Arriving In Singapore By Plane & Singapore Airport - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 17 General Training Reading Test 1 · Part 1 · Questions 1–14
Reading Passage
===== Read the text below and answer questions 1-5 ====
Arriving in Singapore by plane
Baggage claim
You can refer to the flight information television screens on Level Two for the allocation of your baggage claim belt. Free trolleys are available near all baggage claim belts and our friendly porters are at your service on request. Should you require their assistance with carrying luggage, please ask at the Information Desk. You can proceed to the Lost and Found Counter for advice if you cannot find your baggage or would like to report damaged baggage.
Customs clearance
Please use the Green Channel for your baggage clearance if you do not have controlled or prohibited items to declare, or have not exceeded your Duty-Free Concession. Please use the Red Channel if you have items to declare or are in doubt.
Hotel reservations
You can make these at the hotel reservation counter with S$10.00 per reservation deposit, deductible from your hotel bill at the end of your stay. These counters do not handle the transit hotels. For these go to the reception desk on level three.
==== Read the text below and answer questions 6-10 ====
Singapore Airport
Goods and Services Tax (GST) relief
A 3% GST is levied on the sale of all goods imported into Singapore. If you are a visitor returning citizen or permanent resident of Singapore you may be granted GST relief under certain conditions.
Tax free shopping
As a tourist or visitor you can apply for a refund at customs of the 3% GST on goods purchased during your stay in Singapore provided you:
– shop at stores with the ‘Tax free shopping’ logo spend a minimum amount of S$100 at any one shop and at least S$300 in total obtain a Global Refund Cheque from the place of purchase
When collecting your refund you have several choices – cash, bank cheque or Changi Airport Shopping Voucher which comes with an additional 10% in value.
Please note that a handling fee will be deducted from the GST amount for the refund service.
==== Read the text below and answer questions 11-14 ====
Singapore Guide: A walk around the Orchard Road District
The route begins just opposite the Orchard MRT station at the Singapore Marriott Hotel. This eye catching landmark has a distinctive Chinese styled green roof and red pillars.
In 1958 a former lace padler C K Tang, foresaw that the area could become a bustling shopping centre since residents in the neighbouring Tanglin district had to pass enroute to work at the commercial centre Raffles Place. So with roof tiles brought in from his hometown in the Swatow province of China, Tang built a department store on what was then a cheap isolated plot of land. The plot faced a cemetery which is consolidated a bad omen in Chinese culture. His foresight paid off. Today Tangs is one of Singapore’s most prominent and recognised home grown department stores proudly showcasing local fashion and household products. Even when the original building was torn down in 1982 to give way to the present superstore and skyscraper hotel it retained its unique Chinese architecture.
From the foyer at Tangs turn left to Lucky Plaza. One of the oldest along Orchard Road, this mall is a perennial favourite with shoppers. Be amazed by the staggering array of cosmetics, jewellery, leather goods and hi-fi equipment. Prices though are not always fixed so bring along a good set of bargaining skills.
Coming out of Lucky Plaza continue along Orchard Road and enter the Paragon Shopping Centre. Apart from a wide range of shops and restaurants there is also a Singapore Airlines Service centre to facilitate bookings and offer information to tourists. Also available are a number of computer terminals for self booking. Check out the life-sized sculptures by a well known Taiwanese sculptor Sun Yu-li outside the shopping centre. These were inspired by depictions of life in rock paintings dating back 20000 years ago in Inner Mongolia.
Questions
Questions 1–5 Matching Features
Which places would you go to in the following situations? Write the correct letters A-H in boxes on your answer sheet.
List of places
A Information Desk
B Hotel Reservation Counter
C Lost and Found Counter
D Red Channel
E Green Channel
F Level Two
G Reception Desk
H Baggage Claim Belt
Questions 6–10 True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text. In boxes 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 11–14 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.
- The Singapore Marriott Hotel is described as an 11
- The land that Tang bought was located opposite a 12
- The 13 of the new Tang building is very similar to that of the original building.
