Education Now – Online Courses & IT Outages - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Collins Practice Tests For IELTS 3 General Training Reading Test 2 · Part 2 · Questions 14–28
Reading Passage
Read the text below and answer questions 14-22.
Education Now - Online courses
At Education Now, all our online courses are free so anyone can be a student anywhere, any time. Here are some of our trending courses.
A. Songs: How to listen to a song
Music and songs have always been part of human society. Discover what songs can tell us about human emotions and learn techniques for interpreting them. On this course, you will learn how to understand what you are listening to and learn to appreciate songs of all kinds. This course is designed for music lovers and anyone who wants to develop and expand their understanding of songs and songwriting.
What will you learn?
By the end of the course, you will be able to ...
- talk about how songs create their effects and describe how music becomes effective, accessible and compelling.
- develop an understanding of the role of songs in contemporary society.
What topics will you cover?
- Traditions: the history of popular music, where it comes from, how it has changed, and how it has been important to societies at different times and in different places.
- How songs work: songwriting techniques and the craft of writing a good song.
B. Business bookkeeping and personal finance
Develop skills to manage finances in the 21st century. This course is for anyone interested in bookkeeping and financial accounting and will also be of interest to small business owners or those wanting to manage their own finances better.
What will you learn?
By the end of the course, you will have learned ...
- how money works and the skills to manage your personal finances.
- how profit or loss leads to income or debt.
- how to record and organise financial data and how to interpret the information.
- how to prepare a balance sheet and a profit and loss account.
What topics will you cover?
- The main aspects of financial accounting, such as assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses.
- Financial statements and their purposes.
C. Superfood: Truth and fiction
Blueberries, kale and green tea have all been called superfoods. But what exactly is a superfood? Find out about the link between superfoods, society and health in this course.
What will you learn?
By the end of the course, you will ...
- be able to define what a superfood is.
- evaluate the impact of the superfood phenomenon on society and the economy.
What topics will you cover?
- What is a superfood? Are superfoods different from other foods?
- How can we assess superfoods and their impact and role in our diet?
- Are there dangers connected to eating superfoods?
D. How to get a graduate job
This course has been designed for students and graduates looking for guidance on how to land a graduate job more easily. It is also useful for anyone who would like to bring their job-hunting skills up to date.
What will you learn?
By the end of the course, you will ...
- be able to write a professional CV.
- have developed the interview skills necessary to secure the job you want.
What topics will you cover?
- Everything you need to know about the graduate job market.
- How to stand out in a highly competitive graduate job application process.
- How to prepare for work and how to make a good impression in your new job.
______________
Read the text below and answer questions 23-28.
IT outages
When IT systems are offline for maintenance and upgrading, employees can feel upset and inconvenienced. However, it's a fact of working life that IT systems have to be taken offline periodically so having effective communications systems and practices are essential to take some of the pain out of the process and can avoid questions, confusion and lost productivity.
Communicate in advance
Whenever possible, provide plenty of notice about any planned downtime. This will help people organise their work in advance and plan accordingly. For example, if they know IT systems will be down for several hours one day in the week, they may decide to work at home or do tasks that don't require IT connectivity during that period.
Communicate more than once
People have lots to do at work and an IT outage a few weeks in the future won't be high on their priority list. Sending an email weeks or days in advance of a suspension of IT services isn't an effective way of informing people. It is much better to communicate several times leading up to the event and again shortly before it. Repeating your key message about the IT service helps to maintain awareness of the event.
Use multiple channels
In the same way that you need to inform people more than once about an IT outage, don't just communicate this via email; if you have several communication channels, use these as well. For example, old-fashioned posters in the staff canteen will remind everyone that scheduled maintenance is about to happen.
On-screen pop-ups
We're all used to notifications from our favourite apps on our mobile phones, and when a pop-up notification is flashed onto our screens at work, it has an immediate impact. Specialist software sends messages directly to the user. These messages cannot be dismissed and require a response so that you know they have been seen and hopefully read. For example, if the IT outage is due the next day, a reminder notification can be sent to all users so that they can prepare for it.
Using these simple suggestions can help everyone get smoothly through an IT outage by communicating facts, getting people's attention and preparing everyone in advance.
Questions
Questions 14–22 True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text?
