IELTS General Reading Practice Test 7 Wonder Plates

IELTS General Reading Practice Test 7 with Answers | Wonder Plates | Paradise Island Trip Company | Snake Oil

Reading Passage 1

Question 1-14

Read the text below and answers questions 1-14 on your answer sheet.
You should take around 20 minutes to complete this task.
Read the text below and answer Questions 1–7.

Wonder Plates

A unique, personalised gift!

Wonder Plate is offering you a unique gift opportunity – a personalised ceramic plate! Ceramic plates make wonderful gifts for loved ones and friends. Each plate contains a special message from you to the recipient. Wonder Plates are both practical and individually unique. Why not surprise a special friend or loved one? All you have to do is to follow these three easy steps:

Step 1

On an A4 sheet of paper write a personal message. Write it exactly as you want it to appear on the plate. We recommend a type-written print-out. The message should not be more than 50 words.

Step 2

Select one of our 10 plate colour options and a design from one of our 12 design patterns. Each design is completely different so we are confident that you will find at least one to match your taste (please refer to the attached brochure for colours and plate design options).

Step 3

Sign the attached form, enclose your personal message, and send these to us together with your payment. Please send only money orders or cheques – DO NOT send cash.

Charges:

The charge for a standard-sized plate is $20 regardless of the colour you choose. A fixed charge of $100 per plate for the design and printing of the message is also payable.

Bulk orders:

Your order size can attract a discount!  For orders of two to four plates, customers are entitled to a 15% discount. For orders of five to ten plates, the cost per plate reduces to $12 each with message and design printing slashed to $75 per plate.

Delivery:

Once we receive your order and payment your plate(s) will be sent via regular mail. Delivery can be expected within 14 business days. If you require a faster delivery time, please fill in the Urgent Form and send an additional $30 (guaranteed 3-day delivery).

We guarantee your satisfaction, but if for some reason you are not satisfied with our product or service, please fill in the Consumer Feedback Form (included with the brochure) and send it to our Customer Service department. Alternatively, you may call one of our friendly Customer Service Officers on 12 25 23 (toll free).=

Please send your message, form and payment to PO BOX 2350, CYK
Phone: 12 25 23 Fax: 0212 125 5624

Questions 1–7

Complete the sentences below with words taken from the passage.
Use NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 1-7 on your answer sheet.

1. The ceramic Wonder Plate is a unique gift because it is _________
2. The personal message must not exceed _________
3. Customers choose from _________ designs.
4. Examples of plate designs can be found in the _________
5. Price per plate varies depending upon the _________
6. The _________ must be completed for a quick delivery.
7. If a customer is not satisfied they should fill in the feedback form or _________

Look at the advertisements below and answers Questions 8-14.

Questions 8–14
Look at the advertisements A-L.
Answer the questions below by writing the correct letters A-L in boxes 8-14 on your answer sheet.

A. Special Moments

Professional Family Video

We do professional video of any and all family occasions – birthdays, weddings, get-togethers or any other memorable events.
Professional editing with music tracks as required.  Delivery in CD or DVD format.

We tailor our service to meet clients’ unique needs.

94, West Church Street.
Tel: 541 2548 7121

B. Peter’s Garage – Richmond

For all your motorcycle repairs and services

Grade A certification.
Engine servicing, road safety testing
Body repair, dents fixed

Full Breakdown service.
19 Ponds Road, MCT
Ring 56 24 87 12
(Hunting line to Richmond and Yarra workshops)

C. HAD AN ACCIDENT?

It is important to exercise your legal rights if you are injured and/or your vehicle is damaged in a road accident that was someone else’s fault.

Let us explain your rights and help you claim compensation!
All our lawyers and solicitors are experts in the field.
Free-phone 1900 356 214

D. Attn: Overseas Visitors!

Money Matters

Reliable Foreign Exchange.
Registered and listed company, operating for 30 years.

