IELTS Portal General Reading Test
Total Time: 60 minutes.
Reading Passage 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-12 which are based on
Reading Passage 1 below.
General Information and
Strategies
A understand every word in the
The reading texts will come from a
variety of sources including British,
American and Australian English.
Minor differences of spelling and
vocabulary e.g. between British and
American English should not affect
your understanding.
Your reading skills will be tested by a
variety of tasks. These can include
Completion, Matching,
True/false/does not say, Multiple
choice and Labelling tasks.
B
A major challenge of the reading test
is the ability to read large amounts of
text in a short time. One passage
may be up to 900 words in length
and the passages together could hit
the 2700 word mark. The passages
could also include diagrams and
graphs. You do not have time to read
the whole text in detail, this is not
needed and will waste time however
it is essential to form a general idea
of the content of the passage and
how the information is organized.
One way to to do this is to read the
headings, sub-headings, first
paragraph, last paragraph and the
first line of each paragraph in
between. This will help you form a
general picture of the content and
organization of the text.
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C
You are not expected to
passage and so deciding whether a
word or expression is necessary to
complete the task is an important
skill. If understanding of a word is
not necessary to answer the
question then the unknown word
can be ignored. For important
unknown vocabulary try to guess
the meaning through contextual
and grammatical clues.
Multiple Choice Questions
D
There are several different types of
multiple choice questions. You may
be asked to choose one option
from a list of four or two or more
answers from a longer list. In the
latter type it may count as one
question or more depending on the
difficulty. When they count as one
question all parts are needed to get
one point.
E
The general approach to answer
these questions is as follows.
Firstly, study the options and
decide which you think are likely to
be correct. Secondly, find the
relevant part of the text and read it
in detail. There are three key
questions to ask yourself for each
 IELTS Portal General Reading Test
Total Time: 60 minutes.

option. Is the option mentioned in the
article, is it true according to the
article and is it relevant? The options
may look true or logical but are they
right according to the text.
Completion tasks
F but it is worded in a different way
There are several types of
completion task in the exam. The
general strategies are as follows. It is
very important to read the questions
and to think about what information
is missing before you look back at
the text. Your final answer must be
logical, true according to the text and
grammatically correct.
G diagram and to form an idea of the
In summary completion tasks you
have to complete a short summary of
the text either with your own words,
words or phrases from a list or words
you take directly from the text. It is
important to read the summary
quickly for general understanding
and then to read it in more detail.
When reading in more detail you
should look at the words before and
after each gap and decide if the
missing word is a verb, noun etc.
You must then find the relevant
section of the text and read it
carefully to find the answer. Your
answer must be true according to the
text and grammatically correct.
H the relevant section of the text and
With sentence completion tasks you
have to complete sentences by
choosing the best endings from a
list. The questions will appear in the
same order as the information in the
text so you should answer them in
order. Here you should analyse
each question whilst underlining
key words. Next find the relevant
section of the passage and read it
carefully looking for parallel
expressions. Sentences with
parallel expressions contain the
same information as the answer
e.g. synonyms are used. The
correct answer will be both true
according to the passage and
grammatically correct.
I
You may be asked to complete
tables, diagrams or charts. It is
extremely important to understand
the organization of the table or
information you are looking for.
You then scan the text, locate key
topics and read around them very
carefully. Use words from the
passage in your answers.
True/false or does not say
J
In this type of task you have to
answer true if the statement exactly
matches the information in the text,
false if the statement is opposite to
the information in the text and not
given if the information is not
mentioned in the text. To answer
this type of question you should
read each question carefully, find
study it carefully to see if the
information matches the statement.
You are looking for expressions
which mean the same as the words
in the question. Be extra careful to

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 IELTS Portal General Reading Test
Total Time: 60 minutes.

distinguish between false and does should choose an answer and then
not say answers. continue like this with the next
name.

Matching Tasks
K paragraphs you should read the
In this type of task it is common to be
asked to match names to
achievements or opinions or to
match headings to paragraphs. In
the first type of task you should read
the text and highlight each name.
You should then read around one
name very carefully looking for
matching information in the answer
list on the question paper. You
L
When matching headings to
first section of the text carefully
before looking at the list of
headings. You should then look
through the list carefully and
choose the correct answer. You
should continue like this until the
headings and paragraphs are all
matched.

