IELTS General Reading Test 47

SECTION 1 
Questions 1 -7
Read the text below and answer Questions 1—7.

Volunteer Opportunities for Redux, Inc. Employees

You can give back to the community through the company’s Volunteer Program. By signing up for the program, you can spend up to five hours a month of company time volunteering in an approved community program. This program is open to all Redux, Inc. employees. The following opportunities are currently available:

A
Nursing home residents are usually unable to get out to see plays, movies, and concerts. They count on your generosity to bring entertainment to them. Do you like to perform? Do you have a special talent that’s just waiting for an audience?
An appreciative audience is guaranteed if you can give just one afternoon a week to share your special talent with these special people.

B
The Citizen’s Park Cleanup Committee needs more help. Committee members spend the last Saturday of each month at a different city park, picking up trash, repairing equipment, pulling weeds, and planting flowers.

C
Mayfield Elementary School needs people to help with their afterschool program. Volunteers will tutor children in reading and math. Must be able to commit to one afternoon a week for the entire school year.

D
The Mayfield Free Clinic is open every weekend and is looking for people willing to spend two days a month assisting the clinic staff. Volunteers will complete patient intake forms, educate the patients about clinic services, and provide assistance contacting other medical providers.

E
The Mayfield Shelter serves hot dinners to the homeless every evening. The shelter needs volunteers to help with preparing and serving meals. If you can volunteer one evening a week, the shelter needs you.

Look at the volunteer opportunities, A—E. Which volunteer opportunity is appropriate for each of the following people? Write the correct letter, A—E on lines 1—7 on your answer sheet. You may use any letter more than once.

Which opportunity is most appropriate for a person who

1. is only free in the evening?
2. is interested in health care?
3. plays the guitar and sings?
4. enjoys spending time outdoors?
5. likes to cook?
6. only has one day a month free?
7. enjoys young children?

Questions 8 -14
Read the text below and answer Questions 8—14.

Summer Classes at the Community Center

The Community Center is offering adult summer classes again this year. The schedule includes classes in basic computer skills, martial arts, painting and drawing, and dance.

Registration
There are two ways to register for classes:
1. Go to our website: www.cc.org/classes/winterschedule. Click on “Class Descriptions” to see a full listing of the classes that are available this winter. Decide which class or classes you are interested in.
Then click on “Register Now” and a registration form will appear.* Complete the form and calculate the amount of money you owe. This will include the cost of your classes plus a $15 registration fee. Any materials fees will be payable to the instructor on the first day of class. In addition, if your address is outside of the city, you will pay a nonresident fee of $25 per class.
Fill in your credit card information and click “Send Now.” You will receive registration confirmation by e-mail.

2. If you do not have access to a computer, you can call the Community Center at 872-555-5068 to request a class catalog and registration form. Select your classes from the catalog, complete the form, and return it by mail with your check or credit card information.

Withdrawal Policy
Full refunds, minus the $25 registration fee, will be given for any withdrawals made up to one week before the class begins. Withdrawals made before the start of the second class will receive a 50 percent refund, minus the registration fee. No refunds will be made after the start of the second class.

Classes offered by the Community Center are for adults only. You must be eighteen years of age or older to participate. Classes for children and teens are offered through the City Department of Recreation.

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text. Write your answer On lines 8—14 on your answer sheet, write:

TRUE                           if the statement is true
FALSE                         if the statement is false
NOT GIVEN              if the information is not given in the text

8. You must visit a website in order to sign up for classes.
9. A registration fee is required for all classes.
10. Dance classes cost less than computer classes.
11. People who live outside of the city pay an extra fee.
12. You are allowed to register for only two classes at a time.
13. You will not get your money back if you withdraw after the second class.
14. Classes at the Community Center are for people of all ages.

SECTION 2 
Read the text below and answer Questions 15—20.

The Murgatroyde Corporation Employee Manual
Chapter 8: Professional Development Requirements

All employees of the Murgatroyde Corporation are required to attend fifteen hours of professional development workshops or classes in each calendar year. While there are many opportunities provided by the company, professional development hours can also be earned externally at local training centers, colleges, and other locations.

