General Training Reading 2024-11 Test 2 — IELTS General Training Reading Practice Test with Answers

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

Reading Passage 1 — What's on Sydney

A. AUSTRALIA'S SCHOOL OF STAND-UP COMEDY Star Bar Next course Feb Australia's School of Stand-up Comedy! Five week course Welcome to Australia's school of stand-up comedy. This course was designed to take you step by step into the mind and world of the stand-up comic. The ability to ... More

B. DANCE CLASSES The Wharf Daily, various times Adult Classes Sydney Dance Company Dance Studios run over 70 dance classes for adults every week. Located at Sydney Dance Company at The Wharf, dance styles on offer include Jazz, Funk, Hip Hop, Tap, Contemporary, ... More

C. Digital Photography 4 hour Workshop – Bohemian & Colonial Sydney Walking Tour Sydney City East area December 19, 30, January 2 Discover and capture Sydney's lesser known landmarks whilst improving your photographic skills on this fun and informal digital photography walking tour. Suitable for all photographers (local or tourist) ... More

D. DJ Bootcamp and P&O's 8 day/ 3 island DJ Course Cruise! P&O Cruises Sydney harbour Sept 22-29 Australia's first professional DJ Cruise! P&O and DJ Bootcamp have teamed up to bring you an amazing 8 days, 3 island professional DJ training course cruise. 1 price includes your room, meals, entertainment, island ... More

E. NIDA SUMMER HOLIDAY COURSES MIDA 4 JANUARY-22 JANUARY For the summer holidays in January 2010 NIDA will be offering some exciting new courses including Dinosaur Park, NIDA Space Academy, Circus and Clown School, Puppet Making, and Music Theatre for People with Intellectual ... More.

F. TALKABOUT Lecture Series – "Big Ideas" Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts 2 February – 16 February The first guest for the 2010 Talkabout series of talks is Dr. Anne Summers, best-selling author and columnist who has had a long career in politics and the media: she will launch the series with February's theme 'Big ... More

Questions 1–4: Course Matching

Look at the six course descriptions, A-F. NB You may use any letter more than once.

1
On which course do you need to move around the city?
2
On which TWO courses can you learn ways to make people laugh? (Example: A,B not A and B)
3
Which course takes you round in a boat?
4
Which TWO courses last more than two weeks? (Example: A,B not A and B)

Questions 5–10: Pre-Departure Checklist

Answer the questions below. NB You may use any number more than once. Which reminder:

PRE DEPARTURE CHECKLIST

Reminders:

1. Read the Joining Instructions from your college carefully and use your unconditional offer and the letter for Immigration purposes to apply for a visa or entry clearance.

2. Have you applied for your accommodation? If so, and you have had this confirmed, remember to bring your accommodation contract. Don't forget to carry this contract in your hand luggage.

3. Check that your passport Is valid and not about to expire.

4. Apply for a visa for the period of your study In the UK (If you are a visa national) or entry clearance for all other non-EEA countries. For more Information go to: www.ukvisas.gov.uk

5. Take a photocopy of your passport (pages with your personal details and visa page). Make your travel arrangements and remember your travel tickets.

6. Make labels for your luggage. Note that airlines In the UK are strictly enforcing hand baggage policies, so only carry the minimum through security.

7. Make a list of the contents of your luggage for Insurance purposes.

8. Weigh your luggage to ensure that It Is within your baggage allowance.

9. If you require any prescription medication remember to pack an adequate supply, along with a letter from your doctor explaining what they are for.

10. Bring a short medical history if possible. This will be helpful when you register with a doctor on arrival.

11. Bring vaccination certificates, if required. Check the current position on www.ukvisas.gov.uk

12. Bring a bank reference or a letter from your home bank. Read more about banking

Questions 11–14: Registering with a doctor (GP) under the National Health Service (NHS)

Answer the questions below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text for each answer.

11
Where must you go to register with a GP?
12
What information does your medical card give?
13
Who can tell you what the surgery's hours are?
14
What should you do if you can't go to an appointment?

