Tuesday, January 10, 2017

IELTS Materials and Resources, Get IELTS Tips, Tricks & Practice Test

IELTS Materials and Resources, Get IELTS Tips, Tricks & Practice Test


Have Chemistry – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS

Posted: 10 Jan 2017 08:48 AM PST

Have Chemistry  – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS Speaking.

Definition: 

to feel a strong attraction, to get along very well from the start; usually refers to an inner feeling people have about someone they’ve just meet

Example:

“We had strong chemistry right away.”

“We dated a few times, but there was no chemistry”

Exercise: 

  1. Choose the suitable idiom to complete the sentence below.
    At the first time I met her, I knew that we _________________ “
    A. took a bow
    B. throwing money down the drain
    C. hit and run
    D. had chemistry
  2. Describe your best friend. Try to use this idiom in your speech. You should say:
    – Who he or she is
    – When you met him or her at the first time
    – What he or she looks like
    And explain why he or she became your best friend

Negate – Word Of The Day For IELTS

Posted: 10 Jan 2017 01:41 AM PST

Negate – Word Of The Day For IELTS Speaking And Writing

Negate /nɪˈɡeɪt/ (Verb)

Meaning:

(formal) to prevent something from having any effect

Synonyms:

Neutralize, Cancel out

Examples:

  • Efforts to expand the tourist industry could be negated by reports that the sea is highly polluted.
  • Many of these emotions energise greater effort but others negate effort and lead to dissatisfaction, stress and withdrawal.
  • Within a few weeks, they accrue a debt that negates the salary their recruiter had promised them.

Exercises:

Try to use this word “negate” in your speech

Describe a historical place that you know about

You should say:

  • What the place is
  • Where it is located
  • What is the historical significance of the place

Sample Answer:

I am going to talk about an amazing historical place that I know about, even though I've never visited it.  I'll tell you what it is, where it is and as much as I can about the historical meaning of the place and finally my own reactions regarding it.

I want to tell you about Stonehenge.  This is an ancient set of standing stones, arranged in a circle.  It is located in Wiltshire, in England, but I think it would be fair to say the image of it would be recognised worldwide, as it is possibly one of the most famous historic sites in the world.

In terms of the meaning of the place, it's really impossible to say.  It is so very old, even archaeologists aren't sure exactly when it was built, estimates go back to as long ago as 3000 BC, which is mind boggling to me!  It is certainly accurate to describe it as a prehistoric monument.  Some people think it might have started as a burial mound and be even more ancient that 5,000 years.  The colossal slabs are arranged like huge door frames, no-one really knows how they were erected without the technology of modern times, but everyone agrees it was an incredible feat of engineering and showed foresight and tenacity in spaces!  However, it is certain that they were somehow aligned so that at key stages of the lunar and solar cycles, the way the light strikes the stones is of some significance.  Apparently, it was deliberately constructed so that the rising sun only reached the middle of the stones for just one day of the year.

Lots of people like to try and imagine what sort of ceremonies and importance the stones might have had for the people who built it, but some scientist negated this hypothesis.  Even today, modern day druids have for many years gathered at the stones for the summer solstice (longest day of the year) and winter solstice (shortest day of the year) to watch the sunrise and mark the event with their own celebrations.

For me, I think this is the ultimate historical place, even though I have yet to visit it.  It is just so remarkable to think it was constructed all those thousands of years ago just by physical labour. Even the stones themselves – the largest of which are up to 30 feet and weigh about 25 tonnes, had to be brought to the site from about 20 miles away, how on earth was that possible? For me, the stones prove that with determination, tenacity and working together it is sometimes possible to achieve what seems impossible.  At the same time, the way they have endured over time gives perspective on our place in the world.  Time passes, people and generations pass too, but they can leave a legacy behind even if it only one of many unanswered questions for future people to ponder over!

  • Mind blogging: extremely surprising and difficult to understand or imagine
  • Prehistoric monument: a very old building or place that is important historically
  • Colossal slabs: large stones
  • Ponder over: to spend time thinking carefully and seriously about a problem, a difficult question, or something that has happened

IELTS Reading Practice Test 34 With Answers

Posted: 09 Jan 2017 11:59 PM PST

Section 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13, which are based on Reading Passage 1 below.

