IELTS
General Test 1
2019
Contents
LISTENING TEST--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
READING TEST ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7
WRITING TEST -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18
SPEAKING TEST ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21
ANSWERS WITH EXPLANATIONS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22
IMPORTANT NOTICE
This practice test is not endorsed by IELTS
These materials re for practice only and may not give an accurate representation of your IELTS level
©ieltsnesolkuching2019
1
Listening Test
Section One
Questions 1 - 10
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
2
Section Two
Questions 11 – 20
Questions 11 - 13
Which three of the following statements are mentioned? Write the correct letter, A to E, beside
questions 11 to 13.
A Chinese New Year is based on a lunar calendar
B All Asian countries celebrate it on the same day
C The celebrations last for fifteen days
D The new year begins on 21 January
E The biggest annual movement of people occurs at Chinese New Year.
F The celebration begins at the full moon
11. _____
12. _____
13. _____
3
Questions 14 – 16
Choose the correct answer, a, b, or c
14. Chinese New Year is
a) celebrated wherever Chinese people live
b) celebrated only in Asia
c) has influenced the lunar new year of other Asian cultures.
15. The celebration in Sydney
a) is the biggest celebration in a non-Asian country
b) is attended by 3,500 people
c) is only for Chinese people
16. The Sydney festival
a) collaborates with a different province in China each year
b) has Laotian performers in the main parade
c) continues for four weeks.
Questions 17 to 20
Complete the summary below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS.
There are several myths and traditions associated with Chinese New Year. There is the
17._____________ held the evening before, the house must be completely 18. ____________
and often the house is decorated with lanterns and red paper cut-outs. The 19. _____________
is the Lantern Festival, or Chinese Valentines day. Women put their contact number on
20.______________ , throw them into a river and hope they are chosen by a future husband.
4
Section Three
Questions 21 – 30
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer
Reflections on mathematics project
The students felt they learned a lot form the project and although the 21. _____________ was
more time intensive, they thought the math was 22. ______________ . One focus of the project
was to enable students to strengthen their 23. _________________ , which did occur, and they
now have more 24. ________________ in their weaker subjects and understand more 25.
___________ of them than they did before.
Questions 26 – 30
Choose the correct letter, A, B, or C
26. All the students thought
A. They would do the assignment better next time
B. the assignment was a useful learning aid
C. their planning was useful
27. The students started planning
A. six weeks ago
B. three weeks ago
C. two weeks ago
28. The students worked hard on the project
A. for the whole period
B. only the last two weeks
C. from when they started planning
29. The assignment also helped the students with
A. organisational skills
B. teamwork
C. A and B
30. To improve the assignment
A. students should plan better
B. students should submit a timeline to the lecturer
C. students should do the questions first.
5
Section Four
Questions 31 – 40
Complete the notes below
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
Copyright Law
Overview
The lecture series on copyright law will cover four main areas:
•
•
•
•
The 31. ___________________________ of the law
The effects on 32. __________________
Political, philosophical and economic 33. _______________
How the system could be improved upon
Referral will mainly be to American copyright law, although the 4. ______________________ of other
countries and their differences from the US will be addressed.
The lectures
•
•
•
1.5 hours long
A lot of 35.
aids
It is advised that they be watched via a monitor.
The maps
The most important of all the supplementary materials. They cover:
•
•
Main features of 36. _________________________
Main features of copyright theory
Both were made with Mind manager and these are the version displayed in the lectures. Access to the maps
is via the Copyright X website or lecturers homepage: 37. ______________________
To edit the maps there are three options:
•
•
•
Mindmanager software from Mindjet website – 38. ________________
Ithoughts – reasonably priced
XMind open source software – free
To view the maps, use the flash version from the 39. ___________________ . They can be viewed directly
from your web browser.
The two maps hold all the lecture notes for the entire series, as well as links to additional materials.
The maps are not a dissertation, they are a 40. __________________ , to help you understand and
remember the important features of the copyright system.
Comments
Suggested improvements to the maps or lectures can be emailed to the address on the CopyrightX website.
Lecture adapted from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqkonSY__ic
6
Reading Test
Section 1
Questions 1 – 13
Read the texts below and answer questions 1 – 7
Help Wanted – Office worker
Woorup Primary
Must be able to multi-task and work well in a
team. Experience with MS office is essential.
Suitable for school leaver.
Hours: 9-5 Mon – Fri, 9-12 Sat
Send resume to: hrmagorr@gmail.com
School
Needs a cleaner who is flexible, with a
good eye for detail and can work on
their own initiative.
Wages: $18
Hours:
12 hours/week: split shift
To apply: Contact school office
Tel: 023 5674 546
Email: Woorupps@edu.net
Deepend Motel – Night manager
As Night Mangaer you will man the office
during the night hours and supervise the
night team. You will ensure that excellent
service is delivered at all times. You will
act as first point of contact for guest
queries during this time and ensure that
Night Audits are completed.
Hours: 39 hours per week
Salary: $40,000 – 50, 000
Email: deependmotel@yahoo.com
Part-time Cashier Wanted
We are looking for a responsible, friendly person
who can handle a lot of customers and remain
smiling. Experience is preferred but not necessary.
Wages: $17
Hours:
22 hours/week (Mon – Sat)
Location: Windbourne
Contact: (021) 7834 453/ rptlhr@gmail.com
7
Questions 1 - 7
Look at the five job advertisements on the previous page. For which job are the following
statements true?
Write the correct letter, A – E, in the spaces beside the questions 1 –7 below.
1 You need to like people and have a happy personality for this job. _____
2 Has the fewest hours per week _____
3 This job includes running a team and office _____
4 This job requires an independent worker _____
5 Requires multi-tasking and team work _____
6 This job is suitable for someone who likes to work with others _____
7 This is a short-term job ____
8
Read the text below and answer Questions 8 - 13
Heathcliff Sports Centre
The Heathcliff sports centre is a hub combining both a private membership and many sporting clubs in one
convenient location.
Membership of the sports centre does not automatically qualify you with entry to every part of the centre,
but all privately owned facilities offer generous discounts to centre members.
Membership is payable monthly or annually and there are student discounts available. To find out more
about membership you can go to our website: www.heathcliffsports.co.au
INDOOR FACILITIES
25 metre heated pool – open only from 9am – 7pm Monday to Thursday and 9am – 9pm Friday to Sunday.
Badminton and squash courts – open from 9am to 9pm seven days a week, however on weekends the courts
are reserved for competitions from 9am to 2pm. Members are welcome to sign up and compete but must
have registered by 2pm of the Thursday prior and if they are not members of the badminton club must pay a
$7.50 registration fee.
