What’s On? Sydney’s Night Noodle Markets & Tips For Managing Your Time - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Trainer 2 General Training Reading Test 6 · 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? Sydney's Night Noodle Markets
The Night Noodle Markets are returning to Hyde Park, serving up the best street food Sydney has to offer. You'll see old favourites as well as new contenders, and while the focus is still firmly on Asian cuisine, European and South American delicacies also feature.
The usual suspects are back this year, with stalls such as Hoy Pinoy and Mr Bao promising to deliver the delicious fare the city has come to look forward to. Black Star Pastry is also back, by popular demand.
As usual, there will be no shortage of noodle options. Don't miss Taiwanese Noodle House and its brisket noodle soup.
But the market does a lot more than noodles; the much-loved Indu restaurant has a stall serving the South Indian dosa, a crisp pancake. Join the queue for a dosa filled with goat meat and pomegranate or, if you don't eat meat, try the eggplant with bitter melon.
More than just food
The market space called Hyde Park Palms offers plenty of entertainment, from popular DJs to family-friendly live music. Illuminated dragons roam throughout the market until 10p.m. Check the Noodle Market website for details of the line-up.
Tips:
- Come early – the later you arrive, the longer the lines and the more chance of a stall running out of your first choice of dish. Stalls are well-stocked this year, but demand is high for the favourites, so don't be disappointed. The lines for the most popular stalls such as Hoy Pinoy and Indu can be long, but worth the wait.
- Beanbags and chairs around tables are the only seating options provided and they can be hard to come by at this busy event – consider bringing your own rug.
- If the weather looks suspect, check our website before heading out. As a rule, the market will go ahead unless it is pouring with rain.
- It's a cash-free event, so bring your plastic. Put it on your card and don't worry about counting out change.
______________
Read the text below and answer Questions 8-14.
Tips for managing your time
A To see how you currently manage your time, it's useful to keep a log of everything you do. Start by writing down what you do every 30-minutes for a week – you may be surprised at what you see. Ask yourself when you are the most productive, what you devote most of your time to and how long your routine activities take.
B Make a list of everything you need to do. Include everything, large and small, and add to it as you go. At this stage, it isn't necessary to assign priorities and times; just capture your ideas before you forget them.
C A long list of things to do is just the first step. Once you've made your list, it's time to prioritise tasks. Put them in order of urgency and how much value it will bring you to have them done. Then you will be better able to allocate the right amount of time to each task.
D Remember that scheduling is not only writing down what you have to do, it is also making time for the things you want to do. You should make room for family and friends or pursuing creative interests and sport, just as you would for chores and work / study responsibilities.
E Look back at your log and reflect on the times you are most productive – and then schedule your tasks according to their priority and your energy levels.
F While using a conventional list on paper might be a good way to get started, you might find software is more helpful. You can get apps to send you reminders, merge your calendar with those of colleagues, as well as helping you delete and prioritise tasks.
G Most people find that disorganisation results in poor time management. Clear your home and workspace of clutter that is draining your energy and diverting your concentration. Many people find it useful to have three piles: Keep, Give away and Throw in the rubbish. When a task has been dealt with, file it (either physically or digitally) somewhere you can easily find it again.
Questions
Questions 1–7 True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
Questions 8–14 Matching Information
The reading text above has seven sections, A-G.
Which section mentions the following?
NB You may use any letter more than once.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | TRUE | while the focus is still firmly on Asian cuisine, European and South American delicacies also feature | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that most of the food you can find at the market is Asian, but there are also some foods from Europe and South America. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the market mainly sells food that is cooked in ways common in Asia. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the text directly states that the main 'focus' of the market is on 'Asian cuisine'. In English, saying the focus is 'firmly' on something is another way of saying that the event 'specialises' in that thing. Even though other styles of food are also mentioned, Asian food is the primary highlight and the reason for the event's name. |
| Q2 | FALSE | Black Star Pastry is also back, by popular demand | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that this specific food stall is returning to the market because many people liked it in the past and wanted it to come again. Answer Explanation: The answer is FALSE because the statement is not true. It is not the first time Black Star Pastry has been at the festival. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the text says Black Star Pastry is 'back.' In English, if something is 'back,' it means it was there before and has returned. This contradicts the idea that this is the first time they are taking part. |
| Q3 | NOT GIVEN | Join the queue for a dosa filled with goat meat and pomegranate or, if you don't eat meat, try the eggplant with bitter melon | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage simply mentions two types of food you can buy at the Indu stall. It does not give any information about which one is liked more or which one is chosen more frequently by customers. Answer Explanation: The answer NOT GIVEN means the text does not have enough information to tell us which food option at the Indu stall is liked more or bought more often. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because the passage mentions two different food choices at Indu, but it does not say if the eggplant (the non-meat choice) or the goat meat (the meat choice) is more popular. It tells you there is a line of people waiting, but it does not tell you if more people are waiting to buy the meat dish or the vegetable dish. Because there is no comparison of popularity, we cannot say if the statement is true or false. |
| Q4 | NOT GIVEN | Illuminated dragons roam throughout the market until 10p.m. Check the Noodle Market website for details of the line-up | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage mentions that the dragons are there until 10 p.m. and suggests looking at a website for the schedule, but it does not say when the entertainment actually starts. Answer Explanation: The answer is NOT GIVEN because the text does not provide information about what time the entertainment begins. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because while the passage mentions that there is entertainment like DJs and live music, and that illuminated dragons are present until 10 p.m., it never states a specific start time. To find out the actual times for the shows, it tells readers to look at the event's website instead. |
| Q5 | TRUE | The lines for the most popular stalls such as Hoy Pinoy and Indu can be long, but worth the wait | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that Hoy Pinoy is one of the stalls that many people like, which is why people have to wait in long lines to get food from there. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the statement is correct according to the information provided in the text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the text describes Hoy Pinoy as one of the 'most popular' stalls at the market. It explains that because it is so popular, the lines of people waiting to buy food there can be quite long. In this situation, a stall with a long line of customers is considered busy. |