The Rise and Fall of the British Textile Industry

Textile production in Britain can be said to have its roots as an industry at the beginning of the 18th century, when Thomas Crotchet and George Sorocold established what is thought to be the first factory built in Britain. It was a textile mill with a waterwheel as its source of power, the latest machinery, and even accommodation for the workers. As well as possibly being the first sweatshop in the modem sense, it was the beginning of the end for traditional textile production.

For hundreds of years the spinning and weaving of cloth had been done manually by men, women and children in their own homes. The yarn would be combed and spun using a spindle, then woven on a hand loom, and what they produced would be mainly for local consumption.Technology far more sophisticated than the spindle and hand-loom would change all that.

The demand for cotton textiles had been growing since the Middle Ages, fostered by the importation of high quality cotton fabrics from the Middle East and India. So how were local producers to fight off the competition? The imported fabrics were of course expensive, so textile makers (not just in Britain but throughout Europe) produced mixed fabrics and cotton substitutes. They also had foreign textiles banned. But the key to the increased productivity needed to meet the demand, was machine production. It would be fester, cheaper and the finished products would be consistent in quality. Not least of the advantages was that it would allow manufacturers to market their goods on a large, if not yet global, scale.

The story of the growth of the British textile industry from about 1733 and for the next two hundred years is one of constant technological innovation and expansion. In 1733 John Kay invented the fly-shuttle, which made the hand-loom more efficient, and in 1764 James Hargreaves came up with the spinning jenny, which among other things had the effect of raising productivity eightfold. The next great innovator was Richard Arkwright, who in 1768 employed John Kay (of the fly-shuttle) to help him build more efficient machinery. He was a man with a vision – to mechanise textile production – and by 1782 he had a network of mills across Britain. As the water-powered machinery, though not yet fully mechanised, became more complex, Kay began to use steam engines for power.The first power-loom, however, which was invented in 1785 by Dr Edmund Cartwright, really did mechanise the weaving stage of textile manufacture.

The pace of growth quickened with the expansion of Britain's influence in the world and the acquisition of colonies from which cheap raw materials could be imported. For example, in a single decade, from 1781 to 1791, imports of cotton into Britain quadrupled, going on to reach 100 million pounds in weight in 1815 and 263 million in 1830. The increase in exports is equally impressive; in 1751 £46,000 worth of cloth was exported and by the end of the century this had risen to £5.4 million. By the end of the 19th century the figure had soared to close on £50 million. Britain was now supplying cheaper and better quality clothing to a global market. Yet during the course of the 20th century Britain lost its position as a major textile manufacturer.

So what happened? There are a number of views on this question, not all of them conflicting, and where there is disagreement it is usually about when the decline began. Whether it began before the First World War (1914-18), or during the inter-war years (1919- 1939), or after 1945, most economists would give roughly the same reasons.To start with, there was competition from abroad, especially from developing countries in the Far East, notably Japan. It was thought by manufacturers that the best way to combat this increased competition was to modernise. However, management and the labour unions were unable to agree on how to handle this situation.

Modernisation would mean people losing their jobs and possibly a change in labour practices. Such changes as were made served only to slow down the industry’s decline rather than help regain its predominant position. Economically less developed countries, on the other hand, had the advantage of being able to provide low wage competition, without the problem of powerful labour unions.

There are, of course, many other reasons for the textile industry’s decline, two of which became particularly noticeable in the late twentieth century and are related. The first is out­sourcing, when manufacturers establish factories in countries where there is cheap labour. This obviously leads to less demand for locally-produced goods. Related to this, the textile and clothing industries have acquired a bad reputation for exploiting workers, often illegal immigrants, in sweatshops where they are forced to work long hours and are paid far less than the minimum wage.

We seem to be back with Crotchet and Sorocold and their first live-in factory. The globalising trend of out sourcing, however, was a rational response to the growing competition from overseas, which, it goes without saying, does not excuse the exploitation of workers. The British industry itself, while no longer holding a key place in the global textile market, has adapted itself and now concentrates more on the world of fashion and design, where it seems to be doing quite well.