Apex Gym – open from 7am – 9pm Monday to Friday and 9am – 9pm Saturday and Sunday. The gym is
privately owned and not part of the sports centre, however members of the sports centre get a 50%
discount on gym membership or can pay as they go at a rate of $6 per visit.
OUTDOOR FACILITIES
Tennis courts – open from 8am to 9pm every day excepting Saturdays when the courts are reserved for
competitions from 10am to 4pm. Use of the courts is free for centre members but you must book the courts
at least 24 hours in advance. The Tennis club welcomes new members and offers lessons for aspiring tennis
players of all ages. Competitions are open to everyone and the schedule is displayed on the centre
noticeboard. Registration for non-tennis club members is $8.00 per event and registration must be done
one week in advance.
Outdoor swimming pool – this pool is not heated and is only open from November to April. At these times
the pool is open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Thursday and 7am to 11pm Friday to Saturday. Entry is free to
sports centre members. During the swimming season the pool will be closed for a maximum of three
Saturdays for competitions. The dates will be displayed on the centre notice board. The swimming club
welcomes new members and runs a learn to swim program during December. Swimmers are welcome to
join club training sessions which are held at 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday. To join the club or enter
competitions contact the swimming club secretary on (53) 6849003.
9
Questions 8 - 13
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text on the previous page?
In the space beside each statement write:
TRUE
FALSE
NOT GIVEN
if the statement agrees with the information
if the statement contradicts the information
if there is no information on this
8 Access to all areas of the centre are included in a sports centre membership
9 You can belong to more than one private club
10 The indoor pool is open late on weekends
11 You cannot book the tennis courts from 10 to 4 on Saturdays
12 It costs all players $7.50 to register for badminton competitions.
13 Yearly membership fees are cheaper than monthly fees
10
Section 2 Questions 14 – 27
Read the text below and answer Questions 14 – 20.
Flexible Working Arrangements: Information for employees
The Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act) provides employees in the national workplace relations system with a legal
right to request flexible working arrangements (flexi-tme). To be eligible you must have worked for your
employer for at least 12 months on a full-time or part-time basis. Long term casual employees who have a
reasonable expectation of ongoing employment are also eligible. A long-term casual employee would usually
have been employed on a regular and systematic basis for at least 12 months. Employees are eligible to
request flexi-time in the following circumstances:
• the employee is a parent, or has responsibility for the care of a child who is of school age or younger
• the employee is a carer (within the meaning of the Carer Recognition Act 2010)
• the employee has a disability
• the employee is 55 or older
• the employee is experiencing violence from a member of the employee’s family or
• the employee provides care or support to a member of their immediate family or household who
requires care or support because they are experiencing violence from the member’s family.
Employers must seriously consider a request for flexible working arrangements but may refuse on reasonable
business grounds. See below for more information on reasonable business grounds.
Why make flexible working arrangements?
Flexi-time assists employees to achieve balance between work and their personal lives. For example, they can
help parents manage the demands that come with being a parent of a young child, school age child or a child
with a disability, such as picking-up and dropping-off at childcare, caring for sick children, and attending
medical and other appointments.
Flexible working arrangements can also benefit businesses by increasing staff retention, decreasing
absenteeism and achieving greater productivity through increased employee job satisfaction. More
information about flexible working arrangements can be found in the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Work and
family best practice guide.
Common flexible working arrangements include:
• changed starting and finishing times
• part-time work or job sharing
• working more hours over fewer days
• working additional hours to make up for time taken off
• taking rostered days off in half days or more flexibly
• time off work instead of overtime payments, or
• changing the location of work or the need to travel to work (for example, working from home).
There are other kinds of flexible arrangements. The key is to find the arrangement that best suits you and your
employer.
Examples: Eligibility for flexible working arrangements
1. Greg wants to start work at 10am instead of 9am so he can take his son to pre-school. He can request
flexible working arrangements to help him care for his son.
2. Shirley is 60 years old and wants to finish early on Wednesdays so she can volunteer at her local
hospital. She can request flexi-time because she is over 55 years old.
Adapted from https://www.fairwork.gov.au/how-we-will-help/templates-and-guides/best-practice-guides/the-right-to-request-flexible-workingarrangements © Fair Work Ombudsman www.fairwork.gov.au
11
Questions 14 – 20
Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text for each answer.
14. To be eligible for ________________________________ you need to have worked at the same
place for at least 12 months.
15. To qualify as a ____________________ you must comply with the Carer Recognition Act 2010
16. One reason to request flexi-time is maintain a work-life _________________ .
17. People with ______________ find flexi-time helps with the demands of looking after them.
18. Flexi-time helps employers because it reduces staff __________________ .
19. It is important to find a system that works for both the worker and _________________ .
20. Shirley is able to request flexi-time because she is more than _____________________ .
12
Read the text below and answer Questions 21 - 27
Your First Job
Looking for your first job or a new job? This can be an exciting time.
To help ensure you get a proper deal when you start your job, it is important to find out about your
rights and entitlements and what responsibilities you may have in the workplace.
Am I allowed to work?
Some state and territory governments have minimum age restrictions about when you can get a job
and when you are allowed to work. To find out whether any restrictions apply to you, contact the
relevant government department in your state or territory.
What are my employment conditions?
When you accept a job, you will agree to work for your employer under certain terms and conditions.
Generally, those terms and conditions will be set out verbally, in a letter of offer, or instrument such as
an enterprise agreement or an award. While there are a number of documents that can set out the
terms and conditions of your employment, most of them are likely to be set out in an award or
instrument that applies to you. Visit the Awards page or contact the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94 for
information on what award or enterprise agreement applies to you.
Generally, you will be employed either on a casual, permanent part-time or full-time basis.
Full-time permanent employees
Full-time employees normally work 38 hours per week (plus reasonable additional hours) and have an
ongoing contract of employment. As a full-time employee, you are entitled to benefits such as sick
leave, holiday pay, long service leave and carer's or other types of leave.
Part-time permanent employees
Part-time employees are engaged for less than full-time hours but with similar entitlements to fulltime employees. If you work part-time you will most likely receive an amount of annual leave and
personal/carer's leave calculated according to the number of hours you work each week.
Casual employees
You may be a casual employee even if you are given a different title. If you are employed as a casual
employee, you do not normally have guaranteed hours of work each week and may be called to work
at short notice. Casuals are not entitled to sick leave and annual leave. However, as a casual employee,
you will normally be paid a casual loading instead of getting the permanent employee entitlements.
Probationary or qualifying periods
So that you and your employer can decide whether you can satisfactorily do a job, you may be subject
to a probationary or qualifying period when you start employment. You are always entitled to be paid
your full rate of pay for all the work you do during a probationary or qualifying period.