Questions 1-4

Look at the article about IELTS reading passages and answer questions (1-4)
below.

TRUE if the statement is true

FALSE if the statement is false
NOT GIVEN if the information is not given in the passage

1) The text will come from different sources including New Zealand English
texts.

2) One of the most difficult challenges in the reading is the time limit.

3) It is important to read the complete passage in detail to be able to find the

correct answers to the questions.

4) Context and grammar can give you important clues to the understanding
of unknown words.

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 IELTS Portal General Reading Test
Total Time: 60 minutes.

Now answer questions 5-8

Match the headings to the paragraphs A-L in the text.

Example
Answer
Places where the reading passages may be drawn from A

5) The approach to answering sentence completion tasks.

6) An introduction to the different types of matching task.

7) The importance of understanding the vocabulary during the exam.

8) Advice on how to answer table and graph completion tasks.

Now answer questions 9-13

Look at the guidelines for completion tasks and complete the sentences below
with no more than three words for each answer.

9) With completion tasks it is vital to read the questions

and……………………………missing information.

10) Your answer must be true according to the text and must not
………………………….

11) ………………………………contain the same information but it will be

expressed in a different way.

12) It is important to ……………………and read around them in detail.

13) Use words…………………………in your answer.

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 IELTS Portal General Reading Test
Total Time: 60 minutes.
Reading Passage 2
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-27 which are based on
Reading Passage 2 below.
Myhotel Bloomsbury, London WC1
By Ginny McGrath from Times Online August 21, 2006
First impressions
Myhotel Bloomsbury looks good for its
seven years and is clearly still a hit - the
lobby and bar were buzzing when I
visited. Guests are both leisure and
business and are mostly couples, with
the odd trendy young family. In the bar
guests mix with a fashionable Soho
crowd who come for the cocktails and
sophisticated surroundings, just a few
minute's walk from Tottenham Court
Road. The Conran décor still looks up-
to-date, with neutral walls and statement
furniture and soft furnishings, as well as
modern and Asian art in the lobby and
bar. The suffix owes to a sister property
in Chelsea, currently the only other
myhotel, although there are plans to
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open up to a further eight properties
across Europe by 2010.
Why it's special
The location is unbeatable for shoppers
and night-owls, who won't need to worry
about getting a taxi home from Soho or
Oxford Street. The ambience is cool, the
service slick and personal and the bar
lively - everything you'd expect from a
boutique city hotel.
Hitting the sack
In the 78 rooms the modern décor
continues - my room featured a single
wallpapered wall, a sleek low bed and
brightly-coloured bedspreads and
cushions. The quiet air conditioning and
black-out curtains made for a good
night's sleep and there was a flat-screen
television, CD player, safe, radio, trouser
press and hairdryer. The addition of
local listings magazine, Time Out
London, whose headquarters is nearby,
was thoughtful, and there was also a free
daily newspaper and travel magazine.
The bathroom was cream and red and
was spotless with a good shower and a
 IELTS Portal General Reading Test
Total Time: 60 minutes.
generous selection of Aveda toiletries.
The room service menu (served 7.30am-
10.30pm) is extensive with dishes from
£4 to £10 including gazpacho, chicken
satay and club sandwiches.
Sampling the fare
Mybar serves an excellent breakfast
although it was a bit of a bun-fight on a
Saturday morning, with the buffet laid
out on a relatively small two-tiered table.
Food included fresh fruit, smoothies,
yoghurt, cereals, pastries, toast and a la
carte dishes, priced at around £9, such as
eggs benedict (£7.50) and French toast
(£4.50). But with charges of £14 for a
continental breakfast and £18 for the
Full English, it's probably worth popping
into a café nearby if you just want a
quick snack (breakfast is served Mon-Fri
7am-10am, Sat-Sun 7am-11am).
The lunch and dinner menu (11am-
10.30pm) includes snacks such as spring
rolls (£5) and more substantial offerings
such as grilled tuna steak (£13.50),
which in my experience have always
been fresh and tasty.
My only gripe with mybar was when
VAT and service was added to a drink
that I ordered from the bar. The £5 drink
had two separate charges added to it:
£2.06 for VAT and 63 pence for service.
VAT should have been included and
although there was a warning on the
menu of a 12.5 percent service charge, I
felt that a hotel with such a personal
approach should think to remove these
sorts of charges to such minor purchases
to avoid grumbles at check-out.
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Access all areas
The hotel has a ramp that it can place
over the steps at the entrance for guests
in a wheelchair. It also has a lift and
wheelchair-accessible toilets, but there
are no rooms with bathrooms
specifically adapted for guests in a
wheelchair.
Added attractions
The hotel has a small gym with
cardiovascular and weights machines.
There is also a treatment room where
guests can get facials, massages and
beauty treatments. Also in the basement
is a library, which is open 24 hours and
has bottled water and hot drinks as well
as newspapers and magazines. Next door
the Yo!Sushi restaurant offers an
alternative for lunch or dinner between
11am and 11.30pm.
What we think
You can't fault the location, service and
ambience of this trendy boutique
property. My only gripe was the quibble
over the bill.
Bottom line
Rooms start from £146 including taxes,
but not including breakfast for a double,
£182 for a superior room and £240 for a
suite.
Need to know
Myhotel Bloomsbury, 11-13 Bayley
Street, Bedford Square, London, WC1B
3HD, tel. 020 7667 6000,
www.myhotels.co.uk,
bloomsbury@myhotels.com
 IELTS Portal General Reading Test
Total Time: 60 minutes.

