IELTS General Test

READING PASSAGE 1
Question 1-7

Online Tutors
ONLINE Tutors are excellent EFL/ESL teachers from around the world! They can be your private
English tutor right on your computer! To send an email message to an ONLINE Tutor, just click
on the name and write a short message to introduce yourself!
A. I Astrid Manyana (F 46) Chile
Special offer for Spanish speakers: bilingual teaching of English grammar and explanations in
Spanish. 25 years’ experience teaching all levels from age 15 to 55. Basics, oral, written,
specific interests [e.g.: tourism] and preparation for Cambridge and IE0S exams. I can make
speaking English easy for you!

B. John Bennett-Smith (M 27) Canada

I have been teaching English conversation as a volunteer in a language center in my city for
about one year. I have also been using e-mail. ICQ and NetMeeting to teach grammar,
composition and conversation over the Internet to about 20 or so students for about the same
length of time. I am willing to teach (free of charge), privately or to groups, and to teach those
language skills which are of interest to a particular student.

C. Pamela Arrowsmltfi (F 56) Australia

I have taught English for over 30 years, and have developed a range of classroom materials. I
offer tutoring assistance in all areas of English, with an emphasis on Business Writing for EFL
adults. I can arrange trips to Australia for business and professional adults, either individuals
or groups [maximum of four adults] and these can include English classes. If desired.

D. Jean-Ptorre JoyaJ (M 22) France

I really like to create new kinds of teaching materials and I usually create my own activities
instead of using the same kind of exercises and texts we all are used to. Let’s try that in our
classes – it will be fun! I have a BA degree and a Certificate in Teaching English as a Second
Language and I have been teaching all levels of ESL students for more than 3 years. I offer a
complimentary assessment of your skill level.

E. Naoe Nagayo (F 36) Japan

I have taught English as a Foreign Language for 6 years. I have a TEFL certificate from the USA
and a MA in Applied Linguistics from the University of Birmingham, UK. My students range
from preschoolers to adults. With my experience and knowledge, I can help you to target your
learning difficulties and improve your English ability!
Question 1-7
Look at the description of Online Tutors (A-E). Write the appropriate letter A-E for each space.
Which tutor would you choose…?

Example: …If your first language was Spanish? – A

1. …to teach young children?
2. …to improve English for your business?
3. …if you didn’t have much money?
4. …if you were bored with the usual language learning exercises?
5. …to do exam preparation

Which TWO descriptions mention

6. …language teaching qualifications?
7. …more than 10 years’ teaching experience?

Question 8-14

No-Waste Recycling Guide

No-Waste is a goal and a process that involves individuals, communities, businesses and all levels
of government. It leads to a future where trash is a thing of the past. Solid waste isn’t hidden or
buried in landfills but fully utilized as the valuable resource that it is. Through redesign, reduction,
reuse, repair, recycling, composting and changes in attitude, we aim to create opportunity and
wealth instead of garbage.

Recycling
Inside your blue box
Every second week: Put garbage and recyclables out before 8 AM on collection day.

Household Plastic containers

Includes milk jugs, yoghurt containers, detergent bottles. Excludes containers made of foam,
plastic containers which held ammonia-based products, or metal bottle lids. Rinse to remove
food or residue. Leave labels on, flatten or stack plastic containers to reduce space required.

Glass containers
Leave labels on. Rinse. Discard caps.
No other types of glass such as kitchenware, drinking glasses, window glass, light bulbs, mirrors
or any broken glass.

Metals
Food and beverage containers.
Cans — rinse and remove labels, flatten and fold together.
Foil trays — rinse, flatten and fold together.
No metal pots, take out container lids, cigarette wrappings.
Beside your blue box

Yellow Bag
Household paper — junk mail, envelopes, brochures, paper bags, egg cartons (fiber only); box
packaging such as cereal, shoe boxes, paper towel cores, white and colored office paper,
telephone books.
Remove liners, flatten packaging and place inside the bag.
Mo drinking boxes, paper towels or waxed paper.

Blue Bag
Newspapers, inserts, sales flyers, magazines and catalogues. Remove magazine covers, perfumed
inserts. Ho books or soiled newspapers.

