Visitor Attractions In Southern England & Paragliding In Australia - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 11 General Training Reading Test 4 · Part 1 · Questions 1–14
Reading Passage
==== Read the text below and answer Questions 1-7. ====
Visitor attractions in southern England
A Blackthorn Castle
This famous, historically accurate, reconstructed castle and village enables visitors to travel back in time. Explore the grounds and experience the atmosphere of an ancient lifestyle. In the fields you can see the type of sheep that the original inhabitants of the castle probably kept. Homemade snacks are on sale.
B Withney Wetland Centre
Visitors will enjoy a visit to Withney whatever the season. In winter, for example, they can watch from the centrally heated observatory as thousands of swans feed on the water. Trained wardens give informative talks or lead guided walks round the site. The visitors’ centre may also be hired for private or corporate events.
C Headley Hall
Headley Hall is a large seventeenth-century country house, preserved as it was when it was built. Take time to admire the various works of art displayed, and visit the huge kitchen complete with period equipment – demonstrations are given at weekends. In the park there is space for the younger visitors to run around, and picnic tables are available.
D Lewis House
Lewis House is the birthplace of Frank Lewis, a renowned painter of the eighteenth century. More of his works are on display here than anywhere else in the world. Visitors can see Lewis’s studio and some of the articles he used on a daily basis.
E Canford Wildlife Centre
At Canford we have a new walk-through exhibit called Island Magic. Here visitors can observe many species from the tropical island of Madagascar and read about some of the urgent conservation projects that are taking place there to save endangered species from extinction
F Oakwell Museum
This is an ideal venue for families. They can visit the childhood gallery with its large playroom, and listen to stories told by actors dressed in the costumes of a hundred years ago. They can also enjoy the popular games and wooden animals of that period
==== Read the text below and answer Questions 8-14. ====
Paragliding in Australia
What is paragliding?
Paragliding is a kind of flying, but instead of the wing being made of metal, wood or plastic, it is made of nylon or polyester. The wing (known as a canopy) is attached to a harness by lines, not dissimilar to a parachute. The harness is where the pilots sit —and they report that it outperforms a parachute in terms of comfort.
Is it safe?
Like sailing and deep-sea diving, paragliding is as safe as the person doing it. The big advantage is that it’s probably the slowest form of aviation, so if you do crash you’ll hit the ground quite gently!
Where do I learn?
There are lots of schools, mainly based inland by appropriate hills or mountains, and there are also schools on the coast near spectacular cliffs. These are very attractive, though the prospect of landing in the sea seems to dissuade beginners! All schools will show you within a couple of days how to inflate the canopy, launch and land. They use radio instruction, tandem flying practice and schoolroom theory sessions to help you get the most from paragliding. It takes about seven days to get your basic license; then you’re free to fly independently at sites across Australia.
What do I need?
Pilots normally wear warm clothes, in case they get very high up, and a helmet in case they stumble on landing. In terms of gear, schools supply basic training, canopies, harnesses, etc. However, you’ll probably want to buy your own more sophisticated equipment, which you’ll be able to choose much better once you’ve tried some out on your course.
Who can do it?
There’s no upper age limit provided your instructor deems you capable, but the youngest anybody can paraglide is 14. Anybody with good eyesight and good balance is a potential paraglider pilot. It’s a very relaxed sport as you’re mostly sitting down. You’ll probably experience pain in some muscles you didn’t know you had whilst learning, but many of those will be due to the walk up the training hill to launch. Flying a paraglider is a great sport. We hope to see you in the air with us this season!
Questions
Questions 1–7 Matching Information
Look at the six visitor attractions in southern England, A-F, in above passage
For which visitor attraction am the following statements true?
Write the correct letter, A-F, in boxes on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once.