Look at the article about The Bloomsbury Hotel and answer questions (14-27)
below.

Questions 14-18

TRUE if the statement is true

FALSE if the statement is false
NOT GIVEN if the information is not given in the passage

14) The Hotel Bloomsbury is over 7 years old.

15) It is a great place to stay if you enjoy a late night out.

16) Having the Full English Breakfast is good value for money.

17) Many disabled people stay at the hotel due to its easy wheelchair access.

18) The author of the article generally found the hotel a great place.

Questions 19-20

Choose the appropriate answer A-D

19) In the third paragraph the author implies that

A: the bathroom was a generous size.

B: the air conditioning could be rather noisy.
C: the bathroom was exceptionally clean.
D: you had to pay extra for a newspaper to be provided.

20) In general the author felt that

A: the hotel was a bit too expensive.

B: the service, area and decoration of the hotel were excellent.
C: the service was a bit impersonal.
D: the décor was a bit dated.

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 IELTS Portal General Reading Test
Total Time: 60 minutes.

Questions 21-24

In the part of the text entitled Sampling the fare which four of the following does
the author imply:

A: The breakfast buffet was a bit crowded on Saturday morning.

B: There is waiter service at breakfast time.
C: Nearby cafes are worth visiting for a quick, cheaper snack at breakfast.
D: Service at breakfast is excellent.
E: The fish served at lunch is fresh and delicious.
F: The hotel bar overcharged for his drink.
G: Breakfast is served from 6.30am during the week.
H: Both continental and English breakfasts are served.

Question 22-14

Complete the sentences below with no more than four words for each answer.

25) The Bloomsbury offers ……………………………..from this type of city hotel.

26) The black-out curtains contribute to …………………………………………..

