General Training Reading 2025-04 Test 2

General Training

Exam month: 2025-04

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

Local Gyms and Fitness Centres

A. Right Now Fitness
Part of the Right Now chain of gyms across the country. Rates differ depending on the package you sign up to, but if you are willing to lock yourself into monthly payments over a three-year period, it is less expensive but not cheap. There is a massive choice in courses you can do from aerobics, spinning and pilates to weightlifting, boxing and step. There's even a 25 metre swimming pool!
B. CrossFit Capital
This is the centre for the super fit only. Cross fit entails short intensive sessions with weights, floor exercises and aerobic exercise. You can stay in shape by doing these 30-minute training sessions a few times a week. It's not for the faint-hearted, it will be the toughest thirty minutes you have ever spent, but it really is an effective way to train if you are a busy person.
C. Barton's Gym and Club
This elite club has restricted membership and very high fees. The facilities are second-to-none. It has most of the usual fitness courses, plus an on-site physiotherapist and doctor. You can come here after work for a work out, and then relax in the club members' lounge, which is a bar and dining room.
D. Lockwood Health and Fitness Centre
This gym is an initiative of Lockwood City Council. It has low fees and an unrestricted entry policy. The equipment is a little out-of-date and does not always work, but if you just want to work out on your own or do the odd aerobics class, this might be the gym for you.
E. Blade's Runners
This is not technically a gym, but we thought it was worth mentioning. Jack Blade, Olympic silver medallist sprinter, charges a daily fee for joining his running group at City Park every Saturday morning. It's fun to do and hundreds of people sign up every week. It's a great place to meet other runners, and Jack is always there to give out advice and tell stories of his old running days.

Questions 1–7

Look at the five descriptions of gyms A-E in the text. For which gyms are the following statements true? Write the correct letter A-E. NB You may use any letter more than once.

  1. 1

    You can eat here

  2. 2

    All the exercise is outside

  3. 3

    You can go swimming here

  4. 4

    For people with limited time

  5. 5

    Good for people on a budget

  6. 6

    This isn't for beginners

  7. 7

    A great variety of options

Riviera Village Campsite

If you are looking for a holiday camp with a little more than the usual family fun park aesthetic, Riviera Villages has accommodation in wooden lodges among exotic gardens, with palm trees and plants adding to an easy going, tropical feel. The Resorts offer fun, family ambience, with plenty of sports and activities. Open - April September (Booking is advised for holidays in peak months such as July and August to guarantee a place of your choice.) Suzy and Mathew the coordinators, welcome you for the stay at Riviera Village Campsite. We hope you will not only enjoy it but will carry memorable moments to cherish them later. As it is an eco-friendly campsite, we ask you to show you care towards the beautiful surroundings. So while staying in this calm and peaceful area you have to observe the following rules.
1. Keep the place clean and tidy
2. Littering here and there is not allowed. You have to dispose of litter in the bins provided. Elders accompanying children should take care of it.
3. The washing area provided is very clean. So you have to leave the toilets and other washing areas in the same state i.e. clean after the use.
4. Keep the vehicles in parking area
5. Temporary parking and long hours parking is available. So, no parking is allowed on the road or road side.
6. No noise allowed after 10 at night and before 7 in the morning
7. Many elderly campers visit here to enjoy the peace. So no one is allowed to disturb the sleeping campers or people who do meditation.
8. Pets must not disturb other campers
9. Any pets along with you should be under your control. If disturbing other campers or creating noise by barking will be asked to leave the place.
10. Music should not be played at high volume.
11. Any misbehave with the staff or campers especially females will not be tolerated.
12. Outdoor games will be allowed in specific areas designated only.
13. Lawns and parks are to bask in the sun or enjoy nature not for playing.
14. The lighting of bonfires is strictly prohibited. The management has all rights to cancel and refuse the admittance.

Questions 8–14

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 campsite is open all around the year

  2. 9

    You can book any time for the campsite.

  3. 10

    Dancing and holding party at night is not Allowed.

  4. 11

    Pets are permitted to go with but should not clamour.

  5. 12

    Turf and parks are the prohibited areas to play.

  6. 13

    You are allowed to wine and dine outside late at night.

  7. 14

    Strict rules are to maintain a clean, green and peaceful environment.

