Reconstruído a partir de relatos de candidatos — não é material oficial do IELTS. Áudio e textos são recriações para prática.
Section 1 — Buying a used car: Hints and advice
Buying a car can be a stressful and expensive process. In order to help you, we have written these notes. Please be aware though that there is no mechanical advice here. There are different ways you can find used cars to buy. A dealer, online, a newspaper, an auction or a private person. Below is some advice on buying a car in different ways.
A. A Dealer
Buying from a dealer can be the easiest way to buy a used car, but which one unscrupulous dealers? One way you can check a dealer's credentials is by seeing if they follow a code of practice. Nowadays most cars show warranties and are sold with warranties, where you pay the comments about dealers, businesses and colleagues' suggestions (is this a good way to get a good price check if the cars are inexpensive (inexpensive) and ask for any inspection report. Watch out for any excessive 'gag' as seen on 'no returns'. A reputable dealer should offer a warranty.
B. Online
Online is probably the most simple way nowadays to buy a car. The danger of course is that you only see the picture of the car before you buy it. It's often a good idea therefore to choose a car not too far from where you live and arrange a meeting to see. Inspect and drive.
C. A Newspaper and a Private Sale from an Individual
Newspapers can be an advertising channel for sellers and individuals. Be careful of dealers pretending to be individuals, so that they can avoid legal restrictions. This can be avoided by looking at the log book. This should record all the owners. Ask how long the owner has owned the car and why they are selling it. Ask the seller for the registration number, make an appointment and then use the government's online vehicle enquiry service to check that the details you've been given match the records. Also, check that the vehicle's technical check is up to date and the technical check history matches the dating you've been given. Finally, check that the vehicle identification number and engine number match the ones that are in the log book.
D. An Auction
An auction can be an exciting place to buy a car and you can often pick up a great deal. Apart from the usual things to consider when buying a car, we advise you to inspect the vehicle before going to the auction as they are sold as seen. Also, you can learn what happens. Secondly, make sure you are completely happy with the vehicle before making any bid.
E. For All Purchases
Some advice is good for however or wherever you buy a car:
• Check up on prices for the make, model and year of production you are considering
• Have a known mechanic check over the car and take a test drive
• Whoever is selling a car, it's illegal to sell a car that is not roadworthy
Questions 1–7: Section Matching
The text above has five sections. Which section contains the following information? Write the correct letter A-E in boxes 1-7 on your answer sheet. NB You may use any letter more than once.
- 1
This can be a good way to get a bargain
- 2
Check that sellers' car information corresponds with the publicly available information on the car
- 3
Make sure to test drive prior to buying
- 4
Some people try to sell cars privately when they are in liquidation of a business
- 5
Ask people you know for a recommendation
- 6
Watch other people doing this process first
- 7
Research how much the car you want should cost before buying
Section 2 — Transition Care for the Elderly
What is transition care?
Transition care is for older people who have been receiving medical treatment, but need more help to recover, and time to make a decision about the best place for them to live in the longer term. You can only access transition care directly from the hospital.
Transition care is focused on individual goals and therapies and is given for a limited time only. It offers access to a package of services that may include:
• low-intensity therapy such as physiotherapy (exercise, mobility, strength and balance) and podiatry (foot care)
• access to a social worker
• nursing support for clinical care such as wound care
• personal care
Who provides transition care services?
Transition care is often provided by non-government organisations and is subsidised by the government. If your circumstances allow, it is expected you'll contribute to the cost of your care. Daily care fees are set by the organisation that provides your transition care services (your service provider). They should explain these fees to you, and the amount charged should form part of the agreement between you and the service provider. The fee is calculated on a daily basis.
Where do I receive transition care?
Transition care is provided in your own home or in a 'live-in' setting. This setting can be part of an existing aged-care home or health facility such as a separate wing of a hospital.
What if I'm already receiving services through a different programme?
If you're already receiving subsidised residential care in an aged-care home, but you need to go somewhere else for transition care, your place in the aged-care home will be held until you return.
Questions 8–14: True/False/Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text. TRUE - if the statement is true FALSE - if the statement is false NOT GIVEN - if the information is not given in the text
- 8
Only hospital patients can go on to have transition care.
- 9
Transition care is for limited time.
- 10
Everyone receiving transition care must contribute to the cost.
