General Training Reading 2024-08 Test 4

General Training

Exam month: 2024-08

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

Intercity Sleeper between London and Scotland

Most tickets may be used for travel by Sleeper, subject to availability, and a reservation in a two-berth cabin can be made for £25, except in the case of Solo and Special tickets, which include Sleeper reservations in the fare. The price includes early morning tea or coffee and biscuits. A continental or hot breakfast can be ordered if you wish.
A. Super-Apex
Only available for travel after 9 am. Book at least 2 weeks ahead and travel between Edinburgh or Glasgow and London for the unbeatable price of £59 return. This ticket is non-refundable unless the service is cancelled.
B. Apex
A real bargain fare. Only £69 return between Edinburgh or Glasgow and London. Great value Sleeper travel available by booking at least a week before outward travel. Ticket refundable on payment of a 25% administrative charge.
C. Super Saver
Available right up to the day of travel and valid any day except these peak days: all Fridays, also 18-30 December, 31 March and 28 May. Departures between midnight and 2 am count as previous day's departures. London to Glasgow or Edinburgh £82.
D. Saver
This flexible ticket is valid every day and can be bought on the day of travel. Your ticket allows standard class travel on any train between 10 am and midnight. No seat reservations available. London to Glasgow or Edinburgh £95.
E. Solo
Treat yourself and enjoy exclusive use of a Standard cabin. Solo is an inclusive return travel ticket with Sleeper reservations for one or both directions. Outward and return reservations should be made at the time of booking. The journey must include a Saturday night away. £140-£160 London to Edinburgh/Glasgow return.
F. Special
Special is an inclusive return travel package for two people including sleeper reservations for one or both directions. It can mean savings for both of you. Outward and return reservations should be made at the time of booking. From £120.
G. Standard
Not the cheapest option but available up to the time of travel and valid for all trains and at all times. You are advised to turn up early for travel on a Friday.

Questions 1-8: Matching train ticket types

Look at the seven types of the train ticket, A-G. For which type of train ticket are the following statements true? Write the correct letter, A-G. Note: You may use any letter more than once.

  1. 1

    There are advantages if you book a journey with a friend.

  2. 2

    You cannot use this on a Friday.

  3. 3

    This can be used without restriction.

  4. 4

    This can only be booked up to 7 days before departure.

  5. 5

    It's the cheapest ticket available but there is a restriction on departure time.

  6. 6

    If you decide not to travel after you have bought a ticket, you cannot get your money back

  7. 7

    This is not available if you're traveling out on a Monday and back the next day.

  8. 8

    You cannot use this ticket for departures between midnight and 10 am

Mayberry High School Teachers' Room

A. This notice board can be used by teachers to put up their own messages, but please leave the yellow section of the board free for notices that are from the school office, the school board or the head teacher. We ask that you look at the board frequently so you are informed of announcements or upcoming events. The hours of the Teachers' Room are 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. daily. The cleaners arrive at 5 p.m. and the Teachers' Room must be empty by that time.
B. To ensure your privacy, only teachers have access to this room. No students, parents or visitors are allowed in at any time. The teachers' room has a dual purpose. It is a place for teachers to prepare their lessons but also a place for teachers to relax between lessons. At some times of the day, it does become quite crowded, so we ask that you speak quietly with your colleagues to respect those who are working.
C. All the desks in the teachers' room are hot desks, which means they are not permanent desks for any member of staff. Each teacher has their own locker and all books and papers are to be kept in the locker, not left on a desk.
D. The kitchenette has coffee and tea facilities supplied by the school. Milk can be found in the fridge. We ask that you use your own mug and that it be washed, dried and put into the cupboard above the sink before you leave the school each day.
E. Teachers can use the fridge to store their lunch, but we ask that other food, such as supermarket shopping, not be stored there due to a lack of space. Food is not to be left there overnight. The fridge is emptied by the cleaners daily.
F. There is no Wi-Fi available in the Teachers' Room but there are three computers with Internet access on the long desk next to the kitchenette. Please note that drinks and food are not to be consumed when you are using the school computers. You have been given a code for using the photocopier. Paper and toner is in the stationery cupboard next to the lockers.

