General Training Reading 2023-08 Test 2

General Training

Exam month: 2023-08

Rebuilt from test-taker recalls — not official IELTS material. Audio and passages are recreations for practice.

London Underground

The London Underground rail network or "the Tube" is a great way to travel to and from central London and will be an integral part of most people's stay in the UK capital. Greater London is served by 11 Tube lines, along with the Dockyards Light Railway (DLR) and an interconnected local train network. Underground trains generally run between 5am and midnight, Monday to Saturday, with reduced operating hours on Sunday. For more detailed traveller information on which stations to use and suggestions for the best route to reach your destination, use Transport for London's Journey Planner.
What are the London Underground zones?
London's public transport network, locally called the London Tube, is divided into nine travel zones. Zone 1 is in central London and zones 6 to 9 are on the outskirts of the city.
What are the London Tube prices?
Buy a Visitor Oyster card, Oyster Card, Travelcard or use a contactless payment card to get the best value as cash is the most expensive way to pay. Check out our guide to cheap travel for more money-saving tips when travelling in London. An adult cash fare on the London metro for a single journey in zone 1 is £4.90. The same Tube fare with Visitor Oyster card, Oyster card or contactless payment card is £2.40. For more details about London Tube prices, see the Transport for London website. For contactless payment cards issued outside the UK, please check for transaction fees or bank changes. There are various discounts available for children, students, and elderly travellers on the London subway. If you plan on travelling around London to do some sight-seeing and visit some of London's best attractions, why not get a London Pass and save even more money.

Questions 1-8: True/False/Not Given

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text above? Write: TRUE - If the statement agrees with the information FALSE - If the statement contradicts the information NOT GIVEN - If there is no information on this

  1. 1

    There are 11 Tube Lines in all, including the DLR.

  2. 2

    Zones 2 to 5 of the London Tube are located between Zone 1 and Zones 6 to 9.

  3. 3

    An adult cash fare on the London metro for a single journey is £4.90.

  4. 4

    It is more economical to pay for travel using a card than paying cash.

  5. 5

    If you are studying in school, you can get a discount on the London subway.

  6. 6

    If you are buying a contactless payment card outside the UK, you may have to pay charges more than the cost of the card.

  7. 7

    The cheapest option to travel around London, including sight-seeing, is using a London Pass.

  8. 8

    There are fewer trains on Sundays as compared to weekdays.

The Origins of the Oscar: How the Prized Statue Got Its Name

Since 1929, Hollywood has revolved around the golden Oscar statue. The prized award has gone through facelifts since first debuting as a knight figure. Here are five fun facts about the history of Hollywood's little golden man.
The first Oscar statue sketch was not how it looks today:
MGM art director Cedric Gibbons sketched the first figure of a knight holding a sword and standing on a reel of film with spokes representing the five branches of the Academy (actors, directors, producers, technicians and writers). The sword represented the protection for the welfare and advancement of the industry. Later, Los Angeles sculptor George Stanley redesigned the statue with an improved knight figure, but removed the reel of film.
One popular story suggests the "Oscar" was named after someone's uncle:
It's been said that Academy librarian and eventual executive director Margaret Herrick thought the statue resembled her Uncle Oscar. In 1934, Sidney Skolsky used the name in his Hollywood column to describe Katharine Hepburn's first best actress win. The name caught on and the Academy made the name official in 1939. The Oscar was first officially named the Academy Award of Merit. It stands 13.5 inches tall and weighs 8.5 pounds.
Over 3,000 statuettes have been presented:
R.S. Owens & Company produces new statuettes each January in Chicago, but this year Polich Tallix Fine Art Foundry will take on the job and hand-cast the trophies in bronze before they receive their 24-karat gold finish. R.S. Owens & Company, who has been casting the Oscar mold since 1982, will continue to service existing Oscars and create other awards for the Academy.
The Oscar was first gold-plated solid bronze and later gold-plated metal:
Due to a metal shortage during World War II, Oscars were made of painted plaster for three years. Following the war, the Academy invited recipients to redeem the plaster figures for gold-plated metal ones.
The Academy keeps a second set of additional Oscar statues on hand just in case:
Weeks before the Oscars in 2000, the annual shipment of Oscars were stolen. The Academy now stays prepared and locks extra trophies from the ceremony in a vault to be used the next year.

