IELTS CAMBRIDGE  7 Test B: GT READING MODULE

Section 1:Call anywhere in the state for one low short-distance rate!

Questions 1-7: (Classifying groups)

[This type of question asks candidates to classify information from the given reading text. Candidates are given some groups from the text, and a list of options, which are listed as A, B, C, etc. They must match the correct groups with the correct options.

N.B.: This question doesn’t follow any sequence. So, they should be answered after all other questions in the passage.]

Question 1: The monthly access fee is the highest but the call rates are the lowest.

Keywords for this question: monthly access fee, highest, but, call rates, lowest,    

The answer to this question is found in the table.

Take a look at the HIGHFLIER section where you can see the Monthly access fee and the call rates:

If you compare the call rates in the HIGHFLIER plan with other plans, you will see that these call rates are the lowest.

So, the answer is: C (the HIGHFLIER plan)

Question 2: Calls are charged at short-distance or long-distance rates.

Keywords for this question: calls, charged, short-distance, long-distance, rates,    

The answer is found in the first paragraph, in lines 2-3, “ . . . .. Calls in each plan are charged at only two rates – short-distance and long-distance… . … .”

Here, each plan = ALL three plans,

So, the answer is: D (ALL three of the plans)

Question 3: This plan is NOT primarily intended for people who need a mobile phone for their work.

Keywords for this question: NOT primarily intended, need a mobile phone, for their work,  

The answer lies in LEISURETIME section in the very beginning, “Your mobile phone is mainly for personal use. You use your phone to keep family and friends in touch. You don’t want to strain your budget.”

Here, Your mobile phone is mainly for personal use = LEISURETIME plan is intended for people who need a mobile phone for their personal use, NOT for their work, 

So, the answer is: A (the LEISURETIME plan)

Question 4: This plan is a cost-effective choice if you spend just over $100 a month on calls.

Keywords for this question: cost-effective choice, if, spend, just over $100 a month, on calls,   

Take a close look at the table:

The blue circles indicate that the EXECUTIVE plan is the best choice to save money (cost-effective) as the range is just over $100 ($95-$180).

So, the answer is: B (the EXECUTIVE plan)

Question 5: It costs 21 cents for a 30-second long-distance call at 2 p.m.

Keywords for this question: costs, 21 cents, 30-second, long-distance call, 2 pm,   

Take a look at the table again and follow all the blue circles.

So, the answer is: C (the HIGHFLIER plan)

Question 6: The connection fee is $30.

Keywords for this question: connection fee, $30,  

Take a look at the last line of the table:

This means the connection fee for all three plans is the same which is $30.

So, the answer is: D (ALL three of the plans)

Question 7: You will have to pay a minimum amount for calls each month.  

Keywords for this question: have to pay, minimum amount, calls, each month,   

In the LEISURETIME plan section, take a look at the last line, “ . . .However, a monthly minimum call charge applies.” We find the mention of ‘minimum call charge’ in LEISURETIME plan only.

So, the answer is: A (the LEISURETIME plan)

Questions 8-14: TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to find out whether:

The statement in the question agrees with the information in the passage – TRUE
The statement in the question contradicts the information in the passage – FALSE
If there is no information on this  – NOT GIVEN

For this type of question, you can divide each statement into three independent pieces and make your way through with the answer.]

Westwinds Farm Campsite  

Question 8: The campsite is open all year round.

Keywords for this question: campsite, open, all year round,  

Let’s have a look at the beginning of the text. It says, “Open April-September.” This means the campsite is NOT open all year round.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 9: You should book ahead for the busier times of the year.

Keywords for this question: should book ahead, busier times,   

The second line says, “(Booking is advised for holidays in July and August to guarantee a place.)”

Here, Booking is advised = should book ahead, holidays = busier times,

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 10: The minimum stay at the campsite is two nights.  

Keywords for this question: minimum stay, campsite, two nights, 

We cannot find any information about the minimum stay at the campsite.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 11: The entrance to the campsite is locked after 10 p.m.

Keywords for this question: entrance, locked, after 10 p.m.,   

This information is also NOT available. The third bullet point only says, “Let sleeping campers have some peace. Don’t make any noise after 10 o’clock at night or before 7.30 in the morning.” It doesn’t say anything about the campsite being locked after 10 p.m.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 12: No dogs are allowed on the campsite.  

Keywords for this question: no dogs, allowed,   

In the fourth bullet point, it says, “Dogs must be kept on a lead. Owners of dogs that disturb other campers by barking through the night will be asked to leave.”

This means dogs are allowed but they should be under their owners’ control.

So the answer is:FALSE

Question 13: You are not allowed to cook food on open fires.   