Hours of work
Your hours of work will depend on the industry in which you work and the award or agreement you
work under. There may be minimum hours that you will be required to work. If you work hours outside
of your agreed hours, then you may be entitled to overtime pay.
Adapted from https://www.fairwork.gov.au/how-we-will-help/templates-and-guides/best-practice-guides/a-guide-for-young-workers © Fair Work
Ombudsman www.fairwork.gov.au
13
Questions 21 – 27
Complete the notes below
Use NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer.
Your First Job
Some states specify how old you have to be in order to work.
Employment conditions are usually laid out in a document, enterprise agreement or
21____________ . You can visit the 22 ________________ or contact Fair Work Infoline on 13 13
94 for more information
Permanent full-time employees work 23 _______________ per week whereas permanent part-time
employees work fewer hours but both are entitled to annual leave, sick leave, long service leave,
carers leave and 24 __________________ . For part-time workers this is based on the number of
hours worked 25 _________________ .
Casual employees do not get the same benefits but instead are given a 26 ______________ instead.
Often there is a 27 __________________ where although you are being paid your employment is
not yet permanent.
Hours of work are based on your industry and award/agreement you work under. If you work more
hours than specified, you may be eligible for overtime pay.
14
Section 3
Questions 28 – 40
Questions 28 – 35
Passage 3 on the next page has eight paragraphs, A – H.
Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.
Write the correct letter, i – x beside each question below.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
ix.
x.
List of Headings
Don’t be citybound
Hazards abound for the unwary driver
Learn about Iceland
Everyone speaks English
Communication not an issue
Aquatic adventures
Hiking is fun and easy
The name is a misnomer
Trekking is fun if you’ve prepared well
How to get around
28. Paragraph A
29. Paragraph B
30. Paragraph C
31. Paragraph D
32. Paragraph E
33. Paragraph F
34. Paragraph G
35. Paragraph H
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
15
Travelling in Iceland
Adapted from: https://wikitravel.org/en/Iceland
A
Iceland is a stunningly beautiful place if you enjoy strange and desolate landscapes. The amount of daylight
varies dramatically by season with the midnight sun occurring in June when sun never truly sets and there are
20-22 hours of full daylight . Iceland was first inhabited by Nordic and Celtic people in the 9th century CE tradition says that the first permanent settler was Ingólfur Arnarson, a Norwegian Viking who made his home
where Reykjavik now stands, however it is thought that Irish monks had temporarily inhabited the island some
years prior to this.
B
Despite its name, Iceland has surprisingly mild winters for a country at that latitude owing to the warming effect
of the Atlantic Gulf Stream. Iceland enjoys a maritime temperate climate and the average temperature in winter
is around 0°C, although the wind chill makes it feel a lot colder. The rapidly changing weather has given rise to
the local saying: 'If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes!' It's the kind of place where it's not unusual to
get rained on and sunburned at the same time. The summers are cooler and more temperate than elsewhere at
the same latitude and the temperature rarely exceeds 20°C.
C
It's a shame most visitors don't stray far from the capital as some of the most memorable sights in Iceland are
further afield. There are many excursions offered by tour companies, readily available from any of the main
centres such as Reykjavík and Akureyri. They will fly you around and take you out to the glaciers and to the big
volcanoes for a reasonable price. However, the cheapest option is to drive around with a rented car since none
of these sites have entry fees.
D
Some common activities to do in Iceland include hiking which in Iceland is no easy business, strong walking
boots which support your ankles are recommended as the terrain is usually craggy lava rock or springy moss
with hidden holes! Likewise, you'll need to be prepared for strong bursts of sideways rain and sleet, especially
in winter and shoulder seasons, and particularly in the mountains. Glacier hiking especially, is one of Iceland´s
most popular tourist things to do with the area of Skaftafell in the South East being the centre of activity.
E
Whitewater rafting is popular. In south you can raft on the big Hvita river. North Iceland has some of the best
rivers for rafting, Vestari and Austari Jokulsa. The companies offering rafting are located in Varmahlid. One of
them is Bakkaflot with really good facilities (hot pools, accommodation restaurant & drinks) to use after your
adventure. Finally, whale watching is available all year from Reykjavik and during the summer from Husavik,
but sightings are most common in summer in either place.
F
A car offers the most flexibility for travel around Iceland. Renting a car in Iceland is fairly expensive. Numerous
agencies rent vehicles, and ferries allow individuals to bring their own car with them. Rental prices include basic
car insurance, but additional insurance may be purchased to protect against damage from gravel or other
common mishaps. Read the fine-print however, because the things that usually break (windscreen, tyres,
bottom of the car) are usually excluded. Travellers can see the majority of Iceland's sights with a two-wheel
drive vehicle, but those interested in venturing into the interior or to places such as Landmannalaugar will need
four-wheel drive - and long experience at the wheel - as roads are rough and rivers may need to be crossed.
16
G
Drivers in Iceland should familiarize themselves with road signs and be prepared for Iceland's unique driving
conditions. The roads in Iceland are of a medium to low quality, typically made from slightly rough black basalt.
Crossing rivers can be very dangerous, particularly if it has been raining, and should be done with great caution.
Driving on gravel can be a challenge, and loss of control on cliff-side roads can easily be fatal. There are two
signs in particular that foreigners should pay attention to. First, "malbik endar" means that the road changes
from a paved road to a gravel road. Slow down before these changes, for one can lose control easily. Also
"einbreið brú" means that a one-lane bridge is approaching. Arrive at the bridge slowly and assess the situation.
If another car has arrived at the bridge first allow them the right of way.
H
The official language of Iceland is Icelandic (íslenska), which remains very similar to, although not quite the
same as 13th-century Norse. Icelandic is related to the other Scandinavian languages
(Danish, Swedish, Norwegian and Faroese), and while written forms may be mutually intelligible, this is hardly
the case with spoken forms. Most Icelanders speak English well and have a basic to moderate degree of
Danish (with a local accent), as both languages are compulsory in schools. Even though the majority of
Icelanders are competent in English, attempts at speaking Icelandic are always appreciated, and learning some
basic greetings and phrases in Icelandic will make your trip much smoother.
Questions 36 – 40
Complete the summary below
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the test for each answer.
Write your answers in the space provided.
Why driving can be dangerous in Iceland
Although a car is the most flexible way to see Iceland, drivers need to be careful and should always take out
36. ………………… when they rent a car, being careful to check exactly is covered as some breakages, such
as windscreens are not included. The roads are not very good and usually made from 37. ………………… or
gravel. Care should be taken crossing 38. …………………………… , and on cliff-side roads as losing control
can be fatal. There are two important road signs, ‘malbik endar’ means a 39. …………….. road ahead, and
‘einbreið brú’ indicates that a single lane bridge is coming up. Drive up to the bridge40. …………….. and if
another car has already reached the bridge you must give way.
