IELTS General Training Reading · Lesson 2 of 4
Section 1: everyday texts
Find information quickly in advertisements, notices and timetables, and notice the conditions and exceptions that change the answer.
In this lesson you will
- find information quickly in short everyday texts
- use the layout of a text to help you
- notice conditions and exceptions
- practise matching, True / False / Not Given and short-answer questions
Strategy
Reading everyday texts
Section 1 contains practical information. You do not need to read every word. Use the layout, then read only the part that you need in detail.
- Survey the titles, bold words, prices and times. What kind of text is it?
- Read the question and underline the key words.
- Scan for the key word or a word with the same meaning.
- Read that part in detail. Look for conditions.
| Watch for | Examples | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Conditions | if, unless, provided that, as long as | Something may only be true in some situations. |
| Exceptions | except, apart from, exempt from | A rule may not apply to everyone. |
| Limits | up to, at least, a maximum of, no more than | Numbers must be exact. |
| Obligation | must, may, are required to | Is it necessary, or only possible? |
Part A
Comparing short texts
In this task, you decide which short text contains each piece of information. The words in the question are usually paraphrased.
Fitness centres near you
A FitZone Central. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Over 100 machines and free parking for members. £35 a month. No joining fee in January.
B Harbour Swim & Gym. 25-metre indoor pool and a small gym. Open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Swimming lessons for children aged 5 to 12 on Saturdays. £28 a month. Students pay half price.
C Zen Studio. Yoga and Pilates classes only. Beginners welcome. Pay per class (£9), with no membership needed. Evening classes from Monday to Thursday.
D Peak Climbing Centre. Indoor climbing walls for all abilities. All equipment can be hired. Café on site. Free introductory session for new customers. £40 a month.
E Greenfield Leisure Club. Outdoor tennis courts, a gym and a sauna. Family membership £70 a month for up to four people. Free crèche for children under five while parents train.
Passage written for Tips4IELTS for practice. Any names, prices and dates are invented.
Which centre?
Look at the five advertisements, A–E. Which advertisement mentions each point? You may use any letter more than once.
- 1 You can exercise here in the middle of the night.
- 2 Children can be taught a sport here.
- 3 You do not have to become a member.
- 4 New customers can try the activity at no cost.
- 5 Someone can look after your young children.
- 6 People in education pay less.
- A “Open 24 hours a day”
- B “Swimming lessons for children”
- C “no membership needed”
- D “Free introductory session”
- E “Free crèche for children under five”
- B “Students pay half price”
Part B
Notices and rules
Rules often contain conditions and exceptions, so read carefully once you have found the right sentence.
Riverside Library: information for members
Membership is free for anyone who lives or works in the city. To join, bring a photo ID and proof of address to the front desk.
Members may borrow up to eight items at a time. Books can be borrowed for three weeks and DVDs for one week. Items can be renewed twice, online or by telephone, unless another member has reserved them.
Overdue items are charged at 20p per day, up to a maximum of £5 per item. Children's books are exempt from these charges.
The computers on the first floor may be used free of charge for up to one hour per day. Printing costs 10p a page.
The library is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday to Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays and on public holidays.
Passage written for Tips4IELTS for practice. Any names, prices and dates are invented.
True, False or Not Given?
Do the following statements agree with the information in the text?
- 1 You must live in the city to join the library.
- 2 You need a document that shows where you live.
- 3 Items reserved by another member cannot be renewed.
- 4 There is a charge for replacing a lost membership card.
- 5 You pay a charge for children's books that are returned late.
- FALSE “lives or works in the city”.
- TRUE “proof of address”.
- TRUE “unless another member has reserved them”.
- NOT GIVEN Lost cards are not mentioned.
- FALSE Children's books are “exempt from these charges”.
Short answers
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the text for each answer.
- How long can you borrow a DVD for?
- What is the highest charge for one overdue item?
- On which floor are the computers?
- On which day of the week is the library always closed?
Lesson and passages written for Tips4IELTS, based on the official IELTS General Training Reading test format.