Young Fashion Designer Uk Competition & Which Keyboard Should You Buy? - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 15 General Training Reading Test 3 · Part 1 · Questions 1–14
Reading Passage
==== Read the text below and answer questions 1-7. ====
Young Fashion Designer UK competition
Young Fashion Designer UK is an exciting national competition which aims to showcase and promote the exceptional work achieved by students studying courses in textile design, product design and fashion throughout the UK.
The competition is designed for students to enter the coursework they are currently working on rather than specifically producing different pieces of work. If you would like to add to your coursework, that is for you and your teacher to decide.
You can apply independently or through your school/college. To enter please ensure you follow these steps:
1. Provide three A3 colour copies from your design folder.
You must include:
– initial ideas about the clothing
– a close-up photograph of the front and back view of the finished clothing.
2. Please label each sheet clearly with your name and school (on the back).
3. Print off a copy of your registration form and attach it to your work.
4. Post your entry to the Young Fashion Designer Centre.
Once the entry deadline has passed, the judges will select the shortlist of students who will be invited to the Finals. You will be notified if you are shortlisted. You will need to bring originals of the work that you entered. Each finalist will have their own stand consisting of a table and tabletop cardboard display panels. Feel free to add as much creativity to your stand as possible. Some students bring tablets/ laptops with slideshows or further images of work but it should be emphasised that these may not necessarily improve your chances of success.
The judges will assess your work and will ask various questions about it. They will look through any supporting information and the work you have on display before coming together as a judging panel to decide on the winners. You are welcome to ask the judges questions. In fact, you should make the most of having experts on hand!
There are 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize winners for each category. The judges can also decide to award special prizes if the work merits this. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive a glass trophy and prize from a kind donor.
==== Read the text below and answer questions 8-14 ====
Which keyboard should you buy?
It’s worth remembering that a bad keyboard can significantly affect your entire computing experience. So make sure you pick the right keyboard for your needs.
A Logitech K120
Logitech’s K120 offers a number of extra features, it’s spill-resistant, draining small amounts of liquid if you have an accident. It isn’t particularly eye-catching, but it feels very solid. For the price, it’s a tempting choice.
B Cherry MX 3.0 Keyboard
The Cherry MX 3.0 looks simple and neat, thanks to its compact build. It’s solid, durable and you don’t need to push keys all the way down to activate them. It’s also rather loud though, which can take some getting used to.
C Logitech K780
The K780 is a compact, pleasantly modern-looking keyboard. There’s an integrated stand for smartphones and tablets too. It’s quiet to type on, and the circular keys are easy to familiarise yourself with, well-spaced and large enough to hit accurately. For this price though, the lack of backlighting is disappointing.
D Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic
The Sculpt’s curved, strange-looking build serves a purpose, it provides wrist support and lifts your forearms into a relaxed position so you don’t hurt yourself from typing for lengthy periods. It feels weird, but it seems to do the trick.
E Microsoft Universal Bluetooth Keyboard
Microsoft’s Bluetooth keyboard has one very handy feature – you can fold it in half and carry it around in your jacket pocket or bag, and it feels rather like a large wallet. It has generously sized keys, though the two-piece spacebar takes some getting used to. Another useful feature is that you can get up to three months’ use from a single charge.
F Corsair Strafe RGB Keyboard
Corsair’s keyboard is expensive, flashy and extremely impressive. Ail of its keys are programmable, there’s eye-catching backlighting and the buttons are textured for improved grip. All this is because it’s designed for gamers. However, it’s also silent, meaning it is suitable for everyday office work too.
Questions
Questions 1–7 True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text? In boxes, 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
Questions 8–14 Matching Information
Look at the six reviews of computer keyboards A-F. For which keyboard are the following statements true?
