Consumer Advice & Rice Cookers - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 15 General Training Reading Test 1 · Part 1 · Questions 1–14
Reading Passage
==== Read the text below and answer questions 1-6 ====
Consumer Advice
If something you’ve ordered hasn’t arrived, you should contact the seller to find out where it is. It’s their legal responsibility to make sure the item is delivered to you. They should chase the delivery company and let you know what’s happened to your item. If your item wasn’t delivered to the location you agreed (e.g. if it was left with your neighbour without your consent), it’s the seller’s legal responsibility to sort out the issue.
If the item doesn’t turn up, you’re legally entitled to a replacement or refund. You can ask for your money back if you don’t receive the item within 30 days of buying it. If the seller refuses, you should put your complaint in writing. If that doesn’t work, you could contact their trade association – look on their website for this information, or contact them to ask.
You might also be able to get your money back through your bank or payment provider – this depends on how you paid.
• If you paid by debit card, contact your bank and say you want to use the ‘chargeback’ scheme. If the bank agrees, they can ask the seller’s bank to refund the money to your account. Many bank staff don’t know about the scheme, so you might need to speak to a supervisor or manager. You should do this within 120 days of when you paid.
• If you paid by credit card and the item cost less than £100, you should contact your credit card company and say you want to use the ‘chargeback’ scheme. There’s no time limit for when you need to do this. If the item cost more than £100 but less than £30,000, contact your credit card company and say that you want to make a ‘section 75’ claim.
• If you paid using PayPal, use PayPal’s online resolution centre to report your dispute. You must do this within 180 days of paying.
==== Read the text below and answer questions 7-14. ====
Rice Cookers
A Ezy Rice Cooker
This has a 1.8 litre pot and a stainless steel exterior. It has a separate glass lid, and the handle on the lid stays cool. It produces perfectly cooked white rice, but tends to spit when cooking brown rice. There are slight dirt traps around the rim of the lid, and neither the pot nor the lid is dishwasher safe.
B Family Rice Cooker
This has a plastic exterior and a flip-top lid. The lid locks when closed and becomes a secure handle to carry the cooker. The aluminium interior pot is quite difficult to clean, and it can’t be put in a dishwasher. It’s programmed to adjust the temperature once the rice is done so that it stops cooking but doesn’t get cold.
C Mini Rice Cooker
This has a flip-top lid and a 0.3 litre capacity. The interior pot is made of non-stick aluminium and is dishwasher safe. This rice cooker is ideal when cooking for one. However it does not have any handles at the side, and water sometimes overflows when cooking brown rice.
D VPN Rice Cooker
This has a painted steel exterior with a handle on each side and a steel inner pot. It has a lift-off lid and comes with a booklet including a range of ideas for rice dishes. However, the keep-warm setting must be manually selected and the handles are tricky to grip.
E S16 Rice cooker
This is simple to use, not spitting or boiling over even when cooking brown rice. The exterior stays cool when in use, so there’s no danger of burning your hand. However, the lack of handles is a nuisance, and a recipe book would have been useful.
Questions
Questions 1–6 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 7–14 Matching Information
Look at the five reviews of rice cookers, A-E. For which rice cooker are the following statements true? Write the correct letter; A-E, in boxes sheet. NB You may use any letter more than once.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Not given | If your item wasn't delivered to the location you agreed (e.g. if it was left with your neighbour without your consent), it's the seller's legal responsibility to sort out the issue | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that if your item is left with your neighbor without your consent, the seller must fix the problem. It does not say anything about you getting a card. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Not given.' This means the text does not say anything about receiving a card if your item is left with a neighbor. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Not given' because there is no information in the passage that talks about getting a card when an item is left with a neighbor. The passage focuses on what to do if your item hasn't arrived, but it does not mention any cards or messages. |
| Q2 | Not given | If the item doesn't turn up, you're legally entitled to a replacement or refund | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that if your item does not come, you can ask for either a replacement or your money back. It does not tell us which option is quicker. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'not given.' This means the passage does not say if getting a refund is faster than getting a replacement. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'not given' because the passage talks about what to do if an item is not delivered, but it does not say which is faster: getting a refund or getting a replacement. There is no clear information about the time it takes for each option. |
| Q3 | True | You can ask for your money back if you don’t receive the item within 30 days of buying it | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage means that if your order does not arrive, you have the right to get another one or to get your money back. Answer Explanation: The answer means you can get your money back if your order does not arrive on time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage states, 'If the item doesn't turn up, you're legally entitled to a replacement or refund.' This clearly says that if you do not receive your item, you can ask for your money back. |
| Q4 | True | You should do this within 120 days of when you paid | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says you need to contact the bank no later than 120 days after you made your payment. This means there is a time limit. Answer Explanation: The answer is True, which means there is a time limit for using the 'chargeback' scheme with debit cards. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is True because the passage mentions that you should contact your bank within 120 days of when you paid to use the 'chargeback' scheme. This indicates that there is a specific time frame you must follow. |