- Access to several 14 at the Singapore Airline Service Centre means that you don’t need to wait for assistance.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | C | You can proceed to the Lost and Found Counter for advice if you cannot find your baggage or would like to report damaged baggage | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage means that if you can't find your bags or if they are broken, you should go to the Lost and Found Counter to get help. Answer Explanation: The answer is C. This means you should go to the Lost and Found Counter. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because if your suitcase is damaged, the passage says you can go to the Lost and Found Counter for advice. |
| Q2 | G | These counters do not handle the transit hotels. For these go to the reception desk on level three | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage means that the hotel reservation counters do not help with transit hotels. You need to go to the Reception Desk on level three for that. Answer Explanation: The answer is G. This means you should go to the Reception Desk. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is G because if you want to reserve a room at a transit hotel, you need to go to the Reception Desk on level three. The passage says, 'For these go to the reception desk on level three,' which means this is the right place to reserve a room. |
| Q3 | D | Please use the Red Channel if you have items to declare or are in doubt | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says to use the Red Channel if you have items to tell customs about or if you're not sure about what you bought. Answer Explanation: The answer is D. This means you should go to the Red Channel. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because if you are not sure about whether you exceeded your duty-free limit, you need to use the Red Channel. The Red Channel is for people who have items to declare or are unsure about their purchases. |
| Q4 | F | You can refer to the flight information television screens on Level Two for the allocation of your baggage claim belt | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage tells you that on Level Two, there are screens that show information about where to collect your luggage. Answer Explanation: The answer is F, which means you go to Level Two. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is F because the passage says you can check the flight information screens on Level Two to find out where to pick up your luggage. This is where baggage claim is located, helping you find your baggage. |
| Q5 | A | Should you require their assistance with carrying luggage, please ask at the Information Desk | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that if you need help with your bags, you should go to the Information Desk and ask for help. Answer Explanation: The answer is A, which means you would go to the Information Desk to get help with your suitcases. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the Information Desk is where you can ask for help if you need assistance. The passage says that if you need help carrying your luggage, you can ask at the Information Desk. |
| Q6 | False | A 3% GST is levied on the sale of all goods imported into Singapore. If you are a visitor returning citizen or permanent resident of Singapore you may be granted GST relief under certain conditions | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says there is a 3% tax on goods brought into Singapore, but some people can get help with this tax based on certain rules. Answer Explanation: The answer means that not everyone has to pay the 3% tax. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'False' because the passage states that only certain visitors, returning citizens, or permanent residents may be granted GST relief under certain conditions. This means not everyone must pay the tax on goods they bring into Singapore. |
| Q7 | True | As a tourist or visitor you can apply for a refund at customs of the 3% GST on goods purchased during your stay in Singapore provided you | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that if you want your tax money back, you need to shop at stores that show a special logo. This means you cannot get your money back from every store, only from those specific ones. Answer Explanation: The answer means that you can only get your tax money back if you buy things from specific stores. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is true because the passage says that you can apply for a refund on the tax if you shop at stores with the 'Tax free shopping' logo. This shows you can only reclaim tax in certain shops, not all stores. |
| Q8 | False | spend a minimum amount of S$100 at any one shop and at least S$300 in total | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that you need to spend at least S$100 in one shop and at least S$300 in total to get a tax refund. Answer Explanation: The answer means you cannot get a tax refund if you spent S$150. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the passage says that you must spend at least S$300 in total to get a tax refund, but S$150 is less than that amount. So, spending S$150 does not qualify for a tax refund. |
| Q9 | Not given | Please note that a handling fee will be deducted from the GST amount for the refund service | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that there is a fee when you get your refund, but it does not talk about any time limit to claim your tax. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Not Given,' which means the text does not say anything about having a time limit to claim your tax. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Not Given' because the passage explains the tax refund process but does not mention any timeframe for how long you have to claim it. Therefore, we cannot find that information in the text. |
| Q10 | True | Please note that a handling fee will be deducted from the GST amount for the refund service | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that when you get your tax refund, they will take away some money as a fee for the service. Answer Explanation: The answer is True. This means you will have to pay some money for the service when you get your tax back. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is True because the passage says that a handling fee will be taken from the GST amount for the refund service. This means that when you ask for your tax money back, there is a charge for helping you with that. |
| Q11 | Eye-catching landmark | This eye catching landmark has a distinctive Chinese styled green roof and red pillars | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that the hotel is an 'eye-catching landmark.' This means it is a place that you easily notice because it looks special and beautiful. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Eye-catching landmark.' This means the Singapore Marriott Hotel is very attractive and stands out. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Eye-catching landmark' because the passage describes the Singapore Marriott Hotel in a way that shows it is visually striking and notable. The words 'eye-catching' and 'landmark' indicate that it is a well-known and beautiful place. |
| Q12 | Cemetery | The plot faced a cemetery which is consolidated a bad omen in Chinese culture | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the land Tang bought was in front of a cemetery. This is important because, in Chinese culture, this was seen as a bad sign. Answer Explanation: The answer means a place where dead people are buried. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Cemetery' because the passage mentions that the plot of land Tang bought faced a cemetery, which is important to understand the area's history and significance. |
| Q13 | unique Chinese architecture / unique architecture / Chinese architecture / architecture | it retained its unique Chinese architecture | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that when the new Tang building was built, it kept the same special Chinese style that the old building had. This means that the new building looks similar to the old one. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the new Tang building has a special style that is similar to the style of the original building. This style is Chinese. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'unique Chinese architecture' because the passage talks about how the new Tang building kept the same special Chinese style as the original one from 1958. |
| Q14 | self-booking computer terminals / computer terminals / terminals for self-booking | there is also a Singapore Airlines Service centre to facilitate bookings and offer information to tourists. Also available are a number of computer terminals for self booking | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage is saying that the Singapore Airlines Service centre helps with bookings for flights and gives information to visitors. They also have computers available for people to use by themselves for booking, which means you do not have to wait for help. Answer Explanation: The answer means you can use computers by yourself to book flights. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on the passage stating that the Paragon Shopping Centre has 'a number of computer terminals for self booking,' which means you can book flights on your own without needing help from staff. |