Table of Contents
BEST IELTS General Reading Test 238
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST – PASSAGE – 2
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST
READING PASSAGE – 2
Surgical Mask
A Surgical mask, also known as a medical face mask, is a personal protective equipment worn by health professionals during medical procedures.
It prevents airborne transmission of infections between patients and treating personnel by blocking the movement of pathogens shed in respiratory droplets and aerosols into and from the wearer’s mouth and nose. Typically, quite impermeable to moisture, the mask act as an additional barrier for the airway and are not usually designed to completely prevent the wearer from inhaling smaller airborne pathogens but could be still protective by filtering out and trapping most of the droplets that carry them. There is a predominance of evidence that surgical masks protect both the wearer by filtering the inhaled air and bystanders by blocking down forceful exhalations from the wearer that can spread pathogens afar
IELTS General Reading Test
Surgical masks were originally designed to protect medical personnel from accidentally breathing or swallowing in splashes or sprays of bodily fluids, but the effectiveness of surgical masks against infections has not been confirmed by high-quality randomized controlled trials. Commonly seen surgical masks vary greatly by quality and levels of protection. Despite their name, not all surgical masks are appropriate to be used during surgery. Surgical masks may be labeled as surgical, isolation, dental or medical procedure masks. Chinese health officials differentiate between medical (non-surgical) and surgical masks. Surgical masks are made of a nonwoven fabric created using a melt blowing process. They came into use in the 1960s and largely replaced cloth facemasks in developed countries. The dark blue (or green) side of the mask (the fluid-repellent layer) is to be worn outward, with the white (absorbent) layer on the inside. With respect to some infections like influenza surgical masks could be as effective as respirators, Such as N95 or FFP masks; though the latter provide better protection in laboratory experiments due to their material, shape, and tight seal.
IELTS General Reading Test
The use of surgical masks during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a subject o debate, as mask shortage is a central issue. Surgical masks are popularly worn by the general public all year round in East Asian countries like China, Japan, and South Korea, especially during allergy and flu seasons, to reduce the chance of spreading airborne diseases to people nearby. Also, to prevent the breathing in of airborne irritants such as pollens or dust particles created by air pollution.
Additionally, surgical masks have become a fashion statement, particularly in contemporary East Asian culture bolstered by its popularity in Japanese and Korean pop culture which have a Dig impact on East Asian youth culture. During the COVID-19 pandemic, face masks, such as surgical masks and cloth masks, have been employed as a public and personal health contro measure against the spread of SARS-CoV-2. In both community and healthcare settings, tne use is intended as source control to limit transmission of the virus and personal protection to prevent infection. Their function for source control is emphasized in community settings. AS the pandemic raged on, healthcare workers were required to continue wearing surgical masks tour or more hours a day. In is caused the ear loops of the masks to chafe the back of their ears. Ea savers, plastic straps and hooks that 9o around wearer’s heads, were invented to move the ea loops away from the wearers ears. They could be made on demand by using 3D printing Process
IELTS General Reading Test
QUESTION 15-21
Complete the fill ups below.
Write no more than THREE WORDS or NUMBERS for each answer
15. Surgical masks avert aerial spread of contaminations among …………… and medical staff.
16. The surgical masks not only shield the person donning the mask but also the ………………..
17. Experiments have been performed that have not yet demonstrated mask’s ability to Counter………………….
18. Surgical and medical masks have been distinguished by the ……………………………..
19 …………………………… masks give improved defence established on laboratory tests.
20. People in some countries put on surgical masks to lower the prospects of circulating …………………………… illnesses to others.
21. Healthcare workers faced problems when the back of their ears rubbed against the …………………….
IELTS General Reading Test
READ THE TEXT BELOW AND QUESTION 22-26
ISBN-The Book Identifier
The International Standard Book Number (1SBN) is a numeric commercial book identifier which is intended to be unique. Publishers purchase ISBNs from an affiliate of the International ISBN Agency. An ISBN is assigned to each separate edition and variation with the exemption of reprinting of a publication. For example, an e-book, a paperback, and a hardcover edition of the same book will each have a different ISBN. The ISBN is ten digits long if assigned before 2007, and thirteen digits long if assigned on or after 1 January 2007. The method of designating an ISBN is nation-specific and contrasts between countries, often reliant on how large the publishing industry is within a country. The initial ISBN identification format was devised in 1967, based upon the 9-digit Standard Book Numbering (SBN) created in 1966. The 10-digit ISBN format was developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and was published in 1970 as international standard ISO 2108 (the 9-digit SBN code can be converted to a 10-digit ISBN by prefixing it with a zero digit 0). Privately published books sometimes appear exclusive of an ISBN. The International ISBN Agency sometimes assigns such books ISBNs on its own initiative.
IELTS General Reading Test
Another identifier, the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN), identifies periodical Publications such as magazines and newspapers. The International Standard Music Number (ISMN) covers musical scores. The Standard Book Number (SBN) is a commercial system using nine-digit code numbers to identify books. It was created by Gordon Foster, Emeritus Professor of Statistics at Trinity College, Dublin, for the booksellers and stationers WHSmith and others in 1965. The ISBN identification format was conceived in 1967 in the United Kingdom by David Whitaker (regarded as the “Father of the ISBN”) and in 1968 in the United States by Emery Koltay (who later became director of the U.S. ISBN agency R. R. Bowker). The 10-digit ISBN format was developed by the International Organization for Standardization (1SO) and was published in 1970 as international standard ISO 2108. The United Kingdom continued to use the nine-digit SBN code until 1974. ISO has appointed the International ISBN Agency as the registration authority for ISBN worldwide and the ISBN Standard is developed under the control of ISO Technical Committee 46/Subcommittee 9 TC 46/SC 9. The ISO on-line facility only refers back to 1978.
An SBN may be converted to an ISBN by prefixing the digit “0”. For example, the second edition of Mr. J. G. Reeder Returns, published by Hodder in 1965, has “SBN 340 01381 8”, where “340” indicates the publisher, “01381” is the serial number assigned by the publisher, and “8” is the check digit. By prefixing a zero, this can be converted to ISBN 0-340-01381-8; the check digit does not need to be re-calculated. Some publishers, such as Ballantine Books, would sometimes use 12-digit SBNs where the last three digits indicated the price of the book for example, Woodstock Handmade Houses had a 12-digit Standard Book Number of 345-24223-8- 595 (valid SBN: 345-24223-8, ISBN: 0-845-24223-8), and it cost US$5.95. Since 1 January 2007, ISBNs have contained thirteen digits, a format that is compatible with “Bookland” European Article Numbers, which have 13 digits.
IELTS General Reading Test
QUESTION 22-26
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?
TRUE It the statement agrees with the information.
FALSE If the statement contradicts the information.
NOT GIVEN If there is no information on this.
22. A fresh ISBN is assigned to a book when it is reprinted.
23. The procedure of assigning an ISBN is identical in all the countries.
24. Books cannot be independently published without an ISBN.
25. Writers cannot publish books without an ISO registration.
26. The 12-digit ISBN was introduced so that the last three digits of the ISBN could easily signify the price of the book.
IELTS General Reading Test
ANSWERS ARE BELOW
IELTS General Reading Test
ANSWER
15. PATIENTS
16. BYSTANDERS
17. INFECTIONS
18. CHINESE HEALTH OFFICIALS
19. FPP OR N95 OR RESPIRATORS
20. AIRBONE
21. EAR LOOPS
22. FALSE
23. FALSE
24. FALSE
25. NOT GIVEN
26. NOT GIVEN
IELTS General Reading Test