IELTS General Reading Test 60

Read the information below and answer Questions 1-4.

what’s on sydney

A. AUSTRALIA’S SCHOOL OF STAND-UP COMEDY
Star Bar
Next course Feb

Australia’s School of Stand-up Comedy! Five week course Welcome to Australia’s school of stand-up comedy. This course was designed to take you step by step into the mind and world of the stand-up comic. The ability to … More

B. DANCE CLASSES
The Wharf
Daily, various times

Adult Classes Sydney Dance Company Dance Studios run over 70 dance classes for adults every week. Located at Sydney Dance Company at The Wharf, dance styles on offer include Jazz, Funk, Hip Hop, Tap, Contemporary, … More

C. Digital Photography 4 hour Workshop – Bohemian & Colonial Sydney Walking Tour
Sydney City East area
December 19, 30, January 2

Discover and capture Sydney’s lesser known landmarks whilst improving your photographic skills on this fun and informal digital photography walking tour. Suitable for all photographers (local or tourist) … More

D. Dl Bootcamp and P&O’s 8 day/ 3 island DJ Course Cruise!
P&O Cruises Sydney harbour
Sept 22-29

Australia’s first professional DJ Cruise! P&O and DJ Bootcamp have teamed up to bring you an amazing 8 days, 3 island professional DJ training course cruise. 1 price includes your room, meals, entertainment, island … More

E. NIDA SUMMER HOLIDAY COURSES
MIDA
4 JANUARY-22 JANUARY

For the summer holidays in January 2010 NIDA will be offering some exciting new courses including Dinosaur Park, NIDA Space Academy, Circus and Clown School, Puppet Making, and Music Theatre for People with Intellectual … More .

F. TALKABOUT Lecture Series – “Big Ideas”
Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts
2 February – 16 February

The first guest for the 2010 TaIkabout series of talks is Dr. Anne Summers, best-selling author and columnist who has had a long career in politics and the media: she will launch the series with February’s
theme ‘Big … More

Questions 1-4
Look at the six course descriptions, A-F. NB You may use any letter more than once.

1. On which course do you need to move around the city?
2. On which TWO courses can you learn ways to make people laugh? (Example: A,B not A and B)
3. Which course takes you round in a boat?
4. Which TWO courses last more than two weeks? (Example: A,B not A and B)

Read the text below and answer Questions 5-10.

pre departure checklist

Reminders:
1. Read the Joining Instructions from your college carefully and use your unconditional offer and the letter for Immigration purposes to apply for a visa or entry clearance.
2. Have you applied for your accommodation? If so, and you have had this confirmed, remember to bring your accommodation contract. Don’t forget to carry this contract in your hand luggage.
3. Check that your passport Is valid and not about to expire.
4. Apply for a visa for the period of your study In the UK (If you are a visa national) or entry clearance for all other non-EEA countries. For more Information go to: www.ukvisas.gov.uk
5. Take a photocopy of your passport (pages with your personal details and visa page). Make your travel arrangements and remember your travel tickets.
6. Make labels for your luggage. Note that airlines In the UK are strictly enforcing hand baggage policies, so only carry the minimum through security.
7. Make a list of the contents of your luggage for Insurance purposes.
8. Weigh your luggage to ensure that It Is within your baggage allowance.
9. If you require any prescription medication remember to pack an adequate supply, along with a letter from your doctor explaining what they are for.
10. Bring a short medical history if possible. This will be helpful when you register with a doctor on arrival.
11. Bring vaccination certificates, if required. Check the current position on www.ukvlsas.gov.uk
12. Bring a bank reference or a letter from your home bank. Read more about banking

Questions 5-10
Answer the questions below. NB You may use any number more than once.

Which reminder:

5. tells you what to do about medicines you might need?
6. advises you to take certain documents in your hand luggage?
7. tells you what documents you need to apply for a visa?
8. advises you to check health requirements for entering the country?
9. warns you about an airline policy?
10. advises you to bring documents showing your housing arrangements?

Read the text below and answer Questions 11-14.

registering with a doctor (GP) under the national health service (NHS)

To register with a GP you simply need to visit a surgery during surgery hours and ask to be included on the GP’s list of patients. You will be given a short application form to complete. You will then be sent a medical card, which will carry your NHS number. If the GP cannot accept you, try elsewhere or use the NHS local search at http://www.nhs.uk/.