Questions 1 -6

Complete the notes below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

Textile Manufacture

Early history

Begins as a cottage industry

Products hand-woven and made for 1……………………………………………

Local producers face 2…………………………………………………… from overseas

Ways found to deal with situation

Imported fabrics 3……………………………………………………… , mixed cottons produced

Early technology

Machine production needed to 4…………………………………………………… for cotton fabrics

Improved technology (such as the fly-shuttle) more 5……………………………………. and productive

Machinery begins to be powered by 6……………………………………………………..

Questions 7-9

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

A the power-loom7  Which of the following innovations increased productivity by 800%?

B the steam engine

C the spinning jenny

D the fly-shuttle

8  During which period was the British textile industry at its peak?

A 1733-1785

B 1781-1791

C 1791-1830

D 1830-1900

9  Which of the following was a major cause of the British textile industry's decline?

A the expansion of foreign textile industries

B the loss of overseas markets

C there being no demand for products

D labour becoming too expensive

Questions 10-13

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

10  Foreign textiles were banned because of their inferior quality.

11  Richard Arkwright built the first fully mechanised textile mill.

12  In less developed countries, the industry could rely on cheap labour.

13  Out-sourcing was one method used to compete with foreign manufacturers.

Section 2

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13, which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.

What is an ASBO?

Ask somebody to make a list of crimes and they will probably come up with the usual suspects that you or I would: murder, robbery, assault, burglary and so on.They might even include acts which are merely’against the law’ like parking on a double yellow line.

But if you ask them to make a list of anti social behaviours, you are getting into an area where there is going to be considerable disagreement This didn’t stop the UK government which introduced Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, or ASBOs, in 1998 as part of the Crime and Disorder Act – legislation designed to deal with practically all aspects of criminal activity and disorderly behaviour.

A subjective definition of anti social behaviour permits you to cast your net wide and include anything you find personally disagreeable; the legal definition is also widely inclusive. To quote the Crime and Disorder Act it is behaviour which ’causes or is likely to cause harassment alarm or distress to one or more people who are not in the same household as the perpetrator’. This includes, among many other things, foul and abusive language, threatening behaviour, shouting, disorderly conduct, vandalism, intimidation, behaviour as the result of drug or alcohol misuse, graffiti and noise which is excessive, particularly at night.

The idea is that ASBOs are sanctions designed to deal with issues that affect everyone in the community and as such are civil sanctions, not criminal ones, and need the cooperation of the community to be effective. For example, a private individual cannot apply for an ASBO; he or she must make a complaint to the police or local authority, who will then work together to gather more information and build up evidence. This involves getting witnesses, among whom will no doubt be neighbours and acquaintances, to make statements to the authorities. When the authorities are satisfied that they have enough evidence, the local council applies to the magistrates’court to have an ASBO imposed

We still haven't decided what constitutes anti-social behaviour. It doesn’t have to be physical violence, of course, but is far easier to identify and deal with if it is. What about threatening behaviour? We’re not talking here about direct threats such as ‘lf you come round here again. I’ll beat you up!’, but situations perceived as threatening. Let's say a pensioner or a person of timid disposition is on their way home and they run into a group of young people who are shouting, swearing and kicking a ball about and who happen to make a few unkind . remarks as the person passes. Let’s say the person is alarmed or feels threatened by the situation. Does it merit getting the ASBO process going?

In feet, young people merely hanging out in public places, however boisterous their behaviour might seem to be to some people, are not considered to be indulging in anti-social behaviour. However, there is a proviso. Such behaviour in its own right is not considered anti-social unless it is thought it is being done with other, more serious, behavioural attitudes involved. This, of course, can be very subjective.

A person faced with an ASBO can argue in their defence that their behaviour was reasonable and unthreatening.This too is subjective, and both sides’ claims are open to wide interpretation. Something else that has to be taken into account here is that ASBOs are made on an individual basis even if that person is part of a group of people committing anti-social behaviour. If a case reaches the magistrates’court, witnesses can be called to provide further evidence for or against the defendant. However, the magistrate, as well as considering the complaints made against the defendant, will take into account his or her family situation, welfare issues, and whether or not he or she has been victimised or discriminated against It is worth bearing in mind, though, that witnesses can be intimidated or otherwise persuaded not to appear in court and give evidence.

