Table of Contents
BEST IELTS General Reading Test 198
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST 198 – PASSAGE – 1
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST – 198
READING PASSAGE – 1
Read the text below and answer Questions 1-8.
INCREDIBLE HOMES
A. Antilla, Mumbai – The first Billion dollar home o 1 Mukesh Ambani, the fifth richest man in the world and head of the Mumbai based petrochemical giant Reliance Industries is estimated to be worth somewhere around $43 billion. He is also the owner to-be of’ a 27-story skyscraper in downtown Mumbai that is to cost him colossal $2 billion! His wife Nita Ambani was staying in the Mandarin Oriental in New York and was so impressed with the interior Asian style decor that she wanted something similar for her to live in.
What resulted from that is the world’s largest and most expensive home ever. Every story in the Antilla’s skyscraper home will be built to a different specification. The vast variation of materials to be used in its build has tremendously added to its overall cost. The meticulous planning that has gone into this architectural design is astounding and once the 27 -story tower is built it will certainly become a spectacular site for all eyes. Hirsch Bedner Associates are the designers behind this project.
IELTS General Reading Test
B. Updown Court, England – The most important private residence to be built in England since the 19th century ($150 million) Updown Court is situated only 25 miles from London, and through a pair of large sophisticated iron gates, one can see a palatial construction of immense scale and beauty. The property, however, is best known for its price tag: more than 85 million British pounds (+$150 million U$, with 103 rooms, five swimming pools and 24-carat-gold leafing on the study’s mosaic floor.
There’s a squash court, bowling alley, tennis court, 50-seat screening room, heated marble driveway and helipad. Eight limousines will fit in the underground garage. Then there are the neighbors, who include the queen (at Windsor Castle) and Elton John. It is listed with Savills and Hamptons International resorts. So, even if your blood doesn’t run blue, with enough green you can still live near and like royalty!
C. Fleur De Lys, Beverly Hills — Mariah Carey’s palace: For the woman with the most expensive pair of legs, it was only fair she also had one of the most expensive houses in the world. Mariah Carey apparently had no problem scraping together a nice down payment on this palace in Beverly Hills. The Fleur De Lys is among the world’s most expensive estates with an asking price of $125 million.
IELTS General Reading Test
Maria Carey’s new digs were built by a Texan billionaire on 5 acres; it is 41,000 square feet of pure diva luxury and will also be modeled after the most extravagant home of its time: the Palace of Versaille, the former home of Marie Antoinette. Surrounding the mansion are rolling lawns, ornamental gardens and mature trees, a 3,000-square-foot manager’s house, staff quarters for 10 people, a spa and pool with a pavilion, a championship tennis court, and a lavish garden folly.
D. Hearst Mansion, Beverly Hill —The Godfather Mansion: This Beverly Hills mansion has been advertised for sale at $165m (£81.4m), making it one of the most expensive residential property listed in the US. The former home of US newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst has bedrooms, three swimming pools, tennis courts, its own cinema and a nightclub. He has decorated the property with statues brought north from his famous Hearst Castle in San Simeon and with life-size paintings of Davies.
Mr. Hearst bought the H-shaped mansion in 1947 for about $120,000. In 2007, the estate’s current owner, who bought it in 1976, put the home on the market for US$165 million. The home’s buyer will have some notable neighbours, including Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes and David and Victoria Beckham.
IELTS General Reading Test
Questions 1 – 8
Which paragraph contains the following information about the houses?
Write your answers A- D in boxes 1- 8 on your answer sheet.
NB: You may use any letter more than once.
1. The house is popular for its sculptural art and paintings.
2. Common people can live in this Grand house.
3. The house is currently in the market for sale.
4. The house will further undergo modulation.
5. This house is inspired with specific kind of decor.
6. The name of the architect who built the house.
7. This house belonged to a media magnate.
8. This house has used different kind of building supplies and equipments in its making.
IELTS General Reading Test
Read the text below and answer Questions 9-16.
THE BEST GYM FOR YOUR WALLET
Planet Fitness
The notoriously colorful Planet Fitness is spacious and has ample equipment at it’s numerous locations across 48 states. Planet Fitness prides itself in being the “judgement free zone,” or a gym where the occasional athlete will feel comfortable navigating themselves around. According to the New York Times, Planet Fitness can be summed up as a “gym for people who don’t like gyms.” It also offers weekly aerobic and cardio classes to work with your busy schedule. There are a few different membership options at Planet Fitness.
A Black Card member pays a $10 start up fee, and a proceeding $20.00 a month for a minimum of 12 months, however it comes with a few enticing benefits The Black Card membership has reciprocity at any location across the country — so working out during a beach vacation is a possibility. With the card, you are granted unlimited use of massage chairs and tanning beds, 50% off of cooler drinks, and you can bring one guest per day for free. If you’re planning on recruiting a gym buddy to motivate you, this might be the membership for you.
IELTS General Reading Test
Planet Fitness also offers a No Commitment membership, which costs $5 to sign up and $10 every month. It’s really cost efficient, and you do have the option to drop out of the offer at any time, so it is a good way to get in shape for the summer months.
The Burn Calories membership or Not Cash offer is the most standard of the three. With a $20 start up fee and $10 a month for a minimum of 12 months, it will cost a flat rate of $140 for the year.
The membership offers at Planet Fitness have very specific deadlines and expiration dates, so before you sign up, be sure to call a location near you to ensure that you’re getting the best deal possible.
IELTS General Reading Test
Questions 9-14
The passage related to planet fitness offers three programs or memberships.
Which statement matches the offers in services of the membership labeled A, B and C .
A. No commitment membership
B. Black card membership
C. Bum caloric membership
9. This membership would allow you to terminate your enrolment at any time.
10. This membership is the basic one.
11. This membership is suitable for specific months.
12. This membership would allow anyone to take benefit of recreational and body soothing activities.
13. This would include termination at a fixed point.
14. This membership would allow anyone to approach nearest possible centre possibly in any City.
IELTS General Reading Test
Questions 15 & 16
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text? In boxes 15 & 16 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.
15. Planet fitness is not for amateurs.
16. According to a famous newspaper the gym can increase interest of people those who do not prefer to exercise.
IELTS General Reading Test
ANSWERS ARE BELOW
IELTS General Reading Test
ANSWERS
1. D
2. B
3. D
4. C
5. A
6. D
7. D
8. A
9. B
10. B
11. A
12. C
13. A
14. B
15. FALSE
16. FALSE
IELTS General Reading Test