READING PASSAGE – 1
New releases descriptions:
BOOK 1: An epic novel, spanning four generations, of a family living in
Korea and Japan, and the struggles the family endures, set against the
ever-changing events of the 20th century.
BOOK 2: A novel based on fact, as the author draws on his experiences in
the British Secret Service at the height of the Cold War. Real-life figures
from history blend seamlessly with fictional characters as historical events
are re-visited.
BOOK 3: The second novel in the anticipated trilogy, the author continues
the story of Jordan Branson, a convicted murderer now released and
working as a newly qualified lawyer, but one with an insight into both sides
of the legal system.
IELTS General Reading Test
BOOK 4: This story is the true re-counting of one family in Pakistan and
their search for peace and understanding, but taking in the current global
problems of religious and cultural divides, and contrasting the minutia of
daily family life and the struggles of the great and not-so-great.
BOOK 5: The author, a scientist-cum-famous writer has penned an
amazing, and lengthy at over 1000 pages, epic book on the history of the
universe and the world, and how everything works, from atoms and
molecules to whales, mountains and the stars, in easy and addictive prose!
IELTS General Reading Test
BOOK 6: An engrossing thriller, one difficult to put down. A young man,
accused of killing his parents, escapes from custody and, while attempting
to find who the real killer(s) is, uncovers more unsettling details about his
own family. And himself. A real page-turner.
BOOK 7: On first discovery, a nature book about the coastal birds of this
country would appear to be an uninteresting choice, but the author mixes
fact with an investigative flair as she charts the decline of many native bird
species, and the reasons, often at the hands of man and ‘progress’, for this
alarming development.
IELTS General Reading Test
Questions 1 – 7
Read the descriptions of new-release books.
Match the letter of the short summaries A – J that follow with the
description.
NB. There are more summaries than descriptions, so some
summaries will not be used.
Write your answers in boxes 1 – 7 on the answer sheet.
Book Summaries
A. An unforgettable crime novel with twists and turns.
B. A non-fiction account of how a species of animal is on the verge of
extinction.
C. Problems families face when moving to new countries.
D. A book about crime and the law, one of a three-part series.
E. An Asian family’s epic struggles over three hundred years.
F. An author moves from his original profession to write a history of nearly
everything.
G. One family and their descendants and their lives in two countries.
H. Coastal birds and their breeding habits.
I. A fact-based fictional spy story.
J. A family in an Asian country and their contrasting fortunes in securing
happiness.
IELTS General Reading Test
1. BOOK 1
2. BOOK 2
3. BOOK 3
4. BOOK 4
5. BOOK 5
6. BOOK 6
7. BOOK 7
IELTS General Reading Test
Read the text below and answer questions 8-13.
EASTERN LINK BRIDGE OPENING
Public Notice for the Bridge Opening the Weekend of 14 – 15 June
Issues affecting traffic and new routes to be expected
Jamestown Transport is pleased to advise that the new Eastern Link
Bridge, wholly funded by Jamestown ratepayers, will be officially opened
this coming weekend, with pedestrian traffic only on Saturday, and from
midnight Saturday, after final testing, full vehicle traffic access to all on-
ramps and off-ramps, plus all through connections. On Saturday morning,
at 10 a.m., the Mayor and Minister of Transport will officially cut the ribbon
and welcome pedestrians to embark on the 2 km walk across the bridge to
the Woodville roundabout.
Vehicle traffic will not commence until midnight owing to final testing of all
traffic lights, and emergency vehicle access.
Bus routes will operate from 10 a.m. on Sunday morning as advised in
newspaper notices.
Temporary traffic lights will operate beyond the Woodville roundabout for
the next 2 – 3 weeks to monitor traffic flow, but these will not impede traffic
flows over the bridge.
IELTS General Reading Test
Questions 8 – 13
In boxes 8 – 13 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 notice
8. The bridge opening is scheduled to take place over a one-day period.
9. The new bridge was paid for from taxes of the citizens of Jamestown.
10. Both foot-traffic and vehicle-traffic will share the bridge on Saturday.
11. The Mayor and Minister of Transport will lead the walk to the Woodville
roundabout.
12. There are still some technical details to be finalised before vehicle
traffic is allowed.
13. Traffic lights will interrupt bridge traffic until all final issues are resolved.