| Q5 | False | If the item cost more than £100 but less than £30,000, contact your credit card company and say that you want to make a ‘section 75’ claim. | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that if you pay with a credit card and the cost is more than £100, you have to use a 'section 75' claim instead of 'chargeback'. This means you cannot use 'chargeback' for costs over £100. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'False' because the statement is not correct. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'False' because the passage states that if you paid more than £100 but less than £30,000 with a credit card, you must use 'section 75' claim instead of the 'chargeback' scheme. Therefore, you cannot use 'chargeback' for payments over £100. |
| Q6 | Not given | If you paid using PayPal, use PayPal's online resolution centre to report your dispute | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that if you use PayPal, you should go to their online place to solve problems with your payment. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Not Given' because the passage does not say anything about how good PayPal's online resolution centre is. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Not Given' because the passage mentions that you should use PayPal's online resolution centre to report your dispute, but it does not say whether it is efficient or not. Therefore, we do not have enough information to determine its reputation. |
| Q7 | D | the handles are tricky to grip | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says the handles are not easy to hold or use properly. Answer Explanation: The answer means that rice cooker D has handles on the sides that are difficult to use. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because the passage mentions, 'the handles are tricky to grip,' which means they are hard to use. This specifically describes rice cooker D. |
| Q8 | E | This is simple to use, not spitting or boiling over even when cooking brown rice | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that this rice cooker is easy to use and does not make a mess while cooking brown rice. Answer Explanation: The answer is E. This rice cooker cooks brown rice without making a mess. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is E because it is mentioned in the passage that this rice cooker does not spit or boil over when cooking brown rice, meaning it cooks it well without causing any mess. |
| Q9 | B | It's programmed to adjust the temperature once the rice is done so that it stops cooking but doesn't get cold | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the Family Rice Cooker can change its setting by itself when the rice is finished cooking. This means it keeps the rice warm and does not let it get cold. Answer Explanation: The answer is B. This means the Family Rice Cooker automatically keeps the rice warm after it is done cooking. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the Family Rice Cooker has a feature that programs it to adjust the temperature once the rice is done cooking, so it stops cooking but keeps the rice warm. This is important information to remember when looking for a rice cooker. |
| Q10 | A | It produces perfectly cooked white rice, but tends to spit when cooking brown rice. There are slight dirt traps around the rim of the lid, and neither the pot nor the lid is dishwasher safe | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the A Ezy Rice Cooker cooks rice well, but there are small places on the lid where dirt can get stuck. This makes it hard to clean the top. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the removable top of rice cooker A is hard to clean well. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the passage says that the A Ezy Rice Cooker has 'slight dirt traps around the rim of the lid,' which makes it difficult to clean the removable top well. |
| Q11 | D | it has a lift-off lid and comes with a booklet including a range of ideas for rice dishes | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that this rice cooker has a lid that can be lifted off and includes a booklet with many rice recipes. This means it provides ideas for cooking rice. Answer Explanation: The answer is D. This means that the VPN Rice Cooker comes with a booklet that has recipes for rice dishes. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because the passage mentions that the VPN Rice Cooker comes with a booklet including a range of ideas for rice dishes. This clearly shows that recipes are provided with this cooker. |
| Q12 | B | The lid locks when closed and becomes a secure handle to carry the cooker | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that when the lid is closed, it locks and can be used as a strong handle to carry the rice cooker. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the rice cooker B has a special handle on the lid that helps you carry it safely. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the passage says that the Family Rice Cooker (B) has a lid that locks when closed and becomes a secure handle. This means you can carry it safely. |
| Q13 | E | The exterior stays cool when in use, so there's no danger of burning your hand | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage means that when you use the E S16 Rice Cooker, the outside part remains cool. This is good because you can touch it without getting burned. Answer Explanation: The answer is E. This means that the outside of the E S16 Rice Cooker does not get too hot. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is E because the passage says that the E S16 Rice Cooker 'The exterior stays cool when in use, so there's no danger of burning your hand.' This means that when you touch the outside of the cooker, it will not be hot. |
| Q14 | C | The interior pot is made of non-stick aluminium and is dishwasher safe | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the inside pot of the C Mini Rice Cooker is made so that food does not stick to it and it can be washed in the dishwasher. Answer Explanation: The answer is C, which means that the C Mini Rice Cooker has a pot that you can wash in the dishwasher. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the passage states that the C Mini Rice Cooker has a 'non-stick aluminium' pot and is 'dishwasher safe.' This means you can put it in the dishwasher without any problems. |