If you are receiving regular treatment/medicine we suggest that you submit these details to your GP. Make sure that you are aware of the surgery hours; ask the receptionist who may then give you a list of surgery hours. You will usually need to make an appointment if you wish to see a GP, however you can ask
for an emergency appointment if you need to see the GP urgently.

Remember to attend your appointment or to cancel/rearrange it if you cannot attend, as doctors often have heavy work schedules and your appointment could be offered to another patient.

If you are seriously ill and cannot visit the surgery then the GP can be called out to see you. The receptionist will tell you what time the GP will visit you.

Questions 11-14
Answer the questions below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text for each answer.

11. Where must you go to register with a GP?
12. What information does your medical card give?
13. Who can tell you what the surgery’s hours are?
14. What should you do if you can ‘t go to an appointment?

Section 2
Read the text below and answer Questions 15-20.

working holiday

Job Programmes

Work and Travel USA 2009
International university students can work in the U.S. under the J-1 Visa programme as entry-level short-term employees. This programme is designed to help U.S. businesses meet their seasonal staffing needs while giving international students the chance to earn money, experience a new culture, and travel abroad in their summer break. You can work for up to 4 months during your university vacation, after which you are allowed to travel for up to an additional four weeks. Your stay in the US must not exceed 5 months.

Working Holiday Britain
During the summer most employers look for great numbers of extra staff, and a lot of them are happy to accept candidates from out of the country. Employment can range from hotels and catering to farm work. There are also positions available in childcare, conservation work and archaeological excavations. We offer accommodation in central London, weekend activities and sightseeing, an English language course, a discount card, a free telephone card, a free London guide and orientation about how to find a job in the UK.

Work and Travel in Singapore
If you have a deep desire to experience work adventure, then the island of Singapore, known to’ offer the best quality of life in Asia, holds the key to your fulfilment. This programme allows university students and recent graduates to come to Singapore to live and work for six months. Situated in the heart of Asia, Singapore resonates with a sophisticated global beat yet intrigues with its delightful Asian allure. With an English speaking working environment, living in the lion City is a seamless affair for any global talent. Imagine working in any job sector? Work & Travel Programme in Singapore makes it possible. So, come live and work here, while gaining valuable exposure, skills, and knowledge!

Working Holiday Canada
The Canadian working holiday programme allows young travellers to participate in short-term work/internships to supplement any travel expenses they may sustain while in Canada. The programme places participants into paid, entry-level jobs throughout Canada. Global Choices guarantees you a paid job, accommodation, bank account and work documents before you leave your country.

Working Holiday in Australia
Experience close contact with a local neighbourhood in Australia! With the working holiday in Australia programme vacationers can stay for an extended period by supplementing their travel funds through incidental employment. A working holiday visa allows you to stay and work in Australia for 12 months, although you may not work for more than 3 months with anyone employer.

Questions 15-20
Answer the questions below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR NUMBERS from the text for each answer.

15. Who can join the J-1 Visa programme in the US?
16. What is the maximum time you can stay in the US with the J-1 Visa programme?
17. When do many employers in Britain want to hire extra staff?
18. How long does the Work and Travel Programme allow you to work in Singapore?
19. Where in Canada are jobs available?
20. What is the longest you can stay in one job in Australia?

Read the text below and answer Questions 21-27.

how to sit correctly

If you work in an office and use a computer, you can avoid injury by sitting in the right position and arranging your desk correctly. Follow these tips:

A. Support your back
A correctly adjusted chair will reduce the strain on your back. Get one that is easily adjustable so that you can change the height, back position and tilt. Have your knees level with your hips. You may need a footrest for this.

B. Adjust your seat
Be aware of the various adjustments that you can make to your chair. If someone else has used your desk you may have to re-adjust the chair. If it’s still uncomfortable, try another type of chair.

C. Rest your feet on floor
Your feet should be flat on the floor. If they’re not, ask if you can have a footrest, which lets you rest your feet at a level that’s comfortable to you. Don’t cross your legs, as this can cut off circulation and cause hip problems.

D. Place your screen at eye level
Position your monitor 12-30 inches (30-75cm) away from your eyes. A good guide is to place the monitor about an arm’s length away, with the top of the screen roughly at eye level. To achieve this you may need to get a stand for your monitor.