Keywords for this question: not allowed, to cook food, open fires,

The sixth bullet point says, “The lighting of fires is strictly prohibited.”

Here, lighting of fires = cooking on open fires, strictly prohibited = not allowed,

So the answer is:TRUE

Question 14: The owners of the campsite may not allow you to camp there.

Keywords for this question: owners, may not allow, camp there,  

The very last line of the text says, “The management reserves the right to refuse admittance.”

Here, the management = the owners, reserves the right to refuse admittance = may not allow you to camp, 

So the answer is:TRUE 

Section 2:The law on minimum pay

Questions 15-21: Completing sentences (NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER)

[In this kind of question candidates have to fill in the gaps, only with some conditions like NO MORE THAN THREE/TWO WORDS and/or A NUMBER or, ONE WORD ONLY. Each question has keywords that will lead to the answer. This question type generally follows a sequence.]

Question 15: The law on minimum pay doesn’t cover you if you are working in your ________ or if you are a volunteer.

Keywords for this question: law, minimum pay, doesn’t cover you, if, working, volunteer,    

The answer is in the first section ‘Who is entitled to minimum pay?’. Here, lines 2-3 say, “Amongst those to whom it does not apply are those engaged in unpaid work and family members employed by the family business.”

Here, does not apply = the law on minimum pay doesn’t cover, engaged in unpaid work = volunteer,

So, the answer is: family business

Question 16: You may be paid under £5 an hour if you are receiving _________ at the start of a job.  

Keywords for this question: may be paid, under £5 an hour, receiving, start of a job,

The answer can be found in the second section of the text named ‘What is the minimum wage that I am entitled to?’. Here, in lines 3-4, the writer says, “ . .. . . The development rate for 18-21 year olds and for workers getting training in the first 6 months of a job is £4.60 per hour.”

Here, getting = receiving, £4.60 per hour = under £5 an hour,

So, the answer is: training

Question 17: There are different rules for people who are provided with ________ with their jobs.   

Keywords for this question: different rules, provided with, with their jobs,

The answer is in the second section of the text named ‘What is the minimum wage that I am entitled to?, in lines 5-6. The author says here, “ .. . . There are special provisions for some workers, for example, those whose job includes accommodation.”

Here, special provisions = different rules, job includes = with their jobs,

So, the answer is: accommodation

Question 18: If you earn extra money, for example for working longer hours or in tips, this counts as part of your wage when you receive it via ___________. 

Keywords for this question: earn extra money, working longer hours, in tips, counts as part of, wage, when, receive it via,   

The answer is in the second section of the text entitled ‘What is the minimum wage that I am entitled to?, in lines 6-8. The author says here, “ .. . . Pay means gross pay and includes any items paid through the payroll such as overtime, bonus payments, commission and tips and gratuities.”

Here, overtime = working longer hours, paid through = receive it via,

So, the answer is: (the) payroll

Question 19: Anyone being paid below the National Minimum Wage should speak to their _______ if they can.

Keywords for this question: paid below, the National Minimum Wage, should speak, if they can, 

The answer is in the third section of the text which has a long title: ‘I believe I’m being paid below the National Minimum Wage Rate. How can I complain?’, in paragraph no. 1 bullet point 1,

“If you are being paid less than this, there are various steps you can take:

• If you feel able, you should talk directly with your employer. This is a clear legal right, and employers can be fined for not paying the NMW.”

Here, being paid less than this = paid below the NMW,

So, the answer is: employer(s)

Question 20: According to the law, you can ask to look at your boss’s ________.

Keywords for this question: According …. law, can ask to look at, your boss’s,   

The answer is in the third section of the text which has a long title: ‘I believe I’m being paid below the National Minimum Wage Rate. How can I complain?’, in paragraph no. 2. Here, in the first lines, the writer says, “You have the legal right to inspect your employer’s pay records if you believe, on reasonable grounds, that you are being paid less than the NMW.”

Here, legal right = according to the law, to inspect = to look at, employer’s = boss’s,  

So, the answer is: pay records  

Question 21: You have a period of _________ to complain if your boss does not co-operate within the specified period of time.

Keywords for this question: period of, to complain, if, boss does not co-operate, within, specified period of time,      

Again, the answer is in the third section of the text which has a long title: ‘I believe I’m being paid below the National Minimum Wage Rate. How can I complain?’, in paragraph no. 2. In the very last lines, the author says, “. … . If your employer fails to produce the records, you may take the matter to an employment tribunal. You must make your complaint within three months of the ending of the 14-day notice period.”

Here, employer fails to produce the records = boss does not co-operate, must make your complaint = have a period .. . .. to complain,

So, the answer is: 3/three months  

Questions 22-27: (Completing FLOW-CHART with NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS):

In this type of question, candidates are asked to write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS to complete some notes on the given flow-chart. For this type of question, first, skim the passage to find the keywords in the paragraph concerned with the answer, and then scan to find the exact word.