Questions 9-14: True/False/Not Given

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text? In boxes on your answer sheet, write TRUE - If the statement agrees with the information FALSE - If the statement contradicts the information NOT GIVEN - If there is no information on this

  1. 9

    The Oscar derives its name from director Margaret Herrick's Uncle Oscar.

  2. 10

    During World War 2, the Oscars were not made of metals due to a shortage of money.

  3. 11

    The first Oscar was given in 1929.

  4. 12

    The design and material of the statuette has changed five times since it was first introduced.

  5. 13

    The Oscars to be awarded in the year 2000 were stolen one week before the event.

  6. 14

    The Oscar had a different name earlier.

Hot Vegetables This Summer

The following is a list of vegetables that will be hot this summer season:
1. Arugula
Arugula is an excellent source of folate and vitamin C. Although arugula is typically mildly flavoured, larger leaf varieties can have a more peppery, almost hot taste than the smaller, softer leaf variety, so choose your arugula accordingly! Arugula is typically best served in a salad with olives, hard-boiled eggs, onions and salty cheeses.
2. Avocados
Although available year round, avocados are at their peak in the summer months! Touted most frequently for their high quantity of good fat avocados are also an excellent source of potassium, folate and vitamins C and B6. To pick the perfect avocado, look for those that have a uniform and unblemished skin that gives gently when pressed.
3. Cucumbers
A member of the squash family, cucumber's high water content makes it a refreshing addition to summer menus. Cucumber is also a good source of vitamin C and silica, which is important for connective tissue health and also does wonders for the skin (both when ingested and applied topically to reduce swelling or redness). In addition, the skin of the cucumber is a great source of fiber, potassium and magnesium.
4. Eggplant
Although it is assumed that an eggplant would have a purple skin, eggplants can come in just about any shade from black to a near-translucent white. Although selecting an eggplant is easy enough - again, just look for those with smooth, taut skin and those that feel heavy for their size -cooking can be a little bit more complicated. If the eggplant is young, the skin is edible, but if it's a little bit older, the skin will taste bitter and is best removed.
5. Kohlrabi
Often referred to as cabbage turnip, this green vegetable looks almost like an oversized radish, complete with a ball-like bulb and bushy sprouting leaves. When selecting a kohlrabi, look for smallish, firm bulbs less than 3 inches in diameter. Kohlrabi is an excellent source of vitamin C as well as potassium. When raw, it can be added to salads and vegetable platters or served as relish. When cooked, it can be steamed for inclusion in casseroles or hollowed out, and stuffed with a meat or vegetable filling.
6. Mushrooms
Different types of mushrooms are available year around. With low sodium and fat content and high levels of fiber and riboflavin, niacin, potassium and riboflavin, mushrooms are an excellent way to add bulk to a meal without dramatically changing the nutrition content of foods. When shopping for mushrooms, they should be dry and firm and, if open, should have gills that are intact and appear fresh.
7. Shallots
Of all the vegetables in the onion and leek family, shallots have one of the highest concentrations of antioxidants. In addition, they have also shown to have anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic properties. Shallots are associated with a reduction in risk for several cancers, including those affecting the liver and colon as well as heart disease and diabetes.

Questions 15-21: Note Completion

Fill in the blanks, using no more than two words from the text above.

15. 15. The Arugula you buy should be based upon what kind of a _________ you prefer.
16. 16. If the avocado feels slightly soft, then it is probably _________
17. 17. Even if you eat it, cucumbers are very beneficial for the _________
18. 18. It is okay to ingest the skin of eggplant if the eggplant is _________
19. 19. The Kohlrabi looks like a _________ that has grown much larger than its normal size.
20. 20. Adding mushrooms is a great way to increase the _________ of the meal, without compromising on its nutrition value.
21. 21. In this family of vegetables, shallots have the most densely packed _________

