General Training Reading 2026-01 Test 2 — IELTS General Training Reading Practice Test with Answers

基于考生回忆重建 — 非官方 IELTS 资料。音频和原文均为练习用途的重现版本。

Penguins

Penguins are aquatic, flightless birds that are highly adapted to life in the water. Here is a list of some types of penguins:

A. Emperor Penguins: Standing just over 4 feet tall and weighing up to 100 pounds, the stately Emperor Penguin is the tallest and heaviest of all penguin types and among the largest birds on the planet. This species is at home along the entire coastline of Antarctica.

B. King Penguins: King Penguins are the second largest penguin species, inhabiting several island chains in the sub-Antarctic. As serial monogamists, these penguins form massive colonies every breeding season, several of which are composed of well over 100,000 pairs, each working in tandem to hatch just a single egg.

C. Chinstrap Penguin: With a distinctive band of black feathers across their necks to either side of their heads, Chinstrap Penguins look somewhat like they're wearing a biker's helmet. The species, which congregates on icebergs and small, barren islands in the sub-Antarctic region, are said to be the boldest and most aggressive of all penguin species.

D. Gentoo Penguin: Gentoo Penguins are the third largest of all penguins, standing around 35 inches tall. The penguins can be found in colonies on the continent of Antarctica as well as islands throughout the sub-Antarctic. Gentoos are listed as "near threatened," with some populations having experienced declines of two-thirds in the last 25 years.

E. Little Blue Penguin: Growing just 13 inches tall, Little Blue Penguins certainly earn that name when compared to their larger counterparts. The species is found on the southern coasts of Australia and New Zealand, and like many flightless birds there, they are prone to attack by invasive predators.

F. Magellanic Penguin: Magellanic Penguins are native to South America. The species numbers in the millions, but are still considered under significant threat from climate change and oil spills along their migration routes, which is responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of young penguins every year.

G. Galapagos Penguins: The only penguin species that lives entirely in the Northern Hemisphere, Galapagos Penguins take their name from the archipelago they inhabit. During the 1980s, the penguins' numbers declined by around 70 percent, reducing the population to just around 1,500 by 2004. Conservation efforts are helping Galapagos Penguins to recover, though they are still listed as an endangered species.

H. Snare Penguins: These take their name from the small group of islands they are found in, off the coast of New Zealand: The Snares. Snare Penguins are distinguished by black coloring on the base of their beaks. Though not directly under threat, because of their centralized population, they are particularly vulnerable to sudden environmental changes.

Questions 1-7: Matching penguin types to statements

For which penguins are the following statements true? Write the correct letter, A-H. NB You may use any letter more than once.

1
You will not find this penguin south of the Equator.
2
These penguins are just over one foot tall.
3
Not only are they the largest penguins, they are also among the largest birds on the planet.
4
These penguins are very loyal to their mates and do not change partners.
5
These penguins are not afraid to pick up a fight if need be.
6
Although numbering more than a million, these penguins are still considered to be threatened.
7
They take their name from the small cluster of islands which they inhabit.

Photo Perfect Travel Cameras User's Guide

Thank you for purchasing a Photo Perfect Travel Camera — a camera that will capture all your precious travel moments! We have made every effort to make our cameras robust and feature user-friendly so that you get the very best while you are travelling. This Rapid Guide will introduce you to some of the basic components and features of the camera and how to use them. Please read the Extra User Guide carefully for more in-depth instructions before using the camera. Be sure to keep the Rapid Guide handy.

Battery

To guard against possible leakage, we do not install batteries. To begin operation, insert 4 AA batteries into the battery compartment. Standard batteries will last for up to 12 hours of continuous use. Lithium AA batteries will last for 24 hours continuously.

Lens

Your Photo Perfect camera is equipped with an lens with up to 80x digital zoom with an image stabiliser. The camera is also fitted with our patented AirwalkerJJTM technology, enabling you to cushion zooming. Avoid touching the lens and always clean it with a cotton cloth.

Self-timer

With our self-timer technology, you can appear in your own photograph! The camera's shutter can be delayed by 5 to 10 seconds once the shutter button has been set. Before activating the self-timer, make sure the camera is placed on a flat surface. The yellow border in the viewfinder determines what will appear in your picture.