17
Writing Test
Task 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You have a spare room in your flat or apartment and you want to rent it to a student. Write a letter
to the director of the accommodation office at the local college. In your letter:
•
•
•
Explain where your apartment is
Describe the room
What kind of person would you like to rent it to.
Write at least 150 words.
Answer:
18
Task 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
In some countries, young people are not only richer, but also safer and healthier than ever before.
However, they are less happy.
What do you think the reasons are for this? What can be done to prevent it?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Answer:
19
20
Speaking Test
How to do the test. Set up your recording device, read each question, and answer the
question. For Part 2 take one minute to write notes, then start speaking.
Speaking Part 1
Transport:
•
•
•
Describe the town you come from in your country.
Do you believe bicycles are popular where you live?
Do you believe bicycles are important to children?
Entertainment:
•
•
•
•
Do you go to the cinema?
How often do you go to the cinema these days?
Did you often go to the cinema in childhood?
How have movies changed from then to now?
Speaking Part 2
Take one minute to write some notes about the topic below, then talk for one to two minutes:
Describe something you cannot afford but have always wanted to
own
•
•
•
What is it?
Why do you like it?
Do you think you will ever own it?
And explain why you it is important to you to own it.
I’d like to ask you a question based on your talk:
•
Do you think it is important to own expensive things?
Speaking Part 3
We have been talking about buying something important to you. Now I would like to talk about
shopping in general:
•
•
•
•
•
Do you believe shopping is more popular today than in the past?
Do you believe we spend too much time shopping?
How do advertisements affect our shopping habits?
Are there any advantages to advertisements?
Is advertising essential for businesses?
21
Answers with explanations
Listening Answers and Transcripts
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
10 / ten
Qualified guides
certificate
waiver
10 people
eat dinner /
have dinner
visa
basic equipment
Spring / Spring
or Autumn
15%
11, 12 and 13 in any
order
A/C/E
14 c
15 a
16 a
17 (family) reunion
dinner
18 cleaned
19 fifteenth day
20 mandarin (oranges)
21. video / presentation
22. harder
23. weak points
24. confidence
25.aspects
26.B
27. A
28. B
29. C
30. B
31. basic understanding
32. creativity
33. theory
34. legal systems
35. audiovisual
36. copyright law
37. tfisher.org
38. expensive
39. CopyrightX website
40. pedagogic aid
Section 1
WOMAN:
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Hello, Himalayan Adventure Tours
Hi, I’ve been looking at your website and I have some questions about one of your tour
packages.
Ok, which one were you looking at?
The 10 day trek, it’s called the lowland trek.
What would you like to know?
I was wondering how fit you have to be?
Not super fit but you do need to be able to walk for at least 5 hours over hilly terrain and we
reach heights of 1700 metres so if you have any breathing issues it probably isn’t for you.
I think I can handle that. I assume that there is a qualified first aid person on the trek?
All trekking guides are qualified in first aid and we can make arrangements to have you taken
to the nearest hospital if you fall ill. We do ask that you have a doctor certify you as fit for
the trek and you also need to sign a waiver before we allow you to join a trek.
Ok, can the certificate be from my family doctor?
Yes, that’s fine.
I notice that the day we spend in Kathmandu there is a city tour provided. Do I have to go on
the tour?
No, you don’t have to, but our tour guides are very good and you be able to see more of
Kathmandu if you go on the tour than if you go alone. It will obviously also be safer, and
because we only book groups of 10 we are able to go to many places that the big tour groups
cannot in their bigger buses.
What will we see on the city tour?
Well, we start with the traditional tourist spots like Durbar Square and the famous stupas,
Patan old palace and museum. Then you will explore the local market and shop for fresh
vegetables and necessary ingredients for a traditional Nepalese meal, and finally eat dinner
with a local Nepalise family.
Eating with a local family is something that I wouldn’t be able to do normally, so that actually
sounds really good. I notice on your website that airport transfers are included.
Yes, we will pick you up from the airport and also drop you back after the trek free of charge.
22
MAN:
WOMAN:
MAN:
WOMAN:
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WOMAN:
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WOMAN:
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And according to the website you also include all accommodation, meals, porters for our
gear, permits and entry fees.
Yes, although we provide all meals during the trekking part of the tour, when you are staying
in hotels we only provide breakfast. Also, we don’t provide the visa that you need to enter
Nepal, you must organise that yourself and you will forfeit your deposit if you can’t get a
valid visa.
Do you provide the trekking equipment? It’s hard to tell from your website what equipment
you provide.
Yes, we do provide basic equipment. So, we will provide a pack, sleeping bag, basic camping
mess kit, a down jacket for warmth, a hat, a first aid kit, two water bottles and a trekking
pole. We strongly suggest that you invest in some water proof pants and jacket, as well as
appropriate footwear, such as a pair of good hiking boots. It’s also a good idea to bring a pair
of sunglasses as well.
And sunscreen?
Yes, I forgot that. Sunscreen is very important. There is some in the first aid kit but it is
better to bring your own. If you look on our site, under the F A Q section there is a list of
what we suggest you bring.
Oh, ok, thanks. Just found it.
You’re welcome.
It mentions here that you don’t provide travel insurance?
No, we don’t. All our staff are insured but you need to buy your own travel insurance. Most
people do that when they book their flights.
And when is the best time of year to do the trek?
The best time to see Nepal is either in spring or autumn. This is when the weather is clear. It
is also the most expensive time to trek and very busy with a lot of tourists. Trekking in
summer for this trip is not usually a good idea because of the monsoon, but in winter it is still
not too cold although you do risk occasional snow storms which can close parts of the trail.
Ok, so either autumn or spring then would be best.
Yes. Personally, I prefer the Spring trek, late October, when all the wildflowers are blooming.
That does sound lovely, and good for photos.
Yes, the weather is perfect for photography and there are many amazing vistas as well as
flora to photograph. Are you thinking of going by yourself?
No, there is a group of us, four people in all.
If you can find a 5th then you can get a group discount.
Really?
Yes, we give a 15% discount on groups of 5 to 10 people. Alternatively, you can pay a little
more and get a personalised trek for 5 of you. Unfortunately, we don’t do customised treks
for less than 5 people.
I hadn’t considered that but it sounds like a good idea. I think I’ll discuss it with the others.
Just remember that you will need to book early for Spring or Autumn as they are very
popular times to visit and there is a limit on how many tours we can do.
Oh, ok. Thanks, I’ll be in touch soon then.
