in the text. To answer this type of question you should read each question carefully, find the relevant section of the text and study it carefully to see if the information matches the statement. You are looking for expressions which mean the same as the words in the question. Be extra careful to

H With sentence completion tasks you have to complete sentences by choosing the best endings from a list. The questions will appear in the same order as the information in the

-2-

IELTS Portal General Reading Test Total Time: 60 minutes. distinguish between false and does not say answers.

should choose an answer and then continue like this with the next name.

Matching Tasks

L When matching headings to paragraphs you should read the first section of the text carefully before looking at the list of headings. You should then look through the list carefully and choose the correct answer. You should continue like this until the headings and paragraphs are all matched.

K In this type of task it is common to be asked to match names to achievements or opinions or to match headings to paragraphs. In the first type of task you should read the text and highlight each name. You should then read around one name very carefully looking for matching information in the answer list on the question paper. You

Questions 1-4 Look at the article about IELTS reading passages and answer questions (1-4) below. TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN

if the statement is true if the statement is false if the information is not given in the passage

1) The text will come from different sources including New Zealand English texts.

2) One of the most difficult challenges in the reading is the time limit.

3) It is important to read the complete passage in detail to be able to find the correct answers to the questions.

4) Context and grammar can give you important clues to the understanding of unknown words.

-3-

IELTS Portal General Reading Test Total Time: 60 minutes.

Now answer questions 5-8 Match the headings to the paragraphs A-L in the text. Example Places where the reading passages may be drawn from

Answer A

5) The approach to answering sentence completion tasks. 6) An introduction to the different types of matching task. 7) The importance of understanding the vocabulary during the exam. 8) Advice on how to answer table and graph completion tasks.

Now answer questions 9-13 Look at the guidelines for completion tasks and complete the sentences below with no more than three words for each answer. 9) With completion tasks it is vital to read the questions and……………………………missing information. 10) Your answer must be true according to the text and must not …………………………. 11) ………………………………contain the same information but it will be expressed in a different way. 12) It is important to ……………………and read around them in detail.

13) Use words…………………………in your answer.

-4-

IELTS Portal General Reading Test Total Time: 60 minutes.

Reading Passage 2 You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-27 which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.

Myhotel Bloomsbury, London WC1 By Ginny McGrath from Times Online August 21, 2006

open up to a further eight properties across Europe by 2010. Why it's special The location is unbeatable for shoppers and night-owls, who won't need to worry about getting a taxi home from Soho or Oxford Street. The ambience is cool, the service slick and personal and the bar lively - everything you'd expect from a boutique city hotel.

First impressions Myhotel Bloomsbury looks good for its seven years and is clearly still a hit - the lobby and bar were buzzing when I visited. Guests are both leisure and business and are mostly couples, with the odd trendy young family. In the bar guests mix with a fashionable Soho crowd who come for the cocktails and sophisticated surroundings, just a few minute's walk from Tottenham Court Road. The Conran décor still looks upto-date, with neutral walls and statement furniture and soft furnishings, as well as modern and Asian art in the lobby and bar. The suffix owes to a sister property in Chelsea, currently the only other myhotel, although there are plans to

Hitting the sack In the 78 rooms the modern décor continues - my room featured a single wallpapered wall, a sleek low bed and brightly-coloured bedspreads and cushions. The quiet air conditioning and black-out curtains made for a good night's sleep and there was a flat-screen television, CD player, safe, radio, trouser press and hairdryer. The addition of local listings magazine, Time Out London, whose headquarters is nearby, was thoughtful, and there was also a free daily newspaper and travel magazine. The bathroom was cream and red and was spotless with a good shower and a

-5-

IELTS Portal General Reading Test Total Time: 60 minutes. generous selection of Aveda toiletries. The room service menu (served 7.30am10.30pm) is extensive with dishes from £4 to £10 including gazpacho, chicken satay and club sandwiches.

Access all areas The hotel has a ramp that it can place over the steps at the entrance for guests in a wheelchair. It also has a lift and wheelchair-accessible toilets, but there are no rooms with bathrooms specifically adapted for guests in a wheelchair.

