Sunset Tours & Easy Listening Broadcasting Association - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Simulation Tests General Training Reading Test 1 · Part 1 · Questions 1–13
Reading Passage
Read the text below and answer Questions 1–9.
Sunset Tours
BOOKINGS
A deposit of $150 each is payable on booking and the balance is payable 30 days prior to tour departure. Feel free to contact us for further information:
Office Hours: 8 am–4 pm Monday–Friday
Phone 5500 0881 Fax 5501 0881 Email: info@sunsettours.co
CONDITIONS
The cost is subject to a minimum of 25 passengers travelling and we reserve the right to cancel if this number is not reached. Should the tour be cancelled, you are entitled to a full refund.
NB: The itinerary is given as a guide only and is subject to alteration if weather conditions are unfavourable or in any other unforeseen circumstances.
LUGGAGE
Each passenger is entitled to bring a cabin bag and one item of checked luggage no heavier than 20 kg as per industry requirements. Couples travelling together are requested to use individual suitcases. Your suitcase should be of a size and weight you yourself can manage as tour leaders may not be readily available to handle your luggage.
CANCELLATION & REFUNDS
It is obligatory that you have a travel insurance policy to cover sudden illness or accident. Even so an administration fee is retained for notice of more than 30 days prior to departure but, should cancellation occur through unforeseen circumstances not covered by travel insurance, 10% of the fare is retained for 15–30 days' notice, 20% for 4–14 days and 50% is held for less than 4 days' notice. There will be no refund for notice of one day or on the day of departure.
RESPONSIBILITY
Although every endeavour is made by Sunset Tours to ensure your holiday goes according to plan, we act purely as an agent for the various accommodation and other services provided.
Sunset Tours shall not be liable for any accident, injury, delay, irregularity, loss or damage caused by or arising out of the provision of or failure to provide any such service.
______________
Read the passage below and answer Questions 10–13.
Easy Listening Broadcasting Association
Dear Listener
We wish to express our sincere thanks for your support during our last successful fund-raising endeavour. Your annual donation makes it possible for us to improve the station in every way for your interest and pleasure.
We would like to extend to you an invitation to join us at the station on Wednesday, 16th August at 3.00 pm for afternoon tea and to discuss station programming. Your input will be a great help to us. It will enable us to continue programming to suit your requirements. Together we will be discussing future ideas for 5ZBG and whether frequent news broadcasts should be included in our agenda. There has also been a proposal to make the mainstay of our programming a talkback format. Any changes to programming would have to be finalised by September 1st.
We hope you can join us and we look forward to sharing time with you. If you are able to join us, please be kind enough to phone, and let us know. If you are unable to attend on this day, please phone and we will arrange a suitable date for you.
Yours sincerely
Tobias Rank
Programming Coordinator
Questions
Questions 1–9 True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage?
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 10–13 One Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | FALSE | A deposit of $150 each is payable on booking and the balance is payable 30 days prior to tour departure | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that a person only pays a $150 deposit when they make a reservation, and the rest of the money is paid 30 days before the trip starts. Answer Explanation: The answer is FALSE because you do not have to pay the whole price when you book the trip. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the text clearly states that only a deposit of $150 per person is needed when making a booking. The remaining amount (the "balance") only needs to be paid 30 days before the tour leaves ("prior to tour departure"). Therefore, paying the entire cost at the time of booking is not required. |
| Q2 | TRUE | The cost is subject to a minimum of 25 passengers travelling and we reserve the right to cancel if this number is not reached | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that there must be at least 25 people travelling, and the company may cancel the trip if fewer people book it. Answer Explanation: The answer "TRUE" means that the statement is correct according to the text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the text under the "CONDITIONS" section clearly states that the tour requires at least 25 passengers. If this minimum number is not reached, the company can cancel the trip, meaning the tour will not go ahead. Important keywords include "minimum of 25 passengers" (enough bookings) and "reserve the right to cancel" (will not go ahead). |
| Q3 | NOT GIVEN | The itinerary is given as a guide only and is subject to alteration if weather conditions are unfavourable or in any other unforeseen circumstances | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the tour plan can change if there is bad weather or unexpected problems, but it does not say if tourists receive any money back for these changes. Answer Explanation: The answer "NOT GIVEN" means that the passage does not provide enough information to confirm whether tourists can receive a refund if their travel schedule is disrupted by unexpected events. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because while the passage mentions that the travel schedule ("itinerary") can change ("is subject to alteration") due to bad weather or unexpected events ("unforeseen circumstances"), it never states whether tourists are entitled to get their money back if these disruptions occur. |
| Q4 | NOT GIVEN | Each passenger is entitled to bring a cabin bag and one item of checked luggage no heavier than 20 kg as per industry requirements | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that each person can take one cabin bag and one checked bag that must not weigh more than 20 kg, but it gives no details about a weight rule for the cabin bag. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the text does not say whether there is a weight limit for cabin bags or not. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because the passage mentions a weight limit of 20 kg for "checked luggage", but it never states whether there is or is not a weight restriction for a "cabin bag". Therefore, we cannot confirm if this statement is true or false. |