When the Crime and Disorder Act came into force, ASBOs were generally intended to be a measure to deal with adult anti social behaviour, yet within the Act it states that an order can be applied for against any individual over the age often years old. It is a striking fact that the majority of ASBOs imposed since the law was enacted have been handed out to young people and children.

The question is, have they been effective? The government, naturally, claims that they have brought about a real improvement in the quality of life in communities around the country. Nay-sayers, such as civil rights campaigners, claim the measures are far too open to abuse. Some say they go too far and some that they don't go far enough and lack bite. However, a genuine impediment to their effectiveness is that to impose an ASBO takes a lot of time and paperwork, involving the cooperation of community, police and local council, and they are very expensive to implement One estimate is that an ASBO can cost in excess of £20,000. What all this means is that ASBOs are being used very rarely in many parts of the country. So the jury is still out as to how effective they really are.

Question 14-16

Choose THREE letters A-H.

NB Your answers may be given in any order.

Which THREE of the following statements are true of ASBOs, according to the text?

A They were introduced to deal with specific crimes.

B Parking on a double yellow line could get you served with an ASBO.

C Swearing is one of the offences referred to in the Crime and Disorder Act.

D Asa private householder you can apply for an ASBO against a noisy neighbour.

E It is not illegal for young people to gather in groups in public places.

F An ASBO cannot be served on a group of people behaving in a disorderly manner.

G A large proportion of those served with ASBOs are over the age of 21.

H Most people agree that ASBOs have been effective all over the country.

Questions 17-19

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D

17  The writer suggests that

A anti-social behaviour should be seen as a crime.

B few people agree on how to define a crime.

C anti-social behaviour is difficult to define.

D the legal definition of crime is too exclusive.

18  What surprised the writer about the imposition of ASBOs?

A the number of ten-year-olds that had been given one

B that very few adults had been served with ASBOs

C that most of those served with ASBOs were youngsters

D how few ASBOs had been imposed since 1998

19  In the writer's opinion, how effective have ASBOs been?

A There isn't enough evidence to decide.

B They are too expensive to be effective.

C They are ineffective because they are not strict enough.

D Being open to abuse renders them ineffective.

Question 20-26

Complete the sentences.

Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.

20  The official_____________________________ says that anti-social behaviour is behaviour which can cause alarm or distress.

21   Along with swearing and destruction of public or private property, making ____________ noise is considered anti social behaviour.

21  ASBOs are considered to be part of _______________________ law rather than criminal law.

23  Citizens have to____________________________ to either the local council or the police before any action can be taken.

24  In their efforts to collect evidence the authorities may call on ________________  to get more information.

25  ASBOs are issued at a_____________________________ .

26  ___________________________ is the most straightforward form of anti-social behaviour to determine.

Section 3

READING PASSAGE 3

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27-40, which are based on Reading Passage 3 below.

The Climate Changers

The romantic notion that early humans lived in harmony with their environment has taken quite a battering lately. Modem humans may have started eliminating other species right from the start; our ancestors stand accused of wiping out mega fauna – from giant flightless birds in Australia to mammoths in Asia and the ground sloth of North America – as they spread across the planet.

Even so, by around 6,000 years ago there were only about 12 million people on earth – less than a quarter of the current population of Great Britain. That’s a far cry from today’s 6.6 billion, many of us guzzling fossil fuels, churning out greenhouse gases and messing with our planet’s climate like there’s no tomorrow. So it may seem far-fetched to suggest that humans have been causing global warming ever since our ancestors started burning and cutting forests to make way for fields at least 7,000 years ago.

Yet that’s the view of retired climate scientist William Ruddiman, formerly of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville. Ancient farmers were pumping climate-warming carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere long before recorded history began, he says. Far from causing catastrophe, however, early farmers halted the planet’s descent into another ice age and kept Earth warm and stable for thousands of years.

Could a few primitive farmers really have changed the climate of the entire globe? If you find this hard to believe, you’re not the only one. Ruddiman’s idea has been hugely controversial ever since he proposed it in 2003.’Most new ideas, especially controversial ones, die out pretty fast. It doesn’t take science long to weed them out,’he says. Yet five years on, his idea is still not dead. On the contrary, he says the latest evidence strengthens his case. ‘It has become clear that natural explanations for the rise in greenhouse gases over the past few thousand years are the ones that are not measuring up, and we can reject them,’ he claims.