Listings of upcoming professional development opportunities offered by the company are posted on the company website and updated frequently. Employees can register for these workshops online. Before signing up for a particular workshop, employees should check with their supervisors to make sure they can be excused from their duties on the date of the workshop.

Employees who wish to receive professional development credit for attending workshops or courses offered elsewhere should provide their supervisor with materials describing the opportunity. The supervisor will determine whether the workshop or course is pertinent to the employee’s work. After obtaining the supervisor’s approval, the employee can apply to the Human Resources Office for tuition reimbursement if tuition is to be paid.

Employees attending any workshop offered by the company will receive a certificate of attendance. The number of professional development hours earned will be reported to the Human Resources Office by the workshop organizer. In order to receive professional development credit for a course or workshop offered outside the company, the employee must have the workshop organizer complete a company Proof of Attendance form, and the employee must then submit the form to the Human Resources Office within one month of the end date of the course. Timely submission of this form is required in order for credit to be granted. There are will be no exceptions.

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

15.Employees can choose from professional development workshops and classes offered ____________________  or at local training centers or colleges.
16. Employees can find out which workshops will be offered by looking at
17. It is the responsibility of____________________ to decide whether a workshop is relevant.
18.Employees who need help paying for a class or workshop can ask the Human Resources Office for____________________ .
19. The workshop presenter will let the Human Resources Office know how many________________the employee should be credited with.
20. Professional development credit will be granted for workshops taken outside of the company if a special form is filled out by____________________ .

Questions 21 -27

Hampford College
Work-Study Program

Certain students at Hampford College may be eligible for the college Work—Study Program. To determine eligibility and to apply for the program, read the information below.

* The Hampford College Work—Study Program is open to all full-time Hampford College students, regardless of the particular study program in which they are enrolled. The program is not open to part-time students. Information on financial support programs for part-time students is available in the Counseling Center.

* Before applying for a work—study position, the student must demonstrate financial need. To do this, complete the Statement of Financial Need Form, available in the Counseling Center.

* To apply for a work-study position, submit a letter of interest to the Work-Study Program Office, describing your skills and interests. You may also, but are not required to, submit a resume describing any previous jobs you may have held. Students both with and without an employment history are eligible for the program.

* Once you have been approved for the program, look at the help-wanted ads posted on the Counseling Center website. All of the jobs are located at the college. You may apply for any job that you are interested in. Please note that job placement is subject to job availability. While we make every effort to place all Work-Study Program students in a job, there are no guarantees.

* All work-study students must be students in good standing at the college; that is, they must receive passing grades in all their courses in order to continue in the program the following semester.

* Work-study positions are generally for one year. Students wishing to continue in the program after one year must resubmit their applications.

Questions 21—27
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text about the Hampfmd College Work-Study Program?

TRUE                          if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE                        if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN             if there is no information on this

21. The Work—Study Program is available to all students at the college.
22. Work-study students must prove that they require monetary support.
23. Work-study students must choose a job that is related to their study program.
24. Previous work experience is required to participate in the Work-Study Program.
25. All students in the Work-Study Program will be given a job.
26. Work-study students cannot stay in the program if they receive failing grades.
27. Work-study students have to apply for the program every year.

SECTION 3 

Seasonal Affective Disorder

A
When fall days shorten and winter is around the corner, many people start to feel sluggish, moody, antisocial, or irritable. Like bears, they may feel as though they want to hibernate for the winter. But these symptoms may be more than the winter blues; they could indicate seasonal affective disorder (SAD). This is a form of depression that appears in the early fall and lasts through the first month or so of spring. It is triggered by the shortened daylight of the colder months and then dissipates as the days get longer and the warmer months approach.

B
Because a decrease in the number of daylight hours is a significant contributor, geographic location is an important factor in the incidence of the disorder. Residents of Canada and the northern United States, for example, are eight times more likely to suffer from SAD than are residents of sunny regions of the southern United States and Mexico. SAD is also more common in countries in arctic latitudes, such as Finland, where the rate of SAD is nearly 10 percent. It is seldom found in countries within 30 degrees of the equator, where there are long, constant hours of sunlight throughout the year.

