General Training Reading 2024-11 Test 6

General Training

Exam month: 2024-11

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

Sell Your Used Furniture Online

If you're wondering how to sell furniture fast or looking to score some second-hand gems, consider using one of these online marketplaces.
A. Shopify: If the idea of selling furniture as a business entices you, consider launching your own Shopify store. It offers pre-made templates to help you create a storefront quickly and easily. To start selling, you'll need to create your own online e-commerce website. Shopify offers a 14-day free trial, teaches you how to get started, and then guides you to the monthly plan that fits your needs. Plans start at $29 a month and go up from there.
B. Etsy: When you think of Etsy, you may think of handmade jewellery or vintage clothing. However, Etsy offers a great option to sell used furniture as well. To start selling on Etsy, you'll need to create a custom shop. Take photos of your items and upload them to your shop along with a description and price to begin the selling process. The standard shop option is free, and you can upgrade to the plus option for an extra $10/month at any time. You'll pay the commission only when you sell an item.
C. Craigslist: Craigslist is the original local marketplace where you can sell anything from a dresser to a bicycle and everything in between. Because it's not furniture-specific, your item may get lost in the shuffle. It's free and easy to list an item on Craigslist. Just complete the details about your piece and submit it. Craigslist is a local marketplace, so there's no shipping option through the site. If you prefer to ship your items, you'll have to coordinate that with the buyer and take care of all shipping arrangements and costs yourself.
D. Facebook Marketplace: Facebook Marketplace is another great option to sell used furniture online. Potential buyers are shown items close to their location when browsing the platform. Posting your listing to local Facebook garage sales sites will boost your reach. There are no fees for using Facebook Marketplace. All transactions are handled in person when you arrange for the item to be picked up.
E. eBay: When selling items through eBay, you have a couple of different options. You can either sell used furniture on eBay at an auction or for a fixed price. Listing items on eBay is a fairly straightforward process. Expect to pay a 13% commission fee on the final selling price of your furniture. You can choose local pickup for items that are too bulky and expensive to ship.

Questions 1–7: Matching — Online Marketplaces

Look at the five descriptions of five online marketplaces, A-E. For which marketplace are the following statements true? Write the correct letter, A-E. NB You may choose any letter more than once.

  1. 1

    It requires you to work closely with the buyer to provide the shipping

  2. 2

    You can test the site before you avail its services

  3. 3

    It gives you an option to expand your reach to potential customers

  4. 4

    You have an option to sell the item through bidding

  5. 5

    It is primarily known for selling two other items than furniture

  6. 6

    For heavier and costly items, it provides you the option for local shipping

  7. 7

    The number of items that are sold here can leave less space for your advertisement

Photography Weekend Course on the Coast of Cornwall

Our three-night photography weekend is designed to appeal to all levels. Participants will be able to enjoy some of the fantastic locations on this beautiful coastline, with its ever-changing light, while staying in a comfortable hotel and enjoying some typical dishes of this south-western region of Britain.
Price includes: Personal daily tuition, discussions, welcome reception, and dinner, bed and breakfast for three nights in a twin or double room.
Price does not include: Insurance and photographic equipment plus transport to photographic venues. Participants are required to arrange this. Car share during the weekend is a popular option.
Course information
Our courses are relaxed but comprehensive, and the content is largely dictated by those attending. Included within the sessions are editing workshops at the hotel and photo shoots down by the sea. Visits further away are also undertaken to experiment with different landscapes.
Arrival by mid-afternoon on the first day will allow you to check into the hotel and enjoy some Cornish refreshments before heading out into the fresh air for our first shoot together at sunset. Dinner and a good night's sleep and you'll be ready to start at sunrise the next day. In the evenings you will have a chance to unwind at the hotel, share your thoughts on the day and spend time looking at images and sharing editing techniques.
Maximum numbers: Four photographers per course. The following equipment is essential: A digital SLR or bridge camera with its instruction manual, batteries and charger; memory cards; comfortable walking footwear with good grip; warm outdoor clothing and waterproofs.
Recommended equipment: A tripod, filters, a laptop with editing software and charger.