Seven Tips to Nail a Skype Interview

A. Look the Part
Do your research: Check out the company's website, Facebook page and Twitter feed to get a feel for how employees dress and behave, then take your cues from that when prepping for your interview. Next, clean up. If your at-home appearance leans towards the casual, take some time to polish up. It's always better to err on the side of freshly-scrubbed-even if you're an aspiring trek leader, carefully dressed in her best khakis. Assuming your bottom half will be hidden under a desk, you may be tempted to wear your favourite sweatpants, but it's best to dress from head to toe. What if you have to stand up to adjust your equipment?
B. Prepare Your Surroundings
Take your call in a quiet, businesslike setting, ideally in a room with a door. Look behind you, because that's what they'll see. A cluttered background may distract your audience, not to mention send the wrong idea of your organizational skills. Also, rid the area of personal items no need to share too much information. A blank or neutral background is best, with a well-organized desktop. Be sure to inform anyone else at home about the meeting; you don't want to be interrupted by a sudden blast of stereo music or someone bellowing your name.
C. Practice It First
Your first few video calls are bound to feel awkward as you figure out where to look, what to do with your hands, or how loudly to speak. But it's easy to work out those kinks ahead of time. Conducting a practice interview with a friend can be very helpful; record it so that you'll have an accurate idea of how you come across on video," advises Cheryl Palmer, career coach and owner of Call to Career, a career coaching service.
D. Don't Forget to Smile!
At an in-person interview, you'd naturally smile upon arrival, and try to keep a pleasant facial expression for the duration. It's more difficult to do this with a remote interview. Lacking a 'live' person in front of you, and sidetracked by thoughts of equipment or cameras, you might be less likely to smile reflexively. If that's the case, you can seem like you're staring wide-eyed at the camera. Smiling is the best way to break the ice and develop rapport with your interviewer.
E. Stay Present
One may suggest interjecting listening sounds ("hm," or "yes") as your interviewers speak. In addition to making your conversation more pleasant, it also reassures the other party that the technology is functioning correctly and you are, indeed, still listening. And even though they can't see you, never tinker with your computer during a call.
F. Go Ahead and Cheat
One advantage to a video interview is that you don't have to remember everything you want to mention. You can have notes in front of you-without your interviewer knowing. Place your resume in front of you, news about the company, questions you want to ask and potential talking points. Of course, you don't want to be reading off the page verbatim, so make sure you're familiar with your material.
G. Address Tech Problems Immediately
When you're relying on video equipment, there's a good chance you'll experience a technical glitch: a weak connection, interference or garbled signals. You may hesitate to draw attention to the problem, but you don't want to give an inaccurate answer because you didn't understand the question. If you're getting too many blips, it's good to stop the call and redial.

Questions 22-27: Multiple Choice

Choose the right option for each of the questions below.

  1. 22

    When dressing for the interview

    • A. Since the interview is from home, you may dress casually.
    • B. Check how the company employee dresses at work and get an idea from there as to how to dress for the interview.
    • C. Although you will be seated, it is good to wear formal, laced shoes.
  2. 23

    For your surroundings during the interview, you should:

    • A. Lock the door to keep interruptions out.
    • B. Ensure the background is not cluttered, because it could be distracting for you and your audience.
    • C. Inform others at your home that you will be at an interview.
  3. 24

    As you practice the call, you may find:

    • A. Your friend with whom you practice is very helpful.
    • B. All the kinks can be rectified before the actual interview.
    • C. Initially you will not know what to look at.
  4. 25

    The point about smiling during an interview is:

    • A. It develops rapport with the interviewer.
    • B. It is not more difficult to smile during a remote interview.
    • C. Since you are side-tracked by thoughts of cameras and equipment, you are only able to smile reflexively.
  5. 26

    One advantage of a video interview is:

    • A. You can cheat the interviewer.
    • B. Since you cannot read off the page verbatim, you should commit the points to memory.
    • C. You need not memorize all that you want to ask.
  6. 27

    The thing about technical glitches during video interviews is that:

    • A. They should be fixed immediately before they get worse.
    • B. You should hesitate before drawing attention to the problem.
    • C. If there are too many blips, it is better to stop the call and re-dial.