Highest rates, lowest commission.
35/261 Parade Sq. YKS.
021 457 845

E. Asian Cook Book

A wide collection of cook books from Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Singapore, Thailand and many other Asian countries.

Thousands of recipes.

25 Sands St.
Call: 013 652 4587

F. Dream Holiday

Your Holiday Experts!
Any part of the world –
Asia, Europe or the USA.

From the flight to the hotel booking – we are here for you! 

Give us a call!
066 302 125
99 West Bank Rd, LM23 CWB

G. Nutritionist and Chef ‘Dominic Costa’

…is now running cooking classes!

4 Albert Avenue, every Sat and Sun from 10.00 AM until 3.00 PM.

Learn to prepare dishes from around the world.
Limited seats. Enrol now!
Call: 012 344 587

H. Itantic

Italian restaurant, Fully licensed.

Our superb cuisine with your choice of wine! Relaxing, smoke-free environment.

Lunch: Tue-Sun. Dinner: Tue-Sat
Special occasions welcome – weddings, birthdays or anniversaries.

99 Hill Way Road, CAM.
Call: 251 52 89 65

I. Fund Transfers

Worldwide Ltd.
A name you can trust – since 1994

We legally transfer funds to any country around the world in minutes.

Visit one of our many offices and pay the amount you want to transfer with the name and address details of the recipient. It’s that simple!  We will supply you with a secret number, just let the recipient know the number and ask to collect the funds from our representative.

Call for more information: 010 122 510

J. Digital Magic

New and used digital cameras – Serving you for 20 years!

We have a range of digital cameras – still and video camera.
New cameras – 3 year warranty
Used cameras – 6 month warranty

All accessories – tripod, cover, filters and chargers always at a 20% discounted rate.
We also buy used cameras – good prices paid, instant cash.

Contact – Philip, Store Manager
31 North ST, MCH PH: 012 545 874

K. Gift Land

Lots of gifts at competitive prices.
Birthday gifts, wedding gifts or any gift you are looking for – come and see us.

Open 7 days.
25 Parel Ave., Littleport Tel: 013 256 478

L. The Riverhouse

• Single & Double Deluxe Suites
• Family accommodation a specialty
• All rooms with TV & hot drink-making facilities
• Licensed Bar/Bistro/Restaurant
• Large, versatile function room.

Call to book: 014 521 452
Mascot Street, Brown Hill

Question 8-14

Which business should be contacted in each of the following situations?

Write the correct letters A-L in boxes 8-14 on your answer sheet. 

8. A motorcyclist driving on the wrong side of the road hit my motorcycle and crushed the front wheel and part of the motor.  I want to be paid for the loss.
9. My friend lives in Malaysia and it is her birthday.  I would like to send her some money so that she can buy herself a birthday gift.
10. It is my wedding anniversary and I want to give a special present to my wife during dinner at home.
11. I have an Italian cookbook but cannot follow it on my own.  I need an instructor to help me to understand it.
12. My child’s birthday party will be held at home.  I would like to take some of my own videos and need to buy the right equipment.
13. I am going to take my annual leave from my office next month.  I am thinking of spending some leisure time overseas.
14. My friends are coming from Italy.  I need a place for them to stay for 2 or 3 days.

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Reading Passage 2

Question 15-27

Read the text below and answers questions 15-27 on your answer sheet.
You should take around 20 minutes to complete this task.
Read the text below and answer Questions 1–7.

Paradise Island Trip Company (PITC)

Meet our staff: July – November Newsletter

Beryl Dickson

I come from a sociology background.  After completing my Masters in Sociology from the State University I worked for a research firm for 4 years. I joined the Tourism Department and worked there for 3 more years in the same field of research. 

Over the years I found research too theoretical so I began looking for other employment opportunities. The change I was looking for ended up being the PITC! I am very happy to be working here as the Customer Service Manager, I am even able to use some of my previous research skills. I meet lots of visitors every day and this is a very enjoyable part of my job.   