Questions 8–14: True/False/Not Given — Photography Weekend

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text? 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. 8

    The course is aimed at people who are already skilled photographers

  2. 9

    Three meals a day are included in the course fee

  3. 10

    The only way to reach the hotel is by car

  4. 11

    The topics covered on the course depend mainly on the wishes of the participants

  5. 12

    Participants are expected to get up early on their first morning to take photographs

  6. 13

    The tutor will show participants examples of her work after dinner

  7. 14

    Participants should be prepared for bad weather

Respiratory Protective Equipment – Advice for Factory Employees

You need to wear Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) when you're doing work where you could breathe in hazardous substances in the air such as dust, vapour or gas. Common health effects from breathing hazardous substances include sore eyes and headaches. Make sure you are using the right RPE for the task. For example, negative pressure respirators should not be used in low oxygen environments.
Some types of RPE must have a tight seal around the facial area to be effective. Your employer will arrange a yearly facial fit test to ensure that you are given RPE that fits properly. This checks that the seal between the respirator and the facial area is secure, by releasing a substance that you can smell or taste if the RPE is not working properly. RPE will only provide effective protection if you are clean shaven. Facial hair growth makes it almost impossible to get a good seal so, if you have a beard, you should talk to your employer about other forms of RPE that do not rely on a tight facial fit. Jewellery and long hair can also compromise an effective fit.
Using your RPE
You should complete a visual check of your RPE for signs of damage before you use it. If you are using RPE that requires a tight fit, you must check it fits properly before entering a hazardous area.
Cleaning your RPE
Wash and dry your RPE after using it. Use a mild detergent, as harsh products such as solvents can cause damage. Use a brush and warm water and rinse with clean water. This will remove excess detergent that can cause skin irritation. Dry your RPE on a solid wooden rack or suspend from a clothes line.
Maintaining your RPE
Inspect your RPE after each use and during cleaning. Make sure you check the straps for breaks, tears, fraying edges and deterioration of elasticity. Check the inhalation and exhalation valves are working and not damaged.
Storing your RPE
Improper storage can cause distortion to your RPE. Store your RPE in a clean, dry place, away from dust, oil and sunlight. RPE should be stored so that it doesn't get crushed.

Questions 15–21: Note Completion — Respiratory Protective Equipment

Choose ONLY ONE WORD for each answer.

15. Some respirators are unsuitable for use in areas with limited levels of _______
16. Facial fit tests should be conducted on a _______ basis
17. For workers who have a _______, an alternative to tight-fitting RPE may be required
18. Workers should avoid cleaning their RPE with _______
19. RPE can either be hung up or placed on a timber _______ in order to dry it.
20. It is important to ensure that the RPE _______ are not ripped and can still stretch
21. RPE should not be exposed to direct _______ when it is being stored

Writing an Inquiry Letter

What's an inquiry letter, and how can it help you get hired? Not every job opening appears on a job board or search engine. Some of the best opportunities are filled internally or through referrals, so you might have to get proactive to find your dream job at a company you'd love to work for. One of the best ways to get noticed is to ask about job openings before they're advertised. Even if the organisation isn't hiring, you might be able to capture someone's attention for future reference if you submit a well-written inquiry letter.
What to Include in an Inquiry Letter: The bottom line is that an inquiry letter is a sales pitch. You must sell your expertise to the reader and get her thinking about the possibility of hiring you.
Your letter should be written in a professional business letter format:
Introduce yourself and your interest in the company right away in the first paragraph.
The second paragraph should include a brief synopsis of your experience, education, and qualifications - "brief" being the operative word. Focus on the highlights.
Use the third paragraph to request a meeting to discuss a possible career with the company. You might also mention that you'll follow up by telephone in a few days or a week.
Options for Addressing the Letter: If you already know someone at the organisation, you can write directly to that individual. Otherwise, to whom you address your letter can depend on the size of the company. Address it to the CEO or the president of a smaller employer because the person who runs the company will most likely be involved in hiring decisions. For a large company, try to locate someone on the management team who's responsible for the department in which you want to work.
Do be sure to address it to someone. Letters and emails sent to a general email account (careers@company.com) - or to the company without a contact person specified - probably won't get read.
Should You Use Mail or Email hiring takes place online these days, but an inquiry letter sent by mail has a better chance of being read than an email message when you're inquiring about unadvertised openings.

Questions 22–27: Note Completion — Inquiry Letters

Choose ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.

GETTING HIRED WITH INQUIRY LETTERS
22. Choose inquiry letter over job postings because some of the best opportunities are filled_______ or through recommendations
Structure your letter as:
23. a) First paragraph: Introduce your_______
b) Second paragraph: Mention a brief summary of your experience and qualification
24. c) Third paragraph: Request for a_______ to discuss the opportunity
25. d)_______ the letter to either someone you know at the company or someone on the management team
Don't send it to any of the 26)_______ email account of the company
27. Use_______ as it simply has a better chance of being read than an email
  1. 26