Sampling the fare Mybar serves an excellent breakfast although it was a bit of a bun-fight on a Saturday morning, with the buffet laid out on a relatively small two-tiered table. Food included fresh fruit, smoothies, yoghurt, cereals, pastries, toast and a la carte dishes, priced at around £9, such as eggs benedict (£7.50) and French toast (£4.50). But with charges of £14 for a continental breakfast and £18 for the Full English, it's probably worth popping into a café nearby if you just want a quick snack (breakfast is served Mon-Fri 7am-10am, Sat-Sun 7am-11am).

Added attractions The hotel has a small gym with cardiovascular and weights machines. There is also a treatment room where guests can get facials, massages and beauty treatments. Also in the basement is a library, which is open 24 hours and has bottled water and hot drinks as well as newspapers and magazines. Next door the Yo!Sushi restaurant offers an alternative for lunch or dinner between 11am and 11.30pm.

The lunch and dinner menu (11am10.30pm) includes snacks such as spring rolls (£5) and more substantial offerings such as grilled tuna steak (£13.50), which in my experience have always been fresh and tasty.

What we think You can't fault the location, service and ambience of this trendy boutique property. My only gripe was the quibble over the bill.

My only gripe with mybar was when VAT and service was added to a drink that I ordered from the bar. The £5 drink had two separate charges added to it: £2.06 for VAT and 63 pence for service. VAT should have been included and although there was a warning on the menu of a 12.5 percent service charge, I felt that a hotel with such a personal approach should think to remove these sorts of charges to such minor purchases to avoid grumbles at check-out.

Bottom line Rooms start from £146 including taxes, but not including breakfast for a double, £182 for a superior room and £240 for a suite. Need to know Myhotel Bloomsbury, 11-13 Bayley Street, Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3HD, tel. 020 7667 6000, www.myhotels.co.uk, [email protected]

-6-

IELTS Portal General Reading Test Total Time: 60 minutes. Look at the article about The Bloomsbury Hotel and answer questions (14-27) below. Questions 14-18 TRUE FALSE NOT GIVEN

if the statement is true if the statement is false if the information is not given in the passage

14) The Hotel Bloomsbury is over 7 years old. 15) It is a great place to stay if you enjoy a late night out. 16) Having the Full English Breakfast is good value for money. 17) Many disabled people stay at the hotel due to its easy wheelchair access. 18) The author of the article generally found the hotel a great place.

Questions 19-20 Choose the appropriate answer A-D 19) In the third paragraph the author implies that A: the bathroom was a generous size. B: the air conditioning could be rather noisy. C: the bathroom was exceptionally clean. D: you had to pay extra for a newspaper to be provided.

20) In general the author felt that A: the hotel was a bit too expensive. B: the service, area and decoration of the hotel were excellent. C: the service was a bit impersonal. D: the décor was a bit dated.

-7-

IELTS Portal General Reading Test Total Time: 60 minutes.

Questions 21-24 In the part of the text entitled Sampling the fare which four of the following does the author imply: A: The breakfast buffet was a bit crowded on Saturday morning. B: There is waiter service at breakfast time. C: Nearby cafes are worth visiting for a quick, cheaper snack at breakfast. D: Service at breakfast is excellent. E: The fish served at lunch is fresh and delicious. F: The hotel bar overcharged for his drink. G: Breakfast is served from 6.30am during the week. H: Both continental and English breakfasts are served. Question 22-14 Complete the sentences below with no more than four words for each answer. 25) The Bloomsbury offers ……………………………..from this type of city hotel. 26) The black-out curtains contribute to ………………………………………….. 27) The bar bill received was the………………………………………………

-8-

IELTS Portal General Reading Test Total Time: 60 minutes. Reading Passage 3 You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 28-39 which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.

Mentor for Cyprus Nigel, a business consultant who escaped the rat race in 2002, has previously lived and worked in Hong Kong, Australia, South Africa and the Netherlands.

annual temperature is 21°C and the average annual rainfall is less than 500 millimetres. Summer temperatures in the inland capital of Nicosia can reach over 40 degrees Celsius while in the coastal regions they can reach a more modest 35 to 38 degrees

He first visited Cyprus in 1982 and moved to the island permanently in 2002. He and his wife Pat live in Erimi, a village close to the town of Limassol.

Paphos is situated on the west coast of the island and is the site of the island's second international airport. It is a resort town having a fishing harbour as its focal point next to the Paphos Fort

Since moving to Cyprus, Nigel has written and published a detailed guide for those wishing to buy property on the island.

It has proved to be particularly popular with foreigners and much development continues to take place in and around the town and its nearby villages to satisfy the increasing demand for retirement, holiday, and investment properties.