Section 2
adapted from : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year#First_day
Chinese New Year is the Chinese festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional
Chinese calendar. The festival is usually referred to as the Spring Festival in mainland China, and is one
of several Lunar New Years in Asia. Observances traditionally take place from the evening preceding the
first day of the year to the Lantern Festival, held on the 15th day of the year. The first day of Chinese
23
New Year begins on the new moon that appears between 21 January and 20 February. In 2019, the first
day of the Chinese New Year will be on Tuesday, 5 February, initiating the Year of the pig.
Chinese New Year is one of the world's most prominent and celebrated festivals, and is the cause of the
largest annual mass human migration in the world. It is a major holiday in Greater China and has
strongly influenced the lunar new year celebrations of China's neighbouring cultures, including the
Korean New Year , the Tết of Vietnam, and the Losar of Tibet. It is also celebrated worldwide in regions
and countries with significant Overseas Chinese populations, these including Singapore, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines and Mauritius, as well as many countries in
North America and Europe.
With one of the largest Chinese populations outside of Asia, Sydney also claims to have the largest
Chinese New Year Celebrations outside of Asia with over 600,000 people attending the celebrations in
Chinatown annually. The events there span over three weeks including the launch celebration, outdoor
markets, evening street food stalls, Chinese top opera performances, dragon boat races, a film festival
and multiple parades that incorporate Chinese, Japanese, Korean people and Vietnamese performers.
More than 100,000 people attend notably the main parade with over 3,500 performers. The festival also
attracts international media coverage, reaching millions of viewers in Asia. The festival in Sydney is
organized in partnership with a different Chinese province each year. Apart from Sydney, other state
capital cities in Australia also celebrate Chinese New Year due to large number of Chinese residents. In
the Melbourne suburb of Footscray, Victoria, a Lunar New Year celebration initially focusing on the
Vietnamese New Year has expanded into a celebration of the Chinese New Year as well as the April
New Year celebrations of the Thais, Cambodians, Laotians and other Asian Australian communities who
celebrate the New Year in either January/February or April.
Chinese New Year is associated with several myths and customs. The festival was traditionally a time to
honour deities as well as ancestors. Within China, regional customs and traditions concerning the
celebration of the New Year vary widely, and the evening preceding Chinese New Year's Day is
frequently regarded as an occasion for Chinese families to gather for the annual reunion dinner. It is also
traditional for every family to thoroughly clean their house, in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to
make way for incoming good luck. Another custom is the decoration of windows and doors with red
paper-cuts and couplets. Popular themes among these paper-cuts and couplets include that of good
fortune or happiness, wealth, and longevity. Other activities include lighting firecrackers and giving
money in red paper envelopes. For the northern regions of China, dumplings are featured prominently in
meals celebrating the festival.
The fifteenth day of the new year is celebrated as "Yuanxiao Festival" or the Lantern Festival, otherwise
known as Chap Go May; literally: "the fifteen night" in Fujian dialect. Rice dumplings , a sweet glutinous
rice ball brewed in a soup, are eaten this day. Candles are lit outside houses as a way to guide wayward
spirits home. This day is celebrated as the Lantern Festival, and families walk the street carrying lighted
lantern.
In China, Malaysia, and Singapore, this day is celebrated by individuals seeking a romantic partner, akin
to Valentine's Day. Nowadays, single women write their contact number on mandarin oranges and throw
them in a river or a lake after which single men collect the oranges and eat them. The taste is an
indication of their possible love: sweet represents a good fate while sour represents a bad fate.
This day often marks the end of the Chinese New Year festivities.
Section 3
Tutor
You are going to hear a lecturer discussing a project with three of his students; Justice,
Ash and Richard. Take some time to look at questions 21 to 30
I was reading your reflections and I was struck by the fact that all of you said you
learned a lot from this assignment. If you had to break it down? How much is the
24
assignment do you think spent really working on the math and working on the
presentation which was more time intensive for you?
Student Um I think like, just thinking about it now I’d say working on the video itself was the
most time intensive but most of the thought went into like doing the math.
Tutor
okay
Student Like easily I probably put like 40 hours into the video editing but that was like 40 hours
of mindless click of the, math even though it might have been as long, in my mind they
kinda scaled to be the same.
Tutor
Okay. So, if I’m hearing you right your saying that the video was more time consuming
but that the math part was the harder part. You all say in your reflections that you did
choose topics that were not your strengths. Is that still true, are those issues still your
weak points? Part of the point of the assignment was to turn weak points into
strengths, did that happen for you?
Richard Basically what happened, I took a unit I wasn’t good in and now that I’ve done it I
understand it a lot more so when we do have to do I can be, I can have confidence that
it’ll be no problem.
Tutor
Was that the same feeling you had Justice?
Justice
I felt like I don’t that they’re still like my best but I definitely understand a lot more
aspects of them and I see them in a new light. So they may not be my best stuff but
they’re certainly not my worst anymore and I see them a lot better.
Tutor
and what about you Ash?
Ash
Pretty much my whole answer
Tutor
Okay, now all of you say in your reflection that you got value out of doing this
assignment. So, as I’m planning for next year my question of course is, is something I
should do again? Like, in your opinion is this a worthwhile learning experience?
students Well no I think it definitely is. It’s definitely helpful
We started a little bit late
We started planning about two or three weeks ago
We were probably planning more like a month and a half but we didn’t really start
working on it till about three weeks ago and even so that was like here and there and
then within the last two weeks it was like every day like five hours. Yeah we definitely
underestimated how long it would take to do everything.
Tutor
I guess the last thing I want to ask you is I heard you guys say that you got a lot out of
the assignment, that you would recommend it to students in the future, you
recommend that I do it again. Was it valuable to you in other ways, besides
mathematics?
Students Organisational skills and team work
Tutor
Organisational skills and team work
Justice
Yeah cos we had to set out like a timeline to make sure you got everything done. You
have to do like step by step so we kinda sorted out a timeline in the beginning and it
didn’t really get stuck to well. It was very loose so it definitely helped with that
because we were like, from now on timelines, deadlines.
Richard Well we’ll actually we’ll make our deadlines earlier than what the actual deadline is
just so that we can get it done on time.
Tutor
Cos, the last thing I want to ask is how do we make this thing better? What advice
would you give to me or perhaps to future students or even your future selves? For
example, I should have students submit a timeline.
Justice
Yeah, personally I think that would definitely work, you gotta like say that they need to
set a final deadline for the whole thing and a deadline for the questions because I think
that’s what messed us up the most is having to do the questions and the video editing.
25
Tutor
So, if you say in two weeks have your questions finished then they can devote the rest
of the time to presentation and creativity.
So, we’re gonna have students submitting a time line. Well guys we’ll stop there, that
really was the last question.
That is the end of section three
Section four
adapted from : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqkonSY__ic
Hello.
I am Terry Fisher.