27) The bar bill received was the………………………………………………

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 IELTS Portal General Reading Test
Total Time: 60 minutes.
Reading Passage 3
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 28-39 which are based on
Reading Passage 2 below.
Mentor for Cyprus
Nigel, a business
consultant who escaped
the rat race in 2002, has
previously lived and
worked in Hong Kong,
Australia, South Africa and the
Netherlands.
He first visited Cyprus in 1982 and
moved to the island permanently in
2002. He and his wife Pat live in Erimi,
a village close to the town of Limassol.
Since moving to Cyprus, Nigel has
written and published a detailed guide
for those wishing to buy property on the
island.
Cyprus is the third largest island in the
Mediterranean Sea. It has an area of
3,572 square miles and is about 120
miles to the west of Syria and 500 miles
to the east of Greece. Nicosia is the
capital and the island's largest city with a
population of some 190,000.
Since 1974 Cyprus has been divided
between Greek Cypriot and Turkish
Cypriot communities. A UN buffer zone,
known as the "Green Line" currently
separates the two separate states.
The island has a typical Mediterranean
climate. The summers are hot and dry
and the cooler, rainy season extends
from October to March. The average
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annual temperature is 21°C and the
average annual rainfall is less than 500
millimetres.
Summer temperatures in the inland
capital of Nicosia can reach over 40
degrees Celsius while in the coastal
regions they can reach a more modest 35
to 38 degrees
Paphos is situated on the west coast of
the island and is the site of the island's
second international airport. It is a resort
town having a fishing harbour as its
focal point next to the Paphos Fort
It has proved to be particularly popular
with foreigners and much development
continues to take place in and around the
town and its nearby villages to satisfy
the increasing demand for retirement,
holiday, and investment properties.
Limassol is the island's second largest
city and is located on the south coast. It
is the island's main port, the centre of the
wine industry, and a holiday resort. It
hosts the island's two top festivals, the
pre-lent Carnival and the Wine Festival
in September.
Larnaca is situated towards the eastern
end of the island and is home to the
island's main international airport. It has
a marina and its salt lake is home to
colonies of flamingos and other
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Total Time: 60 minutes.
migratory birds that visit Cyprus during
the cooler months of the year.
Its old-world charm and excellent
transport links make it popular with
many people seeking a home in the sun.
Agia Napa is situated on the island's
east coast and was once a small fishing
village. Since the mid 1970s it has been
redeveloped to become the largest resort
area on the island with many hotels,
shops, tavernas, discos and bars.
Nicosia is the capital city and it is,
roughly, in the centre of the island and
within easy reach of the main towns.
Strong walls built by the Venetians in
the 16th century encircle the ancient city
centre through which runs part of the
UN "Green Line".
In complete contrast to the main towns
and the capital city is the Troodos
mountain range that stretches across the
centre of the island. Capped with snow
in the winter and covered with pine
trees, the mountain areas of the Troodos
provide a cool retreat from the hot
summer sun.
The area is popular for those wishing to
enjoy the clear air, space and dramatic
landscapes.
There are literally hundreds of villages
scattered throughout the island. These
vary in size from a few dozen houses to
a thousand or more, some of which are
literally miles from anywhere.
In the more remote villages, the only
people you are likely to see are your
neighbours and perhaps the occasional
lost tourist.
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Property market: As well as being a
prime holiday destination, Cyprus has
become a popular place for people
wishing to enjoy their retirement in the
sun and for those buying holiday and
investment property.
After Spain and France, it is the most
popular place for Britons seeking a place
in the sun with more than 60,000 owning
property on the island.
This popularity is due to many factors,
including: the warmth and generosity of
the Cypriot people, the relaxed way of
life, the warm Mediterranean climate,
the low levels of crime, the fact that
many Cypriots are fluent in English and
the lowest level of income tax in Europe.
Although the Cyprus Government
controls the amount of property that can
be legally owned by non-resident EU
citizens and other foreigners, its
popularity continues to grow.
Currently, house prices in the Republic
represent good value for money. They
are approximately 20% lower than
equivalent properties in Portugal, 30%
lower than those in Spain and 50% lower
than those in Italy and France.
Cyprus' accession to the EU will lead to
the eventual removal of the restrictions
placed on the foreign ownership of
property.
As well as further increasing demand by
British sun-seekers, the removal of these
restrictions should also increase demand
from citizens of other EU member states.
This will undoubtedly help to push up
Cyprus property values.
 IELTS Portal General Reading Test
Total Time: 60 minutes.

Questions 28 to 32.

Match the different towns and cities to the statements below.

Example Answer

It hosts the islands second largest airport. Paphos

28 The city is divided between Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities.

29 There is a continuing boom in property development.

30 It is the major wine producing area on the island.

31 It is a good place for bird watching out of the summer months.

32 There has been a large amount of development since 1974.

Questions 33 to 37

Do the following statements agree with the information in the passage?

True if the statement is true

False if the statement is false
Not Given if the information is not given in the passage

33 Cyprus is larger than the island of Corsica.

34 The island’s capital city has the second largest population on Cyprus.

35 The island has been divided since i974.

36 The island has very distinct seasons.

37 The temperature can drop to below 0 degrees in the winter months.

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 IELTS Portal General Reading Test
Total Time: 60 minutes.

Questions 38-39

Choose the appropriate letters A-D.

38 What can we learn about the island in the paragraph Property Market.

A The government has no control over foreigners buying property.

B Cyprus is the 3rd most popular place for British to buy properties abroad.

C The houses can be very expensive in relation to Britain.

D Property prices are expected to drop in the near future.

39 What can we learn about the Troodos mountains.

A They are snow covered all year round.

B The author thinks they are amazing and beautiful to look at.

C They receive few visitors in the winter months.

D They stretch the length of the island.

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