| Q5 | FALSE | Your suitcase should be of a size and weight you yourself can manage as tour leaders may not be readily available to handle your luggage | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that passengers should carry luggage they can manage on their own because tour leaders might not always be available to help them. Answer Explanation: The answer FALSE means the statement contradicts or goes against what is written in the text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the text says tour leaders "may not be readily available to handle your luggage". This means tour leaders might be busy or not around to help you, not that they are forbidden or "not allowed" to help. Because the statement says they are not allowed to help, it contradicts the text. |
| Q6 | TRUE | It is obligatory that you have a travel insurance policy to cover sudden illness or accident | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that it is mandatory for travelers to have insurance coverage in case they get sick unexpectedly or suffer an accident. Answer Explanation: The answer TRUE means that the statement correctly matches the facts given in the text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage explicitly states that having travel insurance for sudden illness or accident is compulsory. Here, the word "obligatory" has the same meaning as "must", "travel insurance policy" means to "insure", "sudden illness" means "sickness", and "accident" corresponds to "injury". Therefore, the statement completely agrees with the text. |
| Q7 | FALSE | It is obligatory that you have a travel insurance policy to cover sudden illness or accident. Even so an administration fee is retained for notice of more than 30 days prior to departure | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that travellers must have insurance for sickness or accidents, but the company will still keep an administration fee if someone cancels more than 30 days before the trip begins. Answer Explanation: The answer "FALSE" means that the statement does not match the information in the text because a traveller cancelling under these conditions does not receive all of their money back. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the passage states that even if a traveller has insurance to cover sudden illness, an "administration fee is retained" (kept by the company) if they cancel more than 30 days (more than a month) before leaving. Because a fee is deducted and kept, the traveller does not receive a "full refund". |
| Q8 | FALSE | There will be no refund for notice of one day or on the day of departure | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that if someone cancels their tour one day before leaving or on the departure day, they will not get any money back. Answer Explanation: The answer FALSE means the statement contradicts what is written in the text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the statement claims that passengers get some of their money back (a partial refund) if they cancel the day before the trip. However, the text clearly states that there is "no refund" if a passenger gives notice of one day. |
| Q9 | TRUE | Although every endeavour is made by Sunset Tours to ensure your holiday goes according to plan, we act purely as an agent for the various accommodation and other services provided | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that even though the tour company tries to make sure everything goes well, it only acts as an agent that books the places where you stay (accommodation) and other services, meaning it is not directly responsible for them. Answer Explanation: The answer TRUE means that the statement correctly matches the information given in the text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the text clearly explains that Sunset Tours only acts as an agent (a middleman) for accommodation (hotels) and other services, and is not legally responsible or liable for any problems, damage, or failures related to those services. Therefore, the company is not responsible for the condition or state of hotel rooms. |
| Q10 | D | Easy Listening Broadcasting Association | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage shows the name of the radio group, indicating that the station's main style is "easy listening," which means quiet and soothing music. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the radio station 5ZBG mainly plays relaxing and calm music. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because the organization running the station is named the "Easy Listening Broadcasting Association." The term "easy listening" refers to relaxing, gentle, or soothing music. Furthermore, the passage notes that having frequent news broadcasts or talkback shows are only future proposals being discussed, which means they are not the station's current main focus. |
| Q11 | B | We wish to express our sincere thanks for your support during our last successful fund-raising endeavour. Your annual donation makes it possible for us to improve the station in every way for your interest and pleasure | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the radio station wants to say thank you to the listener for giving money (annual donation) to support the radio station during their recent fund-raising event. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the radio station is thanking the listener for sending or donating money to them. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the letter begins by thanking the listener for their support during the "fund-raising endeavour" and mentions that their "annual donation" helps improve the station. A "donation" and a "fund-raising endeavour" directly refer to giving money to the station. |
| Q12 | C | We would like to extend to you an invitation to join us at the station on Wednesday, 16th August at 3.00 pm for afternoon tea and to discuss station programming | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the radio station is inviting the listener to visit them at 3:00 pm on Wednesday, August 16th, to have afternoon tea and talk about station programming. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the listener will have small snacks and drinks (afternoon tea) at the event. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the letter specifically invites the listener to come to the radio station for "afternoon tea" and to talk about programming. "Afternoon tea" is a light meal consisting of tea and light food, which is also known as "refreshments". |
| Q13 | A | If you are able to join us, please be kind enough to phone, and let us know | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage asks the reader to call and inform the station beforehand if they can attend the afternoon tea and discussion. Answer Explanation: The answer "A" means that the listener needs to respond to the invitation by August 5th. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the radio station invites the listener to an event held on August 16th and asks them to call in advance to confirm their attendance. Among the given options, August 5th is the designated reply date before the event so the station can arrange the schedule. |