There is no doubt that the soaring levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that we see in the atmosphere today – causing a 0.7° C rise in average global temperature during the 20th century – are the result of human activities. In the late 1990s, however, Ruddiman started to suspect that our contribution to the global greenhouse began to become significant long before the industrial age began.This was when an ice core drilled at the Vostok station in Antarctica revealed how atmospheric C02 and methane levels have changed over the past 400,000 years. Bubbles trapped in the ice provide a record of the ancient atmosphere during the past three interglacials.

What we see is a regular pattern of rises and falls with a period of about 100,000 years, coinciding with the coming and going of ice ages. There are good explanations for these cycles: periodic changes in the planet’s orbit and axis of rotation alter the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth. We are now in one of the relatively brief, warm interglacial periods that follow an ice age.

Within this larger pattern there are regular peaks in methane every 22,000 years that coincide with the times when the Earth’s orbit makes summers in the northern hemisphere warmest.This makes sense, because warm northern summers drive strong tropical monsoons in southern Asia that both encourage the growth of vegetation and cause flooding, during which vegetation rotting in oxygen-poor water will emit methane. Around the Arctic, hot summers thaw wetlands for longer, again promoting both vegetation growth and methane emission.

In recent times, however, this regular pattern has changed. The last methane peak occurred around 11,000 years ago, at about 700 parts per billion (ppb), after which levels began to fall. But instead of continuing to fall to what Ruddiman says should have been a minimum of about 450 ppb today, the atmospheric methane began to climb again 5,000 years ago.

Working with climate modellers Stephen Verves and John Kutzbach, Ruddiman has shown that if the levels of these gases had continued to fall rather than rising when they did, ice sheets would now cover swathes of northern Canada and Siberia. The world would be heading into another ice age.

So why did both methane and C02 rise over the past few thousand years? In other words, why has this interglacial period been different from previous ones? Could humans be to blame?

Agriculture emerged around the eastern Mediterranean some 11,000 years ago, then shortly afterwards in China and several thousand years later in the Americas. Farming can release greenhouse gases in various ways: clearing forests liberates lots of stored carbon as the wood rots or is burned, for instance, while flooded rice paddies release methane just as wetlands do.

To find out more about early farming, Ruddiman began to dig around in studies of agricultural history. These revealed that there was a sharp rise in rice cultivation in Asia around 5,000 years ago, with the practice spreading across China and south-east Asia. Here at least was a possible source for the unexpected methane rise.

Questions 27-29

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D

27  One of the claims Ruddiman makes is that

A population growth is responsible for global warming.

B people have affected the climate for thousands of years.

C his ideas are not in the least bit controversial.

D so far scientists have been wrong about global warming.

28  What information did the research at Vostok reveal for the first time?

A that methane levels stabilised about 11,000 years ago

B that Antarctic ice contains methane bubbles

C that the methane levels increased about 5,000 years ago

D that we are now living in a warm interglacial period

29  The climate changers' of the title are A modem humans.

B climate modellers.

C primitive farmers.

D natural causes.

Questions 30-34

Complete the summary.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

To many people the controversial idea that our 30_____________ were responsible for global warming appears 31____________ . Yet Ruddiman believes that high levels of carbon dioxide and methane – both 32_____________ , or greenhouse, gases – were being released into the Earth’s atmosphere in times prior to 33_____________ . However, Ruddiman claims that this had a positive effect, as it may well have saved us from another 34_________________________________ .

Questions 35-40

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3?

TRUE                    if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE                  if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN         if the there is no information on this

35  Some mega fauna have been eliminated by humans in the past 100 years.

36  Agriculture is considered a primary cause of global warming today.

37  Ruddimans idea caused a great deal of argument among scientists.

38  New scientific evidence proves for certain that Ruddimans theory is correct.

39  The 20th century has seen the greatest ever increase in global temperatures.

40  Changes in the Earths orbit can affect global temperatures.

ANSWER KEY FOR IELTS READING PRACTICE TEST

1  local consumption

2  competition

3  banned

4  meet (the) demand

5  efficient

6  steam (engines)

7  C because it says in paragraph 4: 'the spinning jenny, which among other things had the effect of raising productivity eightfold’.