[TIPS: Here, scanning technique will come in handy. Target the keywords of the questions to find the answers. Remember to focus on Proper nouns, random Capital letters, numbers, special characters of text etc.]

Dealing with your office emails

The headline of the question: Dealing with emails

Question 22: Delete __________

Keywords for this question: Delete,   

In the section named ‘Prioritising incoming messages’, lines 2-3 say, “. .. If it is obvious spam, it can be deleted without reading.”   

 So, the answer is: (obvious) spam

Question 23:

Sort email according to the:

• sender
• subject
• ___________

Keywords for this question: sort email, according to, sender, subject,

In the section named ‘Prioritising incoming messages’, check all the bullet points. The first two bullet points talk about ‘sender’ and ‘subject’.

Then in the third bullet point, the writer says,

• Has the email been in your inbox for long? Check the message time.

So, the answer is: message time

Question 24: Deal with emails that need your ________.

Keywords for this question: Deal with emails, need,  

In the section ‘Prioritising incoming messages’, check the last lines, where the writer says, “An initial scan like this can help you identify the emails that require your prompt attention.”

Here, identify the emails = deal with emails, require = need,  

So, the answer is: prompt attention

Question 25: If an email is easy to deal with, you should __________.

Keywords for this question: if email, easy to deal with, should,  

The answer can be found in the section named ‘Replying in stages’, in the second paragraph, the writer says in lines 1-2, “Some emails are uncomplicated and only require a brief, one line answer, so it’s a good idea to reply to these immediately.”

Here, uncomplicated and only require a brief, one line answer = easy to deal with,

So, the answer is: reply immediately  

Question 26 and 27:

If an email is complex, you can:

• first send a ________
• give the sender a _________ for answering their email fully

Keywords for this answer: email, complex, first send, give, sender, for answering, email fully,

The answers to these questions can also be found in section no. 3 named ‘Replying in stages’. Here, the author says, “Having prioritised your emails, you can answer them in stages, first with a brief acknowledgement and then a more detailed follow-up. This is particularly advisable when dealing with complicated matters where you don’t want to give a rushed answer. If you decide to do this, tell the recipient a definite date when you’ll be able to get back to him or her and try to keep to this wherever possible.”

Here, answer them in stages, first = first send, dealing with complicated matters = complex, don’t want to give a rushed answer = answering their email fully,

So, the answers are:

26. brief acknowledgement
27. (definite) date

Section 3:THE IRON BRIDGE

Questions 28-31: [Short answer to open questions (NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS)

[In this kind of question candidates have to answer some questions, only with some conditions like NO MORE THAN THREE/TWO WORDS and/or A NUMBER or, ONE WORD ONLY. Each question has keywords that will lead to the answer. This question type generally follows a sequence.]

Question 28: When was the furnace bought by Darby originally constructed?

Keywords for this question: when, furnace, bought by Darby, originally, constructed,  

The answer to this question is found in lines 1-3 of paragraph C, “In 1638, Basil Brooke patented a steel-making process and built a furnace at Coalbrookdale. This later became the property of Abraham Darby (referred to as Abraham Darby I to distinguish him from his son and grandson of the same name).”

Here, built = constructed, became the property of Abraham Darby = bought by Darby,

So, the answer is: 1638

Question 29: When were the roads leading to the bridge completed?

Keywords for this question: when, roads, leading to… bridge, completed,  

In paragraph E have a close look at lines 4-6, “ . .. Work on the approach roads continued for another two years, and the bridge was opened to traffic in 1781.”

Here, opened to traffic = work on roads leading to the bridge was completed,

So, the answer is: 1781

Question 30: When was the bridge closed to traffic?

Keywords for this question: when, bridge, closed to traffic,  

Again in paragraph E, the writer mentions in line no. 10, “ . .. Since 1934 the bridge has been open only to pedestrians.”

Here, has been open only to pedestrians = people can cross the bridge on foot; this means the bridge was closed to traffic/transports/vehicles,

So, the answer is: 1934

Question 31: When was a model of the bridge built?

Keywords for this question: when, model of the bridge, built,  

The answer can be found in paragraph G in lines 6-7, “ .. . . So in 2001, a half-scale model of the bridge was built, in order to see if it could have been constructed in the way depicted in the water-colour.”

Here, half-scale model = model of the bridge,

So, the answer is: 2001

Questions 32-36: TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to find out whether:

The statement in the question agrees with the information in the passage – TRUEThe statement in the question contradicts the information in the passage – FALSEIf there is no information on this  – NOT GIVEN

For this type of question, you can divide each statement into three independent pieces and make your way through with the answer.]