Image quality and size

Images are stored in your camera's memory stick in a compressed format, which allows you to store more photographs. Due to compression, the preview of the images on the camera's display screen may reveal a loss of detail. When the images are printed or transferred to other high-resolution viewing devices (such as a computer), full resolution will be displayed. Setting the right image size is important to get a perfect printout of your photographs. You can choose from manual and auto settings. The Photo Perfect user-friendly image setting button allows you to select any of the three size setting options. For an actual printout of a 4 × 6-inch photo, set the image button to 'A' on the dial. For a printout of a 7 × 9 inch photo, set the button to 'B' and for a printout of a 10 × 12 inch photo, turn the dial to 'C'. Note: A larger image size setting will require more memory.

Storage

If the camera is not going to be used for more than 2 weeks, please remove the batteries. Store the camera in its supplied case away from magnetic fields created by other electronic equipment (TVs or radios) and within a temperature range of 5 °C to 35 °C.

Accessories

Photo Perfect cameras come with a standard 4 GB memory card. A range of other accessories are available at a reasonable cost, which can be chosen based on user requirements:

Memory cards of 15 GB and 30 GB.

4 rechargeable AA batteries and charger.

Genuine leather camera cover, upgrade from standard inclusion cloth cover.

Handy photo printer weighing only 750 g.

Questions 8-14: True/False/Not Given

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text? TRUE - if the statement is true; FALSE - if the statement is false; NOT GIVEN - if the information is not given in the text.

8
Two instruction guides are included with the new camera.
9
In order to protect the camera, batteries are not installed.
10
Lithium batteries are recommended for the camera.
11
The 'C' setting on the image dial uses more memory than the 'A' setting.
12
The camera should not be used in a very cold place.
13
A camera cloth cover costs extra.
14
The photo printer is more than 500 g.

Gateway Academy Pre-Sessional Courses

Our pre-sessional courses are ideal for students who have a conditional place at a British university, but who need to achieve a certain level of English in order to be accepted. The course aims to provide students with the English language and study skills that they need in order to be successful at university or another academic establishment. It is important to note that completion of the course does not guarantee students entrance into a university. It is necessary for students to show during the course that they have understood the information and skills that they have been taught, and can incorporate it into their work.

Pre-sessional students at Gateway Academy will benefit from:

Small class sizes (no more than 10 students per class)

Twenty-three hours of tuition per week

Individual support and tutorials

Regular guest lecturers

The use of the Academy's study and recreational facilities, including the Language Library, the computer suite, and the academy's sports facilities.

A varied social programme including evening entertainments and weekend excursions to popular tourist attractions and cities such as Stonehenge, Oxford and Stratford-on-Avon.

The course offers a holistic approach to learning and covers reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.

During the course, students will receive instruction on important techniques such as summary-writing, analysing essay titles, organising writing, note-taking in lectures, giving seminars and making presentations.

Students will gain experience in working both individually and in groups. As part of the course, all students will work towards a 5000-word project in their own field of study. Students will receive guidance from their tutors on how best to conduct research and write it up effectively. Students will also work towards a presentation on the same subject.

There is no final examination. Students are assessed continuously, taking into account their attendance, successful completion of assignments and participation in class. Students will be given a full report on their progress at the end of the course. Students need to be aware that the course involves a great deal of coursework, which will require students to manage their time effectively.

Gateway Academy offers three pre-sessional courses. A five-week course beginning in August is available for advanced level students; a ten-week course beginning in July is available for upper-intermediate students.

Intermediate level students should take our twenty-week course beginning in May. Intermediate level students get a two-week break in July.

Questions 15-21: Note completion

Complete the notes below. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.

15. The Pre-Sessional course is suitable for students whose place at a British university is _________.

16. Students will be able to use many of the Academy's study and _________ while they are studying.

17. Students will have the opportunity to visit _________ on Saturdays and Sundays.

18. Students will work both alone and _________.

19. Students will have to research and write up a 5000 word _________ related to their subject area.

20. In order to successfully complete their assignments, students will have to _________ their time well.

21. _________ students should start their course in July.

Maternity leave

The purpose of this policy is to inform female employees of their entitlement to statutory and company-enhanced maternity rights.

Antenatal Care

All company employees are entitled to reasonable paid time off during working hours to enable them to receive antenatal care. To qualify, employees are required to produce a certificate from a registered medical practitioner stating the employee is pregnant, together with an appointment card or other written confirmation of the appointment. However, these requirements do not apply to the first antenatal visit. Employees are requested to give their immediate managers as much notice as possible and arrange appointments, insofar as is possible, so as not to disrupt the business of the company. Employees will be paid their basic salary in respect of attendance at these appointments.