This is the introduction to a series of 12 lectures on copyright.
My hope, in these lectures, is to provide you the following things:
First, an understanding of the basic principles of copyright law;
Second, an appreciation of the ways in which that law affects, for better and worse, creativity and
innovation in a wide variety of artistic and technical fields. (To that end, I will be providing you, along
the way, illustrations of the ways that copyright works in literature; music; film; photography; graphic
art; software; comedy; fashion; architecture; and so forth.)
Third, I will try to provide you a critical understanding of the main theories of copyright by which I
mean, the arguments, developed over several centuries by economists, philosophers, and political
theorists, concerning the purposes or functions of the copyright system.
These theories are not mere matters of academic curiosity and dispute. Copyright law is changing
very fast, in part in an attempt to address new technologies, and the lawmakers who are making the
changes are influenced by and in turn help to shape the competing theories of copyright.
So, to understand where the law is going and certainly if you wish to affect its trajectory you need to
know a fair amount about theory.
This brings me to the fourth and last of the ambitions: By the end of these lectures, I hope to have
increased your ability and confidence to make informed judgments concerning how, if at all, the
copyright system should be reformed.
SO, TO SUMMARIZE:
copyright law; its impact on creativity; theories of copyright; and ways in which the system could be
improved those are the general themes I will be addressing.
The themes are intertwined, of course, and I will try to identify, in the lectures, the relationships
among them.
When discussing details concerning copyright law, I will most often make reference to the rules
currently in force in the United States partly because I know that system best, and partly because,
for better or worse, US law is influential in many other jurisdictions. But I will also devote significant
attention to the differences between US law and the legal systems in other countries.
Now, a few words about the logistics of these lectures: Each will last roughly 90 minutes. A fair
amount of graphic and audiovisual materials will company the presentations. Consequently, it will
be best if you view recordings of the lectures on a computer or on a screen of some sort.
You could, of course, just listen to them, but you would be missing much illustrative material. The
most important of the supplementary visual materials will be two maps I have prepared. One covers
the main features of copyright law. The other covers the main features of copyright theory.
Both of the maps were created using the Mindmanager software program, and I will be displaying
the Mindmanager versions on your screens during these lectures. If you want to explore the maps
at your leisure, you can gain access to them through the CopyrightX website or through my
personal homepage, the address of which is: tfisher.org.
If you want to edit the maps, for example, to add your own notes or to supplement the links you will
need a software program of some sort. You can, of course, use Mindmanager -- which you can
obtain from the website for Mindjet -- but it is expensive. Other programs that can be used to import
and edit the maps include ithoughts, which is available for a modest price, and XMind, an opensource program that is available for free.
Last but not least, if you want to explore the maps but not edit them, the easiest way to do so is to
use the "flash" based versions, which are available on the CopyrightX website. To use those, you do
26
not need any software at all; they will open in most modern browsers. Together, the two maps
contains all of my lecture notes for all 12 of these lectures, plus links to a wide variety of additional
materials. The result is that they contain -- or provide access to -- a large amount of information and
commentary.
However, it is important that you understand their limitations. In particular, you should not think of
the first map as the equivalent of a treatise on copyright law; it is certainly not a comprehensive
survey of the law, and it contains some opinionated material that would be inappropriate in a
treatise. Rather it is a pedagogic aid -- a device intended to facilitate your understanding of -- and
capacity to remember -- the main features of the copyright system. I modify both of the maps with
some frequency. Most often, I do this to take into account changes in copyright statutes or treaties
or new judicial decisions.
Finally, if you have suggestions concerning the content of either map (bearing in mind, of course,
their limited purposes), feel free to e-mail me using the address listed on the CopyrightX website.
The same principle applies to these lectures. If you have suggestions concerning how they might
be improved -- please let me know, by sending a message to the same email address. This
concludes the introduction to lecture #1.
27
Reading
Questions 1 – 7
1. E
2. C
3. D
4. A
5. B
6.B
7. C
4 This job requires an independent worker _____
5 Requires multi-tasking and team work _____
6 This job is suitable for someone who likes to work with others _____
Help Wanted – Office worker
Woorup Primary
Must be able to multi-task and work well in a
team. Experience with MS office is essential.
Suitable for school leaver.
Hours: 9-5 Mon – Fri, 9-12 Sat
Send resume to: hrmagorr@gmail.com
School
Needs a cleaner who is flexible, with a
good eye for detail and can work on
their own initiative.
Wages: $18
Hours:
12 hours/week: split shift
To apply: Contact school office
Tel: 023 5674 546
Email: Woorupps@edu.net
28
Deepend Motel – Night manager
As Night Mangaer you will man the office
during the night hours and supervise the
night team. You will ensure that excellent
service is delivered at all times. You will
act as first point of contact for guest
queries during this time and ensure that
Night Audits are completed.
Hours: 39 hours per week
Salary: $40,000 – 50, 000
Email: deependmotel@yahoo.com
Part-time Cashier Wanted
We are looking for a responsible, friendly person
who can handle a lot of customers and remain
smiling. Experience is preferred but not necessary.
Wages: $17
Hours:
22 hours/week (Mon – Sat)
Location: Windbourne
Contact: (021) 7834 453/ rptlhr@gmail.com
Questions 1 - 7
Look at the five job advertisements on the previous page. For which job are the following
statements true?
Write the correct letter, A – E, in the spaces beside the questions 1 –7 below.
1 You need to like people and have a happy personality for this job. _____
2 Has the fewest hours per week _____ (tues + thurs = 5 hours)
3 This job includes running a team and office _____
4 This job requires an independent worker _____
5 Requires multi-tasking and team work _____
6 This job is suitable for someone who likes to work with others _____
7 This is a short-term job ____ (6 months)
29
8. FALSE
9. NOT GIVEN
10. TRUE
11. TRUE
12. FALSE
13. NOT GIVEN
Heathcliff Sports Centre
The Heathcliff sports centre is a hub combining both a private membership and many sporting clubs in one
convenient location.
Membership of the sports centre does not automatically qualify you with entry to every part of the centre8,
but all privately owned facilities offer generous discounts to centre members.
Membership is payable monthly or annually and there are student discounts available. To find out more
about membership you can go to our website: www.heathcliffsports.co.au
INDOOR FACILITIES
25 metre heated pool – open only from 9am – 7pm Monday to Thursday and 9am – 9pm Friday to Sunday.10
Badminton and squash courts – open from 9am to 9pm seven days a week, however on weekends the courts
are reserved for competitions from 9am to 2pm11. Members are welcome to sign up and compete but must
have registered by 2pm of the Thursday prior and if they are not members of the badminton club must pay a
$7.50 registration fee.12
Apex Gym – open from 7am – 9pm Monday to Friday and 9am – 9pm Saturday and Sunday. The gym is
privately owned and not part of the sports centre, however members of the sports centre get a 50%
discount on gym membership or can pay as they go at a rate of $6 per visit.