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | False | The competition is designed for students to enter the coursework they are currently working on rather than specifically producing different pieces of work | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that students should use their existing work instead of making something new for the competition. Answer Explanation: The answer means that participants do not have to make a new piece of clothing for the competition. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'False' because the passage says that the competition is for students to enter their current coursework, rather than creating new pieces of work. This means they only use what they are already working on. |
| Q2 | True | initial ideas about the clothing | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that participants must show their first ideas about their clothing designs. This means they need to include their thoughts. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the statement is correct. Participants do need to share their ideas about their designs. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage mentions that students must provide their initial ideas about the clothing they are entering into the competition. This shows that participants need to include their thoughts and ideas. |
| Q3 | Not given | Once the entry deadline has passed, the judges will select the shortlist of students who will be invited to the Finals | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that after the deadline, judges will choose students for the Finals. But it does not say how many students will be chosen. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Not given' because the passage does not say if there is a set number of finalists or not. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Not given' because the passage talks about judges selecting a shortlist of students, but it does not tell us if there is a specific number of students that will be on the shortlist. |
| Q4 | True | Feel free to add as much creativity to your stand as possible | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage means that finalists can be creative and decide how they want to show their work on their stand. Answer Explanation: The answer is True. This means that finalists have the freedom to decide how they want to show their work to the judges. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is True because the passage says that each finalist can add creativity to their stand. This means they can choose how to present their work in different ways. |
| Q5 | False | Some students bring tablets/ laptops with slideshows or further images of work but it should be emphasised that these may not necessarily improve your chances of success | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says some students like to bring extra images or slideshows, but it warns that this does not mean it will help them win. So, it is not a strong recommendation to add more photographs. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'False', which means it is not true that finalists should add more photographs to support their entry. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'False' because the passage says that students can bring tablets or laptops with slideshows or more images, but it also clearly states that these may not help them win. This means it is not strongly recommended to add more photographs. |
| Q6 | Not given | You are welcome to ask the judges questions. In fact, you should make the most of having experts on hand | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that students can talk to the judges and ask them questions, but it does not explain if this will help in deciding the winners. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Not Given'. This means the text does not say if the students' questions will help decide the winners or not. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Not Given' because the passage mentions that students can ask the judges questions, but it does not say whether those questions will help in making the final decisions. |
| Q7 | True | The judges can also decide to award special prizes if the work merits this | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that if the work is good enough, the judges might give extra prizes. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'True'. This means that it is correct to say that extra prizes can be given based on how good the entries are. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'True' because the passage mentions that 'The judges can also decide to award special prizes if the work merits this.' This means if the entries are of high quality, special prizes may be given. |
| Q8 | B | It's also rather loud though, which can take some getting used to | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the Cherry MX 3.0 keyboard is noisy when you type. This means it can be difficult if you want a very quiet keyboard. Answer Explanation: The answer is B. This means that the Cherry MX 3.0 keyboard is loud when you type on it. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the review for the Cherry MX 3.0 mentions that it is 'rather loud' which means it makes a lot of noise when typing. This means it may not be good for people who want a quiet keyboard. |
| Q9 | E | Microsoft's Bluetooth keyboard has one very handy feature – you can fold it in half and carry it around in your jacket pocket or bag | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that this keyboard can be folded, so it is easy to carry and can fit in a small place like a pocket or bag. Answer Explanation: The answer is E, which is the Microsoft Universal Bluetooth Keyboard. This keyboard can be folded and carried easily, like a wallet. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is E because the Microsoft Universal Bluetooth Keyboard is described as having a feature that allows it to be folded in half, making it easy to carry in a pocket or bag. This means it is portable and can fit into small spaces. |
| Q10 | C | the K780 is a compact, pleasantly modern-looking keyboard. There's an integrated stand for smartphones and tablets too | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the K780 is a small and nice-looking keyboard. It has a special place for smartphones and tablets, which means you can put these small devices there. Answer Explanation: The answer is C. This means that the Logitech K780 keyboard has a special place for small devices like smartphones and tablets. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the passage explains that the Logitech K780 has an 'integrated stand for smartphones and tablets.' This shows that it has a special space for small devices. |
| Q11 | D | It provides wrist support and lifts your forearms into a relaxed position so you don't hurt yourself from typing for lengthy periods | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that this keyboard helps your wrists and arms feel good when typing for a long time, so you don't get pain. Answer Explanation: The answer is D. This means that the Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic keyboard is made to help people who type a lot so they don't hurt their hands or wrists. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because the Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic keyboard has a special shape that helps support your wrists and keeps your arms relaxed. This design helps to prevent pain from typing for a long time. |
| Q12 | A | For the price, it's a tempting choice | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that for its price, the Logitech K120 is a good option. This means you get a lot for what you pay. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'A', which means the Logitech K120 keyboard is a good choice for its price. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'A' because the Logitech K120 is described as offering many extra features, being solid, and is tempting for its price. This shows that it gives good value for the money you spend. |
| Q13 | F | All this is because it’s designed for gamers | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that Corsair's keyboard is very noticeable and made for gamers. This means it is focused on entertainment. Answer Explanation: The answer is F, which means the Corsair Strafe RGB Keyboard. This keyboard is for people who mainly use their computers for games and fun. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is F because the Corsair Strafe RGB Keyboard is designed for gamers. The passage says it has features that are flashy and impressive, specifically made for entertainment use, like gaming. This shows that it is primarily for fun. |
| Q14 | C | It's quiet to type on, and the circular keys are easy to familiarise yourself with, well-spaced and large enough to hit accurately | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that this keyboard is quiet and its round keys are simple to learn, well-arranged, and big enough for easy typing. Answer Explanation: The answer is C, which means that keyboard C (Logitech K780) has keys that are easy for people to learn to use quickly. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the passage says that the K780 has 'well-spaced and large enough to hit accurately' circular keys, which helps users to get used to them easily. |