Product Recall: Healthfast & Taking A Holiday In Canada – On A Budget - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Trainer 2 General Training Reading Test 5 · Part 1 · Questions 1–14
Reading Passage
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-14, which are based on the two texts below. Read the text below and answer Questions 1-7.
Product recall: Healthfast
A Healthfast Vitamins and Wellbeing wishes to inform its retailers and customers that foreign material has been found in some bottles and containers of its vitamins and supplements. These foreign items include sawdust, paint chips and metal shavings.
B Batches affected
You will find the batch number printed on the bottom of the jar or container.
Goodnight Formula3 P6617–P6628
Healthfast Diet Support tablets N5990–N5992
Anti-stress Formula DR5938–DR5941
C If the batch number has worn off or you have any queries relating to the recall, please call the dedicated hotline on 1800 98887777. Alternatively, our retailers have been briefed and are being regularly updated, so you may enquire at the outlet where the purchase was made.
D These products are available nationwide, but reports of faulty items have come from the Sussex Cove area, leading us to believe that they have been tampered with locally. However, in the interests of security, we urge all customers who have products from the list above to return them immediately, either to point of purchase or via post to head office (Freepost SU9877). If you have opened the bottle / container, please inspect and report any irregularities.
E Refunds
As the manufacturer, the health and safety of our customers is paramount. We will provide a refund for any unopened bottle or container from the list above, no questions asked. We will be inspecting these in order to continue to ascertain and monitor the situation.
F If you have consumed vitamins or supplements from the affected batches, we would be grateful if you could complete the attached survey and report the place of purchase of the product. Please note that our children's supplement range and Sportsboost vitamins have not been affected and do not need to be returned.
G Healthfast Vitamins and Wellbeing will pay a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to the conviction of any person found guilty of tampering with its products. If you have such information, please contact Regina Giese, Customer Relations Manager, Healthfast Vitamins and Wellbeing, at rgiese@healthfast.co.
______________
Read the text below and answer Questions 8-14.
Taking a holiday in Canada – on a budget
Canada is often considered to be an expensive place to travel because of the climate, vast distances and high cost of domestic travel, but this doesn't have to be the case. Below are some tips to help plan a Canadian trip that won't break the bank.
Getting around
- Buses and trains in Canada are reliable but can be expensive and limit where you are able to go. One option for travelling between and within cities is a rideshare scheme. Locals with empty seats in their cars will take you from A to B for a fee.
- If you want to hire a car, don't assume you have to go with a big company. There are lesser-known companies that hire out older cars, which are still reliable. Either way, there are savings to be had when you book outside the peak months (May, June and September). Be aware of add-on costs, however. The base rate does not generally include car insurance or unlimited kilometres.
- If your dates are flexible, you may make great savings with a campervan relocation deal. These deals come up when a rental company needs a vehicle moved from one office to another one way for example, Halifax to Montreal. An online search will quickly reveal such opportunities, though not often far in advance.
Activities
- National parks offer a great array of choices for those who love breathtaking scenery and outdoor activities. If you like kayaking, paddle boarding or mountain biking, rent the gear outside of national parks for more budget-friendly options. For example, the University of Calgary rent summer and winter camping gear and equipment for outdoor activities.
- Doing some online research before your trip will save both time and money when you get there.
Food
- When going from a big city to the Rocky Mountains, stock up on supplies from a major supermarket first. Most of the larger supermarket chains have many options for prepared food and some will even heat it up for you in the deli section.
- Most city parks and campsites have barbecue grills that can be used by anyone. You only need to buy aluminium trays and whatever food you would like to grill.
Questions
Questions 1–7 Matching Information
The reading text above has seven sections, A-G.
Which section mentions the following information?
Write the correct letter, A-G.
NB You may use any letter more than once.
1
which exact products are being recalled
2
what the manufacturer will do with returned products
3
who to contact to find out more
4
what to do if you have bought a recalled product but have not used it
5
what the manufacturer is offering for details of the crime
6
where recalled products were sold
7
why the products are being recalled
Questions 8–14 True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
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
8
Train and bus fares cost the same amount.
9
Fees for hire cars usually cover the cost of insuring the vehicle.