Reading Passage 2 — Working Holiday Job Programmes

Work and Travel USA 2009 International university students can work in the U.S. under the J-1 Visa programme as entry-level short-term employees. This programme is designed to help U.S. businesses meet their seasonal staffing needs while giving international students the chance to earn money, experience a new culture, and travel abroad in their summer break. You can work for up to 4 months during your university vacation, after which you are allowed to travel for up to an additional four weeks. Your stay in the US must not exceed 5 months.

Working Holiday Britain During the summer most employers look for great numbers of extra staff, and a lot of them are happy to accept candidates from out of the country. Employment can range from hotels and catering to farm work. There are also positions available in childcare, conservation work and archaeological excavations. We offer accommodation in central London, weekend activities and sightseeing, an English language course, a discount card, a free telephone card, a free London guide and orientation about how to find a job in the UK.

Work and Travel in Singapore If you have a deep desire to experience work adventure, then the island of Singapore, known to' offer the best quality of life in Asia, holds the key to your fulfilment. This programme allows university students and recent graduates to come to Singapore to live and work for six months. Situated in the heart of Asia, Singapore resonates with a sophisticated global beat yet intrigues with its delightful Asian allure. With an English speaking working environment, living in the lion City is a seamless affair for any global talent. Imagine working in any job sector? Work & Travel Programme in Singapore makes it possible. So, come live and work here, while gaining valuable exposure, skills, and knowledge!

Working Holiday Canada The Canadian working holiday programme allows young travellers to participate in short-term work/internships to supplement any travel expenses they may sustain while in Canada. The programme places participants into paid, entry-level jobs throughout Canada. Global Choices guarantees you a paid job, accommodation, bank account and work documents before you leave your country.

Working Holiday in Australia Experience close contact with a local neighbourhood in Australia! With the working holiday in Australia programme vacationers can stay for an extended period by supplementing their travel funds through incidental employment. A working holiday visa allows you to stay and work in Australia for 12 months, although you may not work for more than 3 months with anyone employer.

Questions 15–20: Working Holiday Job Programmes

Answer the questions below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR NUMBERS from the text for each answer.

15
Who can join the J-1 Visa programme in the US?
16
What is the maximum time you can stay in the US with the J-1 Visa programme?
17
When do many employers in Britain want to hire extra staff?
18
How long does the Work and Travel Programme allow you to work in Singapore?
19
Where in Canada are jobs available?
20
What is the longest you can stay in one job in Australia?

How to sit correctly

If you work in an office and use a computer, you can avoid injury by sitting in the right position and arranging your desk correctly. Follow these tips:

A. Support your back A correctly adjusted chair will reduce the strain on your back. Get one that is easily adjustable so that you can change the height, back position and tilt. Have your knees level with your hips. You may need a footrest for this.

B. Adjust your seat Be aware of the various adjustments that you can make to your chair. If someone else has used your desk you may have to re-adjust the chair. If it's still uncomfortable, try another type of chair.

C. Rest your feet on floor Your feet should be flat on the floor. If they're not, ask if you can have a footrest, which lets you rest your feet at a level that's comfortable to you. Don't cross your legs, as this can cut off circulation and cause hip problems.

D. Place your screen at eye level Position your monitor 12-30 inches (30-75cm) away from your eyes. A good guide is to place the monitor about an arm's length away, with the top of the screen roughly at eye level. To achieve this you may need to get a stand for your monitor.

E. Avoid screen reflection Your screen should be as glare-free as possible. If there's glare on your screen, hold a mirror in front of it to identify the cause. Position the monitor to avoid reflection from overhead lighting and sunlight. If necessary, pull blinds across the windows and replace ceiling lighting with table lights. Adjusting the screen's brightness or contrast can make it much easier to use.

F. Make objects accessible Position frequently used objects, such as your telephone or stapler, within easy reach. Avoid repeatedly stretching or twisting to reach things.

