The Best Hiking Boots & Beekeeping Workshop At Elm Farm - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 16 General Training Reading Test 4 · Part 1 · Questions 1–14
Reading Passage
==== Read the text below and answer questions 1-8 ====
The best hiking boots
Whether you’re climbing a mountain or walking in the country, be sure to buy the right boots, writes Sian Lewis
A Hanwag Tatra Boots
These boots are expensive but will give you a lifetime of wear. They are a wide fit and offer excellent ankle support. They passed our waterproof test when worn on long, rainy walks, although they are a bit heavy.
B Scarpa Peak Gore-tex Boots
These are good all-round boots that have kept our feet dry in heavy rain, snow and mud. They are warm and comfortable to wear straight out of the box and continue to be so even after many kilometres. A great choice for all seasons.
C Keen Terradora Ethos
These are meant for spring and summer walks and for putting in your backpack for treks in hot climates. They will never weigh you down. Their soles grip well and despite not being waterproof, they are quick-drying when they get wet.
D Danner Jag
Danner’s retro boots are one of the heavier ones we reviewed. They take a week or two for your feet to get used to them, but we found them waterproof even in heavy rain. These are boots for the style conscious, but still suitable for demanding walks.
E Merrell Siren Sport Q2 Mid Boots
We’ve worn these boots in freezing cold conditions and our feet felt comfortable. Remember to pull the laces firmly when you put these boots on as they are rather wide around the ankles.
F Teva Arrowood Mid WP
The soft leather might not be tough enough for extreme environments, but these boots get top marks for comfort. They’re waterproof, but we found this wore off after about 20 wet walks. You can, however, get round this problem by using a protective spray on them.
G Regatta Clydebank Mid Boots
These boots are reasonably priced and they performed well in heavy rain. They don’t grip the ground as well as some other boots and aren’t very warm in cold winter weather so we’d say they’re best for country walks in spring and summer.
==== Read the text below and answer Questions 9-14 ====
Beekeeping workshop at Elm Farm
If you’ve ever wanted to keep bees and have your own delicious honey, there’s no better time to begin!
Whether you’re keen to learn everything you need to know to get you started, or simply extremely interested in the idea of keeping bees, this one-day interactive workshop will teach you the fascinating secrets of the honeybee and how to care for and keep bees.
Our day begins here on the farm, getting to know about the honeybee, specifically the kind we keep here, and their fascinating history. You will find out about and try for yourself the equipment beekeepers use to care for their bees and discover the many different types of hives bee colonies live in and their different uses. You’ll learn about the life cycle of a colony, disease prevention and caring for bees and of course how to harvest honey for your personal use or for sale.
Then it’s time to try on your bee suit and meet our bees. We’ll teach you how to open the hive, recognise the different bees in it (including how to spot the queen!) and explain what they’re doing in different parts of the hive.
What’s included in the price?
We’ll provide everything you need, including unlimited organic tea or coffee, lunch cooked in our outdoor, wood-fired oven and beekeeping suits for the day. Just bring a pair of thick boots with you. You’ll leave with plenty of notes and resources, including a packet of bee-friendly wildflower seeds and, courtesy of BJ Sherriff, the leading supplier of beekeeping clothing, an exclusive 25% discount for anything in their online store.
We like to run our workshops fairly and honestly. Your booking secures a very limited place, so is non-refundable – if you can’t make it, you can send a friend or colleague instead though. If at the end of any of our workshops, you don’t believe that it has helped you to achieve what it set out to, we will gladly provide a full refund.
Places are strictly limited so please do book early to avoid disappointment.
Questions
Questions 1–8 Matching Information
Look at the seven reviews of hiking boots, A-G. For which hiking boots are the following statements true?
Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes on your answer sheet. NB You may use any letter more than once.