- 11
Transition care at home is only available for patients who live alone.
- 12
The fee is charged on daily basis.
- 13
Transition care may be given on a hospital site.
- 14
You may lose your place in a care home if you have to leave it to receive transition care.
Section 3 — Composting
Composting step-by-step guide
• Select a relatively sunny spot on bare soil for your compost. In case you have to place your compost bin on concrete, add a layer of twigs and paper. If there is existing compost at the bottom, even better.
• Take a container such as an old ice cream tub and fill it with fruit and vegetable peelings. Tea bags and eggshells can also be added. Try not to add any meat or fish as they would attract pests.
• Empty the container into your compost bin along with your garden waste. The ratio of 50:50 for the greens and the browns is considered to be the best for a good compost.
• You need to wait for at least 12 months before your compost becomes ready for use. You can keep adding to the greens and browns meanwhile.
• After almost a year, your compost should ideally look like crumbly dark soil that is thick and moist. Using a spade or a trowel you can now remove the compost by lifting the bin slightly.
• Your compost is ready for use.
Why compost?
Did you know that almost half of the food waste from your rubbish bins can be composted? A sustainable method of waste management, composting is a natural process that converts your kitchen and garden waste into a nutrient-rich fertilizer for your garden. Composting, moreover, contributes to reducing the amount of waste that is sent to the landfills. Once waste is dumped into a landfill, it breaks down and emits a harmful greenhouse gas, methane. On the other hand, organic waste when composted does not break down on its own. Oxygen helps the ingredients to decompose, resulting in the production of valuable food for your garden.
Want to know more about composting? Visit our website or call 2611 4904 to talk to our experts.
Questions 15–21: Note Completion
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer
Select a suitable spot for composting and 15 __________ a layer of twigs and paper or 16 __________ Compost. Empty your kitchen and garden 17 __________ into the compost bin. It takes at least 18 __________ months for the compost to be ready. Good compost looks like 19 __________ soil that is thick and moist. Composting prevents 20 __________ Of waste into harmful greenhouse gases and is a sustainable method which leads to production of valuable 21 __________ for your garden.
- 15
Select a suitable spot for composting and 15 __________ a layer of twigs and paper or 16 __________ Compost.
- 16
Select a suitable spot for composting and 15 __________ a layer of twigs and paper or 16 __________ Compost.
- 17
Empty your kitchen and garden 17 __________ into the compost bin.
- 18
It takes at least 18 __________ months for the compost to be ready.
- 19
Good compost looks like 19 __________ soil that is thick and moist.
- 20
Composting prevents 20 __________ Of waste into harmful greenhouse gases and is a sustainable method which leads to production of valuable 21 __________ for your garden.
- 21
Composting prevents 20 __________ Of waste into harmful greenhouse gases and is a sustainable method which leads to production of valuable 21 __________ for your garden.
Section 4 — Good Customer Service in Retail
Without customers, your retail business would not exist. It stands to reason, therefore, that how you treat your customers has a direct impact on your profit margins.
Some customers just want to browse and not be bothered by sales staff. Try to be sensitive to how much help a customer wants; be proactive in offering help without being annoying. Suggest a product that naturally accompanies what the customer is considering or point out products for which there are special offers, but don't pressure a customer into buying an item they don't want.
Build up a comprehensive knowledge of all the products in your shop, including the pros and cons of products that are alike, but that have been produced under a range of brand names. If you have run out of a particular item, make sure you know when the next orders are coming in. Negativity can put customers off instantly. If a customer asks a question to which the answer is 'no', do not just leave it at that — follow it with a positive, for example: 'we're expecting more of that product in on Tuesday!'
Meanwhile, if you see a product in the wrong place on a shelf, don't ignore it — put it back where it belongs. This attention to presentation keeps the shop tidy, giving the right impression to your customers. Likewise, if you notice a fault with a product, remove it and replace it with another.
When necessary, be discreet. For example, if the customer's credit card is declined at the till, keep your voice down and enquire about an alternative payment method quietly so that the customer doesn't feel humiliated. If they experience uncomfortable emotions in your shop, it's unlikely that they'll come back.