OUTDOOR FACILITIES
Tennis courts – open from 8am to 9pm every day excepting Saturdays when the courts are reserved for
competitions from 10am to 4pm. Use of the courts is free for centre members but you must book the courts
at least 24 hours in advance. The Tennis club welcomes new members and offers lessons for aspiring tennis
players of all ages. Competitions are open to everyone and the schedule is displayed on the centre
noticeboard. Registration for non-tennis club members is $8.00 per event and registration must be done
one week in advance.
Outdoor swimming pool – this pool is not heated and is only open from November to April. At these times
the pool is open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Thursday and 7am to 11pm Friday to Saturday. Entry is free to
sports centre members. During the swimming season the pool will be closed for a maximum of three
Saturdays for competitions. The dates will be displayed on the centre notice board. The swimming club
welcomes new members and runs a learn to swim program during December. Swimmers are welcome to
join club training sessions which are held at 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday. To join the club or enter
competitions contact the swimming club secretary on (53) 6849003.
30
Questions 14 - 20
14. flexible working arrangements / flexi-time
15. carer
16. balance
17. children
18. absenteeism
19. employer
20. 55 years old
Flexible Working Arrangements: Information for employees
The Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act) provides employees in the national workplace relations system with a legal
right to request flexible working arrangements (flexi-tme). To be eligible you must have worked for your
employer for at least 12 months on a full-time or part-time basis14. Long term casual employees who have a
reasonable expectation of ongoing employment are also eligible. A long-term casual employee would usually
have been employed on a regular and systematic basis for at least 12 months. Employees are eligible to
request flexi-time in the following circumstances:
• the employee is a parent, or has responsibility for the care of a child who is of school age or younger
• the employee is a carer (within the meaning of the Carer Recognition Act 2010)15
• the employee has a disability
• the employee is 55 or older
• the employee is experiencing violence from a member of the employee’s family or
• the employee provides care or support to a member of their immediate family or household who
requires care or support because they are experiencing violence from the member’s family.
Employers must seriously consider a request for flexible working arrangements but may refuse on reasonable
business grounds. See below for more information on reasonable business grounds.
Why make flexible working arrangements?
Flexi-time assists employees to achieve balance between work and their personal lives16. For example, they
can help parents manage the demands that come with being a parent of a young child, school age child or a
child with a disability, such as picking-up and dropping-off at childcare, caring for sick children, and
attending medical and other appointments17.
Flexible working arrangements can also benefit businesses by increasing staff retention, decreasing
absenteeism18 and achieving greater productivity through increased employee job satisfaction. More
information about flexible working arrangements can be found in the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Work and
family best practice guide.
Common flexible working arrangements include:
• changed starting and finishing times
• part-time work or job sharing
• working more hours over fewer days
• working additional hours to make up for time taken off
• taking rostered days off in half days or more flexibly
• time off work instead of overtime payments, or
• changing the location of work or the need to travel to work (for example, working from home).
31
There are other kinds of flexible arrangements. The key is to find the arrangement that best suits you and your
employer.19
Examples: Eligibility for flexible working arrangements
3. Greg wants to start work at 10am instead of 9am so he can take his son to pre-school. He can request
flexible working arrangements to help him care for his son.
4. Shirley is 60 years old and wants to finish early on Wednesdays so she can volunteer at her local
hospital. She can request flexi-time because she is over 55 years old.20
Adapted from https://www.fairwork.gov.au/how-we-will-help/templates-and-guides/best-practice-guides/the-right-to-request-flexible-workingarrangements © Fair Work Ombudsman www.fairwork.gov.au
Questions 21 – 27
21. award
22. Awards page
23. 38 hours
24. holiday pay
25. each week
26 casual loading
27. probationary period / qualifying period
Your First Job
Looking for your first job or a new job? This can be an exciting time.
To help ensure you get a proper deal when you start your job, it is important to find out about your
rights and entitlements and what responsibilities you may have in the workplace.
Am I allowed to work?
Some state and territory governments have minimum age restrictions about when you can get a job
and when you are allowed to work. To find out whether any restrictions apply to you, contact the
relevant government department in your state or territory.
What are my employment conditions?
When you accept a job, you will agree to work for your employer under certain terms and conditions.
Generally, those terms and conditions will be set out verbally, in a letter of offer, or instrument such as
an enterprise agreement or 21an award. While there are a number of documents that can set out the
terms and conditions of your employment, most of them are likely to be set out in an award or
instrument that applies to you. Visit the Awards page22 or contact the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94 for
information on what award or enterprise agreement applies to you.
Generally, you will be employed either on a casual, permanent part-time or full-time basis.
Full-time permanent employees
32
23
Full-time employees normally work 38 hours per week (plus reasonable additional hours) and have an
ongoing contract of employment. As a full-time employee, you are entitled to benefits such as sick
leave, holiday pay24, long service leave and carer's or other types of leave.
Part-time permanent employees
Part-time employees are engaged for less than full-time hours but with similar entitlements to fulltime employees. If you work part-time you will most likely receive an amount of annual leave and
personal/carer's leave calculated according to the number of hours you work each week.25
Casual employees
You may be a casual employee even if you are given a different title. If you are employed as a casual
employee, you do not normally have guaranteed hours of work each week and may be called to work
at short notice. Casuals are not entitled to sick leave and annual leave. However, as a casual employee,
you will normally be paid a casual loading26 instead of getting the permanent employee entitlements.
Probationary or qualifying periods
So that you and your employer can decide whether you can satisfactorily do a job, you may be subject
to a probationary or qualifying period27 when you start employment. You are always entitled to be
paid your full rate of pay for all the work you do during a probationary or qualifying period.
Hours of work
Your hours of work will depend on the industry in which you work and the award or agreement you
work under. There may be minimum hours that you will be required to work. If you work hours outside
of your agreed hours, then you may be entitled to overtime pay.
Adapted from https://www.fairwork.gov.au/how-we-will-help/templates-and-guides/best-practice-guides/a-guide-for-young-workers © Fair Work
Ombudsman www.fairwork.gov.au
33
Questions 28 – 40
28. iii
29. viii
30. i
31. ix
32. vi
33. x
34. ii
35. v
36. flexible
37. rough black basalt
38. rivers
39. gravel
40. slowly
Travelling in Iceland
Adapted from: https://wikitravel.org/en/Iceland
A
Iceland is a stunningly beautiful place if you enjoy strange and desolate landscapes. The amount of daylight
varies dramatically by season with the midnight sun occurring in June when sun never truly sets and there are
20-22 hours of full daylight . Iceland was first inhabited by Nordic and Celtic people in the 9th century CE tradition says that the first permanent settler was Ingólfur Arnarson, a Norwegian Viking who made his home
where Reykjavik now stands, however it is thought that Irish monks had temporarily inhabited the island some
years prior to this.
