IELTS GENERAL TRAINING READING

SECTION 1

Questions 1-14

Look at the five restaurant advertisements and complete each sentence with the correct ending A-G from the box below.

Write the correct letter A-G in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet.

NB You may use any letter more than once.

1. If you want to dine in a relaxed, countryside environment, you should eat at

2. You cannot dine on a Monday evening at

3. If you are planning an Asian dinner on a Sunday night, you should go to

4. You may pay extra to have your order delivered at

5. If you want a menu for children, you should eat at

6. If you want to drink overseas wines with your meal go to

A. the restaurant named City Super.

B. the restaurant named Arnold’s Own.

C. the Malaysian restaurant.

D. the Hill View Restaurant.

E. the restaurants named Arnold’s Own and City Super.

F. the restaurant that serves Chinese dishes.

G. the Mexican and Malaysian restaurants.

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Malaysian Restaurant & Hotel
12.00noon-3.00pm, 6.00pm-midnight
(except Sundays)

· Recipes from fresh produce

· Authentic Malaysian chefs

· 3-hall dining area

· Fully licensed bar

· 30 acres of beautiful woodland

· Open space dining area, children’s playground

· Luxury accommodation with easy parking

· Landscaped gardens

· Traditional Malaysian paintings decorate all living areas

Enjoy our Cuisine & Service

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OPEN ALL DAY

Top-of-the-hill restaurant. Internationally renowned chefs. Affordable menus.
Variety of cuisines. Local and homemade produce used.
Separate areas for business lunches.
Special occasions welcome – birthday, anniversary, get-together.

LUNCH, DINNER, SNACKS AND LIGHT MEALS.
BAR AND DRINK LOUNGE. EXTENSIVE WINE LIST. LOCAL & IMPORTED LIQUOR .
MULTIPLE LARGE TV SCREENS – SPORTS, NEWS, MOVIES
LARGE CAR PARK.

Special outdoor sitting arrangement on the slope of the hill. Enjoy the views with family and friends!
MON - SAT.

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Open weekdays, weekends and public holidays.
Fine foods – enjoy in comfort, at your own Mexican dining table!

Excellent parking facilities. Liquor shop next door.
Home delivery if you live within a 4-mile radius from us – otherwise nominal charge.

CALL YOUR FRIENDLY HOST: John 01306 748300

Top UK award for takeaway service. Hygiene & Quality award - 2 consecutive years

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RESTAURANT & TAKEAWAY

APPETISING ‘SUPER CLASS’ CHINESE DISHES COOKED BY OUR EXPERT CHEF.
BRAND NEW KITCHEN SET-UP WITH ORIGINAL CLAY OVENS.

DELIVERY TO ALL AREAS AT NO ADDITIONAL COST.
PLENTY OF PARKING WITH ONSITE SECURITY GUARD.

TELEPHONE OR SMS YOUR ORDER TO 021 3625 2351

ASK FOR OUR CHEF’S SPECIALS – YOU WON’T BE DISAPPOINTED!

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Choice for the Whole Family!
Birthdays, weddings and other occasions

Model of traditional Texas restaurants. Texas furniture.
Pizzas, burgers & steaks.
Fish & chips, vegetarian and kids menus.
Outstanding choice of American beers.
American movies on large screen.
Eat it here or take it away!

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For lunch come on in Tuesday - Saturday.

Open for dinner, Sunday to Wednesday.

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Questions 7-14

Read the passage that has five sections A-E.

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passages?In boxes 7-14 on your answer sheet 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

The Swedish Dancing course

7 welcomes people of all age groups.

The Cultural Diversity courses show that

8 translated Asian poems are written in ordinary English.

9 Mexican rhythms are easy to produce.

The Chapel Acting course

10 only accepts those with prior acting experience.

The Driving Excellence course

11 combines theory with practice.

12 fee for individual customers does not change.

Sing-a-Song

13 is the oldest singing group in Berdican Rivers.

14 has a shortage of singers for the New Year’s Eve Concert.

Read the text and answer Questions 7-14.

A: SWEDISH DANCING

Fun filled healthy exercise
● You will receive a warm welcome! ● Swedish teachers run multiple sessions for dancers of all abilities ● Choreographic class optional ● Dance attire and shoes are not provided. ● Classes are held in several convenient locations at various times. ● Free membership to the National Dance Institute.

