BINGHAM REGIONAL COLLEGE International Students’ Orientation Programme & Student Accommodation - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 05 General Training Reading Test 2 · Part 2 · Questions 15–27
Reading Passage
Read the information below and answer Questions 15-20.
BINGHAM REGIONAL COLLEGE International Students' Orientation Programme
What is it?
It is a course which will introduce you to the College and to Bingham. It takes place in the week before term starts, from 24th - 28th September inclusive, but you should plan to arrive in Bingham on the 22nd or 23rd September.
Why do we think it is important?
We want you to have the best possible start to your studies and you need to find out about all the opportunities that college life offers. This programme aims to help you do just that. It will enable you to get to know the College, its facilities and services. You will also have the chance to meet staff and students.
How much will it cost?
International students (non-European Union students)
For those students who do not come from European Union (EU) countries, and who are not used to European culture and customs, the programme is very important and you are strongly advised to attend. Because of this, the cost of the programme, exclusive of accommodation, is built into your tuition fees.
EU students
EU students are welcome to take part in this programme for a fee of £195, exclusive of accommodation. Fees are not refundable.
Accommodation costs (international and EU students)
If you have booked accommodation for the year ahead (41 weeks) through the College in one of the College residences (Cambourne House. Hanley House, the Student Village or a College shared house), you do not have to pay extra for accommodation during the Orientation programme. If you have not booked accommodation in the College residences, you can ask us to pre-book accommodation for you for one week only (Orientation Programme week) in a hotel with other international students. The cost of accommodation for one week is approximately £165. Alternatively, you can arrange your own accommodation for that week in a flat, with friends or a local family.
What is included during the programme?
Meals: lunch and an evening meal are provided as part of the programme, beginning with supper on Sunday 23rd September and finishing with lunch at midday on Friday 28th September. Please note that breakfast is not available.
Information sessions: including such topics as accommodation, health, religious matters, welfare, immigration, study skills, careers and other 'essential information'.
Social activities: including a welcome buffet and a half-day excursion round Bingham.
Transport: between your accommodation and the main College campus, where activities will take place.
______________
Read the information below and answer Questions 21-27.
Student Accommodation
The College offers five basic accommodation options. Here is some information to help you make your choice
A CAMBOURNE HOUSE - self-catering, student residence, located in the town centre about 2 miles from the main College campus. Up to 499 students live in 6, 7 and 8 bedroom flats, all with en-suite shower rooms. Rent is £64 per week, including bills (not telephone). Broadband internet connections and telephones, with communal kitchen/dining and lounge areas. Parking space is available, with permits costing £60 per term.
B STUDENT VILLAGE - features 3, 4, 5 and 7 bedroom, self-catering shared houses for 250 students close to the main College campus. Rent is £60 per week inclusive of bills (except telephone). Parking is available with permits costing £90 for the academic year.
C HANLEY HOUSE - a second, modern, self-catering residence in the town centre for 152 students. Eighteen rooms per floor with communal kitchens, lounges, bathrooms and toilets. Rent is £53 per week including bills (not telephone). There is no space for parking nearby.
D GLENCARRICK HOUSE - a privately-owned and managed student residence in the town centre above a multi-storey car park, close to a major nightclub and housing 120 students. Rooms are allocated by the College Accommodation Service. Rents range from £58.50 to £68.50 for a single en-suite room or larger en-suite room respectively. A small extra charge is made for electricity.
E HOUSE SHARES - this recent initiative is a range of shared houses for 140 students, conforming to standards set by us to meet all legal safety requirements. A room in a shared house costs between £45 and £55 per week, exclusive of bills, and will be within a 4-mile radius of both campuses. As with halls of residence, the rent is payable termly.
Questions
Questions 15–20 True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text?
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 21–27 Matching Features
Look at the accommodation options A–E.
For which options are the following statements true?