10
Deals for relocating vehicles are only in major cities.
11
Deals to relocate vehicles tend to come up close to the time of departure.
12
National parks are the cheapest option for hiring outdoor equipment.
13
Warm food is available at some supermarkets.
14
Public parks often have facilities for cooking food.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | B | Goodnight Formula3 P6617–P6628 Healthfast Diet Support tablets N5990–N5992 Anti-stress Formula DR5938–DR5941 | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage shows the names of the three specific items and the group numbers printed on the bottles that are being called back by the company. Answer Explanation: The answer is section B, which provides a list of the specific types of vitamins and supplements that customers need to return. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because this section identifies the specific products that have problems. It lists the names of three formulas—one for sleep, one for dieting, and one for stress—along with their specific identification numbers. By looking at this list, a customer knows exactly which items are 'affected' and part of the recall. |
| Q2 | E | We will provide a refund for any unopened bottle or container from the list above, no questions asked. We will be inspecting these in order to continue to ascertain and monitor the situation | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says the company will give customers their money back and will look closely at the returned bottles to see what is wrong and watch the situation. Answer Explanation: The answer is Section E because it describes what the company will do after items are sent back, such as giving money back and checking the products. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is E because it explains the manufacturer's actions regarding the products returned by customers. It states that the company will 'provide a refund' (give money back) and will be 'inspecting' the items (checking them carefully). The word 'inspecting' is the main action the manufacturer takes with the actual physical products to understand the problem. |
| Q3 | C | If the batch number has worn off or you have any queries relating to the recall, please call the dedicated hotline on 1800 98887777. Alternatively, our retailers have been briefed and are being regularly updated, so you may enquire at the outlet where the purchase was made | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage suggests calling a special phone line or asking at the store if you have questions or want to find out more about the status of the products. Answer Explanation: The answer is section C, which explains that you can call a specific phone number or speak to store staff if you need more information or have questions. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is section C because it mentions how to get help if you have "queries" (questions) about the product return. It gives a phone number called a "hotline" and suggests talking to people at the store ("outlet") where the item was bought. To "enquire" means to ask for information. |
| Q4 | D | However, in the interests of security, we urge all customers who have products from the list above to return them immediately, either to point of purchase or via post to head office (Freepost SU9877) | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that for safety, all people who have these items should give them back right away. They can bring them to the shop where they bought them or mail them to the main office. Answer Explanation: The answer is section D because it tells customers what actions they should take if they own any of the mentioned products. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is section D. It gives clear instructions on what to do with the items: customers are asked to return them right away. It also explains two ways to do this: taking them back to the store (point of purchase) or sending them by mail (via post). This section addresses all customers who 'have' the products, which refers to those who have bought them but haven't necessarily used them up. In contrast, Section F deals with those who have already 'consumed' or eaten the vitamins. |
| Q5 | G | Healthfast Vitamins and Wellbeing will pay a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to the conviction of any person found guilty of tampering with its products | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the company Healthfast Vitamins and Wellbeing will pay as much as $20,000 for help that leads to the punishment of someone who broke the law by messing with the products. Answer Explanation: The answer is section G, which talks about the reward provided for helping catch a criminal. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is section G because it explains what the company is giving to people who provide help regarding a crime. It says the company will pay a "reward" (this is what they are offering) for "information leading to the conviction" (this is regarding details for a crime) of people caught "tampering" (the criminal act of meddling) with products. |
| Q6 | D | These products are available nationwide, but reports of faulty items have come from the Sussex Cove area | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that the vitamins and supplements can be bought all across the country, but the specific problems with the products have been found in the Sussex Cove location. Answer Explanation: The answer is section D. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because this section explains the locations where the products can be found. It mentions that the items are sold throughout the entire country (nationwide) and also specifies a particular area (Sussex Cove) where problems were reported. The word 'nationwide' is a synonym for 'available everywhere in the country'. |
