Table of Contents
BEST IELTS General Reading Test 264
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST – PASSAGE – 2
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST
READING PASSAGE – 2
Ways to Commute to Work
There is an old saying that, where one’s job is concerned, “showing up is half the battle.” To be sure, commuting-defined as the trip to and from your job each day-is an important part of your work life. Below, we will look at the various commuting choices you can make.
Driving a car
Where convenience is concerned, this may be the very best method of getting to your jobsite. However, this method is not without its disadvantages. There are considerable costs to purchasing a car, and insuring, fueling, and maintaining the car for the years to come.
Riding a motorbike
In an increasingly petrol-conscious world, the motorbike, with its very efficient use of petrol, has become a very trendy way to ride to work in style. On the downside, motorbikes leave their drivers more vulnerable to injury, and cannot be ridden safely in extreme weather.
IELTS General Reading Test
Using a bicycle
Bicycling to work and back offers a double benefit: you can get vigorous exercise, and there is no petrol involved whatsoever. Unlike motorbikes, bicycles can be ridden in most weather conditions. Still, bicycling in inclement weather can be unpleasant, and this mode of transport takes considerably more time than car rides.
Carpooling
Riding in a car with others is a great way to save money and socialise on your commute. Carpooling also comes with state-sanctioned perks, as you can drive in the reserved “carpool lane” of the highway, which is less prone to traffic jams. So carpooling can mean shorter ride times.
Taking public transport
In most cities, public transport takes the form of either a bus ride or a train ride. Some commutes involve bus and train together. Public transport comes at a low cost and saves commuters from the burden of operating a vehicle themselves. But if there are excessive transfers on your route to work, this mode of commute can become very time consuming.
IELTS General Reading Test
Walking
For many, walking is not thought of as commuting. But it does count in this category; walking is comparable to the other commuting methods listed, as it is a way to get to work. If you live near your job, this is a completely cost-free, leisurely way to go to work and back. When this method is possible, the lack of expense is very appealing.
Telecommuting
In spite of its name, telecommuting cannot be a true member of this list, and instead could be classified as an “honourable mention” that does not entail travelling to and from work at all. Telecommuting is possible when your boss allows you to work remotely, an increasingly common option in the Internet age.
IELTS General Reading Test
Questions 15 – 21
Look at the following descriptions (questions 15 -21) in the box below.
Match each description with the correct activity, A-F
Write the appropriate letter A-F in the box after questions 1-7.
15. Little fuel is used.
16. This, by definition, is not commuting.
17. There are laws that support this type of commuting.
18. This method is relaxed.
19. There are two common ways to do it.
20. Expense is one drawback of this method .
21. A riding experience suitable for almost any weather.
Ways to Commute
A. Driving a car
B. Riding a motorbike
C. Using a bicycle
D. Carpooling
E. Taking public transport
F. Walking
IELTS General Reading Test
READ THE TEXT BELOW AND QUESTIONS
How to Do a Cost-Benefit Analysis
Any time a work team is considering starting a new project, they must carefully consider whether or not the project is worthwhile. Teams should assess several important aspects of all new projects to determine whether or not to move forward.
A It is important to identify the population that will be impacted by the project. Is this project designed to increase satisfaction in customers, or to help workers in some way? For that matter, which group of customers, workers, or other stakeholders will benefit from the effort?
B It is also crucial to consider not only who will be impacted, but how many people will be impacted. When examining a project proposal, a work team should estimate the number of people who will see some sort of benefit if the project comes to fruition. Think carefully, and check your numbers with other people. Sometimes an initial estimate can be changed under further examination. (And of course, if the project impacts just a few individual people, it would need to have a very low cost.)
IELTS General Reading Test
C Once it is apparent who will be affected by a proposed action, look at the project in terms of the overall difference it could make. How much will a project change the experience of its target population?
D Of course, it can be hard to measure the degree of change a project brings about without also looking at the specific changes that might be made. In other words, what specific changes will people experience on a personal level once the project is completed?
E Projects need to not only be beneficial, but also affordable. Work teams should consider how much spending is needed to finish and implement a project, and weigh the expenditures against the possible benefits of the proposal.
F Bear in mind that not all costs have an obvious price tag. If your team is considering undertaking a project, think of how much time must be spent completing it. Work hours have their cost as well!
IELTS General Reading Test
G Once a work team has done their best to weigh cost and benefits, team members should discuss exactly how much confidence they have in the estimates they’ve made. If employees have a lot of doubts about their predictions, more research may be needed to determine whether or not a project is viable.
Questions 22 – 28
The passage on page 25 has 7 sections, A – G.
Choose the correct heading for each section from the list of headings below.
i What do project finances look like?
ii Is your team of analysts diverse enough?
iii Who will benefit most from the project?
iv Do your findings need to be investigated further?
v What is the difference between one project and another?
vi How big is the target population?
vii How will the project impact individuals?
viii What is the duration of the project?
ix Is the impact of the project too personal?
x What is the total impact on the target group(s)?
22. Section A ________
23. Section B ________
24. Section C ________
25. Section D ________
26. Section E ________
27. Section F ________
28. Section G ________
IELTS General Reading Test
ANSWERS ARE BELOW
IELTS General Reading Test
ANSWERS
15 B
16 G
17 D
18 F
19 E
20 A
21 C
22 Section A: iii
23 Section B: vi
24 Section C: x
25 Section D: vii
26 Section E: i
27 Section F: viii
28 Section G: iv
IELTS General Reading Test