IELTS General Training Reading – Practice Set 2

IELTS General Training Reading – Practice Set 2

Time: 1 hour | 4 passages | 40 questions

Read the instructions carefully. Answers and short reasons are at the end.

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PASSAGE 1

Read the passage below and answer Questions 1–10.

Maplewood Public Swimming Pool – Information for Visitors

Maplewood Public Swimming Pool is open to everyone. The pool opens at 6 a.m. from Monday to Friday and closes at 8 p.m. On weekends, it opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. The pool is closed for cleaning on the first Monday of every month.

Tickets can be bought at the front desk or online. Adults pay $8, students pay $5, and children under 5 enter free. Families of four or more receive a 15% discount. Seniors over 65 pay only $4.

Visitors must shower before entering the pool. Swimming caps are required at all times. Goggles are optional but recommended. Lockers are available near the changing rooms. A small locker costs $1, and a large locker costs $2. Users must bring their own padlock, or they can buy one at the front desk for $3.

The pool has six swimming lanes. Two lanes are kept for fast swimmers and two for beginners. The remaining two lanes are used for classes. Swimming lessons are held every Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Lessons cost $12 per session. Children must be at least 6 years old to join.

A café on the first floor serves drinks and light meals. It is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The café does not allow outside food. A small shop next to the front desk sells swimming caps, goggles, and towels.

For safety reasons, diving is not allowed in the shallow end. Running near the pool is also prohibited. Visitors should follow the instructions of the lifeguards at all times.

For more information, call 555-0281 or visit our website.

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Questions 1–10

Complete the sentences below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

1.      On weekdays, the pool opens at __________.

2.      The pool is closed for cleaning on the first __________ of every month.

3.      Families of four or more receive a __________ discount.

4.      Visitors must __________ before entering the pool.

5.      A large locker costs __________.

6.      Swimming lessons are held every __________ morning.

7.      Lessons cost __________ per session.

8.      Children must be at least __________ years old to join lessons.

9.      The café does not allow __________ food.

10. Running near the pool is __________.

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PASSAGE 2

Read the passage below and answer Questions 11–20.

Eastbrook Train Station – Passenger Information

Eastbrook Train Station is one of the busiest stations in the region. It serves over 20,000 passengers every day. The station has four platforms. Platforms 1 and 2 are used for northbound trains, while Platforms 3 and 4 serve southbound trains.

Tickets can be purchased at the ticket office or from machines on the main concourse. The ticket office is open from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Monday to Saturday, and from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays. Ticket machines accept cash and credit cards. Passengers should keep their tickets until they leave the station.

The station has a left-luggage office near Platform 1. It is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Small bags cost $4 per day, and large bags cost $7 per day. Items are kept for a maximum of seven days. Passengers must show a valid ID when collecting their luggage.

A waiting room is available on Platform 3. It has comfortable seats, heating, and free Wi-Fi. The waiting room is open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. A small café next to the waiting room serves hot drinks and snacks.

The station has two lifts and one escalator. The lifts are located near the main entrance and near Platform 4. Passengers with heavy luggage or wheelchairs are advised to use the lifts. Trolleys are available free of charge near the ticket office.

Lost property is kept at the station office for one month. Passengers should report lost items to the station manager. The station also has a help desk near the main entrance. Staff at the help desk can provide timetable information and assistance.

For train times and delays, passengers should check the electronic boards on each platform. Announcements are made in English and Spanish.

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Questions 11–20

Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

Eastbrook Train Station

• Serves over __________ passengers every day (11)
• Platforms 1 and 2: __________ trains (12)
• Ticket office opens at __________ on weekdays (13)
• Ticket machines accept cash and __________ (14)
• Left-luggage office: near Platform __________ (15)
• Large bags cost __________ per day (16)
• Items kept for a maximum of __________ days (17)
• Waiting room: on Platform __________ (18)
• Trolleys are available __________ of charge (19)
• Lost property kept for __________ (20)

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PASSAGE 3

Read the passage below and answer Questions 21–30.

Brookdale Farm – Volunteer Handbook

Thank you for joining Brookdale Farm as a volunteer. This handbook explains what you need to know before you start.

Working Days
Volunteers usually work on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Morning shifts run from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Afternoon shifts run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Volunteers must sign in at the farm office before starting work. If you cannot attend, please call the volunteer coordinator at least 24 hours in advance.

Clothing
Volunteers must wear comfortable clothes and strong boots. Hats are recommended in summer. Gloves are provided free of charge. Volunteers should bring their own water bottles. Sunscreen is available at the office.

Tasks
Volunteers help with feeding animals, cleaning pens, planting vegetables, and repairing fences. New volunteers are given simple tasks during their first week. Training is provided by experienced staff. Volunteers should not use farm machinery without permission.

Breaks
Volunteers working a morning shift get a 15-minute break at 10 a.m. Afternoon volunteers get a break at 3 p.m. Tea and coffee are provided in the volunteer room. Volunteers may bring their own snacks. The volunteer room is next to the barn.

Safety
Volunteers must wash their hands after touching animals. Shoes must be cleaned before leaving the farm. Anyone who feels unwell should inform the coordinator immediately. A first-aid kit is kept in the farm office. In case of emergency, call 555-0329.