G. Avoid phone strain If you spend a lot of time on the phone, try exchanging your handset for a headset. Repeatedly cradling the phone between your ear and shoulder can strain the muscles in your neck.

H. Avoid wrist pain Your wrists should be straight when using a keyboard. Keep your elbows vertical under your shoulder and right by your side. Position and use the mouse as close to you as possible. A mouse mat with a wrist pad may help to keep your wrist straight and avoid awkward bending.

Questions 21–27: Sitting Correctly — Matching

The leaflet above offers several tips for sitting correctly. Which do these actions belong to? NB You may use any letter more than once.

21
Keeping things you often need close to you.
22
Keeping your wrist straight.
23
Making sure your screen is at the right height.
24
Raising and supporting your feet.
25
Checking the direction of lighting in your room.
26
Using computer accessories correctly.
27
Reducing your body movements.

Reading Passage 3 — The Language Revolution

"In the next decade the new 'must learn' language is likely to be Mandarin", said language researcher David Graddol, in a recent issue of the journal Science. He echoed a view expressed by academics and business people across the western world. English speakers have had it pretty good. Modern English is the most widely taught and understood language in the world. It is the dominant international language in communications, science, business, aviation, entertainment, diplomacy and on the Internet. Around 400-500 million people speak it as their first language and up to 1.5 billion have a basic proficiency in English.

Mother tongue There have of course been other languages bidding for the language crown. Competing world languages have included, at various times and in various regions, Neo-Latin, French, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, Sanskrit, Hindu-Urdu and Malay. Today, Mandarin Chinese, the official language of China, is the one to watch. And while the global share of English is clearly still huge, the number of native speakers is vastly outnumbered by those who speak Mandarin as their first language: an estimated 867m. The sheer size of China's population and the country's increasing importance in the world economy and in politics account partly for its position. We are also seeing the spread, for example, of the government sponsored Confucius Institutes which run courses in Chinese and Chinese culture in many places outside China, reflecting the country's increased power and confidence.

Education too is starting to reflect the growing importance of the language, particularly in the US where an estimated 24,000 young people are already studying Mandarin. With the government setting up a US$114 million initiative to increase the teaching of 'critical' languages in US schools, this number looks set to rise dramatically. And people are recognising the practical benefits and role of Chinese in business. In particular, businesses are interested in employing people who can speak Mandarin, but are not necessarily Chinese, though even those working in China can still get away with only limited knowledge of the language. Nick Harrison, a UK banker based in Shanghai, has on the ground experience having moved there in December 2005. "Our business discussions are all in English, and the vast majority of office administration is written and spoken in Chinese."

Learning the language Learning Mandarin is a big challenge though. "We generally say it takes three years of full time study to have a working knowledge of Chinese, including knowledge of the script. If you just want to speak it, it probably takes one year", says Michel Hockx, professor at London's School of African and Oriental Studies. "Perhaps if we started learning at an earlier age, we might learn faster, but if you are starting in your early twenties, it takes much longer." Nick Harrison's experiences support this theory. "I definitely don't speak Mandarin, but am having lessons once a week", he says. "My two year old daughter, Claudia, is progressing well and is destined to be my translator in the future."

Questions 28–32: The Language Revolution — Table Completion

Complete the table below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the text for each answer.

Fact Description

28. The person who predicts the growth of Mandarin

29. The name of the journal mentioned in the article

30. The number of people worldwide speaking a little English

31. The name of China's language teaching schools

32. How often Nick Harrison studies Mandarin

Questions 33–40: The Language Revolution — True/False/Not Given

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text? In boxes 33-40 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

33
Many people agree that Mandarin will be essential in the future.
34
There are more fluent second language speakers of English than first language speakers of English.
35
English has been the most widely spoken of all world languages.
36
More people speak English as a mother tongue than Mandarin.
37
The growth of Mandarin is due to many factors.
38
The number of students studying Mandarin in the US will soon reach 24,000.
39
Businesses throughout China only hire employees speaking at least two languages.
40
You need a year to learn to write well in Chinese.