    Don't send it to any of the 26)_______ email account of the company

Piano

A. The piano of today is, unquestionably, the most perfect (till date), and consequently the most popular and beloved of all musical instruments. The untiring efforts of geniuses over centuries have succeeded in producing a musical instrument that falls little short of perfection. Yet more inventions and improvements are sure to come, for we are never content with "good enough."
B. This instrument was known centuries before the Christian era. First effort to interpose a mechanical contrivance between the performer and the strings was made about four hundred years ago whereby it would only be necessary to strike the keys to produce tone from the strings, thereby decreasing the difficulty in finding the strings and picking them with the fingers, and greatly increasing the possibilities in musical rendition.
C. History gives credit to Italy for the first productions of this kind, about 1600 A.D., when the faculty of music was beginning to manifest itself more boldly. Scientists saw that wonderful developments were possible, and we have reason to believe that experiments were made in England, France, Germany and all civilized countries about this time, for the production of the instrument which we call, in this day, a Pianoforte.
D. In the first attempts at piano building, the difficulties to be overcome may be enumerated as follows: The frames were not strong enough to resist the tension of the strings; they were made almost entirely of wood which yields to the pull of the strings and is subject to climatic changes; the scale was very imperfect, that is, the length, tension and weight of the strings were not properly proportioned the result being a different quality of tone from different portions of the keyboard; the actions were either heavy and imperfect, or too light to produce sufficient vibration; the proper point upon the strings for the hammers to strike and for the dampers to bear had not yet been ascertained; the preparation and seasoning of the wood for different parts of the instrument had not received sufficient attention.
E. Probably the most important and essential step in piano building is the production of a frame of such strength and stability that the enormous tension of the strings is completely resisted in all parts of the scale. In many of the cheaper pianos of this day, the lack of this essential step manifests itself in an annoying degree to the piano tuner. In tuning, the workman "brings up" his temperament in the middle of the instrument; in most cases, the temperament stands all right. He next tunes the treble, then the bass; after doing his work perfectly he will often find that the treble fell somewhat while he was bringing up the bass; or, in a few cases, he may find that the treble sharpened, thus showing that there was yielding of the frame. Of course, this defect might be overcome by using an extremely heavy metal plate and wooden frame; but the commercial side of the question, in this day, calls for lightness in the instrument as a check to the expense of production, and, consequently, pianos that are "made to sell" are often much too light to fulfil this requirement.
F. In the upright piano, the back frame of wood is first made; at the top of this is the pin-block, sometimes called the wrest-plank. This is composed of several layers of wood firmly glued together with the grain running in different directions to prevent splitting and warping. Into this plank the tuning pins are driven. The sound-board is fitted firmly into this frame of wood below the pin-block. Next, the strong metal plate is secured to the frame by large bolts and screws. Openings are left in the plate for the bridges, which project from the sound-board beyond the metal plate; also for the tuning pins, action bracket bolts, etc. At the lower end of the plate, and just below the bridges, the hitch pins are driven firmly into holes drilled to receive them. Their purpose is to support the lower ends of the strings. The bass strings are separate, and each has a loop with which to fasten it to the hitch pin.
G. In the treble, one piece of wire forms two strings; the two ends are secured to the tuning pins above, and the string is simply brought around the hitch pin. The bridges communicating with the sound-board are at the lower end of the sound-board. Notice, there is a portion of the length of each string between the bridge and the hitch pin. At the upper end of the strings, a "bearing-bar," situated between the tuning pins and upper bridge, is attached to the pin-block by screws which draw it inward; its function is to hold the strings firmly in position. You will notice that the lengths of the strings, above the bearing-bar, vary considerably, even in the three strings comprising the unison. After that portion of the case is completed which forms the key-bed or action frame, we are ready to set in the action.

Questions 28–34: Heading Matching — Piano

The text has seven sections. Choose the correct heading i-x for each section.

LIST OF HEADINGS
i. Lowering the Bridge and the Hitch Pin
ii. Cross-national Forerunners
iii. Fastening the Strings
iv. Importance of Temperament
v. Early Hassles
vi. Ancient Origins
vii. The Purpose of Hitch Pin
viii. Improvement Bound to happen
ix. The Role of Frame for Tuning in
x. The Story of the Upright Piano
  1. 28

    Section A

  2. 29

    Section B

  3. 30

    Section C

  4. 31

    Section D

  5. 32

    Section E

  6. 33

    Section F

  7. 34

    Section G

Questions 35–40: True/False/Not Given — Piano

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text? 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. 35

    The provision of keys in a piano reduces the effort of picking the string at the right place

  2. 36

    If the piano's frame is not well-built, it can create problems in tuning of the piano

  3. 37

    The piano frame should resist tension of the strings

  4. 38

    The tuning pin prevents splitting and warping

  5. 39

    The sound-board helps reduce the background noise

  6. 40

    In the upright piano, the hitch pins are placed in the lower end of the plate

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. C

    C is correct because Craigslist is a local marketplace where there is no shipping option through the site, so you must coordinate and handle all shipping arrangements and costs with the buyer yourself.