C
As with other forms of depression, serious SAD may be accompanied by suicidal thoughts. One study of suicides in Japan examined a multitude of variables for each suicide, including hours of sunlight in the latitude, temperature, and economic factors, among others. Researchers found that yearly total sunshine was the only individual variable that correlated to a significant difference in the suicide rate. Thus, the study suggested that one’s latitude can have a significant effect on mental health and even on tendencies toward suicidal thoughts.

D
SAD usually begins in adults between the ages of eighteen and thirty, and it is four times more prevalent in women than men. The disorder also tends to run in families. Some people suffer debilitating symptoms that interfere with interpersonal relationships and careers. Others with SAD experience mild symptoms. For people with this milder version of SAD, the winter may bring increased sadness or irritability, but they remain fully functional.

E
SAD’s symptoms include many that are common in other forms of depression. SAD sufferers, like people who suffer from depression, experience fatigue, decreased levels of energy, and difficulty concentrating. Increased appetite, especially a craving for carbohydrates, and weight gain, as well as an increased need for sleep and a desire to be alone are other common symptoms of depression that are seen among SAD sufferers as well.

F
The exact mechanism causing SAD is not known, but some researchers theorize that SAD is related to hormonal changes. One theory is that reduced sunlight during fall and winter leads to reduced production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter with a calming effect, in the brain. Low levels of serotonin are associated with many forms of depression and can manifest in symptoms such as fatigue, carbohydrate craving, and weight gain. Because high-carbohydrate foods, such as chips, pretzels, and cookies, boost serotonin, experts believe they have a soothing effect on the body and mind.

G
Others believe SAD is caused by the hormone melatonin, which is related to the body’s circadian rhythms and can cause drowsiness. Plentiful light decreases the secretion of melatonin in the brain. However, during shorter and darker days more melatonin is produced, causing lethargy and other symptoms of depression.

H
The most common treatment for SAD is light therapy, in which patients expose themselves to full-spectrum lights, usually twenty times brighter than normal room lights, for fifteen to sixty minutes a day. Light helps to decrease the amount of melatonin and boost the serotonin in the brain. Thus, light therapy has an antidepressant effect. Sometimes, light therapy is used in combination with antidepressant medication and individual psychotherapy.

I
Experts also recommend some lifestyle changes that help to prevent SAD. People who have a tendency to suffer from SAD are encouraged to go outside every day during the winter months and to exercise regularly. Eating a well-balanced diet with plenty of vitamins and minerals is also important. Social support is extremely important for those with depression, so maintaining an active social life and regular activities is also recommended. For patients who use a light box, it is recommended to start using it in the early fall, before SAD symptoms appear.

J
Although some aspects of SAD are still being researched, experts agree that people who think they are suffering from SAD should see a doctor immediately. They do not advise using light therapy or any other treatment without the supervision of a physician.

Questions 28-31
The text has ten paragraphs, A-J. Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A-J, on lines 28—31 on your answer sheet.

28 a reason why certain types of food may alleviate the symptoms of SAD
29 types of people who tend to suffer from SAD
30 parts of the world where SAD is common
31 a study showing a relationship between sunlight and mental health

Questions 32—3 6
Choose FIVE letters, A—H. Write the correct letter on lines 32—36 on your answer sheet.
Which FIVE of the following symptoms of SAD are mentioned in the passage?

A uncontrollable crying
B feeling tired frequently
C eating more than usual
D thinking dark thoughts
E increased weight
F unhappy feelings
G frequent bad temper
H inability to sleep

Questions 37 -40
Choose FOUR letters, A—G. Write the correct letter on lines 37—40 on your answer sheet.
Which FOUR of the following treatments for SAD are mentioned in the passage?

A taking drugs
B writing in a journal
C attending a support group
D using a light box
E spending time outdoors
F traveling to a sunny location
G talking with a therapist