Rita Martin

Hello, I am Rita! I’ve been working for the PITC for the past 3 years. Currently, I am a Booking Supervisor. I completed a Diploma in Hospitality Management six months ago and this is my first job since graduating! And I am delighted to work with Paradise, my role is to ensure a smooth booking process for all our visitors. I usually work in the city office but sometimes I need to travel to the island and monitor booking procedures – this is the part of my job I like the best!

Judith Clemons

I was a school teacher before joining PITC. I became interested in a job on the island after staying here for one of my holidays.  The natural beauty of the island so impressed me that I decided I had to get a job here! I look after visitor accommodation services on the island. I welcome suggestions from visitors with regard to accommodation services.  Part of my job is also to monitor food services. If you have any comments on the food and drinks provided as a part of your stay, do not hesitate to contact me.

Shane Moore

I am one of the tour guides. Working five days a week, I guide groups of about 25 visitors around different sites on the island.  My job requires me to know a lot about the island and its history. My job and my background are a bit of a mismatch – my background is sports. I was an athlete from my early 20’s to mid-’30s. Once I got married I retired from sports and started a new career at PITC, where I have been working for around 5 years.  My wife and I both love traveling.

Lesley Albertson

I used to work in the music industry before joining hospitality.  I was the store manager for a CD/DVD company before joining PITC as a tour guide. Working part-time, three days a week, I cover the north part of the island. I completed my Diploma of Arts two years ago. I love driving. During my own holidays, I enjoy driving around the island. The days I do not work for Paradise, I work for a Music Recording studio owned by a local businessman. I enjoy humour and meeting people. I love my job as a tour guide – meeting new people is really exciting!

Ian Rawnsley

I was working for a competitor company before joining PITC as the Finance Controller. At my previous place of employment, I was a senior accountant. I did my accounting degree at an overseas university. A major part of my job is to invest in facilities that help us attract more visitors. I take careful note of visitors’ feedback and accordingly make new investment plans.

Diana Ford

I have been working here for last 3 months as a front desk officer. As a part of my daily activities, I assist visitors as the receptionist, so I am the initial point of contact when it comes to visiting our establishment. I answer most of the phone calls at the office during normal business hours so chances are we have spoken before! Before this job, I was a model. I have a Bachelor of Science Degree, which was very hard for me (lots of complex mathematics but I finally passed! Last month I was even declared ‘Employee of the Month’! 

Questions 15–21

Look at the following statements (Questions 15-21) and the list of people below.
Match each of the statements 15-21 with a person in the table below.

Write your answers A-G in boxes 15-21 on your answer sheet.
NB   You may use one letter more than once.

15.  This person is responsible to ensure guest housing is acceptable.
16.  This person presently has two employers.
17.  A dislike for a previous job caused this person to start working for PITC.
18.  A new PITC guest will likely speak to or see this person first.
19.  This person’s primary place of employment is NOT on Paradise Island.
20.  The beautiful environment motivated this person to get a job on Paradise Island.
21.  This person enjoys spending holiday time on Paradise Island.

List of People

A.  Beryl Dickson
B.  Rita Martin
C.  Judith Clemons
D.  Shane Moore
E.  Lesley Albertson
F.  Ian Rawnsley
G.  Diana Ford

Read the Passage below and answers Questions 22-27.

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 features 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 instruction 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 80x digital zoom wide angle lens with image stabiliser. The camera is also fitted with our patented AirwalkerJJ™ technology enabling you to cushion zoom. Avoid touching the lens and always clean 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 x 6 inch photo, set the image button to ‘A’ on the dial.  For a printout of a 7 x 9 inch photo, set the button to ‘B’ and for a printout of a 10 x 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 4GB memory card.  A range of other accessories are available at a reasonable cost, which can be chosen based on user requirements:

• Memory cards of 15GB and 30GB.
• 4 rechargeable AA batteries and charger.
• Genuine leather camera cover, upgrade from standard inclusion cloth cover.
• Handy photo printer weighing only 750 g.