Questions 9–14: Matching headings

The text has six sections, A-F. Choose the correct heading for each paragraph, A-F. Write the correct number, i-viii.

List of headings
i. refrigerator
ii. entertainment
iii. refreshments
iv. notices and times
v. students
vi. personal property
vii. equipment
viii. staff only
  1. 9

    Paragraph A

  2. 10

    Paragraph B

  3. 11

    Paragraph C

  4. 12

    Paragraph D

  5. 13

    Paragraph E

  6. 14

    Paragraph F

Notice of Public Meeting: The M32 development

The Fortescue neighborhood Action Group is urging residents to attend a public meeting to hear the concerns of local residents and families of pupils from Fortescue Primary School about the approval of the final stage of the M32 motorway. On 17 April, the Government approved Stage 3 of the M32 motorway development, which will affect the Fortescue area. It was not until ten days later that this approval was finally announced.
Date: May 5
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Jarrah Community Hall, corner of Fortescue Road and Huxley Parade, Fortescue.
Speakers: Ann Banks (Local council), Marcin Kowalski (Parents Association, Fortescue Primary), Louise Chang (President, Conservation Volunteers)
45 minutes will be reserved for questions and public comment.
Community organizations successfully lobbied for more dedicated parks and for noise restrictions in Zone 1. The developers, BD Construction, acted on this due to objections from the community. We have to keep up the pressure!
Points of concern
In the first stage of the development, the majority of wildlife and birds in the area moved (or were moved by conservation groups) from Zone 1 to Zone 2. Now that Zone 2 is to be developed, no policy exists to assist these animals; they have little chance of finding an appropriate habitat nearby.
It is unclear how the motorway will improve traffic on Packers Road.
There has been no announcement about how to manage the traffic bottleneck in Bradford Street that will result from roadworks.
Traffic jams/ gridlock are anticipated on the arterial roads surrounding the entry point to the new section of motorway.
The Environmental Impact Statement put out by BD Construction for Stage 3 does not specifically address the issue of noise and pollution in Hyde's Reserve.
With Fortescue Primary School just 50 metres from the main construction site, school students will be subjected to years of dust and noise, and then by unfiltered emissions from vehicle exhaust pipe.
Come along and have your say!

Questions 15–21: TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage. 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. 15

    Stage 3 of the development was made public as soon as it was approved.

  2. 16

    The developers responded to public complaints about Zone 1.

  3. 17

    The meeting will be led by a representative from the Parents Association.

  4. 18

    There is a plan to safely relocate animals in Zone 2.

  5. 19

    Packers Road currently has more traffic problems than Bradford Street.

  6. 20

    The developers produced a document about the effects of the development on nature in the area.

  7. 21

    Children will be affected by the construction activities.

The Heritage Hotel Uniform policy

The Heritage Hotel is committed to dress standards that will enhance its corporate image, and it is essential that grooming and presentation be of the highest standard at all times. Employees are required to maintain a neat, clean, well-groomed appearance. The discretion of what constitutes acceptable grooming rests with the company.
Uniform specifications
Staff who have contact with customers (e.g. reception and management) are to wear either a white or black shirt with a pocket that displays the Heritage Hotel insignia (employees are issued one shirt in each colour). These staff members will be issued with a burgundy Heritage Hotel jacket, to be worn with the regulation black skirt or trousers, also provided by the Hotel.
Those working back-of-house in maintenance and housekeeping roles will be provided with two white Bob Charles shirts with the Hotel insignia on the front. Trousers or a skirt in navy blue will also be issued by the Hotel.
Shoes are to be comfortable and clean. They should be black and with a heel of less than 3cm. For safety reasons, no open-toed shoes are permitted.
Anyone employed by the Heritage Hotel is to ensure their name badge is visible at all times during their shift.
Care of uniform
The hotel issues complete uniforms to all staff, which are signed for on commencement of employment and must be returned when leaving the company.
The hotel uniform, whether for management / reception or maintenance / housekeeping should always be freshly pressed with no stains, loose threads or missing buttons.
Those working as managers or at reception may store their uniform in the locker in the office to the rear of reception and keep the jacket there during the shift if it is not being worn. It can be laundered when necessary in the hotel laundry.
Those working in maintenance and housekeeping may also have their uniform laundered. Uniforms can be placed in the laundry basket in the ground-floor staff room and picked up from the shelf in the same room for the next shift. It must be recorded on the wall chart when an item is dropped off or collected.
If the management / reception uniform is torn, please take it directly to Ms. Nichols in the laundry. Maintenance / housekeeping staff should notify their team leader if their uniform needs mending or replacing.