  2. 2. A

    A is correct because Shopify offers a 14-day free trial, allowing you to test the site before you pay for its services.

  3. 3. D

    D is correct because Facebook Marketplace lets you post your listing to local Facebook garage sales sites, which helps you reach more potential customers.

  4. 4. E

    E is correct because eBay allows you to sell items either at an auction (bidding) or for a fixed price.

  5. 5. B

    B is correct because Etsy is primarily known for selling handmade jewellery and vintage clothing, not furniture.

  6. 6. E

    E is correct because eBay lets you choose local pickup for items that are too bulky and expensive to ship.

  7. 7. C

    C is correct because Craigslist is not furniture-specific, so your item may get lost among many other listings, making your advertisement less visible.

  8. 8. FALSE

    FALSE is correct because the course is designed to appeal to all levels, not just skilled photographers.

  9. 9. FALSE

    FALSE is correct because the price includes dinner, bed, and breakfast, but not lunch, so three meals a day are not included.

  10. 10. NOT GIVEN

    NOT GIVEN is correct because the passage does not say the only way to reach the hotel is by car.

  11. 11. TRUE

    TRUE is correct because the course content is largely dictated by those attending, so topics depend mainly on participants' wishes.

  12. 12. TRUE

    TRUE is correct because after the first night's sleep, participants are expected to start at sunrise the next day to take photographs.

  13. 13. NOT GIVEN

    NOT GIVEN is correct because there is no information about the tutor showing her work after dinner.

  14. 14. TRUE

    TRUE is correct because participants are required to bring warm outdoor clothing and waterproofs, so they should be prepared for bad weather.

  15. 15. oxygen

    'oxygen' is correct because negative pressure respirators should not be used in low oxygen environments.

  16. 16. yearly

    'yearly' is correct because your employer will arrange a yearly facial fit test.

  17. 17. beard

    'beard' is correct because facial hair makes it almost impossible to get a good seal, so alternatives may be needed for workers with a beard.

  18. 18. solvents

    'solvents' is correct because harsh products such as solvents can damage RPE and should be avoided during cleaning.

  19. 19. rack

    'rack' is correct because RPE should be dried on a solid wooden rack or suspended from a clothes line.

  20. 20. straps

    'straps' is correct because you must check the straps for breaks, tears, fraying, and loss of elasticity.

  21. 21. sunlight

    'sunlight' is correct because RPE should be stored away from sunlight to prevent damage.

  22. 22. internally

    'internally' is correct because some of the best opportunities are filled internally or through referrals.

  23. 23. interest

    'interest' is correct because you should introduce yourself and your interest in the company in the first paragraph.

  24. 24. meeting

    'meeting' is correct because the third paragraph should request a meeting to discuss a possible career.

  25. 25. address / write

    'address' (or 'write') is correct because you should address the letter to someone specific at the company.

  26. 26. general

    'general' is correct because letters sent to a general email account probably won't get read.

  27. 27. mail / letter

    'mail' (or 'letter') is correct because an inquiry letter sent by mail has a better chance of being read than an email.

  28. 28. viii

    viii is correct because Section A discusses the perfection and popularity of the piano, matching the heading 'The most perfect musical instrument.'

  29. 29. vi

    vi is correct because Section B talks about the early efforts to make playing the piano easier, matching 'Early attempts to improve the instrument.'

  30. 30. ii

    ii is correct because Section C credits Italy and other countries for the first pianos, matching 'The origin of the piano.'

  31. 31. v

    v is correct because Section D lists the difficulties faced in early piano building, matching 'Problems with early pianos.'

  32. 32. ix

    ix is correct because Section E explains the importance of a strong frame, matching 'The importance of a strong frame.'

  33. 33. x

    x is correct because Section F describes the construction of the upright piano, matching 'How an upright piano is constructed.'

  34. 34. iii

    iii is correct because Section G explains how the strings are arranged and held in place, matching 'How the strings are held in place.'

  35. 35. TRUE

    TRUE is correct because the passage says the mechanical keys made it easier to produce tones from the strings, reducing the effort of picking the string at the right place.

  36. 36. TRUE

    TRUE is correct because if the piano's frame is not strong enough, it can yield and cause tuning problems.

  37. 37. TRUE

    TRUE is correct because the frame must be strong and stable to resist the tension of the strings.

  38. 38. FALSE

    FALSE is correct because it is the pin-block, not the tuning pin, that prevents splitting and warping.

  39. 39. NOT GIVEN

    NOT GIVEN is correct because there is no information about the sound-board reducing background noise.

  40. 40. TRUE

    TRUE is correct because the hitch pins are placed at the lower end of the plate in the upright piano.

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 2024-11 Test 6 — IELTS General Training Reading Practice Test with Answers | Ieltsa