Don’t miss it, call to book – 0132 2125 2541

B: CULTURAL DIVERSITY

Asian Recitation (Tuesdays, 3.45-4.45pm): Literature from mainly India and China. Traditional poems and proverbs translated in modern, everyday English. A treasure of a thousand years. For the whole family.

Music Mexico (Fridays, 5.00-7.00pm): Mexican music workshop. Expand your musical horizons with the sounds of Mexico! It does not matter whether you are an experienced musician or a complete novice; you will be creating compound, exotic rhythms in no time.

C: CHAPEL ACTING

If you’ve always wanted to be on TV or the stage then Chapel Acting is for you! The month-long program has been especially designed for those with some previous acting experience. Town hall auditorium venue prepares participants for live performances. Our techniques guarantee to eradicate the nervousness that often accompanies live performances. Live audience for final performance.

D: DRIVING EXCELLENCE

Intensive Learn-to-drive Courses
♦ Use our car or yours ♦ Convenient schedules for working people ♦ We cover the theoretical and practical sides of safe driving ♦ Course and instructors fully accredited by the Safe Driver’s Association (SDA) ♦ Set individual fee with group rates available on request.
Servicing all areas from Dartmouth, Hartford, Hampshire and Berdican Rivers

E: SING-A-SONG

Now inviting new singers like you! Formed in 1991, Sing-A-Song is the first established vocal group in the Berdican Rivers area. Every Wednesday evening 7.30pm to 9.30pm we meet to celebrate great songs from the past – jazz, blues, classical, country and everything in between! Rehearsing now for the City Auditorium New Year’s Eve Concert. Join us today – call Brenda on 04 8541 1254.

Note: Ability to decode notations and rhythm formation desirable, although not essential.

SECTION 2

Read the passage below and answer Questions 15-20.

BON THAI RESTAURANTS

ABOUT BON THAI

With 53 outlets in the north and south islands and employing over 160 people, Bon Thai restaurants are the leading Thai restaurant chain in New Zealand. Founder, Mr. Tom Yuto, unites his restaurants under the shared motto: ‘Extraordinary Food, Exceptional Service’. With this in mind, our first priority at Bon Thai is to transform the Asian dining experience into a memorable occasion that patrons will want to repeat.

EMPLOYMENT and TRAINING with BON THAI

Waiters and Waitresses

Bon Thai offers a pleasant working environment, with a wide range of opportunities. Waiting positions at Bon Thai restaurants are a popular choice for students looking for flexible working hours and interaction with the public. Wait staff occupy a front-line position of significant responsibility and all applicants are thoroughly reviewed. A recent Sullivan Report indicated 68% of customers decided against a return restaurant visit because of a lack of interest conveyed by an employee. Motivation and enthusiasm are therefore essential requirements for any prospective Bon Thai employee, as well as an acceptable level of English. Successful applicants must be able to warmly greet customers and answer questions regarding the menu.

The Recruitment Process

The application should be submitted on-line to our head office in Auckland. Within two weeks, you will receive an email acknowledging the receipt of your application. If your application has been successful, you will be invited to take part in the second stage of the employment process - a personal interview with the Manager of the Bon Thai restaurant in your area. The email will contain the date and time of the interview.

If the interview is satisfactory, you will be selected to take part in the three week initial training course at the restaurant. Once your training is complete, the second formal interview with the Bon Thai restaurant Manager will take place. This is the fourth and final stage of the recruitment process.

If you have qualified as a successful candidate, the Manager may offer you full or part-time employment at the restaurant. If a position is currently unavailable, you will be invited to add your name to the waiting list of qualified candidates and the manager will contact you should a waiting position become vacant.

Remuneration

Remuneration rates for waiting positions at Bon Thai Restaurants will be discussed with potential employees during the final interview with the Restaurant Manager. Hourly rates depend upon seniority, length of service and vary slightly according to region.

Questions 15 - 20

Complete the sentences below.

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

Write your answers in boxes 15 - 20 on your answer sheet.