| Q7 | A | Healthfast Vitamins and Wellbeing wishes to inform its retailers and customers that foreign material has been found in some bottles and containers of its vitamins and supplements. These foreign items include sawdust, paint chips and metal shavings | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the company is telling sellers and buyers that they found unwanted things like wood dust, tiny pieces of paint, and metal inside some of the vitamin bottles. Answer Explanation: The answer is Section A because it explains the specific reason why the company wants people to return the vitamins. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Section A because it identifies that 'foreign material'—meaning things that do not belong inside—has been discovered in the vitamin containers. It lists specific examples like sawdust, paint bits, and metal pieces as the items that caused the recall. This information directly answers the question of why the products are being taken back. |
| Q8 | NOT GIVEN | Buses and trains in Canada are reliable but can be expensive and limit where you are able to go | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage mentions that both buses and trains are expensive and have some limitations, but it never says if their prices are identical. Answer Explanation: The answer is NOT GIVEN because the text does not say if trains and buses cost the same amount of money. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because the text only mentions that both buses and trains can be expensive. It does not compare the cost of one to the other. Because there is no information confirming whether the fares are equal or different, we cannot say the statement is true or false. |
| Q9 | FALSE | The base rate does not generally include car insurance or unlimited kilometres | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the starting price you pay for a rental car usually does not pay for the insurance for the car or for driving as much as you like. Answer Explanation: The answer is FALSE, which means the statement is incorrect based on the text. The price you pay for a rental car normally does not include insurance. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the text clearly states that the basic price (the 'base rate') for renting a car does not usually cover insurance costs. The passage uses the phrase 'does not generally include' to explain that insurance is an extra cost—an 'add-on cost'—rather than being part of the main fee. This directly contradicts the statement's claim that fees 'usually cover' the cost. |
| Q10 | NOT GIVEN | These deals come up when a rental company needs a vehicle moved from one office to another one way for example, Halifax to Montreal | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that these deals are available when a company wants to move a car from one of its offices to another. It uses the cities of Halifax and Montreal as examples, but it does not say that only big cities have these offices or these offers. Answer Explanation: The answer is NOT GIVEN because the text does not say whether these special prices only happen in big cities. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because while the text mentions relocating a vehicle between Halifax and Montreal as an example, it never states that these deals are restricted to major cities. It explains that these deals happen when a company needs to move a vehicle between offices, but it does not clarify if those offices are only located in big cities or if they could also be in smaller towns. |
| Q11 | TRUE | An online search will quickly reveal such opportunities, though not often far in advance | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that these specific travel deals are usually posted online only a short time before the trip begins, rather than many months or weeks ahead of time. Answer Explanation: The answer TRUE means that there is information in the text that agrees with the statement. This means vehicle relocation deals usually appear shortly before you are supposed to leave. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage mentions campervan relocation deals under the 'Getting around' section. It notes that while these opportunities can be found online, they are 'not often far in advance.' In English, if something is not available far in advance, it means it appears close to the time it will actually happen (the time of departure). |
| Q12 | FALSE | If you like kayaking, paddle boarding or mountain biking, rent the gear outside of national parks for more budget-friendly options | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that if you want to pay less money for equipment, you should find a rental shop that is not located inside a national park. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the statement is wrong according to the text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the text tells travelers to rent their gear (like bikes and kayaks) outside of national parks if they want to save money. The passage uses the phrase "more budget-friendly" to mean cheaper. This proves that renting gear inside national parks is actually more expensive, not the cheapest option. |
| Q13 | TRUE | Most of the larger supermarket chains have many options for prepared food and some will even heat it up for you in the deli section | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that big grocery stores sell many kinds of food that are already cooked, and some stores will make that food hot for the customer. Answer Explanation: The answer means that it is true that you can get hot or heated food at certain grocery stores. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the text says that big supermarket chains sell food that is already made. It also mentions that some of these stores will 'heat it up' for you. This means they can make the food warm in the deli part of the store. |
| Q14 | TRUE | Most city parks and campsites have barbecue grills that can be used by anyone | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that many parks in cities provide grills that any person is allowed to use to cook their meals. Answer Explanation: The answer TRUE means that the text confirms that many public parks have tools or equipment that people can use to cook their food. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage mentions in the 'Food' section that most city parks have barbecue grills for general use. These grills are types of cooking facilities. Synonyms to look for are 'city parks' for public parks and 'barbecue grills' for cooking facilities. |