What’s On At The National Gallery Of Canada? & Starrail App And Smartcard - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Trainer 2 General Training Reading Test 2 · Part 1 · Questions 1–14
Reading Passage
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-14, which are based on the two texts below. Read the text below and answer Questions 1-7.
What's on at the National Gallery of Canada?
A Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts
Since 2000, the Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts have acknowledged Canadian artists in the fields of fine or applied arts, film, video, or new media. This year's exhibition will showcase the work of eight outstanding laureates. Before the awards, come and greet the eight Canadian artists recognised for their remarkable contributions.
B Laurent Amiot: Canadian Master Silversmith
Acclaimed as one of the most influential silversmiths of the 18th and 19th centuries, Canadian Laurent Amiot is said to have redefined his craft, turning it into an art form.
Explore the exquisite beauty of his work through the display of nearly a hundred pivotal pieces, most of which have never been shown before.
C Artissimo Spring Forest
Come explore art - then design, draw and paint your own! Families are invited to experience the gallery and share their art with others around the world. Kids must be accompanied by an adult.
D The Ottawa Wind Ensemble presents The Music of Broadway
Enjoy an afternoon of Broadway Music in the Great Hall. The Ottawa Wind Ensemble is joined by tenor soloist Dr Fraser Rubens in a concert featuring music from famous musicals, such as Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables. Dr Rubens' parallel careers of music and cardiac surgery have been the subject of the documentary series The Surgeons.
E BC Artists: from The Gary Sim collection
This exhibition allowed our curator to showcase a significant donation by collector Gary Sim, comprising almost 1,000 publications, including an extensive array of books, periodicals and other publications related to the art of western Canada. Immerse yourself in culture!
F Janet Cardiff: Forty-Part Motet
The widely acclaimed Forty-Part Motet has returned to the gallery by popular demand. The fascinating sound sculpture by artist Janet Cardiff is based on Spem in Alium, by 16th-century English composer Thomas Tallis. Voices of singers young and old are played back through forty speakers located around the Rideau Chapel in the Canadian and Indigenous galleries.
______________
Read the text below and answer Questions 8-14.
StarRail app and Smartcard
Use the StarRail app to get real-time updates on your journey and purchase tickets on your phone - in just a few taps, as well as the option to get alerts by email and text.
Useful features:
- View all ticket purchases through MyStarRail.
- See the status of the StarRail network and details of any disruptions to your service.
- Save recent searches to favourites.
- Contact us to report crime on the railway network.
Using a Smartcard
You can order a Smartcard using the StarRail app or get one at any StarRail station. A Smartcard is a plastic card that you can load your tickets onto.
Purchasing a ticket to put on your Smartcard: information for new users
Step 1 - purchase
Purchase tickets online using the StarRail app.
You can also get a ticket from any StarRail ticket vending machine.
Step 2 - load your Smartcard
Purchased online or with the StarRail app? Tap your Smartcard at the ticket gates or platform validator. Leave for four hours between buying and loading, so we have time to check your order and have it waiting.
Purchased at a ticket vending machine? Tap your Smartcard on the reader to load your ticket instantly.
Step 3 - tap to travel
Tap your Smartcard at the ticket gates or platform validator. Wait for the beep, then you're done. At the end of your journey, do the same again.
It costs nothing to use the app, but credit card fees may apply when buying tickets online.
Why can't I get all StarRail tickets on the app?
Our mobile booking site is under development.
You can currently purchase Advance single, Anytime and Off-Peak single and return tickets from the StarRail app. Click 'Plan & Purchase' to order these tickets.
We'll be introducing more ticket types to the StarRail app in future but for now, go to our website if you are looking for a ticket that our App does not currently offer. You can purchase all StarRail tickets (including Advance, Anytime, Off-Peak, Super Off-Peak, Kids Ride Free, Flexitix and Season Tickets) using our desktop booking website.
Smartcard benefits:
Season tickets
You can load weekly, monthly and annual Season Tickets for all our routes.
Super off-peak day return
These tickets are exclusive to Smartcard: enjoy great savings when you travel outside peak hours from Monday to Friday.
Questions
Questions 1–7 Matching Information
Look at the six descriptions of events A-F.
For which events are the following statements true?
Write the correct letter, A-F.
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 Reading Passage 1?