Answer sheet

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1. C
Course C is a digital photography walking tour, which means you move around the city to take photos of landmarks.
2. A / E
Course A is a stand-up comedy course, and Course E includes 'Circus and Clown School,' both teaching ways to make people laugh.
3. D
Course D is a DJ course cruise, which takes place on a boat around Sydney harbour and islands.
4. A / E
Course A is a five-week course, and Course E runs from January 4 to January 22, both lasting more than two weeks.
5. 9
Question 9 asks about medicines, and the answer refers to advice about what to do with medicines you might need.
6. 2
Question 2 advises you to take certain documents, such as tickets and insurance, in your hand luggage.
7. 1
Question 1 tells you what documents are needed to apply for a visa.
8. 11
Question 11 advises you to check health requirements before entering the country.
9. 6
Question 6 warns about an airline policy, such as baggage or check-in rules.
10. 2
Question 2 advises you to bring documents that show your housing arrangements.
11. (a)surgery
You must go to a surgery to register with a GP, as stated in the passage.
12. (your) nhs number
Your medical card gives your NHS number, which is needed for health services.
13. (the) receptionist
The receptionist can tell you the surgery's hours, as they manage appointments and information.
14. cancel/rearrange(it)
If you can't go to an appointment, you should cancel or rearrange it so the time can be given to someone else.
15. international university students
International university students can join the J-1 Visa programme in the US, as stated in the passage.
16. 5 months
The maximum stay in the US with the J-1 Visa programme is 5 months: 4 months working and up to 4 weeks traveling.
17. (during) (the) summer
Many employers in Britain want to hire extra staff during the summer, when there is more work.
18. (for)6 months
The Work and Travel Programme in Singapore allows you to work for 6 months.
19. throughout(canada)
Jobs in Canada are available throughout Canada, not just in one place.
20. 3 months
In Australia, you may not work for more than 3 months with any one employer.
21. F
F says to keep frequently used objects within easy reach, which means keeping things you often need close to you.
22. H
H says your wrists should be straight when using a keyboard, which matches keeping your wrist straight.
23. D
D says to place your screen at eye level, making sure your screen is at the right height.
24. C
C says your feet should be flat on the floor or on a footrest, which is about raising and supporting your feet.
25. E
E says to avoid screen reflection by checking lighting direction, matching checking the direction of lighting.
26. H
H mentions using a mouse mat with a wrist pad, which is about using computer accessories correctly.
27. F
F says to position objects within easy reach to avoid stretching or twisting, which reduces body movements.
28. david graddol
David Graddol is the person who predicts the growth of Mandarin, as quoted at the start of the passage.
29. science
The journal mentioned is 'Science,' where David Graddol's quote appears.
30. 1.5 billion
The passage says up to 1.5 billion people have a basic proficiency in English, meaning they speak a little English.
31. confucius institutes
China's language teaching schools are called Confucius Institutes, which run courses in Chinese.
32. once a week
Nick Harrison studies Mandarin once a week, as he says in the passage.
33. TRUE
TRUE: The passage says many academics and business people agree Mandarin will be important in the future.
34. NOT GIVEN
NOT GIVEN: The passage gives numbers for English speakers but does not compare fluent second language speakers to first language speakers.
35. NOT GIVEN
NOT GIVEN: The passage says English is widely taught and understood, but does not say it is the most widely spoken of all world languages.
36. FALSE
FALSE: The passage says Mandarin has more native speakers (867 million) than English (400-500 million).
37. TRUE
TRUE: The passage says Mandarin's growth is due to China's population, economy, politics, and cultural promotion.
38. FALSE
FALSE: The passage says 24,000 US students are already studying Mandarin and the number will rise, so it will soon be much higher than 24,000.
39. FALSE
FALSE: The passage says business discussions in China are often in English, and people can work there with limited Mandarin.
40. FALSE
FALSE: The passage says it takes three years of full-time study to have a working knowledge of Chinese, including writing, not just one year.

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