Questions 22–27: Table completion — Heritage Hotel Uniform

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR NUMBERS for each answer.

Management/Reception | Housekeeping/Maintenance
22. Top shirt (white or black) with logo on _________, hotel jacket | white Bob Charles shirt with company logo
23. Trousers / skirt colour: black supplied and fitted by hotel | Colour: _________
24. Shoes must not be _________
25. _________ must be worn by all staff members while at work
26. Storage and laundering of uniform: keep in locker behind reception | Sign for clean uniform in _________
27. Damaged uniform: take to Ms Nichols (laundry) | Report to _________

Night photography in autumn

A. November in the northern hemisphere is not the most inspiring of months for the photographer. The days shorten appreciably as winter approaches and the last autumn leaves are blown free by high winds and frequent rain. Nature seems dormant, as many birds have long since flown to warmer climates, fungi break through the earth, and many animal species sleep until spring's warm awakening. It would seem a good time also to put the camera to bed and forget about photography until the first snowfall. Well, not quite. With the days being shorter and daylight less bright, November is an excellent month to turn your attention to what can be found in the long darkness from dusk to dawn. In the nocturnal hours a vast number of life forms still thrive, and provide a completely different set of subjects to those the daylight hours present.
B. As the most noticeable object in the night sky, the moon is an obvious subject when making your initial attempts at night photography. The timing of an evening moonrise is important to know because, not only does it vary according to the time of year, but the moon always appears largest at this point, when it is closest to the horizon. To capture the moon at its brilliant best, you need a bit of luck too: a time when its brightest phase - a full moon - coincides with the ideal weather forecast of a cloudless night sky. The moon is not a direct light source such as the sun or the stars; instead it is reflecting the light of the sun hitting its surface. On such a night, a full moon will reflect only about ten percent of the sunlight, but that is still enough to illuminate buildings, trees, bridges and other landscape features.
C. With today's cameras, far greater detail can be rendered. Whole constellations consisting of thousands of points of starlight filling the frame and even galaxies such as our own Milky Way can be captured. This is a type of night photography for which few of us had suitable equipment a decade ago, but now it has become accessible to all photographers, thanks to the much improved, affordable technology. However, photographers choosing to shoot the moon may be less concerned by this, as they tend to prefer to use telephoto lenses to magnify the size of the moon, particularly when it is low in the sky and can be shown in relation to a landmark or recognisable structure within the frame.
D. Of course, the nocturnal world offers other subjects closer to the ground, some that are even familiar to us by day. As cities and towns spread further into our green spaces, some wild animals move further afield to escape our intrusions, while others adapt to their new urbanised surroundings. In European cities, sightings of foxes at night are increasingly common, as they thrive thanks to the cover of darkness and a ready supply of residents' waste bins, which they use as feeding stations. Deer and wild boar are larger mammals that have also adapted to the urban fringes in recent years, emerging from the cover of parks and nearby forests to forage in residential gardens by night.
E. Such is the proliferation of urban wildlife that some photographers now specialise in documenting the nocturnal animals that have developed a taste for city nightlife. The improvement in camera technology that has made night sky images more accessible has also extended the creative repertoire of the wildlife photographer. It is now possible to photograph some wild species at night, or soon after dusk, without having to always resort to the use of specialist equipment. More exciting still is how the techniques of astro-photography and the wildlife camera-trap have combined in recent years, to produce images of nocturnal animals against a background of a star-studded night sky. This marriage of two photographic genres has created an innovative style of night photography.
F. If that all sounds a bit too complex and time-consuming, with too many variables to spoil the hoped-for result, then consider using the fading light of the night sky in the brief time after dusk in a more opportunistic manner. Dusk is the part of the nocturnal phase when the light of the sun is still visible, though the sun itself has disappeared completely. During the earliest phase of dusk there is enough ambient light remaining to enable features in our surroundings to be seen without the aid of artificial light sources such as floodlights or street lamps.
G. While many of us shoot sunsets, the period of dusk also provides an opportunity to use the ambient light low in the sky as a backdrop to photographing foreground subjects in varying stages of illumination, or even as shadowy outlines against the fading sky. The variety of possible subjects includes ships at sea, flocks of low-flying birds, trees, windmills, skyscrapers and high bridges. These are all well known by day, but against a night sky at dusk they lack colour, so any compositional strength is determined by the graphic appeal of their distinct and recognisable shapes.