Questions 22–27

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

In boxes 22-27 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

22.  TWO instruction guides are included with the new camera.
23. In order to protect the camera, batteries are not installed.
24. Lithium batteries are recommended for the camera.
25. The ‘C’ setting on the image dial uses more memory than the ‘A’ setting.
26. The camera should not be used in a very cold place.
27. A camera cloth cover costs extra.

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Reading Passage 3

Question 28-40

Read the text below and answers questions 28-40 on your answer sheet.
You should take around 20 minutes to complete this task.
Read the text below and answer Questions 28–40.

Questions 28-33

The text on following pages has eight sections, A-H.
Choose the correct heading for sections C-H from the list of headings below. Section A and Section B have been done for you.

Write the correct number, i-xi, in boxes 28-33 on your answer sheet.

List of Headings

i.    Where to buy the best Echinacea
ii.  What ‘snake oil’ contained  
iii. Growing Echinacea
iv.  How to use the Echinacea plant
v.   Earlier applications of Echinacea
vi.  The origins of the term ‘snake oil’
vii. Early research into the effectiveness of Echinacea
viii. How ‘snake oil’ was first invented
ix.  The use of Echinacea in new locations
x.    Modern evidence of the effectiveness of Echinacea
xi.  Early kinds of ‘snake oil’

Examples       Answers
Section A           vi
Section B           xi

28.  Section C
29.  Section D
30.  Section E
31.  Section F
32.  Section G
33.  Section H

Snake Oil

A.

Back in the days of America’s Wild West, when cowboys roamed the range and people were getting themselves caught up in gunfights, a new phrase – ‘snake oil’ – entered the language. It was a dismissive term for the patent medicines, often useless, sold by traveling traders who always claimed miraculous cures for everything from baldness to snakebite.

Selling ‘snake oil’ was almost as risky a business as cattle stealing; you might be run out of town if your particular medicine, as you realized it would, failed to live up to its claims. Consequently, the smarter – ‘snake oil’ sellers left town before their customers had much chance to evaluate the ‘cure’ they had just bought.

B.

The remarkable thing about many of the medicines dismissed then as ‘snake oil’ is not so much that they failed to live up to the outrageous claims made for them – those that weren’t harmless colored water could be positively dangerous. What’s remarkable is that so many of the claims made for some of these remedies, or at least their ingredients, most of them, plant-based, have since been found to have at least some basis in fact.

One, Echinacea, eventually turned out to be far more potent than even its original promoter claimed. Echinacea first appeared in ‘Meyer’s Blood Purifier’, promoted as a cure-all by a Dr. H.C.F. Meyer – a lay doctor with no medical qualifications.  ‘Meyer’s Blood Purifier’ claimed not only to cure snakebite but also to eliminate a host of other ailments.

C.

Native to North America, the roots of Echinacea, or purple coneflower, had been used by the Plains Indians for all kinds of ailments long before Meyer came along. They applied poultices of it to wounds and stings, used it for teeth and gum disease, and made a tea from it to treat everything from colds and measles to arthritis. They even used it for snakebite.

D.

Settlers quickly picked up on the plant’s usefulness but until Meyer sent samples of his ‘blood purifier’ to John Lloyd, a  pharmacist, it remained a folk remedy. Initially dismissing Meyer’s claims as nonsense, Lloyd was eventually converted after a colleague, John King, tested the herb and successfully used it to treat bee stings and nasal congestion.

In fact, he went much further in his claims than Meyer ever did and by the 1890s a bottle of tincture⁽¹⁾ of Echinacea could be found in almost every American home, incidentally making a fortune for Lloyd’s company, Lloyd Brothers Pharmacy.  

E.

As modern antibiotics became available, the use of Echinacea products declined and from the 1940s to the 1970s it was pretty much forgotten in the USA. It was a different story in Europe, where both French and German herbalists and homeopaths continued to make extensive use of it.