Ordinary Maternity Leave (OML)

All employees, irrespective of their length of service, qualify for 26 weeks' OML. An employee must notify the company no later than 15 weeks prior to her Expected Week of Childbirth (EWC) of the date on which she intends to begin her OML. An employee is not required to give notification if she is absent due to a pregnancy-related illness, or if the baby is born before the planned date of starting maternity leave. Please note that the employee must notify the company she has given birth as soon as is reasonably practicable.

Returning from Maternity Leave

No employee is entitled to return from maternity leave until 2 weeks after the birth of the child. Within 28 days of receiving notification from the employee of the date she intends to start her OML, the company will advise her of the date her leave will end. An employee who intends to return to work at the end of the OML period does not have to notify the company in advance of her return. If the employee wishes to use any annual leave she has accrued to delay her return, she is obliged to request authorisation from the company at least 28 days before she wishes to take it.

Questions 22-27: Sentence completion

Complete the sentences below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

Antenatal Care

22. Obtain proof of pregnancy from a registered _________ and also an appointment card (NB not necessary for first antenatal visit)

Tell your immediate manager as soon as you can

23. You will receive your _________ from your company during antenatal care

Ordinary Maternity Leave

24. Doesn't depend on your _________ (everyone gets same amount of OML)

25. Tell your employer at least _________ before EWC about starting date of OML

26. No need to tell your employer if you are off work because of _________

Returning from Maternity Leave

Cannot return to work until 2 weeks after birth

No need to notify company if coming back when OML finishes

27. Must ask for permission if choosing to postpone return by taking any _________ still owing to you

THE SILENT MONKS OF TERALUM

A. Nestled deep within the granite cliffs of Eastern Rala, the Teralum Monastery is home to a small community of monks who have taken a unique spiritual path — one of complete silence. The monks of Teralum follow an ancient practice that forbids speech from the moment of initiation until death. Their vow of silence is not merely symbolic; it is believed to be essential to spiritual enlightenment and inner peace.

B. The origins of the Teralum order are uncertain. Some scholars claim it was founded in the 9th century CE by a wandering sage named Malen Tho, who preached that spoken language distracts the soul from divine awareness. Others argue that it emerged from an earlier sect that split from a larger religious community, though little historical documentation survives. What is known is that the monastery has remained largely unchanged for hundreds of years, despite the rise and fall of dynasties and empires around it.

C. Though they live in silence, the monks of Teralum do not live in isolation. They grow their own food, care for livestock, and even teach young initiates — all through a sophisticated system of gestures, written signs, and symbolic movements. Over generations, this silent system has evolved into a complex language of its own, allowing the monks to communicate instructions, feelings, and even abstract spiritual concepts without uttering a single word.

D. The vow of silence, according to Teralum doctrine, is based on the belief that divine truth can only be heard in the absence of human noise. Speech, in their view, creates ego, attachment, and conflict. By abstaining from it entirely, the monks aim to detach from worldly identity and instead live in what they call "harmonic stillness" — a state where the mind and the divine are in perfect alignment. Silence is not seen as deprivation, but liberation.

E. Modern psychologists have taken interest in the Teralum monks. Studies conducted by visiting neuroscientists suggest that long-term silence may have unusual effects on the brain. Brain scans of monks show higher activity in areas associated with empathy, memory, and emotional regulation. Interestingly, despite decades of non-verbal life, many monks retain strong cognitive function into old age, challenging assumptions about language and mental decline.

F. Despite their strict lifestyle, the Teralum monks have accepted some limited technology in recent years. Solar panels now power the monastery's kitchens and water pumps. However, they continue to reject mobile phones, radio, and television. Communication with the outside world is handled through writing, mostly in the form of letters or occasional visits by pilgrims and scholars. The monastery remains one of the last truly silent communities in the world.

G. Pilgrims from various countries visit Teralum not to listen to sermons but to experience the stillness. Visitors often describe a deep sense of calm within the monastery walls, where no voices echo, and no noise interrupts reflection. Some even return home, adopting days of silence into their own spiritual practices. In this way, the monks' commitment to stillness continues to influence people far beyond the cliffs of Rala.

Questions 28-33: Paragraph matching

Which paragraph contains the following information? Write the correct letter, A-G.

28
A mention of how silence may help the brain function better
29
An explanation of how monks handle everyday communication
30
How people from outside the monastery are affected by their visit
31
Details about what the monks believe speech does to the soul
32
Uncertainty regarding how the order originally began
33
A reference to the adoption of limited modern conveniences

Questions 34-40: One word only

Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.