Textiles, Clothing and Linens

Race clean textiles in a separate plastic shopping bag tied with string.

Cardboard
Packing boxes, liquor boxes.
Flatten bundles and tie — no larger than 30 x 30 x 8. Place beside a blue box. No waxed or coated
boxes, soiled pizza boxes.

Question 8-10
Choose ONE item only from the list below to go in each recycling container.

8. in the Blue Box …….

9. in the Yellow Bag …….
10. in the Blue Bag …….

List of Items for Recycling

telephone book old clothing wed pizza delivery box
ceramic cup heavy cardboard packing box
magazines old textbook aluminum drink
light bulb

Question 11-14
Look at the following statements.

YES if the answer is “yes’

NO if the answer is ‘no’
NOT GIVEN if there is no information about this in the passage

11. Do I put out items for recycling every other week?

12. Should I remove labels from food cans?
13. Can I recycle a broken window?
14. Is there a separate collection for large household items?
READING PASSAGE 2
Questions 15-20.

Distance Learning
Students interested in enrolling on a distance learning course give many reasons for not being
able to study in a conventional Way. Some may not have had the opportunity to follow a college
course in the past. Others may be seeking qualifications which will improve their job prospects.
Some already hold a qualification but now want to qualify’ in a new field for career reasons, and
others want to study for personal interest.

People who cannot attend college as internal students, 100k to the flexibility that studying by
distance education or distance learning, as it is sometimes called) provides to satis$’ their desire
for a qualification.

The main attribute of distance learning is that students do not need to attend the course in
person, although they may be involved in short courses or seminars from time to time throughout
the period of study. Students can ct•mse for themselves where, when and for how long they
want to study, using learning materials which have been specially constructed and presented to
help them in their understanding.

The materials sent to students may take the form of workbooks, radio and TV or video programs
and computer disks. Many programs of study are now delivered to the student home through
the Internet.

Work is usually assessed by written assignments sent back to be marked and evaluated at the
home institution. There may be a dialogue between the student and the tutor by phone, letter.
fax or email. Often, there are summer schools or occasional revision classes run by the home
institution. Some institutions also provide tutorials with the aid of computer and/or video
conferencing. Entrance requirements for distance learning Courses will vary according to the
institution and the qualification sought.

Whatever study arrangements external students made. They need to come to terms with the
difficulties and pressures involved in studying at a distance. Preparing for a degree as an external
student is a real test of ability and character — strong and a determination to succeed are
needed. Obviously the support of family, colleagues and friends are of enormous importance
when studying for a degree by distance learning. Many employers are also aware of the
difficulties that people have in working full-time yet regarding acquiring qualifications and keep
them up to date. Now, distance programs are being devised and offered by institutions around
the world.

Although studying at a distance will be cheaper than going to college, students must be aware of
the difficulties of studying alone. They should watch out for bogus institutions offering learning
opportunities at a high price with little service. Students have differing needs and the most
suitable mode of study will vary from person to person.
Questions 15-20
Complete the following summary using ONE WORD FROM THE PASSAGE for each space.

The advantages of distance learning include the 15. ………………… to study at a time and
place of your choosing and to work at your own pace.
Personal qualities essential for distance learning are a high degree of motivation and 16.
…………………
To succeed at distance learning, you need the assistance of friends, family and 17. …………………
Distance learning is 18. ………………… than studying on campus but certainly not-easier.
Be careful of 19. ………………… colleges which provide inadequate 20. …………….at great cost.

Questions 21-27

Business School Online

Our courses can be started anytime from anywhere in the world and completed at your own
pace. A certificate is issued on successful completion of the course.

Advertising and Promotion Course

Duration: 100 Hours

Course Materials: Upon enrolment, you will receive all of the materials that are essential to
complete the course. Course materials include subject guides, printed notes, textbooks, videos
and practical equipment. In certain circumstances, you may be required to do extra research —
in which case your tutor is able to advise you where necessary.