B
Despite its name, Iceland has surprisingly mild winters for a country at that latitude owing to the warming effect
of the Atlantic Gulf Stream. Iceland enjoys a maritime temperate climate and the average temperature in winter
is around 0°C, although the wind chill makes it feel a lot colder. The rapidly changing weather has given rise to
the local saying: 'If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes!' It's the kind of place where it's not unusual to
get rained on and sunburned at the same time. The summers are cooler and more temperate than elsewhere at
the same latitude and the temperature rarely exceeds 20°C.
C
It's a shame most visitors don't stray far from the capital as some of the most memorable sights in Iceland are
further afield. There are many excursions offered by tour companies, readily available from any of the main
centres such as Reykjavík and Akureyri. They will fly you around and take you out to the glaciers and to the big
volcanoes for a reasonable price. However, the cheapest option is to drive around with a rented car since none
of these sites have entry fees.
D
Some common activities to do in Iceland include hiking which in Iceland is no easy business, strong walking
boots which support your ankles are recommended as the terrain is usually craggy lava rock or springy moss
with hidden holes! Likewise, you'll need to be prepared for strong bursts of sideways rain and sleet, especially
in winter and shoulder seasons, and particularly in the mountains. Glacier hiking especially, is one of Iceland´s
most popular tourist things to do with the area of Skaftafell in the South East being the centre of activity.
E
34
Whitewater rafting is popular. In south you can raft on the big Hvita river. North Iceland has some of the best
rivers for rafting, Vestari and Austari Jokulsa. The companies offering rafting are located in Varmahlid. One of
them is Bakkaflot with really good facilities (hot pools, accommodation restaurant & drinks) to use after your
adventure. Finally, whale watching is available all year from Reykjavik and during the summer from Husavik,
but sightings are most common in summer in either place.
F
A car offers the most flexibility for travel around Iceland. Renting a car in Iceland is fairly expensive. Numerous
agencies rent vehicles, and ferries allow individuals to bring their own car with them. Rental prices include basic
car insurance, but additional insurance may be purchased36 to protect against damage from gravel or other
common mishaps. Read the fine-print however, because the things that usually break (windscreen, tyres,
bottom of the car) are usually excluded. Travellers can see the majority of Iceland's sights with a two-wheel
drive vehicle, but those interested in venturing into the interior or to places such as Landmannalaugar will need
four-wheel drive - and long experience at the wheel - as roads are rough and rivers may need to be crossed.
G
Drivers in Iceland should familiarize themselves with road signs and be prepared for Iceland's unique driving
conditions. The roads in Iceland are of a medium to low quality, typically made from slightly rough black
basalt37. Crossing 38rivers can be very dangerous, particularly if it has been raining, and should be done with
great caution. Driving on gravel can be a challenge, and loss of control on cliff-side roads can easily be fatal.
There are two signs in particular that foreigners should pay attention to. First, "malbik endar" means that the
road changes from a paved road to a gravel road39. Slow down before these changes, for one can lose control
easily. Also "einbreið brú" means that a one-lane bridge is approaching. Arrive at the bridge slowly40 and assess
the situation. If another car has arrived at the bridge first allow them the right of way.
H
The official language of Iceland is Icelandic (íslenska), which remains very similar to, although not quite the
same as 13th-century Norse. Icelandic is related to the other Scandinavian languages
(Danish, Swedish, Norwegian and Faroese), and while written forms may be mutually intelligible, this is hardly
the case with spoken forms. Most Icelanders speak English well and have a basic to moderate degree of
Danish (with a local accent), as both languages are compulsory in schools. Even though the majority of
Icelanders are competent in English, attempts at speaking Icelandic are always appreciated, and learning some
basic greetings and phrases in Icelandic will make your trip much smoother.
35
Writing Model Answers
these are only model answers, there are many other ways of writing answers and getting a good score.
Task 1
To the Director,
My name is Ms Zoe Chung and I am writing to the accommodation office to enquire about the possibility of
renting my furnished spare room out to one of your students.
I am an alumnus of the university and own a large ground floor three-bedroom apartment on Robertson
Street only five minutes’ walk from the campus. The room I wish to rent out contains a reverse cycle airconditioner, a built-in wardrobe, a double bed, a bookshelf/entertainment unit but no television, a large
desk and a chair. It also has its own ensuite bathroom which ensures privacy for whoever rents the room.
The other facilities would be shared, and the kitchen has a very large refrigerator and pantry which can be
divided to accommodate their groceries.
The rental is $400 a month with two months refundable deposit but covers all utilities and unlimited WiFi. I
would prefer a non-smoking female student, who is quiet, studious and tidy. I do not allow parties, but the
room is very large so can accommodate a few friends or study groups and I am not averse to the student
having the occasional friend sleeping overnight.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Kind regards,
Zoe Chung.
Task 2
Happiness is very subjective and often doesn’t correlate to our material well-being. This is obvious in the
younger generation in developed countries, who are healthier, wealthier and safer than their forebears but
often discontented.
The reasons for this are manifold but I believe social media is one of the main culprits. Social media is
ubiquitous and young people now live their lives in full public view of not just their family and friends but
also anyone on the internet who wants to follow them. Not only do people watch, they comment and young
people on social media run the risk of being criticised for every small thing about them, their looks, weight,
hobbies, food, anything at all really and this can cause them to become unsatisfied with their lives or even
severely depressed.
This is compounded by the number of ‘perfect’ people on social media. Young people often don’t realise
that the photos and stories these people post are not ‘real’ but have been carefully staged, so the youths on
social media learn to have unrealistic expectations of what their own lives should be like which leads to
unhappiness.
To combat this youths need to be educated about how to cope with the negative aspects of social media.
For example, campaigns on social media to explain and show how the ‘perfect’ shot is made and more
realistic posts would go a long way to making young people feel better about their own lives. In addition,
teens should be taught to not overvalue the opinions of people on the internet and to value their real
friendships instead where they will hopefully get positive feedback and emotional support, not the hateful
comments often found on their social media posts.
We cannot eradicate social media but by educating the younger generation about its pitfalls, they might
become happier.
36
jenteoesol@hotmail.com
https://ieltsnesolkuching.weebly.com/
General IELTS Test 1 2019
Contains 1 complete test with answers and explanations
Audio for listening can be found at:
jenteoesol@hotmail.com
https://ieltsnesolkuching.weebly.com/