Question 32: There is no written evidence of how the original bridge was constructed.

Keywords for this question: no written evidence, how, original bridge, constructed,  

The answer lies in paragraph F, in the very beginning, “It has always been a mystery how the bridge was built. Despite its pioneering technology, no eye-witness accounts are known which describe the iron bridge being erected – and certainly, no plans have survived.” 

Here, no eye-witness accounts are known = no written evidence, built = constructed,

So, the statement in the question is a clear match to the text.

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 33: The painting by Elias Martin is the only one of the bridge when it was new.

Keywords for this question: painting, Elias Martin, only one, bridge, when, was new,  

The answer for this question is in paragraph F. At the end of the paragraph the writer says, “In 1997 a small water-colour sketch by Elias Martin came to light in the Swedish capital, Stockholm. Although there is a wealth of early views of the bridge by numerous artists, this is the only one which actually shows it under construction.”

This means the painting by Elias Martin is the only of the bridge when it was under construction; not when it was new.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 34: The painting shows that the bridge was constructed from the two banks.

Keywords for this question: painting, shows, bridge, constructed, from, two banks,  

The answer is in paragraph G at the beginning where the author says, “Up until recently, it had been assumed that the bridge had been built from both banks, with the inner supports tilted across the river. This would have allowed river traffic to continue unimpeded during construction. But the picture clearly shows sections of the bridge being raised from a barge in the river. It contradicted everything historians had assumed about the bridge . .. .”

Here, the picture clearly shows sections of the bridge being raised from a barge in the river = the painting shows that the bridge was not constructed from the two banks.  

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 35: The original bridge and the model took equally long to construct.

Keywords for this question: original bridge, model, took equally long, construct,   

We cannot find any information that gives us an idea about the time it took to construct the model and the bridge.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 36: Elias Martin is thought to have made other paintings of the bridge.

Keywords for this question: Elias Martin, thought to have made, other paintings, bridge,    

The answer lies in paragraph I in lines 1-3, “Now only one mystery remains in the Iron Bridge story. The Swedish water-colour sketch had apparently been torn from a book which would have contained similar sketches.”

Here, the Swedish water-colour sketch = the painting by Elias Martin, a book which would have contained similar sketches = Elias Martin might have made some other paintings of the bridge on the book,

So, the answer is: TRUE

Questions 37-40: Identifying information:

[This question asks you to find information from the passage and write the number of the paragraph (A, B, C or D … .. ) in the answer sheet. Now, if the question is given in the very first part of the question set, I’d request you not to answer them. It’s mainly because this question will not follow any sequence, and so it will surely kill your time. Rather, you should answer all the other questions first. And just like List of Headings, only read the first two lines or last two lines of the expected paragraph initially. If you find the answers, you need not read the middle part. If you don’t find answers yet, you can skim the middle part of the paragraph. Keywords will be a useful matter here.]

Question 37: why a bridge was required across the River Severn.

Keywords for this question: why, bridge, required, River Severn,    

Take a look at paragraph D in lines 1-4, “. . .. had the idea of building a bridge over the Severn, as ferrying stores of all kinds across the river, particularly the large quantities of fuel for the furnaces at Coalbrookdale and other surrounding ironworks, involved considerable expense and delay……”

So, it was the considerable expense and delay for ferrying stores for which a bridge was required across the River Severn.

So, the answer is: D

Question 38: a method used to raise money for the bridge

Keywords for this question: method used, raise money, for, bridge,   

In paragraph E the writer says in lines 6-7, “ . .. .. Abraham Darby III funded the bridge by commissioning paintings and engravings,. .. . .”

Here, funded the bridge = raised money for the bridge,

So, the answer is: E

Question 39: why Coalbrookdale became attractive to iron makers

Keywords for this question: why, Coalbrookdale, became attractive, iron makers,

In paragraph C the last few lines say, “ . . . coke derived from coal could provide a more economical alternative to charcoal as a fuel for iron-making. This led to cheaper, more efficient iron-making from the abundant supplies of coal, iron and limestone in the area.”

This means coke from coal became a great alternative to charcoal as a fuel in the iron-making process in Coalrookdale. This inspired cheaper and more efficient iron-making which made it attractive to iron makers.

So, the answer is: C

Question 40: how the sections of the bridge were connected to each other

Keywords for this question: how, the sections, bridge, connected to, each other,    

In paragraph H we find the description of how the sections of the bridge were connected to each other in lines 2-5, “ . . .. . The bridge wasn’t welded or bolted together as metal bridges are these days. Instead, it was fitted together using a complex system of joints normally used for wood – but this was the traditional way in which iron structures were joined at the time.”

Here, fitted together = connected,   

So, the answer is: H