Questions 28–34: Matching headings — Night photography

The reading passage has seven paragraphs, A-G. Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below. Write the correct number, i-viii.

List of Headings
i. How chance contributes to conditions being right
ii. Concern about the changing environment
iii. The process of photographing animals at night is getting easier
iv. How human developments are affecting wildlife
v. Photographing objects that can't be seen in detail
vi. A season that may seem unsuitable for photographers
vii. No longer too expensive
viii. A less ambitious approach
  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

Questions 35–40: Sentence completion — Night photography

Complete the sentences below. Write ONE WORD ONLY from the passage in each gap.

  1. 35

    November is a time when _________ grow.

  2. 36

    The apparent size of the moon depends on its position in relation to the _________.

  3. 37

    Sunlight is reflected by the _________ of the moon.

  4. 38

    When the night sky is clear, many objects in the _________, e.g., buildings, are visible.

  5. 39

    With modern cameras, it is possible to photograph not only constellations but also _________.

  6. 40

    Deer and wild boar may search for food in _________ in towns.

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.

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Answer key

  1. 1. F

    F is correct because it is a return travel package for two people, which means you can save money if you book with a friend ('Special is an inclusive return travel package for two people including sleeper reservations... It can mean savings for both of you').

  2. 2. C

    C is correct because it says 'Available right up to the day of travel and valid any day except these peak days: all Fridays,' so you cannot use it on a Friday.

  3. 3. G

    G is correct because it says 'available up to the time of travel and valid for all trains and at all times,' so there are no restrictions.

  4. 4. B

    B is correct because it says 'by booking at least a week before outward travel,' which means you can only book up to 7 days before departure.

  5. 5. A

    A is correct because it is described as 'the unbeatable price of £59 return,' the cheapest, but it is 'only available for travel after 9 am,' so there is a restriction on departure time. The tempting wrong answer B is not the cheapest.

  6. 6. A

    A is correct because it says 'This ticket is non-refundable unless the service is cancelled,' so if you decide not to travel, you cannot get your money back.

  7. 7. E

    E is correct because it says 'The journey must include a Saturday night away,' so if you travel out on Monday and back the next day (Tuesday), it does not include a Saturday night.

  8. 8. D

    D is correct because it says 'Your ticket allows standard class travel on any train between 10 am and midnight,' so you cannot use it for departures between midnight and 10 am.

  9. 9. iv

    iv (notices and times) is correct because Paragraph A talks about the notice board, announcements, upcoming events, and the hours of the Teachers' Room.

  10. 10. viii

    viii (staff only) is correct because Paragraph B says 'only teachers have access to this room. No students, parents or visitors are allowed in at any time.'

  11. 11. vi

    vi (personal property) is correct because Paragraph C explains that each teacher has their own locker for books and papers, which are personal property.

  12. 12. iii

    iii (refreshments) is correct because Paragraph D mentions 'coffee and tea facilities,' 'milk,' and using your own mug.

  13. 13. i

    i (refrigerator) is correct because Paragraph E talks about using the fridge to store lunch and not leaving food overnight.