15 The goal of Bon Thai restaurants is for customers .......................... their dining experience.

16 In addition to a good level of English, potential employees must have .......................... .

17 Wait staff must welcome diners and be able to respond to questions about .......................... .

18 The .......................... of the employment procedure is an interview with a local manager.

19 The last step in the recruitment process is the .......................... .

20 If there are no jobs, successful candidates may place their name on the .......................... .

Questions 21-27

Read the text below and answer Questions 21-27

HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE

Statistics indicate that harassment occurs most often at work. Harassment in the workplace is any unwelcome form of behaviour towards an employee which may offend, humiliate or intimidate. Employees, whether full-time or part-time, are not to be harassed by their employer, supervisor, or by any customer they may be required to deal with in the course of their working day.

Any employee can become a target for harassment as a result of sex, race, disability or religious belief etc. Harassment is often about a person, or a group of people, bullying or using power improperly towards another person or group of people. The following behaviors would, in most cases, constitute bullying or harassment:

· verbal abuse and joking that puts down or stereotypes other employees;

· joking about material in the workplace containing sexual or racial material;

· isolating or ignoring a person or group because of their sex, race, disability, religion etc.

If the employee does not mind the behavior then it is not considered harassment.

What to do if Harassed at Work

If you feel that what is happening to you in your workplace is against the law and would like clarification about what is considered just and fair behaviour, most governments have anti-discrimination boards that will help you. Many government web sites that deal with workplace issues and discrimination are also an excellent secondary source of information. A third option is to check with the organisation you are working for to see if they have any policies dealing with discrimination or harassment. Often there will be a person in Human Resources who will be able to assist you.

Sometimes all that is necessary is to go to your employer and talk about the matter. It is against the law to treat unfairly or victimise anyone because a complaint in relation to harassment has been made. An employer is obliged to treat what is said with respect and to investigate any issues reported.

Before lodging a complaint make sure you have all the necessary information. It is a good idea to keep a written record of the instances you wish to relate together with dates, times and names of any witnesses. Copies of any emails and other communications supporting your story would also add to your credibility.

In most cases, employers will do what they can to alleviate the situation and the matter will not need to be taken further. If, however, the harassment continues, or you feel you are being disadvantaged or mistreated because you raised the issue, employees are advised to contact the appropriate government agency which is empowered to intervene in such circumstances.

Questions 21 - 27

Complete the sentences below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer.

Write your answers in boxes 21 - 27 on your answer sheet.

21 Unwelcome behaviour from any staff member or .......................... is considered harassment.

22 Harassment or bullying others involves .......................... inappropriately.

23 Harassment includes unsuitable jokes, .......................... or excluding or isolating a person.

24 .......................... should be contacted first by individuals that want to understand their rights at work.

25 A .......................... containing emails and other associated exchanges is recommended as part of the complaint process.

26 .......................... will do what they can to try to make a harassment problem less severe.

27 If a harassment problem cannot be solved at the workplace, employees should contact a suitable .......................... .

SECTION 3

Read the passage and answer questions 28-40.

The Wonder of Diamonds!

A Diamonds are not only one of the most precious natural materials in the world; they are also among the hardest. For centuries diamonds have been renowned the world over as a natural material with matchless physical attributes of superior abrasiveness and lustre..

B It is believed that the Greek word adamas, meaning ‘unbeatable’, transformed linguistically over time to the English version it is now known as: diamond. Apparently, the ancient Greeks used the highly treasured adamas as a religious icon. Prior to ancient Greece, diamonds were widely used as engraving tools to cut grooves into concrete surfaces. The popularity of diamonds among the masses started to increase at the beginning of the 19th century when their supply increased significantly. The cutting and polishing of diamonds was also improved upon at the time making them even more attractive for the masses. The rise of the world economy and, at the same time, persuasive advertising campaigns, combined to elevate diamonds to the status they have today. Today, about 130 million carats (around 26,000 kilograms) of diamonds are mined yearly fetching a combined value of some 9 billion USD.

C The central and southern regions of Africa combine to provide almost 50 percent of the world’s total diamond production. Significant sources of diamonds have also been discovered in both Brazil and Australia. Irrespective of where diamond mines are discovered, in reality, there are very few specialised diamond mining companies who do the actual mining. The main reason for this is because they must be given permission from respective governments to undertake the large-scale digging required - a very complex, bureaucratic process.

D Diamonds are mined through very sophisticated and complex processes. Diamond crystals are formed by high pressure and temperature deep within the earth. In time, volcanic ‘pipes’ called ‘kimberlite’ and ‘lamproite’ rock transport the diamonds to the earth’s surface. These rocks are composed of minerals such as olivine, phlogopite, pyroxene and garnet and a variety of other naturally occurring minerals, including diamonds. Experienced diamond miners know that when they discover kimberlite’ and ‘lamproite’ in the earth’s crust, there may very well be a rich source of diamonds not far away.

