Choosing The Best Sleeping Bag & The Spread The Word Life Writing Prize - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 18 General Training Reading Test 2 · Part 1 · Questions 1–14
Reading Passage
==== Read the text below and answer questions 1-8 ====
Choosing the best sleeping bag
When choosing a sleeping bag, check what seasons it’s for, as well as how heavy it is if you’re backpacking. Also think about the filling. Natural duck down is very warm, has a longer lifespan and is easier to pack up, while synthetic materials are easier to clean, and they dry quicker and are cheaper.
A Vango Fuse -12
This all-year-round sleeping bag combines natural duck down and a new synthetic fibre. The result is a bag that’s warm and weighs 1.5kg. There’s a water-resistant finish to protect it from moisture.
B Outwell Campion Lux Double Sleeping Bag
This double sleeping bag – which is suitable for all seasons except winter – is soft and cosy, and there’s a handy pocket for essentials, located inside near the top. It also folds up remarkably small, given its size.
C Nordisk Oscar +10
At just 350g, this sleeping bag is remarkably light, and as it’s synthetic, it’s very easy to maintain. The pack size is just 13x20cm, which makes it ideal for backpacking. It will work perfectly for summer trekking.
D The Big Sleep 250GSM Single Cowl Sleeping
If you want a no-frills, budget sleeping bag that will last more than one summer, opt for this. It’s soft, comfy and simple to wash. Give yourself a bit of time to fit it back in the bag, though. Use it for spring, summer and autumn.
E Jack Wolfskin Smoozip +3
We like the extra insulation in this sleeping bag around the areas that tend to feel the cold (head, chest and feet). And the hood is cosy enough to use as a pillow.
F Vango Starwalker Dragon
This innovative, high-quality kids’ sleeping bag enables you to undo some zips and turn it into a fun, animal-themed coat. Once your youngster is ready for bed, simply zip the bottom back on and zip up the shoulders. Suitable for between 8 and 20 degrees Celsius.
G Outwell Conqueror
This sleeping bag has an integrated down duvet and lots of space. What’s more, it packs up compactly and is easy to get back in the bag. It’s light but too big for a rucksack.
==== Read the text below and answer Questions 9-14 ====
The Spread the Word Life Writing Prize
We are delighted to announce The Spread the Word Life Writing Prize in association with Goldsmiths Writers’ Centre.
Competition Rules
Entries should be original works of life writing of no more than 5,000 words. The word count will be checked and entries longer than 5,000 words will be disqualified. There is no minimum word count.
For the purposes of the Prize, Life Writing is defined as non-fiction and should be based on a significant portion from the author’s own experience. Traditional biographies, where the piece is only about the experience of someone else, are excluded.
Writers only submit one entry each. Multiple entries by the same author will result in only the first entry being considered for the Prize and any additional entries disqualified. Writers who have previously won or been highly commended in the Life Writing Prize are excluded from entering; otherwise, previous entrants may submit.
Entries must be the original, previously unpublished work of the entrant. Graphic novel-style entries, where drawings or photographs accompany text, are welcome. Entries can be self-contained pieces of life writing, or the first 5,000 words of a longer piece of work.
The Life Writing Prize is open to writers aged over 18 and resident in the UK who are emerging writers, which means they have not previously published in print a full-length work. We define a full-length work as, for example, a complete work of fiction or non-fiction over 30,000 words.
Entries that are simultaneously submitted elsewhere are welcome – but please let us know as soon as possible if a piece is to be published elsewhere or has won another prize so we can disqualify it from the Life Writing Prize.
The winner will receive £1,500, publication on Spread the Word’s website, two years’ membership of the Royal Society of Literature, and a development meeting with an editor and an agent. Two highly commended entries will receive £500 and two mentoring sessions, a development meeting with an editor and an agent, and be published on the Spread the Word website.
Questions
Questions 1–8 Matching Information
Look at the seven reviews of sleeping bags, A-G, above. For which sleeping bag are the following statements true? Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes on your answer sheet.