34
The monks of Teralum follow an ancient practice that forbids _________.
35
The founder of the order is believed by some to be _________ Tho.
36
Their system of gestures has developed into a silent _________.
37
Monks believe speech creates ego and emotional _________.
38
Brain scans show high activity in areas linked to empathy, _________ and emotional regulation.
39
Letters and written notes are used for _________ with outsiders.
40
Many visitors report feeling a sense of _________ during their stay.

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显示答案

1. G
G is correct because it says Galapagos Penguins are the only penguin species that lives entirely in the Northern Hemisphere, which is north of the Equator.
2. E
E is correct as Little Blue Penguins grow just 13 inches tall, which is just over one foot.
3. A
A is correct because Emperor Penguins are described as the tallest and heaviest of all penguin types and among the largest birds on the planet.
4. B
B is correct since King Penguins are described as serial monogamists, forming pairs that work together each breeding season, showing loyalty to their mates. The tempting wrong answer A fails because it does not mention loyalty or mating habits.
5. C
C is correct because Chinstrap Penguins are said to be the boldest and most aggressive of all penguin species, meaning they are not afraid to fight.
6. F
F is correct as Magellanic Penguins number in the millions but are still considered under significant threat from climate change and oil spills.
7. H
H is correct because Snare Penguins take their name from the small group of islands called The Snares, where they live.
8. TRUE
TRUE is correct because the camera comes with a Rapid Guide and an Extra User Guide, so there are two instruction guides included.
9. TRUE
TRUE is correct as it says batteries are not installed to guard against possible leakage, which is to protect the camera.
10. NOT GIVEN
NOT GIVEN is correct because the passage mentions lithium batteries last longer, but does not say they are recommended.
11. TRUE
TRUE is correct because the note says a larger image size setting (like 'C') will require more memory than a smaller setting (like 'A').
12. NOT GIVEN
NOT GIVEN is correct because the passage only says to store the camera between 5°C and 35°C, but does not say not to use it in very cold places.
13. FALSE
FALSE is correct because the camera comes with a standard cloth cover; only the leather cover costs extra.
14. TRUE
TRUE is correct as the photo printer weighs 750 g, which is more than 500 g.
15. conditional
'conditional' is correct because the course is for students who have a conditional place at a British university.
16. recreational facilities
'recreational facilities' is correct as students can use the Academy's study and recreational facilities.
17. tourist attractions
'tourist attractions' is correct because the social programme includes weekend excursions to popular tourist attractions.
18. in groups
'in groups' is correct since students will work both individually and in groups.
19. project
'project' is correct as all students will work towards a 5000-word project in their own field of study.
20. manage
'manage' is correct because students need to manage their time effectively to complete coursework.
21. upper-intermediate
'upper-intermediate' is correct as the ten-week course starting in July is for upper-intermediate students.
22. medical practitioner
'medical practitioner' is correct because employees must get proof of pregnancy from a registered medical practitioner.
23. basic salary
'basic salary' is correct as employees are paid their basic salary for attending antenatal appointments.
24. length of service
'length of service' is correct because all employees qualify for the same amount of OML, regardless of length of service.
25. 15 weeks
'15 weeks' is correct as employees must notify the company at least 15 weeks before the expected week of childbirth.
26. pregnancy-related issues
'pregnancy-related issues' is correct because no notification is needed if absent due to a pregnancy-related illness.
27. annual leave
'annual leave' is correct as employees must request authorisation to use annual leave to delay their return.
28. E
E is correct because it mentions studies showing long-term silence may have unusual effects on the brain, such as higher activity in areas linked to empathy, memory, and emotional regulation.
29. C
C is correct as it explains the monks communicate through gestures, written signs, and symbolic movements, forming a complex language.
30. G
G is correct because it describes how visitors feel calm and sometimes adopt days of silence after visiting the monastery.
31. D
D is correct as it explains the monks believe speech creates ego, attachment, and conflict, distracting the soul from divine awareness.
32. B
B is correct because it says the origins of the order are uncertain, with different theories and little documentation.
33. F
F is correct as it mentions the monks have accepted some technology like solar panels, but still reject phones and TV.
34. speech
'speech' is correct because the monks follow a practice that forbids speech.
35. Malen
'Malen' is correct as some believe the founder was Malen Tho.
36. language
'language' is correct because their system of gestures has developed into a silent language.
37. conflict
'conflict' is correct as monks believe speech creates ego and emotional conflict.
38. memory
'memory' is correct since brain scans show high activity in areas linked to empathy, memory, and emotional regulation.
39. communication
'communication' is correct because letters and written notes are used for communication with outsiders.
40. calm
'calm' is correct as many visitors report feeling a sense of calm during their stay.

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