  14. 14. vii

    vii (equipment) is correct because Paragraph F mentions computers, the photocopier, and where to find paper and toner.

  15. 15. FALSE

    FALSE is correct because the passage says approval was given on 17 April but 'it was not until ten days later that this approval was finally announced,' so it was not made public immediately.

  16. 16. TRUE

    TRUE is correct because it says 'The developers, BD Construction, acted on this due to objections from the community,' showing they responded to complaints.

  17. 17. NOT GIVEN

    NOT GIVEN is correct because the passage lists speakers, including someone from the Parents Association, but does not say who will lead the meeting.

  18. 18. FALSE

    FALSE is correct because it says 'no policy exists to assist these animals' in Zone 2, so there is no plan to relocate them safely.

  19. 19. NOT GIVEN

    NOT GIVEN is correct because the passage mentions traffic problems on both Packers Road and Bradford Street but does not compare which has more problems now.

  20. 20. TRUE

    TRUE is correct because it says 'The Environmental Impact Statement put out by BD Construction for Stage 3,' which is a document about the effects on nature.

  21. 21. TRUE

    TRUE is correct because it says 'school students will be subjected to years of dust and noise, and then by unfiltered emissions,' so children will be affected.

  22. 22. pocket

    'pocket' is correct because the uniform must have a shirt 'with a pocket that displays the Heritage Hotel insignia.'

  23. 23. navy blue

    'navy blue' is correct because maintenance and housekeeping staff are issued trousers or a skirt in navy blue.

  24. 24. open-toed

    'open-toed' is correct because it says 'no open-toed shoes are permitted.'

  25. 25. name badge

    'name badge' is correct because 'anyone employed by the Heritage Hotel is to ensure their name badge is visible at all times during their shift.'

  26. 26. staff room

    'staff room' is correct because uniforms can be placed in the laundry basket in the ground-floor staff room and picked up from the shelf in the same room.

  27. 27. team leader

    'team leader' is correct because maintenance/housekeeping staff should notify their team leader if their uniform needs mending or replacing.

  28. 28. vi

    vi (A season that may seem unsuitable for photographers) is correct because Paragraph A describes November as a time when nature seems dormant and not good for photography.

  29. 29. i

    i (How chance contributes to conditions being right) is correct because Paragraph B explains you need 'a bit of luck' for the full moon and clear sky to happen together.

  30. 30. vii

    vii (No longer too expensive) is correct because Paragraph C says night sky photography 'has become accessible to all photographers, thanks to the much improved, affordable technology.'

  31. 31. iv

    iv (How human developments are affecting wildlife) is correct because Paragraph D talks about animals adapting to cities as towns spread into green spaces.

  32. 32. iii

    iii (The process of photographing animals at night is getting easier) is correct because Paragraph E says new technology makes it possible to photograph wild species at night without special equipment.

  33. 33. viii

    viii (A less ambitious approach) is correct because Paragraph F suggests using the fading light after dusk for easier night photography.

  34. 34. v

    v (Photographing objects that can't be seen in detail) is correct because Paragraph G talks about photographing shapes as 'shadowy outlines' against the sky, not in detail.

  35. 35. fungi

    'fungi' is correct because Paragraph A says 'fungi break through the earth' in November.

  36. 36. horizon

    'horizon' is correct because Paragraph B says the moon 'always appears largest at this point, when it is closest to the horizon.'

  37. 37. surface

    'surface' is correct because Paragraph B says the moon 'is reflecting the light of the sun hitting its surface.'

  38. 38. landscape

    'landscape' is correct because Paragraph B says the full moon can 'illuminate buildings, trees, bridges and other landscape features.'

  39. 39. galaxies

    'galaxies' is correct because Paragraph C says 'even galaxies such as our own Milky Way can be captured.'

  40. 40. gardens

    'gardens' is correct because Paragraph D says deer and wild boar 'forage in residential gardens by night.'

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General Training Reading 2024-08 Test 4 — IELTS General Training Reading Practice Test with Answers | Ieltsa