Questions 9–14 True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text? In boxes on your answer sheet, 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
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | D | Give yourself a bit of time to fit it back in the bag, though. | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that you need to spend time to put the sleeping bag back in its bag. This means it is not easy to pack. Answer Explanation: The answer is D. This means that the sleeping bag is not easy to put back into the bag after using it. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because it says you should take time to fit it back in the bag. This shows that sleeping bag D is hard to pack up after use. |
| Q2 | A | This all-year-round sleeping bag combines natural duck down and a new synthetic fibre. | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says this sleeping bag can be used in any season. It combines warm materials, which makes it comfortable throughout the year. Answer Explanation: The answer is A. This means that people can use the sleeping bag A, the Vango Fuse -12, in any season. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the description says that the Vango Fuse -12 is an all-year-round sleeping bag. This means it can be used in every season: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. |
| Q3 | E | We like the extra insulation in this sleeping bag around the areas that tend to feel the cold (head, chest and feet). | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage tells us that sleeping bag E has extra materials to keep warm in the places where people get cold, like the head, chest, and feet. Answer Explanation: The answer is E. This means that the sleeping bag E is made to keep specific body parts warm. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is E because it says this sleeping bag has extra insulation to keep the cold out from important areas like the head, chest, and feet. This means it is made to keep those parts warm. |
| Q4 | B | This double sleeping bag – which is suitable for all seasons except winter – is soft and cosy, and there's a handy pocket for essentials, located inside near the top. | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that this sleeping bag is warm and comfortable, and it has a small pocket inside where you can keep important things. Answer Explanation: The answer is B. This means that the sleeping bag 'B Outwell Campion Lux Double Sleeping Bag' has a special pocket for storing things inside. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the description of the 'Outwell Campion Lux Double Sleeping Bag' specifically says it has a 'handy pocket for essentials, located inside near the top.' This tells us that it has a useful storage area. |
| Q5 | D | If you want a no-frills, budget sleeping bag that will last more than one summer, opt for this. | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that if you want a simple and cheap sleeping bag that can be used for more than one summer, you should choose this one (D). Answer Explanation: The answer is D. This means that sleeping bag D is good for people who do not want to spend a lot of money. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because this sleeping bag is described as a 'no-frills, budget sleeping bag.' This means it is simple and not expensive, making it a good choice for someone who wants to save money. |
| Q6 | F | This innovative, high-quality kids' sleeping bag enables you to undo some zips and turn it into a fun, animal-themed coat. | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that this sleeping bag can change into a coat, which means it can be worn during the day to keep warm. Answer Explanation: The answer is F. This means that the F sleeping bag can keep someone warm even when they are awake and using it during the day. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is F because the F sleeping bag is designed to turn into a coat. This makes it useful for keeping warm during both night and day. The passage explains that this sleeping bag is innovative and allows you to use it as a coat. |
| Q7 | C | At just 350g, this sleeping bag is remarkably light | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the Nordisk Oscar +10 sleeping bag weighs only 350 grams, which means it is very light and easy to carry. Answer Explanation: The answer is C, which means the Nordisk Oscar +10 sleeping bag is the best choice for people who want to carry something light. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because it says that the Nordisk Oscar +10 sleeping bag is very light, weighing only 350 grams, making it easy to carry. This is important for people who don't want to carry heavy things, especially when backpacking. |
| Q8 | A | This all-year-round sleeping bag combines natural duck down and a new synthetic fibre. | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the Vango Fuse -12 sleeping bag uses two types of material: 'natural duck down' and 'a new synthetic fibre.' This means it has both warm material and another that is likely easier to clean. Answer Explanation: The answer is A. This means that the Vango Fuse -12 sleeping bag has two different materials inside it. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the Vango Fuse -12 sleeping bag combines 'natural duck down' and 'a new synthetic fibre.' This information shows that it uses two types of materials, making it warm and lightweight. |
| Q9 | True | There is no minimum word count. | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says there is no requirement for the smallest number of words. Writers can write fewer than 5,000 words. Answer Explanation: The answer is true. This means that writers can send in stories that have fewer than 5,000 words for the prize. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is true because the rules clearly state that there is no minimum word count, which means writers can submit work that is less than 5,000 words. |
| Q10 | False | Traditional biographies, where the piece is only about the experience of someone else, are excluded. | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that stories which are only about other people are not allowed. Writers must tell their own stories, not the stories of others. Answer Explanation: The answer means that writers cannot write about the life of someone else they know. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is false because the rules say that life writing must be based on the author's own experience, not on someone else's life. This means you cannot write about someone else; you can only write about yourself. |
| Q11 | True | Writers who have previously won or been highly commended in the Life Writing Prize are excluded from entering; otherwise, previous entrants may submit. | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that if writers did not win or get special mention in a previous contest, they can enter again. Answer Explanation: The answer is True, which means that if someone entered the competition before but did not win, they can try again. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is True because the text states that 'previous entrants may submit' unless they have already won or been highly commended. This means that people who entered before but did not win can enter again. |
| Q12 | Not given | The Life Writing Prize is open to writers aged over 18 and resident in the UK who are emerging writers, which means they have not previously published in print a full-length work. | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the prize is for writers who are older than 18 years, but it does not provide information about specific age groups or about whether they are in school. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Not given' because the passage does not say anything about writers who are between 19 and 25 years old and in full-time education winning the prize. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Not given' because there are no details in the passage about the ages of past winners or their education status. The passage mentions only that writers must be over 18 years old and emerging writers. |
| Q13 | False | The winner will receive £1,500, publication on Spread the Word’s website, two years’ membership of the Royal Society of Literature, and a development meeting with an editor and an agent. Two highly commended entries will receive £500 | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage means that there is one main winner who gets money and also two other entries that get money, too. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'False' because more than one prize is given. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'False' because the text states that besides the main winner, there are also two highly commended entries that receive rewards. This means multiple prizes are awarded. |
| Q14 | Not given | Writers who have previously won or been highly commended in the Life Writing Prize are excluded from entering | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that previous winners cannot enter again, but it does not say anything about their success as published writers. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Not Given' because the passage does not tell us if previous winners became successful writers. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Not Given' because the passage does not provide any information about what happened to winners of the Life Writing Prize after they won. It only states that previous winners are not allowed to enter again. |