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It has an area of 3,572 square miles and is about 120 miles to the west of Syria and 500 miles to the east of Greece. Nicosia is the capital and the island's largest city with a population of some 190,000.

Limassol is the island's second largest city and is located on the south coast. It is the island's main port, the centre of the wine industry, and a holiday resort. It hosts the island's two top festivals, the pre-lent Carnival and the Wine Festival in September.

Since 1974 Cyprus has been divided between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. A UN buffer zone, known as the "Green Line" currently separates the two separate states.

Larnaca is situated towards the eastern end of the island and is home to the island's main international airport. It has a marina and its salt lake is home to colonies of flamingos and other

The island has a typical Mediterranean climate. The summers are hot and dry and the cooler, rainy season extends from October to March. The average

-9-

IELTS Portal General Reading Test Total Time: 60 minutes. migratory birds that visit Cyprus during the cooler months of the year.

Property market: As well as being a prime holiday destination, Cyprus has become a popular place for people wishing to enjoy their retirement in the sun and for those buying holiday and investment property.

Its old-world charm and excellent transport links make it popular with many people seeking a home in the sun.

After Spain and France, it is the most popular place for Britons seeking a place in the sun with more than 60,000 owning property on the island.

Agia Napa is situated on the island's east coast and was once a small fishing village. Since the mid 1970s it has been redeveloped to become the largest resort area on the island with many hotels, shops, tavernas, discos and bars.

This popularity is due to many factors, including: the warmth and generosity of the Cypriot people, the relaxed way of life, the warm Mediterranean climate, the low levels of crime, the fact that many Cypriots are fluent in English and the lowest level of income tax in Europe.

Nicosia is the capital city and it is, roughly, in the centre of the island and within easy reach of the main towns. Strong walls built by the Venetians in the 16th century encircle the ancient city centre through which runs part of the UN "Green Line".

Although the Cyprus Government controls the amount of property that can be legally owned by non-resident EU citizens and other foreigners, its popularity continues to grow.

In complete contrast to the main towns and the capital city is the Troodos mountain range that stretches across the centre of the island. Capped with snow in the winter and covered with pine trees, the mountain areas of the Troodos provide a cool retreat from the hot summer sun.

Currently, house prices in the Republic represent good value for money. They are approximately 20% lower than equivalent properties in Portugal, 30% lower than those in Spain and 50% lower than those in Italy and France.

The area is popular for those wishing to enjoy the clear air, space and dramatic landscapes.

Cyprus' accession to the EU will lead to the eventual removal of the restrictions placed on the foreign ownership of property.

There are literally hundreds of villages scattered throughout the island. These vary in size from a few dozen houses to a thousand or more, some of which are literally miles from anywhere.

As well as further increasing demand by British sun-seekers, the removal of these restrictions should also increase demand from citizens of other EU member states. This will undoubtedly help to push up Cyprus property values.

In the more remote villages, the only people you are likely to see are your neighbours and perhaps the occasional lost tourist.

- 10 -

IELTS Portal General Reading Test Total Time: 60 minutes. Questions 28 to 32. Match the different towns and cities to the statements below. Example

Answer

It hosts the islands second largest airport.

Paphos

28 The city is divided between Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities. 29 There is a continuing boom in property development. 30 It is the major wine producing area on the island. 31 It is a good place for bird watching out of the summer months. 32 There has been a large amount of development since 1974.

Questions 33 to 37 Do the following statements agree with the information in the passage? True False Not Given

if the statement is true if the statement is false if the information is not given in the passage

33 Cyprus is larger than the island of Corsica. 34 The island’s capital city has the second largest population on Cyprus. 35 The island has been divided since i974. 36 The island has very distinct seasons. 37 The temperature can drop to below 0 degrees in the winter months.

- 11 -

IELTS Portal General Reading Test Total Time: 60 minutes. Questions 38-39 Choose the appropriate letters A-D.

38 What can we learn about the island in the paragraph Property Market. A The government has no control over foreigners buying property. B Cyprus is the 3rd most popular place for British to buy properties abroad. C The houses can be very expensive in relation to Britain. D Property prices are expected to drop in the near future.

39 What can we learn about the Troodos mountains. A They are snow covered all year round. B The author thinks they are amazing and beautiful to look at. C They receive few visitors in the winter months. D They stretch the length of the island.

- 12 -