The History Of The Olympic Torch

A. Oddly, it all began with Hitler. For the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Adolf Hitler wanted to draw on the ancient Greeks to bring a certain authoritative, classical air to modern Germany. The head of the Reich sports office had just the plan to do it: hold an elaborate relay to bring a symbolic Olympic flame from Greece to the games.
The original design by the German engineering giant, Krupp Company, was simple, with one primary function: to keep the flame burning. That's still the goal today. Since 1936, the torch has taken on a different form for every Olympic relay and undergone various transformative redesigns to make it more resilient and less likely to burn out. It's a strangely singular goal for an engineering project, but it allows for almost limitless creativity: The torch design can vary in almost every aspect, it just can't go out.
B. Engineers all over the world have, through the years, set about designing a flame that resists extinction, to varying degrees of success. But Olympic organizers know better; each year they arrange complex contingency plans in an effort to ensure that the final torch did, somehow, come from that original fire lit in Greece. The reason for these elaborate backup plans is a good one: carrying a flame for thousands of miles and across varying landscapes is, unsurprisingly, an incredibly difficult feat. There are so many steps along the way that can wreak havoc -- that starts with the initial lighting.
C. The original Olympics looked almost nothing like the modern ones, but we like to draw on the ancient origins and so we still hold a ceremony at their birthplace: Olympia, Greece. Like children igniting ants with a magnifying glass, the actresses playing the part of Greek priestesses light the initial Olympic torch with a mirror. Specifically, they use a parabolic mirror, which is curved and looks a bit like a small satellite dish. The curvature focuses light in one spot, where the beams all meet at a single, intense spot. The one used in the ceremony at the Temple of Hera in Olympia has a focal point just above the mirror's surface. A "priestess" simply has to hold the torch in that spot and wait for the light to heat the fuel enough for it to ignite.
D. The ceremonial lighting is always held in Greece, and the flame is then symbolically transferred from person to person in an elaborate relay to whichever city is hosting the games. Greece is a fairly sunny place, so lack of available focalizing light is rarely a problem. But just in case, Olympic organizers hold a dress rehearsal on a bright day leading up to the real ceremony and light a flame, thus creating a backup source should the mirror fail to work during the ceremony.
E. And thus begins a little-known Olympic tradition: keeping a backup flame. Yes, that flame that's never supposed to extinguish sometimes probably does - we just never hear about it. To ensure that no one has to lie and say that the flame used to light the torch at the opening ceremony of the games isn't actually derived from that initial light, they light multiple miners lamps from the original flame and keep those backups lit, just in case. As the relay moves along its course, each torch-bearer only carries a lit flame for a short while - about 20 minutes according to one report. That's because the fuel in a torch of that size simply can't last very long. The fuel should, in theory, last for longer than that to ensure that if something goes wrong on a leg of the relay, the team has some wiggle room. Still, rain and wind have put out the torch before, and organizers have had to relight the flame from the backup lanterns every time.
F. The 1972 Munich games were the first to use liquid fuel, which today is usually some combination of butane, propane, and propylene. Mixing each in varying amounts helps to control the brightness and color of the flame. Each chemical gives off a certain characteristic color of light and burns at slightly different temperatures; a higher temperature results in a brighter color. Most importantly, having a pressurized tank of fuel allows for a pilot light hidden inside the top of the torch. This little flame can reignite the whole thing if the main flame goes out, which is crucial given that torch-bearers have to sometimes run in the rain and up mountains where the air gets thin. In an interview, Sam Shelton, who created the torch for the 1996 Atlanta games, said that he tested the torch's endurance by having members of his team carry it to the top of Pikes Peak in Colorado, a 15,000 foot summit.
G. At the opening ceremony, engineers need to ensure everyone there is able to see the famed flame. Sometimes they design the fuel to smoke a bit, making the light more visible. Other times they just need to make the flame brighter by igniting more gas at once or choosing a fuel that burns at a higher temperature. This went disastrously wrong in 1956, when the Olympics were held in Melbourne. The engineers had put a combination of magnesium and aluminium inside the torch so the flame would sparkle and burn brightly, which it did. But it also spewed bits of hot metal and sparks that burned the arm of the poor torch-bearer. Now, designers mostly use liquid fuels that have a more brilliant or larger flame to increase the visibility.
H. No matter what, though, the flame you see igniting the cauldron at the opening ceremony did somehow come from a fire lit in Olympia. It just takes an intricate system of backups and contingency plans to do it. And even if all of those plans failed, rest assured that you will never know the difference. The next time you see the Olympic flame being carried in a relay through your country, you can feel smug in the knowledge that the bearer may never know how many times the flame has been re-lit, or even if this is the torch the runner was supposed to be carrying, or a back-up one! But the audience most likely does not know or even care; the torch is a symbol, signifying the essential spirit of the games, and that is all that really matters.