Finally, good manners are probably the most important aspect of dealing with customers. Treat each person with respect at all times, even when you are faced with rudeness. Being discourteous yourself will only add more fuel to the fire. Build a reputation for polite, helpful staff and you'll find that customers not only keep giving you their custom, but also tell their friends about you.
Questions 22–27: Note Completion
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer
22. A __________ approach to selling is fine as long as you do not irritate the customer.
23. Recommend additional products and __________ without being too forceful.
24. Know how to compare similar products which have different __________
25. Avoid __________ by always saying more than 'no'.
26. Keep an eye on the __________ of goods on the shelves.
27. If a customer has problems paying with their __________ handle the problem with care.
- 22
A __________ approach to selling is fine as long as you do not irritate the customer.
- 23
Recommend additional products and __________ without being too forceful.
- 24
Know how to compare similar products which have different __________
- 25
Avoid __________ by always saying more than 'no'.
- 26
Keep an eye on the __________ of goods on the shelves.
- 27
If a customer has problems paying with their __________ handle the problem with care.
Section 5 — The Complexities of Human Memory
A. Human memory is a fascinating yet intricate cognitive function, essential to learning, identity, and everyday decision-making. While it might seem straightforward to recall a past event, the processes involved are multifaceted and not completely understood. Memory is broadly divided into stages: encoding, storage, and retrieval, each influenced by a variety of biological and psychological factors.
B. Encoding refers to how information is initially perceived and transformed into a form that can be stored. This stage is highly selective, as the brain filters out irrelevant stimuli and focuses on what is deemed important. Emotional significance, repetition, and context play critical roles in determining what gets encoded. For example, events linked to strong emotions or frequent exposure are more likely to be remembered.
C. Once encoded, memories enter storage — the brain's system of maintaining information over time. Storage is not passive; memories can be consolidated, strengthened, or even altered. The hippocampus, a key brain region, is heavily involved in consolidating short-term memories into long-term ones. Sleep is known to enhance this consolidation process, suggesting why rest is vital for effective memory retention.
D. Retrieval is the final stage, where stored memories are accessed. However, this is not always accurate or complete. Memories can be reconstructed, influenced by current beliefs or external suggestions, leading to distortions or false memories. Psychologists have found that recalling a memory repeatedly can sometimes change its details, highlighting memory's dynamic and malleable nature.
E. Research on memory also reveals differences among individuals. Age, stress levels, and neurological conditions impact memory performance. For instance, older adults may experience slower encoding and retrieval processes. Stress hormones like cortisol can either impair or enhance memory depending on intensity and duration. Disorders such as Alzheimer's disease severely disrupt memory functions, affecting daily life.
F. Understanding memory's complexity has practical applications. Educational methods now emphasize active learning and spaced repetition to improve encoding and retention. Therapies for trauma often address memory distortions to help patients reframe painful memories. Furthermore, the legal system increasingly recognizes the unreliability of eyewitness testimonies due to memory's reconstructive tendencies.
G. In summary, human memory is a complex system influenced by emotional, biological, and environmental factors. Ongoing research continues to uncover its mysteries, aiming to improve educational, clinical, and social outcomes through better understanding of how memory works.
Questions 28–34: Paragraph Matching
Match the information below with the paragraphs (A-G). Write the correct paragraph A-G.
- 28
Factors influencing which information is initially recorded.
- 29
The role of sleep in memory formation.
- 30
How memories can change during recall.
- 31
Biological influences on individual memory differences.
- 32
Practical uses of memory research in education.
- 33
Emotional importance increases memory encoding.
- 34
The impact of memory research on legal processes.
Questions 35–40: Summary Completion
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer
35. Memory is divided into encoding, storage, and __________ stages.
36. The __________ helps consolidate short-term memories into long-term memories.
37. Sleep enhances the __________ process in memory formation.
38. Repeatedly recalling a memory can lead to __________ of details.
39. Stress hormones like __________ can affect memory performance.
40. Therapies for trauma focus on reframing __________ Memories.
- 35
Memory is divided into encoding, storage, and __________ stages.
- 36
The __________ helps consolidate short-term memories into long-term memories.
- 37
Sleep enhances the __________ process in memory formation.
- 38
Repeatedly recalling a memory can lead to __________ of details.
- 39
Stress hormones like __________ can affect memory performance.
- 40
Therapies for trauma focus on reframing __________ Memories.
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