Animals
Volunteers should approach animals calmly. Do not feed animals without permission. Some animals, such as the horses, should only be handled by trained staff. The farm also has goats, chickens, and rabbits.

Contact
For questions, contact the volunteer coordinator, Ms. Helen Marsh, at the farm office or by email.

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Questions 21–30

Complete the sentences below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

21. Volunteers usually work on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and __________.

22. Afternoon shifts run from 1 p.m. to __________.

23. Volunteers must sign in at the __________ before starting work.

24. If unable to attend, call the coordinator at least __________ in advance.

25. Volunteers must wear comfortable clothes and __________.

26. __________ are provided free of charge.

27. New volunteers are given __________ tasks during their first week.

28. Morning volunteers get a break at __________.

29. Volunteers must wash their hands after touching __________.

30. The first-aid kit is kept in the __________.

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PASSAGE 4

Read the passage below and answer Questions 31–40.

Riverside Language School – Student Guide

Riverside Language School welcomes students from around the world. The school offers courses in English, French, Spanish, and German. Classes are small, with a maximum of 12 students per class. The school is located on Bridge Street, near the central market.

Course Levels
The school offers five levels, from beginner to advanced. New students must take a short placement test before starting. The test takes about 30 minutes. Students are placed in a class based on their test results. Placement tests are free of charge.

Class Times
Morning classes run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Afternoon classes run from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Evening classes run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Students may choose morning or afternoon classes. Evening classes are only available for advanced students.

Fees
Course fees depend on the length of the course. A four-week course costs $400. An eight-week course costs $750. A twelve-week course costs $1,050. Fees include all books and materials. Students who pay before the first day of class receive a 5% discount.

Attendance
Students must attend at least 85% of their classes. Students who miss more than three classes without a valid reason may be asked to leave the course. Absences must be reported to the school office by email or phone.

Accommodation
The school can help students find accommodation. Homestay families charge between $150 and $250 per week. Shared apartments cost about $100 per week. Students should apply for accommodation at least three weeks before their course starts.

Social Activities
The school organizes social activities every Friday. Activities include city tours, museum visits, and sports afternoons. Most activities are free, but some may require a small fee. Students can sign up at the school office.

Contact
For more information, call 555-0374 or email info@riversidelanguage.org.

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Questions 31–40

Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

Riverside Language School

• Located on Bridge Street, near the __________ (31)
• Maximum students per class: __________ (32)
• Placement test takes about __________ (33)
• Morning classes: 9 a.m. to __________ (34)
• Evening classes only for __________ students (35)
• Four-week course costs __________ (36)
• Students paying early receive a __________ discount (37)
• Students must attend at least __________ of classes (38)
• Homestay families charge between $150 and __________ per week (39)
• Social activities organized every __________ (40)

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ANSWERS WITH SHORT REASONS

Passage 1

Q	Answer	Reason
1	6 a.m.	Pool opens at 6 a.m. Monday to Friday.
2	Monday	Closed for cleaning on the first Monday of every month.
3	15%	Families of four or more receive a 15% discount.
4	shower	"Visitors must shower before entering the pool."
5	$2	A large locker costs $2.
6	Saturday	Swimming lessons held every Saturday morning.
7	$12	Lessons cost $12 per session.
8	6	Children must be at least 6 years old.
9	outside	Café does not allow outside food.
10	prohibited	"Running near the pool is also prohibited."

Passage 2

Q	Answer	Reason
11	20,000	Serves over 20,000 passengers every day.
12	northbound	Platforms 1 and 2 used for northbound trains.
13	5:30 a.m.	Ticket office opens at 5:30 a.m. Monday to Saturday.
14	credit cards	Machines accept cash and credit cards.
15	1	Left-luggage office near Platform 1.
16	$7	Large bags cost $7 per day.
17	seven	Items kept for a maximum of seven days.
18	3	Waiting room on Platform 3.
19	free	Trolleys available free of charge.
20	one month	Lost property kept for one month.

Passage 3

Q	Answer	Reason
21	Saturdays	Volunteers work Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
22	5 p.m.	Afternoon shifts run 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
23	farm office	Volunteers must sign in at the farm office.
24	24 hours	Call at least 24 hours in advance.
25	strong boots	Must wear comfortable clothes and strong boots.
26	Gloves	Gloves are provided free of charge.
27	simple	New volunteers given simple tasks in first week.
28	10 a.m.	Morning volunteers get a break at 10 a.m.
29	animals	Must wash hands after touching animals.
30	farm office	First-aid kit kept in the farm office.

Passage 4

Q	Answer	Reason
31	central market	Located near the central market.
32	12	Maximum of 12 students per class.
33	30 minutes	Placement test takes about 30 minutes.
34	12 p.m.	Morning classes run 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
35	advanced	Evening classes only for advanced students.
36	$400	Four-week course costs $400.
37	5%	Early payment gives a 5% discount.
38	85%	Students must attend at least 85% of classes.
39	$250	Homestay families charge $150–$250 per week.
40	Friday	Social activities organized every Friday.