E Considering they are located almost 150kms below the earth, it is a modern engineering marvel how diamond-containing rocks are brought to the surface. Artificial volcanic forces are created beneath the area where diamonds lie via man-made pipes. These forces push the rocks upward in the same way a volcano erupts and ejects lava. The only difference, of course, is the force in the volcano occurs naturally whereas the forces generated in diamond mining are artificial. As the diamond is pushed toward the earth’s surface, a separation process occurs. The technology used for the separation process is different from that of the extraction process – the former process requires man-made forces to move any and all rocks to the surface, while the latter focuses only on locating diamond-containing rock once it reaches the surface. Testing is conducted on the first few batches of rocks mined to determine whether the mine will be economically viable or not. Whether or not the mining will continue on a larger scale depends on the ratio of diamond-containing rocks to ordinary rocks that are mined. The more worthless rocks that are found in the test mining, the less economically viable the mine is for a larger-scale operation.

F From the deepest regions under the earth to the point where the diamonds finally reach the hands of the miners, the 4 C’s come to the fore. The 4 C’s are the four standards by which all diamonds are measured and judged. The first C stands for Carat. This refers to the unit of weight by which a diamond is measured. One carat equals exactly 200 milligrams. The value of a diamond increases mainly in relation to carat weight and so, the other 3 C’s play a lesser role in determining the price of a diamond. Cut is the second determinant. As the term suggests, this is all about the art of transforming a rough diamond into a sparkling centerpiece. It requires significant technical knowledge, artistry and experience to cut a diamond. The dimensions and angles of a diamond depend on how it is cut. The next C is colour. The colour of a diamond can change significantly depending upon the chemical combinations and structural formations of other minerals nearby as it is forming. The influence of neighbouring minerals can result in a diamond ranging in colour from completely transparent, to bluish, and a host of colours in between. The final C is clarity, which is a measure of a diamond’s internal inclusions1. These naturally occurring inclusions determine the transparency of the diamond and according to how many there are, an inclusion rating is given. In addition to the 4Cs, fluorescence in a diamond is also considered. Fluorescence refers to the ability of a diamond to absorb invisible light and emit visible light.

G Although diamonds are extremely important for industrialists and a sure symbol of love between a husband and wife when joined in marriage, many environmental activists protest diamond mining. For this reason, mining companies are often under pressure to minimise the negative effects of their mining activities. In fact, a large number of mining companies nowadays regularly publish their process details in order to demonstrate that they conduct their mining business in a socially and environmentally responsible way.

¹a naturally occurring imperfection (spot, cloud or fracture) in a diamond.

Questions 28 - 35

The passage has seven sections labelled A-G.

Which section contains the following information?

Write the correct letter A-G in boxes 28-35 on your answer sheet.

NB You may use any letter more than once.

28 the different areas in the world where diamonds are found

29 diamond mining and good corporate citizenship

30 the features of a diamond that determine value

31 a primary reason for the early increase in diamond popularity

32 the creativity involved in beautifying diamonds

33 a formula for deciding whether or not diamond mining should continue

34 different minerals that exist with diamonds

35 the organisations from whom companies receive permission to mine

Questions 36 - 40

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage?

In boxes 36-40 on your answer sheet, 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

36 Diamonds were first used for religious purposes.

37 Bringing diamonds up from deep underground is quite a simple process.

38 Diamond mining areas are decreasing in number.

39 The colour of a diamond is determined by minerals close by.

40 The 4 C’s are the only measures used to determine diamond value.

ANSWERS

1 C

2 A

3 F

4 A

5 B

6 D

7 Not Given

8 True

9 True

10 Not Given

11 True

12 True

13 True

14 Not Given

15 to repeat

16 motivation and enthusiasm

17 the menu

18 second stage

19 second formal interview

20 waiting list

21 (any) customer

22 using power

23 verbal abuse

24 anti-discrimination boards

25 written record

26 employers

27 government agency

28 C

29 G

30 F

31 B

32 F

33 E

34 D

35 C

36 FALSE

37 FALSE

38 NOT GIVEN

39 TRUE

40 FALSE

IELTS GENERAL TRAINING READING - 11