E. Avoid screen reflection
Your screen should be as glare-free as possible. If there’s glare on your screen, hold a mirror in front of it to identify the cause. Position the monitor to avoid reflection from overhead lighting and sunlight. If necessary, pull blinds across the windows and replace ceiling lighting with table lights. Adjusting the screen’s brightness or contrast can make it much easier to use.

F. Make objects accessible
Position frequently used objects, such as your telephone or stapler, within easy reach. Avoid repeatedly stretching or twisting to reach things.

G. Avoid phone strain
If you spend a lot of time on the phone, try exchanging your handset for a headset. Repeatedly cradling the phone between your ear and shoulder can strain the muscles in your neck.

H. Avoid wrist pain
Your wrists should be straight when using a keyboard. Keep your elbows vertical under your shoulder and right by your side. Position and use the mouse as close to you as possible. A mouse mat with a wrist pad may help to keep your wrist straight and avoid awkward bending.

Questions 21-27
The leaflet above offers several tips for sitting correctly. Which do these actions belong to? NB You may use any letter more than once.

21. Keeping things you often need close to you.
22. Keeping your wrist straight.
23. Making sure your screen is at the right height.
24. Raising and supporting your feet.
25. Checking the direction of lighting in your room.
26. Using computer accessories correctly.
27. Reducing your body movements.

Section 3
Read the text below and answer Questions 28-40.

the language revolution

“In the next decade the new ‘must learn’ language is likely to be Mandarin”, said language researcher David Graddol, in a recent issue of the journal Science. He echoed a view expressed by academics and business people across the western world.

English speakers have had it pretty good. Modern English is the most widely taught and understood language in the world. It is the dominant international language in communications, science, business, aviation, entertainment, diplomacy and on the Internet. Around 400-500 million people speak it as their first language and up to 1.5 billion have a basic proficiency in English.

Mother tongue
There have of course been other languages bidding for the language crown. Competing world languages have included, at various times and in various regions, Neo-Latin, French, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, Sanskrit, Hindu-Urdu and Malay. Today, Mandarin Chinese, the official language of China, is the one to watch. And while the global share of English is clearly still huge, the number of native speakers is vastly outnumbered by those who speak Mandarin as their first language: an estimated 867m. The sheer size of China’s population and the country’s increasing importance in the world economy and in politics account partly for its position. We are also seeing the spread, for example, of the government sponsored Confucius Institutes which run courses in Chinese and Chinese culture in many places outside China, reflecting the country’s increased power and confidence.

Education too is starting to reflect the growing importance of the language, particularly in the US where an estimated 24,000 young people are already studying Mandarin. With the government setting up a US$114 million initiative to increase the teaching of ‘critical’ languages in US schools, this number looks set to rise dramatically. And people are recognising the practical benefits and role of Chinese in business. In particular, businesses are interested in employing people who can speak Mandarin, but are not necessarily Chinese, though even those working in China can still get away with only limited knowledge of the language. Nick Harrison, a UK banker based in Shanghai, has on the ground experience having moved there in December 2005. “Our business discussions are all in English, and the vast majority of office administration is written and spoken in Chinese.”

Learning the language
Learning Mandarin is a big challenge though. “We generally say it takes three years of full time study to have a working knowledge of Chinese, including knowledge of the script. If you just want to speak it, it probably takes one year”, says Michel Hockx, professor at London’s School of African and Oriental Studies. “Perhaps if we started learning at an earlier age, we might learn faster, but if you are starting in your early twenties, it takes much longer.” Nick Harrison’s experiences support this theory. “I definitely don’t speak Mandarin, but am having lessons once a week”, he says. “My two year old daughter, Claudia, is progressing well and is destined to be my translator in the future.”

Questions 28-32
Complete the table below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the text for each answer.

Fact	Description
(28)………………………	The person who predicts the growth of Mandarin
(29)………………………	The name of the journal mentioned in the article
(30)………………………	The number of people worldwide speaking a little English
(31)………………………	The name of China’s language teaching schools
(32)………………………	How often Nick Harrison studies Mandarin

Questions 33-40
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text? In boxes 33-40 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

33. Many people agree that Mandarin will be essential in the future.
34. There are more fluent second language speakers of English than first language speakers of English.
35. English has been the most widely spoken of all world languages.
36. More people speak English as a mother tongue than Mandarin.
37. The growth of Mandarin is due to many factors.
38. The number of students studying Mandarin in the US will soon reach 24,000.
39. Businesses throughout China only hire employees speaking at least two languages.
40. You need a year to learn to write well in Chinese.