Questions 8–14 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 | E | At Canford we have a new walk-through exhibit called Island Magic. Here visitors can observe many species from the tropical island of Madagascar | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that at Canford Wildlife Centre, there is a new area called Island Magic where visitors can see many animals from Madagascar, which is a different part of the world. Answer Explanation: The answer is E. This means that visitors can see animals from a different place, which is Madagascar. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is E because the Canford Wildlife Centre has an exhibit called Island Magic where visitors can observe many species from the tropical island of Madagascar. This clearly shows that visitors can see animals from another part of the world. |
| Q2 | B | The visitors' centre may also be hired for private or corporate events | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the visitors' centre can be rented for personal or business events, which includes business conferences. Answer Explanation: The answer is B. This means that the Withney Wetland Centre is a place where people can have a business meeting. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the passage states that the visitors' centre at Withney Wetland Centre can be hired for private or corporate events. This means it is suitable for business conferences. |
| Q3 | F | They can visit the childhood gallery with its large playroom, and listen to stories told by actors dressed in the costumes of a hundred years ago | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage tells us that at Oakwell Museum, visitors can explore a special area where they can see toys and hear stories from a long time ago, specifically from a hundred years back. Answer Explanation: The answer is F, which means Oakwell Museum. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is F because Oakwell Museum has a childhood gallery where families can see toys from a hundred years ago, which is the last century. |
| Q4 | B | Visitors will enjoy a visit to Withney whatever the season | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that people will like visiting Withney no matter if it is winter, summer, or any other season. This means there is always something to do there. Answer Explanation: The answer is B, which means Withney Wetland Centre. This place has things to do no matter what time of year it is. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the Withney Wetland Centre offers activities for visitors in every season. For example, in winter, people can watch swans. This shows that there are activities available year-round. |
| Q5 | A | Homemade snacks are on sale | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that there are snacks made at home for visitors to buy. Answer Explanation: The answer is A. This means Blackthorn Castle is the place where you can buy light meals. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the passage says that Blackthorn Castle offers homemade snacks for sale. This means visitors can buy light meals there. |
| Q6 | C | visit the huge kitchen complete with period equipment – demonstrations are given at weekends | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that in the kitchen with old tools, there are demonstrations on weekends. This means visitors can see how food was made a long time ago. Answer Explanation: The answer is C. This means that at Headley Hall, visitors can watch how food was made a long time ago. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because at Headley Hall, there is a big kitchen with old tools. Visitors can see demonstrations that show how people prepared food in the past. |
| Q7 | A | This famous, historically accurate, reconstructed castle and village enables visitors to travel back in time | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that Blackthorn Castle is a well-known reconstructed place. This means it has been built again to look like an old castle and village. Answer Explanation: The answer is A, which means that you can visit a place that has made new versions of old buildings. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Blackthorn Castle is described as a 'reconstructed castle and village' where visitors can explore an old lifestyle. This means it is a modern imitation of an old building. |
| Q8 | TRUE | The harness is where the pilots sit —and they report that it outperforms a parachute in terms of comfort | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the harness for paragliding is where the pilots sit and they say it is better than a parachute for comfort. Answer Explanation: The answer is TRUE. This means that a paraglider is indeed more comfortable than a parachute. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the text says that the harness in paragliding 'outperforms a parachute in terms of comfort.' This means that paragliders are more comfortable when flying than parachutes. |
| Q9 | FALSE | there are lots of schools, mainly based inland by appropriate hills or mountains, and there are also schools on the coast near spectacular cliffs | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that many paragliding schools are mostly located inland, near hills or mountains. It also mentions that there are some schools by the sea, but they are not the majority. Answer Explanation: The answer is FALSE. This means that it is not true that most paragliding schools are by the sea. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the passage says that there are many schools mainly based inland near hills or mountains, and only some are on the coast. This means most schools are not by the sea. |
| Q10 | NOT GIVEN | It takes about seven days to get your basic license; then you're free to fly independently at sites across Australia | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that you can get your basic license in about seven days, but it does not mention needing to pass a test. This is why we cannot say if there is a theory test. Answer Explanation: The answer is NOT GIVEN. This means the passage does not say whether learners have to pass a theory test to get their license for paragliding. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because the passage talks about paragliding and mentions that it takes about seven days to get a basic license and that schools provide theory sessions, but it does not say that learners must pass a specific theory test. |
| Q11 | TRUE | It takes about seven days to get your basic license; then you're free to fly independently at sites across Australia | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says it takes around one week to learn enough to get a license. After getting this license, you can fly by yourself in different places in Australia. Answer Explanation: The answer is TRUE. This means that after taking a week's course, learners can paraglide by themselves. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage says it takes about seven days to get your basic license, and after that, you can fly independently. This means that learners can paraglide alone after their training. |
| Q12 | FALSE | However, you’ll probably want to buy your own more sophisticated equipment, which you’ll be able to choose much better once you’ve tried some out on your course | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that you should wait to buy your equipment until after you have tried some during your training. This means it is not advisable to buy it before training. Answer Explanation: The answer is FALSE. This means that it is not a good idea to buy equipment before you start your training. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the passage explains that schools provide basic training and equipment for beginners. It mentions that you will want to buy your own equipment after trying some out during your training, not before it. |
| Q13 | FALSE | there's no upper age limit provided your instructor deems you capable, but the youngest anybody can paraglide is 14 | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that there is no rule that says older people can't do it, but younger people must be at least 14 years old to paraglide. Answer Explanation: The answer means that not all fit people of any age can start paragliding. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the text says that the youngest anyone can paraglide is 14 years old. This means that even if a person is fit, they still need to be 14 years old or older to paragliding. |
| Q14 | TRUE | You'll probably experience pain in some muscles you didn't know you had whilst learning, but many of those will be due to the walk up the training hill to launch | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that when you learn to paraglide, you might feel pain in some muscles. This pain can come from the walk up the hill where you practice launching. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the walk up the hill may make some muscles hurt. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage mentions that learning to paraglide can cause pain in some muscles, particularly from walking up the training hill. This means that the walk could indeed strain some muscles. |