Lakeville College Employee Benefits & Long Mountain Learning Center Writing Courses - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Barrons IELTS Practice Exams General Training Reading Test 3 · Part 2 · Questions 15–27
Reading Passage
Read the information below and answer Questions 15-20.
Lakeville College Employee Benefits
Vacations
All employees are entitled to a minimum of two weeks paid vacation time annually. The actual days to be used as vacation are subject to approval by the individual employee's supervisor.
Insurance
All employees are eligible for any of the health insurance plans offered by the college. Information on the various plans are available from Human Resources. This benefit is extended to members of the employee's immediate family. Part-time employees may apply for this benefit but will pay a higher percentage of the premium.
Use of College Facilities
All employees, full and part time, may use any of the college facilities, including the library, gym, swimming pool, and tennis courts, free of charge. A faculty or staff ID card must be shown when requesting access to these facilities. Immediate family members are also entitled to this benefit, but must obtain an ID card from Human Resources before using college facilities.
Parking
Free parking is available on campus for all college employees; however, a parking sticker must be obtained from Human Resources. The sticker must be displayed on the windshield at all times when parked on campus. The sticker is valid for parking in specially designated employee parking areas as well as in any parking space marked "Visitor." Student parking areas are reserved for student parking only.
Taking Classes
Employees may take classes in any department at the college. Show your faculty or staff ID when registering for the class. Employees may enroll in up to three classes per year free of charge. Any additional classes beyond that must be paid for at the full tuition rate. In addition, any employee wishing to pursue a degree must apply for and be accepted into the program of his or her choice before being considered a degree candidate. In this case, student service fees will apply.
______________
Read the text below and answer Questions 21-27.
Long Mountain Learning Center Writing Courses
A - The Art of Correspondence
Have you always wished you could write more elegantly? This course will help you develop your own style when writing letters of friendship, condolence, congratulations, and so on.
Mondays, 5–7 P.M.
B - Client Communication
The success of any business depends on clear communications with clients. This course will show you the essentials of letter, e-mail, and fax writing to help you enhance those all-important business relationships with clients.
Tuesdays, 1–3 P.M.
C - Rules of Communication
Do you wonder where to place commas or when to use exclamation points? Do you know when it is appropriate to use apostrophes and when it is not? This course will clear up any confusion you may have about the rules for using commas, periods, semicolons, and so on, and it will help you to make your writing clear and correct.
Wednesdays, 9:30–10:30 A.M.
D - Fiction Workshop
This course is for writers who are currently working on a novel or short story. Class time will be spent reading and critiquing classmates' work.
Saturdays, 9:30–11:30 A.M.
E - What Do You Mean?
Finding the exact words to express your ideas is an art in itself. In this course, you will learn about words, what they mean, how to avoid confusing similar words, and how to choose just the right words in your writing.
Thursdays, 7:30–9:30 P.M.
F - Write It Right
Writing a research paper involves more than gathering information. Knowing how to organize your information, express your ideas clearly, and document your sources are essential. This course is specifically designed for students preparing to enter college.
Tuesdays, 3:30–5:00 P.M.
G - Express Your Opinion
The Letters to the Editor column in your local paper is a public forum for expressing opinions on matters of interest to all citizens. In this course, you will learn how to develop and eloquently express your opinions and improve your chances of getting your letter published.
Fridays, 8:45–10:00 P.M.
H - Report It
Have you always dreamed of being a correspondent for a newspaper or magazine? This course will cover the basics of gathering news and turning it into interesting newspaper and magazine articles.
Wednesdays, 1–3 P.M.
I - Retelling Old Favorites
Do you remember the traditional folktales and fairy tales that you loved as a child? In this course, you will rewrite some of your favorite old tales in new ways that will delight the youngsters in your life.
Tuesdays, 5–7 P.M.
J - Writing to Sell
In this course, you will learn to write advertisements that will attract more clients to your product or business. Previous business writing experience is required.
Thursdays, 9:30–11:30 A.M.
K - Selling for Poets
Don't let anyone tell you there aren't any good markets for poetry. In fact, there are hundreds of places, both online and in print, that publish poetry and pay good money for it, too. Find out about how to sell your poetry in this course.
Questions
Questions 15–20 One Choice
Write the correct letter, A, B, or C.
Questions 21–27 Matching Features
Look at the descriptions of the writing courses, A-K. For which descriptions are the following statements true? Write the correct letter, A-K.