In 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
Questions 23–28 Summary Completion
Complete the summary below
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
When IT systems are not available to people, it can cause 23 lost work and lots of questions. It is better to let people know in advance about any 24 that has been planned so they can adjust their work pattern. For example, they may plan tasks away from the computer or work at 25. It is essential to tell people several times in different ways. By 26 the main message and by using 27 methods, for example, posters in the staff cafe, you can get people's attention. Another good way to alert people is to send 28 messages to their computers as they work.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q14 | TRUE | Music and songs have always been part of human society. Discover what songs can tell us about human emotions and learn techniques for interpreting them | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage tells us that music has existed for as long as humans have lived together and that we can find human feelings inside songs. Answer Explanation: The answer is TRUE. This means the text says that people have used music to show their feelings for a very long time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the text explains that music and songs have always been a part of human life. It also says that songs show us 'human emotions'. In English, the word 'emotions' is a synonym for 'feelings'. Since music has always existed and it shows emotions, the statement is correct. |
| Q15 | NOT GIVEN | How songs work: songwriting techniques and the craft of writing a good song | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the lessons cover the methods used to write songs. However, this does not mean the students will be taught to create their own music; it simply explains how the process works to help them appreciate the music they listen to. Answer Explanation: The answer "NOT GIVEN" means that the text does not say whether you will write your own songs in this course or not. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because while the text mentions "songwriting techniques" and "the craft of writing a good song," these are listed under the topic of "How songs work." The main goal of the course is "How to listen to a song." There is no specific information stating that students will actually practice writing their own music or complete song-writing tasks. It only says they will learn about how songs are made to help them understand what they hear. |
| Q16 | FALSE | At Education Now, all our online courses are free so anyone can be a student anywhere, any time | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that since the courses are open to every person ("anyone"), there are no rules or requirements saying you must know certain things, like harmony, to be a student. Answer Explanation: The answer means that you do not need to have prior knowledge of harmony to take the music course (Course A). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the passage states that the online courses are for "anyone." When a course is open to "anyone," it means there are no special requirements or prior skills needed to sign up. The statement says harmony knowledge is "necessary" (required), but the text says the course is for "anyone who wants to develop" their understanding, which directly contradicts the idea that you must already have specialized knowledge before you start. |
| Q17 | NOT GIVEN | B. Business bookkeeping and personal financeDevelop skills to manage finances in the 21st century. This course is for anyone interested in bookkeeping and financial accounting and will also be of interest to small business owners or those wanting to manage their own finances better.What will you learn?By the end of the course, you will have learned how money works and the skills to manage your personal finances.how profit or loss leads to income or debt.how to record and organise financial data and how to interpret the information.how to prepare a balance sheet and a profit and loss account.What topics will you cover?The main aspects of financial accounting, such as assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses.Financial statements and their purposes |
Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage lists the skills and topics for Course B, such as how to record financial data and understand profit and loss, but it does not mention anything about the rules or regulations that banks must follow. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the text does not tell us if this course teaches the rules or laws for banks. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because the description for Course B lists several topics like bookkeeping, managing personal money, and making financial reports, but it never mentions "banking regulations" or "rules." Since this specific information is missing from the text, we cannot say if the statement is true or false. |
| Q18 | FALSE | This course is for anyone interested in bookkeeping and financial accounting and will also be of interest to small business owners or those wanting to manage their own finances better | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that Course B is meant for people who want to learn how to keep financial records or take better care of their own daily money matters. Answer Explanation: The answer is FALSE because the statement says you will learn a lot about economics in Course B, but the text says the course is actually about recording money for businesses and managing personal money. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the passage describes Course B as a class for 'bookkeeping,' 'financial accounting,' and 'personal finance.' These topics are about the practical skills of writing down and organizing money records for yourself or a small business. In contrast, 'economics' is a much broader subject about how markets and whole countries use their resources. Because the text explicitly focuses on these specific accounting tasks and helping people manage their own money, saying it provides a 'deep understanding of economics' is a contradiction of the information provided. |
| Q19 | TRUE | evaluate the impact of the superfood phenomenon on society and the economy | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that students who take this course will be able to understand the effects that superfoods have on both people and the financial world. Answer Explanation: The answer is TRUE because the text says that students in Course C will learn about how superfoods affect the economy. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the section for Course C explicitly states that students will learn to evaluate the 'impact' of superfoods on 'the economy'. In this context, 'impact' is a synonym for 'effect', and the mention of the 'economy' confirms that the course covers economic effects. |