Looking After Your Teeth

Unless you are suffering from toothache or have an already existing condition, you probably don't need to visit the dentist more than once a year. However, to ensure that tooth enamel and gums are in a clean and healthy condition, you perhaps need to give them more attention than that. To avoid high dental fees two or three times a year, why not visit a dental hygienist?
Many dental surgeries now have a hygienist as part of the practice. A dental hygienist is a professional who specialises in cleaning teeth. This professional is unable to fill teeth or do extractions like a dentist, but focuses on mouth health and maintenance, working in conjunction with your dentist to ensure you have optimum oral health. The dental hygienist is a licensed professional and is able to perform a number of activities such as taking X-rays, and applying sealants and fluoride solutions to the teeth. They are also able to make impressions of a patient's mouth to consult with the dentist regarding mouth guards and orthodontic appliances that adjust the bite. And of course, they are able to give your teeth a good clean, scraping off plaque and tartar deposits from their surfaces.
A hygienist does not drill teeth in preparation to fill a cavity, but they can use powered instruments that blow water or air onto the teeth to clean and polish them. Dental hygienists are now the dental professionals in charge of teaching good oral hygiene practices, particularly to children. They teach how to use a toothbrush correctly, and how often and when during the day it should be done. For example, many people do not know that it can be damaging for tooth enamel to brush within half an hour after eating or drinking. They can also teach patients how to floss their teeth, which is a part of home tooth and gum care that is most ignored and good nutritional practices for optimum oral health. While the hygienist is cleaning teeth, they may come across suspected tooth decay. This is referred to the dentist for them to work on.

Questions 15–21

Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.

DENTAL HYGIENIST
15. Dentists can be expensive, so to limit your check-ups to once year, you can visit a dental hygienist a few times a year as well to give your enamel and gums the________ they need.
16. Hygienists can't remove or________ teeth, but they otherwise ensure you have good dental health.
17. The hygienist can make impressions of your teeth for creating apparatus to________ the position of the teeth.
18. They also clean the tooth________ by scraping off plaque and tartar deposits.
19. Hygienists do not use a________ but they do use powered instruments for cleaning and polishing the teeth.
20. They also teach tooth hygiene and preventative dentistry such as correct brushing, and an area that always needs education, the use of dental________.
21. If the hygienist finds what they think might be________ in a tooth, they will inform the dentist.

Which Direction for a Career?

To examine your career options, you should first gather as much information as possible. Here are some places where you can get advice.
School
Your careers library will have some basic information on a variety of occupations.
Ask the librarian questions like:
What does someone with this job do?
What subjects do I need to study?
What courses are available?
How long will it take to train?
Also, use careers advisors to expand your list of career ideas by finding out about related options. Many schools have work experience programs which give you the chance to check out a job which interests you.
Career Information Centres
Resources in these centres include printed information about jobs and tertiary study reference materials such as university and college handbooks. There are 12 Career Information Centres throughout the country. Assistance from the staff is also available.
Employers
You could talk to employers in areas you find interesting. You might ask them questions such as:
What are the most demanding aspects of this work?
What is the most preferred method of entry?
Are there courses which will prepare me for this work?
Parents, friends, relatives
Relatives and friends can be helpful in giving you insights into the daily routine of an occupation. By questioning them, you can expand your knowledge of the work. Another option is to use this group to arrange industry contacts or check out possible vacancies.
Universities and colleges
These institutions have careers advisors for prospective students. You can also take advantage of their open days. During these days, you can have a look at the facilities offered and chat to the students and lecturers.
Internet directory
Don't forget the Internet. One great site to start at is the government careers directory.
Getting it all together
You will no doubt gather lots of information, but it is easy to forget details, so you should collect the information using a folder or filing system. Check that your information is kept up-to-date.

Questions 22–27

Complete the notes below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text for each answer.

22. Both schools and universities have________ to assist students with job information.
23. Schools may also run________ for practice at specific jobs.
24. There are several________ which advise clients on careers.
Acquaintances can sometimes provide 25________ and colleges also hold 26________.
27. Finally, for those with access to the Internet, the________ is a useful source of information.

The History of 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. This type of fuel allows for a pit light hidden inside the top of the torch. This releases a ring around the whole thing that keeps the rain 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 aluminum 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-H. Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.

List of Headings
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

    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

  8. 35

    Section H

Questions 36–40

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.

  1. 36

    There were no Olympic torches before ________

  2. 37

    The Greek priestesses who light the flame are actually ________

  3. 38

    The flame burns brighter if the fuel used burn at a ________ temperature.

  4. 39

    The accident at the Melbourne Olympics was a result of an effort to make the torch burn ________.

  5. 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.

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Answer key

  1. 1. C

    C is correct because Barton's Gym and Club has a members' lounge that is a bar and dining room, so you can eat there.

  2. 2. E

    E is correct because Blade's Runners is a running group that meets in City Park, so all the exercise is outside. Other options include indoor activities.

