Top Campsites To Visit & Cycling In Plymouth - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 20 General Training Reading Test 1 · Part 1 · Questions 1–14
Reading Passage
Read the text below and answer Questions 1–5.
Top campsites to visit
A Woodside Park
This campsite, which opens in the summer months only, is in the middle of a country park. The site is next to a large lake and there's woodland nearby to explore. If you don't fancy sleeping in a tent, you can book a pod. These are all heated and furnished with beds. Facilities on site include hot showers and a small shop.
B Treetops Farm
This campsite, which is on a working farm, is open all year. The site itself is a car-free zone and you'll need to park near the farmhouse and carry your belongings and tent to the camping area. The facilities are simple but the washrooms, which are closed daily for an hour from midday for cleaning, have free hot water for showers.
C The Downs
This campsite, which is open from April to November but closed during the coldest months, is surrounded by beautiful countryside that's perfect for cycling and walking. Facilities on site include a laundry room as well as showers and a small shop. There's a pub that serves hot food each evening in the nearby village, which is only a ten-minute drive away.
D Bluewater Bay
This perfectly flat grass campsite, which is open in the summer months only, is only a few minutes' walk from the beach. There's a shower room on site and also a farm shop (which is open until 8 pm), where you can buy anything you need for a BBQ. If you haven't got a tent, the site offers pre-pitched ones that can be rented by the day.
E Dean Park
This large campsite, which is open all year, offers a range of facilities. As well as several shower rooms and a café serving cooked meals daily, there's an indoor pool and games room. For anyone keen on countryside walks there are miles of footpaths in the nearby national park.
F Rock Harbour
This small, family-owned campsite has space for 50 tents and is only open in the summer. It's just a five-minute walk to the sea so is perfect for anyone looking for a beach holiday. There's a small shop on site and there's always someone in the campsite office from 9 am–9 pm if you need assistance or have a problem.
______________
Read the text below and answer Questions 6–14.
Cycling in Plymouth
Cycling in the city is relatively stress free. As well as providing a growing number of cycle paths that are traffic free, local government has also added dedicated cycle lanes to many routes. A journey in the city by bike is generally quicker than the same journey by car – especially at peak times, and you can travel door to door, which saves additional time. A further benefit of cycling is that it's cheaper than running a car – even if you include the cost of an occasional taxi. It's also good for you: you'll need to cycle for a recommended minimum of twenty minutes a day if you want to improve your overall fitness.
If you've only recently decided to take up cycling, summer is a good time to start. However, the weather is rarely so bad in Plymouth that it will stop you cycling. To get started, you can hire a bike – various apps are available where you are charged by the hour. If you want to buy a bike, you should think first about the size you'll need and what you plan to use it for – commuting, shopping or recreation. When selecting your bike, it's helpful to remember that ones with lighter frames and good gears make cycling easier, but are more expensive.
Although most train companies allow bikes on their trains, there are peak-time restrictions. Therefore, if you want to take a bike on a local train at peak times, you will need one that folds up. Even outside peak times, most trains have limited space for bikes of any kind so a reservation in advance of your journey is essential.
If you plan to maintain your bike, you'll also need to buy certain equipment: a pump, a spare inner tube, and tyre levers for mending punctures. If you get a puncture, see if you can find out the cause, such as a piece of broken glass, and remove it. If you need to replace an inner tube, its size is usually shown on the tyre.
Questions
Questions 1–5 Matching Features
Look at the six reviews of campsites, A–F.
For which campsite are the following statements true?
Write the correct letter, A–F.
A. Woodside Park
B. Treetops Farm
C. The Downs
D. Bluewater Bay
E. Dean Park
F. Rock Harbour
Questions 6–14 True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text?