Course Outline: There are ten lessons in this course, each requiring about 10-12 hours of work
by the student. This course is designed as a program to help you understand the marketing world,
then, to assist you in making decisions and developing skills in marketing. Emphasis is placed on
profitability and efficiency!

Examples of The Type of Assignments You Might Be Asked to Undertake:

A. Go shopping (your routine weekly shopping if you like). Take notice of how different sales
staff communicate with you. Note the techniques they use (verbal and non-verbal), and how
effective they are. Note the type of impression they seem to be creating. When you come
home, write down notes on your observations.

B. Look through newspapers or magazines at advertisements or articles which discuss products

offered for sale and find what you consider to be good examples of each of the following type
of communication:

 Verbal Communication
 Non-verbal communication
 Combination of verbal and non-verbal communication
Explain why you think these are good examples?
C. Select a product or service for which you would like to improve the marketing. This might be
something you are dealing with in your own business or a business you work for, or it might
be something you think has potential. Something you think has potential — an idea you would
like to develop into a business OR something another business is dealing with, but not handling
as well as you think they could.

Develop an advertising campaign for this product or service

 You will need to select a method for determining an advertising budget and then set that
budget.
 You will then need to find out the costs of advertising in different places.

You will then need to write advertisements for these various places. The campaign should be
well-targeted.

Note: We do not expect you to present a highly detailed and involved campaign. This could take
longer than the whole course! Put about 10 hours of work into this project, at the most, and then
you will present what you have been able to achieve in that time. (You need not only to develop
the ability to put a campaign together but also be able to put it together within a reasonable time
frame)

Question 21-27
Complete the summary. Choose your answers from the list of words below. There are more
words than you need so you will not use all of them.
The first sample assignment asks you to 21. ……………… sales personnel in shops, to note the types
of 22. ……………… they use and to assess their effectiveness.
The second task involves finding 23. ……………… of good advertising and 24. ……………… why these
particular ads work well.
Another activity requires you to 25. ……………… an advertising campaign for a product or service.
You need to establish a 26. ……………… for the project then design different kinds of ads, within a
27. ……………… timeframe.

List of Words
develop reasoning experience communication
analyzing budget examples effective
observe limited campaigns advertise
producing company
READING PASSAGE 3
Slow Food
A. Slow Food is an international grassroots movement dedicated to preserving the cultural
heritage of good food. It started as a humorous protest against the spread of fast food around
the world and has developed into a major advocate for the world’s unique food products.
The movement’s logo is a snail. Since being founded in 1986 the Slow Food snail has crept
from its home in Italy to 45 other countries around the world and now boasts over members.
The movement challenges the loss of flavor resulting from the industrialization of food and
agriculture. Its approach is ‘eco-gastronomic’. Slow Food is committed to compiling and
distributing information about local foods, drink and culture. Its purpose is to preserve
endangered foods, encourage biodiversity, and support small-scale producers of ethnic and
local products around the world.

B. Modern agri-business has given the world cheap food with little taste, produced at a high cost
to the environment. Slow Food has been instrumental in developing initiatives to revive
products that take time and craftsmanship to create and which are threatened by global
corporate practices. Protecting traditional local also means safeguarding the people and
ecosystems involved in their manufacture. It also provides incentives for the pursuit of
production methods which are healthier for taste, the environment and the agricultural
economy.

C. Statistics on the loss of biodiversity in our food chain are alarming. In less than a century over
300 plant species have disappeared one plant species disappears every six hours. Today less
than 30 varieties of plant feed 95% of the world’s population, In Europe, half the breeds of
domestic livestock became extinct during the course of the twentieth century. The crisis over
mad cow disease and the ongoing debate over genetically modified food has given Slow Food,
with its on organic methods, unexpected political influence.

D. In the space of a few years, Slow Food has become a major lobbying force in the European
Union on agriculture and trade policy. Agri-business practices that have become dominant
are geared to produce in quantity. This is a carryover from agricultural policies set in the
1950s in Europe when hunger from tlE war was still a vivid memory. At that time, when the
goal was self-sufficiency, farmers received subsidies to the amounts they produced. There
was and Still is no reward for quality. Two generations ago, the average European family spent
about one half of its income on food. Today it spends about 15 per cent. Surveys conducted
by Slow Food show that a large majority of Italians would be willing to pay up to 20 per cent
more for food in order to guarantee its quality, especially given recent food scares and
scandals.