A. The Art of Correspondence
B. Client Communication
C. Rules of Communication
D. Fiction Workshop
E. What Do You Mean?
F. Write It Right
G. Express Your Opinion
H. Report It
I. Retelling Old Favorites
J. Writing to Sell
K. Selling for Poets
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q15 | C | All employees are entitled to a minimum of two weeks paid vacation time annually | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that every worker is given at least two weeks of paid vacation time each year. Answer Explanation: The answer means that workers can get two weeks or more of paid time off each year. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the passage states that employees get a "minimum of two weeks" of paid vacation every year. The phrase "a minimum of" means "at least," so employees can take two weeks or more. |
| Q16 | B | All employees are eligible for any of the health insurance plans offered by the college. Information on the various plans are available from Human Resources. This benefit is extended to members of the employee's immediate family | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that every employee can get college health insurance, and close family members can get this benefit too. Answer Explanation: The answer means that every worker at the college, as well as their husband, wife, and children, can receive health insurance. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the text explains that every worker is allowed to join the health insurance plans, and this benefit also includes members of the employee's immediate family (spouses and children). This rules out choice A (which says full-time only) and choice C (which says family members are excluded). |
| Q17 | A | Immediate family members are also entitled to this benefit, but must obtain an ID card from Human Resources before using college facilities | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that family members can use college facilities like the library, but they have to get an ID card from Human Resources first. Answer Explanation: The answer means that a family member of a worker needs to get an identification (ID) card. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the text explains that family members must get ('obtain') an ID card from Human Resources before they can use college facilities, such as the library. The verb 'obtain' means to get. |
| Q18 | C | The sticker is valid for parking in specially designated employee parking areas as well as in any parking space marked "Visitor." | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the sticker allows workers to park in special areas for employees and in any spot labeled for visitors. Answer Explanation: The answer means employees are allowed to park their cars in spaces set aside for workers as well as spaces marked for visitors. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the text explicitly states that an employee's parking sticker allows them to park in special employee areas and in spaces marked for visitors. Keywords like "specially designated employee parking areas" and "space marked 'Visitor'" directly correspond to "both employee and visitor parking areas" in choice C. |
| Q19 | A | Employees may enroll in up to three classes per year free of charge | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that workers at the college can sign up for up to three classes every year without paying money. Answer Explanation: The answer 'A' means that the employee does not have to pay anything. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the passage explains that workers can take up to three classes each year for free. Since taking one class is within this three-class limit, the employee does not need to pay any money. The phrase 'free of charge' means it costs nothing. |
| Q20 | B | In addition, any employee wishing to pursue a degree must apply for and be accepted into the program of his or her choice before being considered a degree candidate | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that if a worker wants to work towards a degree, they must apply to their chosen program and be accepted before they can be counted as a degree student. Answer Explanation: The answer B means that workers who want to get a degree must fill out an application and be accepted into a specific study program. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the passage directly mentions that an employee who wants to study for a degree must apply for and be accepted into a program. The phrase 'pursue a degree' in the text has the same meaning as 'study for a degree' in the question, and 'apply for... the program' matches 'Application for admission into a program'. |
| Q21 | F | Writing a research paper involves more than gathering information. Knowing how to organize your information, express your ideas clearly, and document your sources are essential. This course is specifically designed for students preparing to enter college | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that Course F teaches skills for writing research papers and is created for students getting ready to go to college. Answer Explanation: The answer choice F refers to the course titled "Write It Right". Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is F because the course description mentions writing a "research paper" and helping students who are "preparing to enter college." Writing research papers for college is a form of academic writing. |
| Q22 | A | This course will help you develop your own style when writing letters of friendship, condolence, congratulations, and so on | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that this class helps you practice writing letters to friends and family for different personal occasions. Answer Explanation: The answer "A" refers to the course titled "The Art of Correspondence". Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Course A helps students learn to write different types of personal letters, such as "letters of friendship, condolence, congratulations". These kinds of letters are sent for personal relationships rather than for business purposes. |
| Q23 | E | In this course, you will learn about words, what they mean, how to avoid confusing similar words, and how to choose just the right words in your writing | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that in this class, you will study words and learn their meanings so you can use the right words when you write. Answer Explanation: The answer E means the course titled 'What Do You Mean?'. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is E because Course E teaches students about words, their meanings, and how to select the correct words for writing. Learning and understanding more words means improving your vocabulary. |
| Q24 | I | In this course, you will rewrite some of your favorite old tales in new ways that will delight the youngsters in your life | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that in this course, you will write old stories in new ways to bring joy to children. Answer Explanation: The answer is course I (Retelling Old Favorites). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is I because Course I focuses on rewriting old stories ("tales") to make young people ("youngsters") happy. This matches the idea of writing stories for children. |
| Q25 | H | Have you always dreamed of being a correspondent for a newspaper or magazine? This course will cover the basics of gathering news and turning it into interesting newspaper and magazine articles | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that this course teaches people how to collect news and write articles for newspapers and magazines. Answer Explanation: The answer "H" refers to the course named "H - Report It". Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is H because Course H is about working for a newspaper or magazine, gathering news, and writing news articles. These activities are the definition of journalism. |
| Q26 | C | This course will clear up any confusion you may have about the rules for using commas, periods, semicolons, and so on, and it will help you to make your writing clear and correct | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that Course C helps fix any confusion about the rules for using punctuation marks like commas, periods, and semicolons to make writing correct. Answer Explanation: The answer "C" refers to Course C, which is named "Rules of Communication". Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Course C explains how to use marks like commas, periods, semicolons, exclamation points, and apostrophes. In English, these marks are called punctuation. Therefore, this course is designed to teach you how to use punctuation correctly. |
| Q27 | J | In this course, you will learn to write advertisements that will attract more clients to your product or business | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that in Course J, students will practice writing ads that help bring more customers to their business or products. Answer Explanation: The answer means Course J (Writing to Sell) is the class that focuses on business marketing. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is J because Course J teaches people how to write advertisements to bring more customers to a business or product, which is the main goal of business marketing. Key words like 'advertisements' and 'attract more clients to your product or business' show that this class is about marketing. |