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 | These are boots for the style conscious, but still suitable for demanding walks | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says these boots are made for people who care about style but can also handle tough walking. Answer Explanation: The answer is D. This means that Danner Jag boots are a good choice for people who want to look nice when they are walking. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because it says these boots are for 'the style conscious', which means they look good and are suitable for walking. This shows that they are made for people who want to look smart. |
| Q2 | B | They are warm and comfortable to wear straight out of the box and continue to be so even after many kilometres | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that these boots are cozy to wear immediately, which means no need to wait for your feet to feel better in them. Answer Explanation: The answer means that you can wear these boots without waiting for your feet to get used to them. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the review for the Scarpa Peak Gore-tex Boots says they are 'warm and comfortable to wear straight out of the box.' This means you can wear them right away without any discomfort or adjustment time. |
| Q3 | A | These boots are expensive but will give you a lifetime of wear | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that these boots cost a lot, but they are very strong and will last a person's whole life. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the Hanwag Tatra Boots are strong and will last a long time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'A' because the passage says that the Hanwag Tatra Boots are expensive but will give you a lifetime of wear, which means they are very durable and will last many years. |
| Q4 | C | These are meant for spring and summer walks and for putting in your backpack for treks in hot climates. They will never weigh you down | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that these boots are for warm weather and easy to carry. They are light, so they are good to take with you when travelling. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the Keen Terradora Ethos boots are light and good for travel. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the passage says that the Keen Terradora Ethos boots 'will never weigh you down', which means they are light. This is important for people who are travelling and do not want to carry heavy shoes. |
| Q5 | F | The soft leather might not be tough enough for extreme environments, but these boots get top marks for comfort. They're waterproof, but we found this wore off after about 20 wet walks | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the Teva Arrowood Mid WP boots are comfortable and waterproof, but after using them in water about 20 times, they stop being waterproof. Answer Explanation: The answer is F. This means that the Teva Arrowood Mid WP boots have one feature that does not stay good for a long time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is F because the passage says that although these boots are waterproof, this quality stops working well after about 20 times in wet conditions. This means their waterproof feature does not last a long time. |
| Q6 | C | despite not being waterproof, they are quick-drying when they get wet | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says these boots are good for warm weather and dry quickly when wet, but they do not keep rain out. Answer Explanation: The answer is C, which means the Keen Terradora Ethos boots do not keep the rain out. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because these boots are not waterproof. The passage says they are "not being waterproof," which means they do not stop rain from getting in. |
| Q7 | E | Remember to pull the laces firmly when you put these boots on as they are rather wide around the ankles | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage means you should tighten the laces when you wear the Merrell Siren Sport Q2 Mid Boots. They can be loose because they are wide around the ankles. Answer Explanation: The answer is E. This means you need to tie the laces tightly on the Merrell Siren Sport Q2 Mid Boots before you walk. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is E because the passage says these boots are "rather wide around the ankles." This means they can be loose, so it is important to pull the laces firmly to make them fit well. |
| Q8 | G | These boots are reasonably priced and they performed well in heavy rain | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says these boots cost a fair amount, not too much, so they are good for people who don't want to spend a lot. Answer Explanation: The answer is G. This means the Regatta Clydebank Mid Boots are not very expensive. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is G because the passage states these boots are 'reasonably priced.' This means they are not too expensive, making them a good choice for people who want to save money. |
| Q9 | False | If you've ever wanted to keep bees and have your own delicious honey, there's no better time to begin! Whether you're keen to learn everything you need to know to get you started, or simply extremely interested in the idea of keeping bees | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that if you want to keep bees or are interested in it, this workshop is a good place to start. It teaches you how to begin and take care of bees. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'False', which means the workshop is not just for people who already have bees. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'False' because the passage says the workshop is for anyone who is interested in keeping bees, not just those who already keep their own bees. It mentions that people can learn everything they need to start keeping bees. |
| Q10 | Not given | If you've ever wanted to keep bees and have your own delicious honey, there's no better time to begin | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage talks about starting beekeeping and making your own honey, but it does not say anything about selling honey or meeting people who sell it. Answer Explanation: The answer means that there is no information in the text about meeting sellers of honey. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Not Given' because the passage talks about a beekeeping workshop but does not mention anything about meeting people who sell honey. It only describes what participants will learn and do during the workshop. |
| Q11 | Not given | We'll provide everything you need, including unlimited organic tea or coffee, lunch cooked in our outdoor, wood-fired oven | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says they will give you tea, coffee, and lunch, but it does not say if the lunch is vegetarian or not. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Not given' because the text does not say anything about vegetarian refreshments. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Not given' because the passage does not mention anything about vegetarian refreshments being available or if they must be requested in advance. It focuses more on the provided meals and drinks but does not specify if they are vegetarian. |
| Q12 | False | beekeeping suits for the day | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that they will give you all the things you need, which includes the beekeeping suits. This means you do not have to pay more to hire them. Answer Explanation: The answer is False, which means participants do not need to pay extra for clothes. They will get everything they need included in the price. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is False because the passage states that beekeeping suits are provided for the day and included in the price. There is no mention of needing to pay extra for clothing. |
| Q13 | True | Just bring a pair of thick boots with you | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says you need to bring thick boots. This shows you must wear safe shoes during the workshop. Answer Explanation: The answer is true. This means that you will need to wear special shoes or boots during the workshop. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is true because the passage says, 'Just bring a pair of thick boots with you.' This means you must wear proper boots for safety. |
| Q14 | False | Your booking secures a very limited place, so is non-refundable – if you can't make it, you can send a friend or colleague instead though | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that once you pay for the workshop, you cannot get your money back. If you cannot go, you can have someone else go in your place. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'False'. This means that if someone cancels their workshop, they will not get their money back. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'False' because the passage states that the booking is non-refundable. This means that if you cancel, you won't receive your money back. However, you can send a friend instead of cancelling yourself. |