E. As national boundaries disappear in Europe and become more open around the world, food
has emerged as an important source of identity. Slow Food’s position on globalization is that
it has the potential to help as well as harm the small food producer. On the one hand,
globalization has allowed multinational corporations to extend their reach to virtually every
corner of the world. However, rather than being afraid of the fast-food giants, Slow Food is
 attempting to offer an alternative choice of ‘virtuous globalization’ by choosing to focus on
quality and helping the small local producer to access the global market.

F. The Slow Food organization has to find ways to ensure its own economic viability. An initial
strategy to generate income through publishing led to a number of food guides that were
quickly successful. Some of the most popular of these feature restaurants serving authentic,
local foods at local prices. Numerous and varied initiatives have sprung around the world.
Italy’s largest food show, the ‘Salon de Gusto’, sponsored by the Slow Food movement,
provides an international market to hundreds of small producers whose goods, until recently,
rarely left their village or region. Now there is even ‘slow travel’. A growing number of tour
operators in Italy, France, Australia and India subscribe to the movement, promoting ‘cultural
and educational journeys using food and the people that produce it as the learning medium’.
‘Slow cities’ are entire communities dedicated to improving the quality of life for their citizens
through environmentally sound, culturally-aware, eco-gastronomic policies and activities.

G. Another significant initiative of Slow Food is the Ark of Tate, a database of endangered species
of edible plants and domestic animals worldwide. Commissions have been set up in many
countries to seek out and catalogue new products. So far, 800 products from 26 countries
have been figuratively brought on board the Ark in the attempt to save them. The Ark of Taste
has become an international project and a resource for agricultural biodiversity around the
world.

H. So, a movement that began as a humorous protest against fast food has in its own organic
way, evolved into a versatile and intelligent advocate for the protection of the environment.
The best response to a global force challenging the ability to enjoy our food and our lives
begins, according to the Slow Food movement, ‘at the table’. We are invited to slow down,
appreciate the flavors of food and drink, and cultivate the art of living. Fast food isn’t likely to
disappear, but Slow Food seems to be here to stay as well. Its message is getting through
encouraging pleasure-loving environmentalism as an alternative to the high-speed pace of
the fast-food world. From its humble beginnings, Slow Food now includes a global network
of people capable of generating ideas, and programs to defend the right to a responsible form
of pleasure, respectful of cultural diversity and available to all.

Questions 28-31
The passage “Slow Food’ has 8 paragraphs (A-H). In which paragraph can the information below
be found?

28. a catalogue of domestic animal* at risk of disappearing

29. statistics on the loss of variety in agricultural species
30. initiatives to ensure the financial survival of the organization
31. information on the food budget of an average family
Question 32
Which of the following does the Slow Food Movement NOT promote? The first one has been
done for you. Indicate the letters of the remaining TWO.

32. ……………………. …………………………

A. old-fashioned cooking methods

B. genetically modified foods
C. endangered species of edible plants
D. junk food culture
E. the enjoyment of good food and drink
F. high yield industrial fanning
G. rare local domestic animals
H. organic methods of production

Questions 33-38
Choose ONE phrase from the list (A-H) that matches each of the expressions below. There are
more phrases than expressions so you will not use all of them. The first one has been done for
you as an example.

33. slow travel ……………… 36. Salon de Gusto ………………

34. Ark of Taste ……………… 37. agri-business ………………
35. virtuous globalization ……………… 38. SLOW ………………

List of Phrases
A. a resource for agricultural biodiversity
B. a showcase for Italian food products
C. a database of Slow Food members
D. helping local producers compete in the international market
E. published four times a year
F. operates in Europe, Asia and Australia
G. promotes the protection of the environment and good eating
H. produces food using industrial methods

Questions 39 and 40
Answer the following questions using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.

39. Following which crisis did the Slow Food movement become a political force?
40. This movement was started as a reaction against what?