| Q20 | NOT GIVEN | How can we assess superfoods and their impact and role in our diet | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the course looks at how to evaluate superfoods and their position in what we eat. It does not mention that the course helps students choose which specific superfoods are best for a healthy diet. Answer Explanation: The answer is NOT GIVEN because the text does not say if the course will tell you which specific foods you should pick to eat for your health. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because the passage mentions that you will learn about the 'role' of superfoods in a 'diet' and how to 'assess' (judge) them. However, it never clearly states that the course will provide a list or teach you 'which' specific superfoods you should 'include' (use) to have a healthy diet. Because the passage lacks this specific information, the statement cannot be confirmed as true or false. |
| Q21 | TRUE | It is also useful for anyone who would like to bring their job-hunting skills up to date | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that the course helps anyone who wants to make sure their skills for searching for a job are modern and correct for today. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Course D is helpful for people whose skills for finding a job are old or not current. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the text specifically mentions that the course is good for people who want to update their skills for finding a job. The phrase "bring their job-hunting skills up to date" in the text matches the idea of helping people with "out-of-date" skills mentioned in the question. |
| Q22 | TRUE | be able to write a professional CV Everything you need to know about the graduate job market |
Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that students will learn how to create a document for job applications (a CV) and will also learn all the important details about the business world where graduates look for work (the job market). Answer Explanation: The answer is TRUE because the information in the text matches the description given in the statement. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because Course D covers both parts mentioned in the question. It teaches students how to apply for a job by focusing on 'professional CV' writing and 'interview skills' to 'secure the job.' It also explicitly includes 'the graduate job market' as a topic, which explains 'how the job market works.' |
| Q23 | confusion | However, it's a fact of working life that IT systems have to be taken offline periodically so having effective communications systems and practices are essential to take some of the pain out of the process and can avoid questions, confusion and lost productivity | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that because computer systems must be turned off sometimes, companies need to tell their workers about it early. This helps to stop people from being mixed up, asking many questions, or being unable to finish their work. Answer Explanation: The answer means a state where people are unsure, mixed up, or do not understand what is happening or what they should do. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'confusion' because the text explains that taking IT systems offline can cause problems if not handled well. It specifically mentions that good communication is needed to prevent three things: questions, confusion, and lost productivity. The summary already includes 'lost work' (which means lost productivity) and 'lots of questions' (which means questions), so the missing word from this set is 'confusion'. |
| Q24 | downtime | Whenever possible, provide plenty of notice about any planned downtime | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that it is helpful to tell workers early when the computer systems will be turned off so they can prepare for it. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to the scheduled time when computer systems are turned off or not available for use. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "downtime" because the text suggests that giving employees plenty of notice before any "planned downtime" allows them to organize their tasks and adjust how they work during that period. The summary uses the phrase "let people know in advance," which corresponds to "provide plenty of notice" in the passage. |
| Q25 | home | For example, if they know IT systems will be down for several hours one day in the week, they may decide to work at home or do tasks that don't require IT connectivity during that period | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that if people know the computers will not work for a while, they can choose to stay at their house to work or do jobs that do not need the internet. Answer Explanation: The answer 'home' means the house or place where a person lives. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'home' because the text explains that when workers know computer systems will be turned off (downtime), they can change their work plans. It gives two examples of what they can do: stay at their house ('home') to work or do tasks that do not need a computer. |
| Q26 | repeating | Repeating your key message about the IT service helps to maintain awareness of the event | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that saying the same thing more than once helps people remember and stay informed about the situation. Answer Explanation: The answer "repeating" means to say or do something again many times. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "repeating" because the passage suggests that telling people about IT problems only once is not enough. To keep everyone informed, the text explains that saying the most important information many times helps people remember it. The summary uses the word "repeating" to show that this action helps get the attention of the workers. |
| Q27 | old-fashioned | For example, old-fashioned posters in the staff canteen will remind everyone that scheduled maintenance is about to happen | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that using traditional paper posters in a lunch area is a good way to tell everyone that the IT systems will be closed for a short time for repairs or updates. Answer Explanation: The answer "old-fashioned" refers to something that follows a traditional style or is from the past, rather than being modern or digital. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "old-fashioned" because the passage suggests that using various ways to communicate is better than just using email. It provides an example of using "old-fashioned" posters in a common area (the canteen/cafe) to help employees remember that the computer systems will be turned off soon. The summary uses the word "methods" to refer to these ways of giving information. |
| Q28 | pop-up | We're all used to notifications from our favourite apps on our mobile phones, and when a pop-up notification is flashed onto our screens at work, it has an immediate impact | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that just like on a phone, a "pop-up notification" shown on computer screens at work is a very quick way to reach people and get their attention. Answer Explanation: The answer "pop-up" describes a type of message or notification that suddenly appears on a computer screen while someone is using it. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "pop-up" because the text explains that using "pop-up notifications" on work computers is a very fast and effective way to get people's attention about IT outages. These messages appear directly on the user's screen, making them hard to miss. |