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 | F | The widely acclaimed Forty-Part Motet has returned to the gallery by popular demand | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that this famous piece of art is being shown at the gallery again because so many people asked for it to come back. Answer Explanation: The answer F refers to the art exhibit titled 'Janet Cardiff: Forty-Part Motet'. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is F because the text specifically states that this artwork has 'returned' to the gallery. In the context of a museum or gallery, when something returns, it means it was shown in the past, removed, and has now been put back on display for the public to see again. This happened because many people wanted it back (by 'popular demand'). |
| Q2 | E | This exhibition allowed our curator to showcase a significant donation by collector Gary Sim, comprising almost 1,000 publications, including an extensive array of books, periodicals and other publications related to the art of western Canada | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the art show displays a large gift from a collector. This gift contains nearly 1,000 items like books and papers about Canadian art. Answer Explanation: The answer is event E, which features a collection of items that were given to the gallery for free by a person named Gary Sim. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is E because it describes an exhibition that shows a "donation." The word "donation" is a synonym for a gift. The text explains that a collector named Gary Sim gave many items—including books and magazines—to the gallery, and these are the exhibits visitors can see. |
| Q3 | B | Explore the exquisite beauty of his work through the display of nearly a hundred pivotal pieces, most of which have never been shown before | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that this show features many items that have never been in an exhibition until this one. Answer Explanation: The answer B refers to the Laurent Amiot exhibition, which is a show of Canadian silver art. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the description for this event explicitly states that most of the art pieces being displayed have 'never been shown before.' This phrase means the same thing as being exhibited for the first time. The words 'display' and 'shown' are synonyms for 'exhibited.' |
| Q4 | D | Dr Rubens' parallel careers of music and cardiac surgery have been the subject of the documentary series The Surgeons | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that Dr Rubens has two jobs: one in music and one in heart surgery, and these careers are well-known enough to be the topic of a television show. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies an event where the person performing is famous for doing two different types of work. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because it mentions a tenor soloist named Dr Fraser Rubens. The text explains that he has two different jobs at the same time: he is a singer (music) and a doctor (cardiac surgery). Because he does both, he is well-known in two different areas or 'fields'. |
| Q5 | C | Families are invited to experience the gallery and share their art with others around the world. Kids must be accompanied by an adult | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that families are welcome to visit the gallery and that children (kids) can attend if they have a grown-up with them. Answer Explanation: The answer is event C, which is 'Artissimo Spring Forest,' an activity where visitors can create art. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because its description is the only one among the events (A-F) that explicitly mentions families and children. It states that families are welcome and provides a specific rule for children, using the word 'Kids.' This shows that the event is open to younger people. |
| Q6 | A | Before the awards, come and greet the eight Canadian artists recognised for their remarkable contributions | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that people can come and say hello to the eight artists who are being honored for their great work. Answer Explanation: The answer means that you have the opportunity to see and talk to the artists in person. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because this section mentions that before the awards ceremony, visitors can 'greet' the eight Canadian artists. In this context, 'greet' is a synonym for 'meet', and 'artists' are the 'creative people' mentioned in the question. |
| Q7 | C | Come explore art - then design, draw and paint your own | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage invites people to visit the gallery to look at art and then use their own imagination to plan (design), draw, and paint their own artistic creations. Answer Explanation: The answer C refers to the event called 'Artissimo Spring Forest'. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because it is the only event listed that tells visitors they can make their own art. The description explains that families can look at art first and then use their own skills to create new things by drawing and painting. This matches the idea of 'creating an artwork yourself'. |
| Q8 | TRUE | See the status of the StarRail network and details of any disruptions to your service | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the app allows you to check how the train system is performing and provides information about anything that might stop or delay your trip. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the app gives people information when the train service has problems. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage mentions useful features of the app, including the ability to see 'disruptions' to the service. A 'disruption' is a synonym for a problem or an event that prevents something from continuing as usual. By showing the 'status of the StarRail network', the app informs passengers if the train lines are running smoothly or having issues. |
| Q9 | NOT GIVEN | You can also get a ticket from any StarRail ticket vending machine | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that these machines exist and you can buy tickets there, but it does not give any details about the payment rules. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the text does not provide any information about what kind of payment is needed at a ticket machine. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because the passage mentions that you can get a ticket from a "vending machine," but it never says how you pay for it. It mentions credit card fees for "online" buying, but it does not say if you must use a credit card, cash, or another method at the physical machine at the station. |
| Q10 | FALSE | Leave for four hours between buying and loading, so we have time to check your order and have it waiting | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that there is a four-hour delay after you buy your ticket online before it is ready to be put onto your card. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the statement is not true according to the text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the text says users should wait for four hours after buying a ticket online or on the app before they try to put it on their Smartcard. This means the ticket is not ready right away. The word 'immediately' in the question means 'right now' or 'at once,' which is the opposite of waiting for four hours. |
| Q11 | NOT GIVEN | Tap your Smartcard at the ticket gates or platform validator | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says you should use a gate or a machine on the platform to check your card, but it does not say that these machines are in every station. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'NOT GIVEN' because the text does not say if every single station has a ticket validator on the platform. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'NOT GIVEN' because while the text tells you where you can tap your card (at a 'platform validator'), it does not state that these are available at all stations. It also mentions using 'ticket gates' as an alternative. Because there is no mention of the total number of stations that have these machines, we cannot know if it applies to everyone. |
| Q12 | TRUE | It costs nothing to use the app, but credit card fees may apply when buying tickets online | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that you do not have to pay money to use the app, even though you might have to pay extra money to your bank when buying tickets. Answer Explanation: The answer means that people do not have to pay any money to download or use the StarRail app. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the text specifically says that using the app is free. It uses the phrase "costs nothing," which is another way to say something is "free of charge." Even though there might be small extra costs (fees) from your bank when you use a credit card to buy tickets, you do not pay for the app itself. Key words to look for are "costs nothing," which matches the idea of being "free." |
| Q13 | FALSE | We'll be introducing more ticket types to the StarRail app in future but for now, go to our website if you are looking for a ticket that our App does not currently offer. You can purchase all StarRail tickets (including Advance, Anytime, Off-Peak, Super Off-Peak, Kids Ride Free, Flexitix and Season Tickets) using our desktop booking website | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that many ticket types, including Flexitix, are currently only available on the computer website and not on the phone app. Answer Explanation: The answer is FALSE because you cannot use the app to buy Flexitix tickets right now. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the text explains that the StarRail app only sells a few specific types of tickets, like Advance or Off-Peak. It explicitly states that if a passenger wants a "Flexitix," they must use the regular booking website on a computer because the app does not have that option yet. |
| Q14 | TRUE | These tickets are exclusive to Smartcard: enjoy great savings when you travel outside peak hours from Monday to Friday | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that travelers can save a lot of money if they use their Smartcard to buy tickets for times that are not busy (outside peak hours). Answer Explanation: The answer TRUE means that according to the text, you can get tickets for a lower price if you travel during times when the train service is less busy. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the text describes 'Super off-peak day return' tickets. It explicitly states that passengers can 'enjoy great savings' (meaning the tickets are cheaper) when they travel 'outside peak hours' (which refers to quiet times when fewer people are traveling). |