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 | If you haven't got a tent, the site offers pre-pitched ones that can be rented by the day | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says if you do not have your own tent, the campsite has tents already set up that you can pay to use for each day. Answer Explanation: The answer is D. This means that at 'Bluewater Bay' campsite, you can pay money to use a tent. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because the passage states that 'Bluewater Bay' offers 'pre-pitched ones that can be rented by the day'. The word 'rented' means you pay money to use something for a short time, and 'pre-pitched' tents are ready-made tents. This directly answers the question about hiring a tent at a campsite. |
| Q2 | B | The facilities are simple but the washrooms, which are closed daily for an hour from midday for cleaning, have free hot water for showers | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that the bathrooms, called 'washrooms', at Treetops Farm are not open for one hour every day starting at noon, specifically for cleaning. These 'washrooms' have hot water for showers. Answer Explanation: The answer is campsite B, which is called Treetops Farm. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the passage says that at Treetops Farm, the washrooms, which include showers, are closed for a short time every day. This closure is for cleaning. |
| Q3 | C | Facilities on site include a laundry room as well as showers and a small shop | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that at this campsite, there is a room to wash clothes, plus places to shower and a small store. Answer Explanation: The answer, C, means that 'The Downs' campsite has a place where you can wash your clothes. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the text says that 'The Downs' campsite has a 'laundry room'. A laundry room is a specific place where people can wash and dry their clothes. This directly matches the idea of having a place on site to wash clothes. |
| Q4 | F | there's always someone in the campsite office from 9 am–9 pm if you need assistance or have a problem | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that at this campsite, you can always find a person in the office. This person is there from nine in the morning until nine at night to Thelp you if you need something or have a difficulty. Answer Explanation: The answer is F, which means the campsite 'Rock Harbour' has staff members ready to help people for most of the day. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is F because the description for Rock Harbour clearly states that there is always someone in the campsite office to provide 'assistance' or help with a 'problem'. This person is available for a long period, from 9 am to 9 pm, which covers many hours during the day and evening, implying a staff member is available 'all day' during operational hours specified. |
| Q5 | E | This large campsite, which is open all year, offers a range of facilities. As well as several shower rooms and a café serving cooked meals daily, there's an indoor pool and games room | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that Dean Park is a big camp site that is available for visits the whole year. It also has a swimming pool inside, which means people can swim there even when it's cold outside. Answer Explanation: The answer is E. This means that visitors who go to Dean Park campsite can swim even in the cold winter months. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is E, Dean Park, because the passage states this campsite is 'open all year', meaning it is available in winter. The passage also mentions that Dean Park has an 'indoor pool', so visitors can go swimming at any time, including winter, as the campsite is always open. |
| Q6 | TRUE | As well as providing a growing number of cycle paths that are traffic free, local government has also added dedicated cycle lanes to many routes | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the city's government is giving more and more paths for bikes where there are no cars. It also says they made special lanes for bikes on many roads. Answer Explanation: The answer, TRUE, means that the statement is correct according to the text. It means that the number of cycle paths where cars are not allowed is getting bigger. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage clearly states that the local government is providing 'a growing number' of cycle paths that do not have car traffic. The word 'growing' means 'increasing', which directly matches the idea that the number of these paths is getting bigger. |
| Q7 | FALSE | A journey in the city by bike is generally quicker than the same journey by car – especially at peak times, and you can travel door to door, which saves additional time | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that if you ride a bike in the city, you will usually get to your destination faster than if you drive a car. This is especially true when many cars are on the road. Also, riding a bike lets you go directly from one place to another, which saves more time. Answer Explanation: The answer 'FALSE' means that the statement is not true. It is not likely that you will reach your destination faster by driving a car than by cycling in the city. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the passage states that cycling is generally faster than driving a car directly. It specifically mentions that a journey by bike is quicker than the same journey by car, especially when there's a lot of traffic. The statement says the opposite, which makes it incorrect. |