| Q6 | FALSE | Beanbags and chairs around tables are the only seating options provided and they can be hard to come by at this busy event – consider bringing your own rug | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the event only offers beanbags and chairs for people to sit on. Since these are the "only" items given, the organizers do not supply rugs; instead, they tell visitors to bring their own. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the statement is incorrect based on the information provided in the text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the passage explicitly states that the only seating options given to visitors are beanbags and chairs. It also advises people to bring their own rug if they want one, which confirms that the festival organizers do not provide rugs themselves. |
| Q7 | TRUE | It's a cash-free event, so bring your plastic. Put it on your card and don't worry about counting out change | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that this market does not use cash. It tells visitors to bring their "plastic" (bank cards) and use them to pay instead of using coins or paper money. Answer Explanation: The answer means that visitors can use their debit or credit cards to pay for food and drinks at the stalls. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'TRUE' because the text explains that visitors do not use cash (paper money and coins) at this event. It explicitly tells people to "bring your plastic," which is a common way to say "bring your bank cards," and to "put it on your card" when buying things. |
| Q8 | F | While using a conventional list on paper might be a good way to get started, you might find software is more helpful. You can get apps to send you reminders, merge your calendar with those of colleagues, as well as helping you delete and prioritise tasks | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that computer programs and phone apps can be more helpful than paper because they can send you messages to remind you of things and help you organize your work with other people. Answer Explanation: The answer is Section F because it explains the benefits of using computer programs or phone apps to manage your time instead of just using paper. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is section F because it compares using paper lists to using technology like software and apps. It lists specific reasons why technology is useful, such as sending reminders and allowing you to share calendars with work friends. In this context, software and apps represent 'technology'. |
| Q9 | A | To see how you currently manage your time, it's useful to keep a log of everything you do. Start by writing down what you do every 30-minutes for a week – you may be surprised at what you see | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that to understand your habits, you should write down your activities every half hour for a full week. Answer Explanation: The answer is section A, which provides instructions on documenting your daily activities to understand your time usage. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because this section mentions keeping a "log" of everything you do. To "keep a log" means to keep a record or write down information over time. The passage specifically suggests writing down your actions every 30 minutes to see how you use your time. |
| Q10 | C | Then you will be better able to allocate the right amount of time to each task | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that if you organize your list by importance, you will be able to plan and give the correct amount of time to every job on your list. Answer Explanation: The answer is section C, which explains that putting your tasks in order of how important they are helps you plan your time better. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is section C because it describes 'prioritising' tasks, which means putting them in order of importance or urgency. The text says that by doing this, you can give the correct amount of time to every job you have to do. To prioritize means to decide which task is the most important to finish first. |
| Q11 | G | Clear your home and workspace of clutter that is draining your energy and diverting your concentration. Many people find it useful to have three piles: Keep, Give away and Throw in the rubbish | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage tells people to remove extra stuff from where they live and work because it makes them lose their focus. It also gives a simple way to sort through and remove these distracting items. Answer Explanation: The answer is section G. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is G because this section discusses how disorganization and messy areas can divert your concentration (distract you). It provides a specific method to get rid of unnecessary items by sorting them into three piles: things to keep, things to give away, and things to throw away. |
| Q12 | D | Remember that scheduling is not only writing down what you have to do, it is also making time for the things you want to do. You should make room for family and friends or pursuing creative interests and sport, just as you would for chores and work / study responsibilities | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that when you plan your day, you should include time for fun things, like seeing friends or playing sports, as well as necessary things, like house cleaning and work or school tasks. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies Section D as the part of the text that lists various categories of activities—such as work, chores, and hobbies—that a person should include in their schedule. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Section D because it explicitly lists the categories of activities that should be part of time management. It explains that scheduling involves both things you 'have to do' (like chores, work, or study) and things you 'want to do' (like spending time with family, friends, sports, or creative interests). This directly addresses the 'types of activities' mentioned in the question. |
| Q13 | E | Look back at your log and reflect on the times you are most productive – and then schedule your tasks according to their priority and your energy levels | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that you should look at when you work the best. Then, you should plan when to do your tasks based on how important the tasks are and how much energy you have at bridge times of the day. Answer Explanation: The answer E means that this section explains how to choose the best time to work on a specific activity. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is E because it explains that you should look at your daily record to see when you have the most energy and are the most productive. Based on this information, you can then plan or 'schedule' when to do your tasks. In this context, 'schedule' means deciding exactly when you will do something, and 'priority' and 'energy levels' are the factors used to make that decision. |
| Q14 | G | When a task has been dealt with, file it (either physically or digitally) somewhere you can easily find it again | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that when you finish a job, you should save the information in a folder or on your computer so you can find it again later. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Section G is the part of the text that tells you what to do after you finish a job or a task. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is G because this section discusses organizing your workspace and your tasks. It uses the phrase 'dealt with' as a synonym for 'completed.' It instructs the reader to 'file' the task once it is finished so that it can be found easily in the future. This matches the question about what to do with work you have completed. |