Questions 28-35: Matching Headings

The text has 8 SECTIONS, marked A to H. Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below. i. The need for a contingency plan ii. Symbol of the spirit of the games iii. The German connection iv. The Greek connection v. The engineering behind the flame vi. Harnessing the laws of physics vii. Not just one torch viii. Mistakes do happen

  1. 28

    Paragraph A

  2. 29

    Paragraph B

  3. 30

    Paragraph C

  4. 31

    Paragraph D

  5. 32

    Paragraph E

  6. 33

    Paragraph F

  7. 34

    Paragraph G

  8. 35

    Paragraph H

Questions 36-40: Sentence Completion

Choose one word only from the text to complete the following:

36. 36. There were no Olympic torches before _________
37. 37. The Greek priestesses who light the flame are actually _________
38. 38. The flame burns brighter if the fuel used burns at a _________ temperature.
39. 39. The accident at the Melbourne Olympics was a result of an effort to make the torch burn _________
40. 40. Organizers have to have elaborate _________ plans to ensure that the flame stays lit through its journey from Greece to the venue of the Olympics.

Answer sheet

Fill in as you go — checking is instant and local, and every miss lands in your mistake log with the lesson that fixes it.

  1. 1.
  2. 2.
  3. 3.
  4. 4.
  5. 5.
  6. 6.
  7. 7.
  8. 8.
  9. 9.
  10. 10.
  11. 11.
  12. 12.
  13. 13.
  14. 14.
  15. 15.
  16. 16.
  17. 17.
  18. 18.
  19. 19.
  20. 20.
  21. 21.
  22. 22.
  23. 23.
  24. 24.
  25. 25.
  26. 26.
  27. 27.
  28. 28.
  29. 29.
  30. 30.
  31. 31.
  32. 32.
  33. 33.
  34. 34.
  35. 35.
  36. 36.
  37. 37.
  38. 38.
  39. 39.
  40. 40.
Saved on this device — no account needed. Sign in on your progress page if you want it synced elsewhere.
Show answer key

Answer key

  1. 1. TRUE

    This is correct because the passage says, 'Greater London is served by 11 Tube lines, along with the Dockyards Light Railway (DLR) and an interconnected local train network.'

  2. 2. NOT GIVEN

    Not given; the passage only explains that Zone 1 is central and Zones 6 to 9 are on the outskirts, but does not mention the locations of Zones 2 to 5.

  3. 3. NOT GIVEN

    Not given; the passage says 'An adult cash fare on the London metro for a single journey in zone 1 is £4.90,' but does not say this is the fare for all journeys.

  4. 4. TRUE

    True; the passage says, 'cash is the most expensive way to pay' and using cards gives 'the best value.'

  5. 5. TRUE

    True; the passage says, 'There are various discounts available for children, students, and elderly travellers on the London subway.'

  6. 6. TRUE

    True; it says, 'For contactless payment cards issued outside the UK, please check for transaction fees or bank changes,' meaning extra charges may apply.

  7. 7. TRUE

    True; the passage suggests, 'why not get a London Pass and save even more money,' showing it's the cheapest option for sightseeing.

  8. 8. NOT GIVEN

    Not given; the passage says there are 'reduced operating hours on Sunday,' but does not mention the number of trains.

  9. 9. FALSE

    False; the passage says Margaret Herrick thought the statue resembled her uncle, but this is just 'one popular story,' not a fact.

  10. 10. FALSE

    False; the passage says Oscars were made of painted plaster during World War II due to a 'metal shortage,' not because of a shortage of money.

  11. 11. TRUE

    True; the passage says, 'Since 1929, Hollywood has revolved around the golden Oscar statue.'