| Q8 | FALSE | However, the weather is rarely so bad in Plymouth that it will stop you cycling | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that in Plymouth, the weather is almost never bad enough to completely stop someone from riding a bike. Answer Explanation: The answer 'FALSE' means that the statement is not true. The weather in Plymouth usually does not stop people from cycling, even in winter. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the passage says that the weather in Plymouth 'rarely' gets so bad that it 'will stop you cycling'. This part of the text directly goes against the idea that there are many days when the weather prevents cycling. The word 'rarely' means it almost never happens, which is the opposite of 'numerous days' where cycling is prevented. |
| Q9 | NOT GIVEN | To get started, you can hire a bike – various apps are available where you are charged by the hour | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says you can rent a bike using different apps, and you pay for the time you use them. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the text does not say if using a bike app to rent a bike is very popular or not. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'NOT GIVEN' because the passage mentions that bike apps are available for hiring bikes, but it does not provide any information about their popularity. We cannot tell if they are 'very popular' from the text. |
| Q10 | TRUE | When selecting your bike, it's helpful to remember that ones with lighter frames and good gears make cycling easier, but are more expensive | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that if you choose a bike, bikes that are light and have good gears are easier to ride, but they will cost you more money. Answer Explanation: The answer, 'TRUE,' means that the statement is correct according to the text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'TRUE' because the passage clearly states that bikes with lighter frames cost more money. Learners should notice the keywords 'lighter frames' and 'more expensive' in the text. |
| Q11 | TRUE | Therefore, if you want to take a bike on a local train at peak times, you will need one that folds up. Even outside peak times, most trains have limited space for bikes of any kind so a reservation in advance of your journey is essential | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that during busy times, you must have a bike that can fold to bring it on a local train. It also says that even when it's not busy, there is not much room on the trains for any kind of bike. This means a folding bike is the most practical or only option to take on the train all the time. Answer Explanation: The answer means it is correct that only bikes that can fold (get smaller) are allowed on the trains in Plymouth at any time, whether it's a busy time or not. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'TRUE' because the passage indicates that during busy travel times (peak times), a rider must 'need one that folds up' to take a bike on a local train. Furthermore, the passage states that 'Even outside peak times, most trains have limited space for bikes of any kind'. This 'limited space' suggests that, practically speaking, only a bike that can fold and become smaller would be able to be taken on trains at any time, ensuring it fits under all conditions. Therefore, only folding bikes are generally viable for transport on local trains at all times. |
| Q12 | NOT GIVEN | Even outside peak times, most trains have limited space for bikes of any kind so a reservation in advance of your journey is essential | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that trains do not have much room for bikes. So, it is very important to book a spot for your bike before you start your trip. Answer Explanation: The answer 'NOT GIVEN' means that the passage does not tell us if you need to book a bike on a train at least one week before your trip. The information is not in the text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'NOT GIVEN' because the passage mentions that 'a reservation in advance of your journey is essential' for taking a bike on a train. It tells us you need to book 'in advance,' meaning not at the last minute. However, the passage does not give any specific information about *how far* in advance you need to book, such as 'at least a week before.' Since the information about the 'week' is missing, we cannot say if the statement is true or false. |
| Q13 | TRUE | If you plan to maintain your bike, you'll also need to buy certain equipment: a pump, a spare inner tube, and tyre levers for mending punctures | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that if you want to take care of your bike, you must buy some tools. These tools include a pump, an extra inner tube, and 'tyre levers'. You use 'tyre levers' to fix flat tires. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the statement is correct based on the text. It is true that you need a 'tyre lever' when you fix a flat tire. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage clearly states that 'tyre levers' are a piece of 'equipment' needed 'for mending punctures'. 'Mending punctures' means the same as 'repairing a puncture', which is a flat tire. So, if you are 'repairing a puncture', you will need this tool. |
| Q14 | NOT GIVEN | If you get a puncture, see if you can find out the cause, such as a piece of broken glass, and remove it | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that if your bike tyre gets flat (a puncture), you should look for what caused it. It gives 'a piece of broken glass' as an example of something that can make your tyre flat. It means broken glass *can* be a cause, not that it is the *main* or *most frequent* cause. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'NOT GIVEN'. This means the passage does not tell us if broken glass is the most common reason for bike tyre problems. The text does not give enough information to say 'yes' or 'no'. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'NOT GIVEN' because the passage mentions 'broken glass' as *one possible cause* for a flat tyre (a puncture), but it does not say that it is the *most common* cause. The sentence only gives 'a piece of broken glass' as an example of something that *can* cause a puncture. It does not rank or compare the causes, so we cannot know if it's the 'most common'. |