  3. 3. A

    A is correct because Right Now Fitness has a 25 metre swimming pool, so you can go swimming there.

  4. 4. B

    B is correct because CrossFit Capital offers short, intensive 30-minute training sessions, which is good for people with limited time. Option A is tempting but does not mention short sessions.

  5. 5. D

    D is correct because Lockwood Health and Fitness Centre has low fees and an unrestricted entry policy, making it good for people on a budget.

  6. 6. B

    B is correct because CrossFit Capital is described as 'the centre for the super fit only' and 'not for the faint-hearted,' so it isn't for beginners.

  7. 7. A

    A is correct because Right Now Fitness offers a massive choice in courses, from aerobics to boxing and swimming, showing great variety.

  8. 8. FALSE

    FALSE is correct because Riviera Village Campsite is only open from April to September, not all year round.

  9. 9. FALSE

    FALSE is correct because booking is advised for holidays in peak months like July and August, so you cannot book any time and always get your choice.

  10. 10. NOT GIVEN

    NOT GIVEN is correct because the rules mention no noise after 10 at night, but do not specifically mention dancing or holding parties.

  11. 11. TRUE

    TRUE is correct because pets are allowed but must not disturb other campers or create noise by barking.

  12. 12. TRUE

    TRUE is correct because lawns and parks are for enjoying nature, not for playing, so they are prohibited areas for games.

  13. 13. NOT GIVEN

    NOT GIVEN is correct because there is no information about being allowed to wine and dine outside late at night.

  14. 14. TRUE

    TRUE is correct because the rules are strict to maintain a clean, green, and peaceful environment, as stated in the introduction.

  15. 15. attention

    'attention' is correct because the passage says you need to give your enamel and gums more attention to keep them healthy.

  16. 16. fill

    'fill' is correct because the passage says a hygienist cannot fill teeth or do extractions like a dentist.

  17. 17. adjust

    'adjust' is correct because the hygienist can make impressions for orthodontic appliances that adjust the bite.

  18. 18. surfaces

    'surfaces' is correct because the hygienist scrapes off plaque and tartar deposits from the surfaces of teeth.

  19. 19. drill

    'drill' is correct because the passage says a hygienist does not drill teeth in preparation to fill a cavity.

  20. 20. floss

    'floss' is correct because the hygienist teaches patients how to floss their teeth, which is often ignored.

  21. 21. decay

    'decay' is correct because if the hygienist finds suspected tooth decay, they refer it to the dentist.

  22. 22. careers advisors

    'careers advisors' is correct because both schools and universities have careers advisors to help students with job information.

  23. 23. work experience programs

    'work experience programs' is correct because schools may run work experience programs to let students practice specific jobs.

  24. 24. Career Information Centres

    'Career Information Centres' is correct because there are several Career Information Centres that advise clients on careers.

  25. 25. industry contacts

    'industry contacts' is correct because acquaintances can help arrange industry contacts.

  26. 26. open days

    'open days' is correct because colleges hold open days for prospective students.

  27. 27. government careers directory

    'government careers directory' is correct because the passage says this is a useful source of information on the Internet.

  28. 28. iii

    iii is correct because Section A is about the origin and design of the Olympic torch.

  29. 29. i

    i is correct because Section B discusses the challenges of keeping the Olympic flame burning during its journey.

  30. 30. vi

    vi is correct because Section C explains how the Olympic flame is first lit in Greece.

  31. 31. iv

    iv is correct because Section D describes the relay and backup flame tradition.

  32. 32. vii

    vii is correct because Section E is about keeping backup flames during the relay.

  33. 33. v

    v is correct because Section F discusses the use of liquid fuel and torch design for endurance.

  34. 34. viii

    viii is correct because Section G is about making the flame visible at the opening ceremony.

  35. 35. ii

    ii is correct because Section H summarizes the importance and symbolism of the torch, regardless of how many times it is relit.

  36. 36. 1936

    1936 is correct because the passage says the Olympic torch relay began with the 1936 Berlin Games.

  37. 37. actresses

    'actresses' is correct because the passage says the Greek priestesses who light the flame are actually actresses.

  38. 38. higher

    'higher' is correct because the passage says choosing a fuel that burns at a higher temperature makes the flame brighter.

  39. 39. brightly

    'brightly' is correct because the accident at the Melbourne Olympics happened due to an effort to make the torch burn brightly.

  40. 40. contingency

    'contingency' is correct because organizers have elaborate contingency plans to ensure the flame stays lit during its journey.

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General Training Reading 2025-04 Test 2 — IELTS General Training Reading Practice Test with Answers | Ieltsa