  12. 12. NOT GIVEN

    Not given; the passage mentions changes in design and material, but does not say it changed five times.

  13. 13. FALSE

    False; the passage says the Oscars were stolen 'weeks before the Oscars in 2000,' not one week.

  14. 14. TRUE

    True; the passage says, 'The Oscar was first officially named the Academy Award of Merit.'

  15. 15. flavour

    The answer is 'flavour' because the passage says, 'larger leaf varieties can have a more peppery, almost hot taste... so choose your arugula accordingly.'

  16. 16. perfect

    The answer is 'perfect' because it says, 'look for those that... give gently when pressed,' meaning slightly soft avocados are ready to eat.

  17. 17. skin

    The answer is 'skin' because the passage says cucumber 'does wonders for the skin (both when ingested and applied topically).'

  18. 18. young

    The answer is 'young' because it says, 'If the eggplant is young, the skin is edible.'

  19. 19. radish

    The answer is 'radish' because kohlrabi 'looks almost like an oversized radish.'

  20. 20. bulk

    The answer is 'bulk' because mushrooms 'are an excellent way to add bulk to a meal without dramatically changing the nutrition content.'

  21. 21. anti-oxidants

    The answer is 'anti-oxidants' because shallots 'have one of the highest concentrations of antioxidants' in their family.

  22. 22. B

    B is correct because it says, 'Check out the company's website... to get a feel for how employees dress and behave, then take your cues from that.' Option A is wrong because the passage says to dress up, not casually. Option C is not mentioned.

  23. 23. C

    C is correct because it says, 'Be sure to inform anyone else at home about the meeting.' Option B is tempting but C is more directly stated.

  24. 24. B

    B is correct because it says, 'it's easy to work out those kinks ahead of time.' Option C is mentioned, but B is the main point.

  25. 25. A

    A is correct because it says, 'Smiling is the best way to break the ice and develop rapport with your interviewer.' Option B is wrong because it says it is more difficult. Option C is not correct.

  26. 26. C

    C is correct because it says, 'You can have notes in front of you... you don't have to remember everything.' Option B is wrong because you don't need to memorize. Option A is not the main idea.

  27. 27. C

    C is correct because it says, 'If you're getting too many blips, it's good to stop the call and redial.' Option A is not directly stated, and B is the opposite of the advice given.

  28. 28. iii

    The answer is iii because Paragraph A is about the origin of the Olympic torch relay in 1936.

  29. 29. i

    The answer is i because Paragraph B discusses the difficulty of keeping the flame burning and the need for backup plans.

  30. 30. vi

    The answer is vi because Paragraph C explains how the flame is lit using a parabolic mirror.

  31. 31. iv

    The answer is iv because Paragraph D describes the relay and the backup flame created during a rehearsal.

  32. 32. vii

    The answer is vii because Paragraph E talks about keeping backup flames in miners lamps.

  33. 33. v

    The answer is v because Paragraph F discusses the use of liquid fuel and testing the torch's endurance.

  34. 34. viii

    The answer is viii because Paragraph G is about making the flame visible at the opening ceremony.

  35. 35. ii

    The answer is ii because Paragraph H discusses the importance of the symbolic flame and the backup plans.

  36. 36. 1936

    The answer is '1936' because it says, 'For the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin... hold an elaborate relay to bring a symbolic Olympic flame from Greece to the games.'

  37. 37. actresses

    The answer is 'actresses' because it says, 'the actresses playing the part of Greek priestesses light the initial Olympic torch.'

  38. 38. higher

    The answer is 'higher' because it says, 'a higher temperature results in a brighter color.'

  39. 39. brightly

    The answer is 'brightly' because it says, 'the flame would sparkle and burn brightly, which it did. But it also spewed bits of hot metal and sparks that burned the arm.'

  40. 40. contingency

    The answer is 'contingency' because it says, 'Olympic organizers know better; each year they arrange complex contingency plans in an effort to ensure that the final torch did, somehow, come from that original fire.'

Want the full timed experience? Try the free full mock exam — real recalled questions, in the real exam interface.

Start mock exam →
General Training Reading 2023-08 Test 2 — IELTS General Training Reading Practice Test with Answers | Ieltsa