It had been introduced there by Gerhard Madaus, who traveled from Germany to America in 1937, returning with seed to establish commercial plots of Echinacea. His firm conducted extensive research on echinacin, a concentrate they made from the juice of flowering tops of the plants he had brought back. It was put into ointments, liquids for internal and external use, and into products for injections.

F.

There is no evidence that Echinacea is effective against snakebite, but Dr. Meyer – who genuinely believed in Echinacea  – would probably be quite amused if he could come back and see the uses to which modern science has put ‘his’ herb. He might not be surprised that science has confirmed Echinacea’s role as a treatment for wounds, or that it has been found to be helpful in relieving arthritis, both claims Meyer made for the herb.

He might though be surprised to learn how Echinacea is proving to be an effective weapon against all sorts of diseases, particularly infections. German researchers had used it successfully to treat a range of infections and found it to be effective against bacteria and protozoa ⁽²⁾.

There are many other intriguing medical possibilities for extracts from the herb, but its apparent ability to help with our more common ailments has seen thousands of people become enthusiastic converts. Dozens of packaged products containing extracts of Echinacea can now be found amongst the many herbal remedies and supplements on the shelves of health stores and pharmacies. Many of those might be the modern equivalents of ‘snake oil’, but Echinacea at least does seem to have some practical value.

G.

Echinacea is a dry prairie plant, drought-resistant and pretty tolerant of most soils, although it does best in good soil with plenty of sun. Plants are usually grown from seed but they are sometimes available from nurseries. Echinacea is a distinctive perennial with erect, hairy, spotted stems up to a meter tall. Flower heads look like daisies, with purple rayed florets and a dark brown central cone. The leaves are hairy; the lower leaves are oval to lance-shaped and coarsely and irregularly toothed.

H.

There are nine species of Echinacea in all but only three are generally grown for medicinal use. All have similar medicinal properties. Most European studies have used liquid concentrates extracted from the tops of plants, whereas extraction in the USA has usually been from the roots. Today most manufacturers blend both, sometimes adding flowers and seeds to improve the quality.

For the home grower, the roots of all species seem equally effective. Dig them up in autumn after the tops have died back after the first frost. Wash and dry them carefully and store them in glass containers. You can harvest the tops throughout the summer and even eat small amounts of leaf straight from the plant.

Even if you don’t make your fortune from this herb, there are few sights more attractive than a field of purple coneflowers in all their glory. And with a few Echinacea plants nearby, you’ll never go short of a cure.

(1) a liquid containing a special ingredient
(2) a type of micro-organism

Questions 34–40

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

In boxes 34-40 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

34. ‘Snake oil’ sellers believed their product was effective.
35.  Most people in the Wild West mistrusted ‘snake oil’.
36. Some ‘snake oils’ were mostly water.
37. All ‘snake oils’ contained Echinacea.
38. Echinacea has been proven to kill microbes.
39. The highest quality Echinacea is grown in America.
40. More than one part of the Echinacea plant has a medicinal use.

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IELTS General Reading Practice Test 7 Answers

Reading Passage 1 – Wonder Plates IELTS General Reading Answers

1. Personalised
2. 50 words
3. Twelve
4. Brochure
5. Order size
6. Urgent Form
7. Call 122523
8. C
9. I
10. K
11. G
12. J
13. F
14. L

Reading Passage 2 – Paradise Island Trip Company (PITC) IELTS General Reading Answers

15. C
16. E
17. A
18. G
19. B
20. C
21. E
22. TRUE
23. TRUE
24. NOT GIVEN
25. TRUE
26. NOT GIVEN
27. FALSE

Reading Passage 3 – Snake Oil IELTS General Reading Answers

28. G
29. B
30. C
31. E
32. H
33. F
34. NOT GIVEN
35. TRUE
36. TRUE
37. TRUE
38. TRUE
39. FALSE
40. NOT GIVEN

Also Check: IELTS General Reading Practice Test 6 with Answers