NB You may use any letter more than once.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q15 | TRUE | It takes place in the week before term starts, from 24th - 28th September inclusive, but you should plan to arrive in Bingham on the 22nd or 23rd September | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says the program is held from September 24th to September 28th, but it suggests that students should reach the town on September 22nd or 23rd. Answer Explanation: The answer means it is true that people joining the program are told to get to the city a couple of days before the actual start date. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the text explains that the program begins on September 24th. However, it specifically tells students that they should plan to arrive on September 22nd or 23rd. These dates are exactly one and two days before the start date, matching the suggestion to arrive early. |
| Q16 | TRUE | EU students are welcome to take part in this programme for a fee of £195, exclusive of accommodation | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that students from Europe can join the program by paying 195 pounds, but this money does not pay for their room. Answer Explanation: The answer is TRUE because the statement matches exactly what is written in the text about how much European Union students have to pay. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the text explains that for students from the European Union (EU students), the price for the orientation programme is £195. It also uses the term 'exclusive of accommodation', which means the cost of a room is not included in that £195. This matches the question perfectly. |
| Q17 | NOT GIVEN | For those students who do not come from European Union (EU) countries, and who are not used to European culture and customs, the programme is very important and you are strongly advised to attend | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that international students are encouraged to attend the orientation because it is beneficial for them, but it does not say that the number of available spots is restricted or limited in any way. Answer Explanation: The answer NOT GIVEN means that the reading text does not provide any information about whether there is a limit on how many students can join the orientation program. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because while the text explains why the program is important, what it costs, and what activities are included, it never mentions a maximum number of participants or that spots are "strictly limited." Since the passage only gives advice on attending and lists the schedule, we cannot know if there is a cap on the number of students allowed. |
| Q18 | TRUE | If you have booked accommodation for the year ahead (41 weeks) through the College in one of the College residences (Cambourne House. Hanley House, the Student Village or a College shared house), you do not have to pay extra for accommodation during the Orientation programme | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that if a student has already paid for a room for the whole year in specific college buildings, they do not have to pay more money to stay there during the Orientation week. Answer Explanation: The answer means that some students can stay in their rooms during the first week without paying any more money. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is True because the text says that students who have already reserved a room for the school year (41 weeks) in a college building do not pay an additional fee for their stay during the first week of the programme. The word 'extra' means more money than what was already paid. |
| Q19 | FALSE | If you have not booked accommodation in the College residences, you can ask us to pre-book accommodation for you for one week only (Orientation Programme week) in a hotel with other international students. The cost of accommodation for one week is approximately £165. Alternatively, you can arrange your own accommodation for that week in a flat, with friends or a local family | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the College can book a hotel for you if you don't have a room in their housing. However, it also says that staying with a local family is a different option that students must organize and plan by themselves. Answer Explanation: The answer is FALSE, which means the statement contradicts (says the opposite of) the information given in the text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the text specifically says that students must "arrange your own accommodation" if they wish to stay with a local family. The College only offers to reserve rooms in its own buildings or a hotel. In English, if you "arrange your own" something, it means you do the planning and booking yourself, rather than having an organization like the College do it for you. |
| Q20 | FALSE | Please note that breakfast is not available | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage tells the reader clearly that breakfast is not something the college provides during the orientation week. Answer Explanation: The answer means that you cannot buy breakfast at the college, even if you are willing to pay more money for it. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the text explicitly states that breakfast is not provided. In the section about meals, it mentions that lunch and evening meals are part of the programme, but then it gives a specific warning that breakfast is not offered. Since it is not available at all, the statement that you can get it for an extra charge is wrong. |
| Q21 | C | There is no space for parking nearby | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that there is no area to park your car close to Hanley House. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Hanley House (Option C) might be a difficult or annoying place to live if you have a car. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the text specifically says that Hanley House does not have any room to park cars close to the building. For a student with a car, having 'no space for parking nearby' makes that location inconvenient compared to others that do offer parking permits or are located near car parks. |
| Q22 | A | Broadband internet connections and telephones, with communal kitchen/dining and lounge areas | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage confirms that this specific residence provides internet access and phone lines for the students who live there. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Cambourne House is the best living option for students who want to use the internet. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Option A because it is the only accommodation that specifically mentions having 'Broadband internet connections.' The phrase 'surfing the Web' is a common expression that means using the internet to look at websites. Since Cambourne House offers high-speed internet (broadband), it is the best fit for this requirement. |
| Q23 | D | D GLENCARRICK HOUSE - a privately-owned and managed student residence in the town centre above a multi-storey car park, close to a major nightclub and housing 120 students | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that Glencarrick House fits 120 students. This is a smaller number than any of the other living options mentioned in the list. Answer Explanation: The answer is option D, which refers to the building named Glencarrick House. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because it lists the smallest number of students among all the accommodation choices. The word 'fewest' means the smallest amount. According to the text, Glencarrick House only has room for 120 students, while the other options have more: Cambourne House has up to 499, the Student Village has 250, Hanley House has 152, and House Shares has 140. |
| Q24 | E | E HOUSE SHARES - this recent initiative is a range of shared houses for 140 students, conforming to standards set by us to meet all legal safety requirements | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that these shared houses are a 'recent initiative', which means they are a new choice that the college has only started providing lately. Answer Explanation: The answer is option E, which refers to 'HOUSE SHARES'. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is E because the passage describes 'HOUSE SHARES' as a 'recent initiative'. In English, the word 'recent' means something that happened or started a short time ago, and an 'initiative' is a new plan or process. Together, these words show that this specific housing choice is a new addition offered by the college. |
| Q25 | B | Parking is available with permits costing £90 for the academic year | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that at the Student Village, you can get a permission to park your car for a price of £90 for the whole school year. Answer Explanation: The answer is the Student Village (option B) because you can buy a parking pass that lasts for the whole school year. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B (Student Village) because the text says students there can buy parking permits for the 'academic year.' An academic year usually means the full period of study from start to finish for that year. This matches the idea of organizing parking 'a year at a time.' In contrast, Cambourne House (A) sells permits for a 'term,' which is only a few months long. |
| Q26 | D | D GLENCARRICK HOUSE - a privately-owned and managed student residence | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that this specific housing option is owned and run by a private company or person, not the college. Answer Explanation: The answer is option D, which is Glencarrick House. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because the text describes Glencarrick House as being "privately-owned and managed." In English, the term "privately-owned" means that the property belongs to an individual or a business rather than a public organization like the college. Even though the college helps students find rooms there, the college itself does not own the building. |
| Q27 | C | Eighteen rooms per floor with communal kitchens, lounges, bathrooms and toilets | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that there are eighteen rooms on every floor and that everyone in those rooms must share the same kitchens, living areas, bathrooms, and toilets. Answer Explanation: The answer is option C, which refers to Hanley House. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the text describes Hanley House as having 'communal' bathrooms. The word 'communal' means that the facility is shared by a group of people rather than being private for one person. Since eighteen rooms share the same bathrooms on each floor, a student living there definitely does not have their own private bathroom. |