8  D because it says in paragraph 5: 'By the end of the 19th century the figure had soared to close on £50 million.’

9  A because it says in paragraph 6: 'it was competition from abroad*.

10  FALSE because in paragraph 3 it describes the foreign fabrics as 'high quality*

11  NOT GIVEN

12  TRUE because it says in paragraph 6: Economically less developed countries, on the other hand, had the advantage of being able to provide low wage competition.

13  TRUE because it says in paragraph 8: out-sourcing was a rational response to the growing competition from overseas 14-15-16 (in any order)

14  C because it says in paragraph 2: 'foul and abusive language’

15  E because it says in paragraph 5: “young people merely hanging out in public places, however boisterous their behaviour might seem to be to some people, are not considered to be indulging in anti-social behaviour.

16  F because it says in paragraph 6: “ASBOs are made on an individual basis even if that person is part of a group.

17  C because it says in paragraph 1: “you are getting into an area where there is going to be considerable disagreement*.

18  C because it says in paragraph 7: “It is a striking fact that the majority of ASBOs imposed since the law was enacted have been handed to young people and children*

19  A because it says in paragraph 8: “What all this means is that ASBOs are being used very rarely in many parts of the country. So the jury is still out as to how effective they really are.*

20  definition

21  excessive

22  civil

23  make a complaint

24  witnesses/neighbours/acquaintances

25  magistrates’ court

26  Physical violence

27 B because it says in paragraph 2: 'humans have been causing global warming ever since our ancestors started burning and cutting forests to make way for fields at least 7,000 years ago' and in paragraph 3: 'that’s the view of retired climate scientist William Ruddiman'.

28  C because it says in paragraph 8: 'the atmospheric methane began to climb again 5,000 years ago'.

29  C because Ruddiman s view is that a few primitive farmers' (paragraph 4) caused global warming when they started burning and cutting forests to make way for fields at least 7,000 years ago (paragraph 1).

30  ancestors

31  far-fetched

32  climate-warming

33  recorded history

34  ice age

35  FALSE because it says in paragraph 1: our ancestors stand accused of wiping out mega fauna'.

36  NOT GIVEN

37  TRUE because it says in paragraph 4: 'Ruddimans idea has been hugely controversial'.

38  FALSE because it says in paragraph 4: 'the latest evidence strengthens his case' not proves it correct.

39  NOT GIVEN

40  TRUE because it says in paragraph 6: 'periodic changes in the planet s orbit and axis of rotation alter the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth'.

IELTS Listening Practice Test 119

Posted: 09 Jan 2017 11:06 PM PST

SECTION 1

Questions 1-2

Circle the appropriate letter.

Example: What type of accommodation does Bahtt want?

A. A house.
B. The Student Hostel.
C. Home stay.
D. A flat.

1. How does she want to travel to the university?

A. By car.
B. On foot.
C. By bus.
D. By tube.

2. How did she feel about living at the Student Hostel?

A. Very pleasant.
B. Rather disappointed.
C. A bit homesick.
D. Rather bad.

Questions 3-6

Complete the table below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS.

Property Available Advantage Disadvantage
two-bedroom house near the university 3 _____________
three-bedroom flat near the university 4 _____________
three-bedroom house 5 ________________ far from the university

Address: 6 ________________, Botany

Questions 7-8

Choose TWO letters, A-F.

Which TWO of the following the agent says are included?

A. kitchen cupboards
B. garden table
C double bed
D. dishwasher
E. washing machine
F. refrigerator

Questions 9-70

Choose TWO letters, A-F.

What TWO things does the student request before moving in?

A. new kitchen cooker
B. garden cleared
C. back door painted
D. carpets cleaned
E. windows repaired
F. new refrigerator

SECTION 2

Questions 11-13

Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.

11. The Bridge Hotel is located in

A. the city centre.
B. the country.
C. the suburbs.

12. The newest sports facility in the hotel is

A. a swimming pool.
B. a fitness centre.
C. a tennis court.

13. The hotel restaurant specializes in

A. healthy food.
B. local food.
C. international food.

Questions 14-15

Choose TWO letters, A-E.

Which TWO business facilities are mentioned?

A. Internet access
B. mobile phone hire
C. audio-visual facilities
D. airport transport
E. translation services

Questions 16-20

Complete the table below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

SHORT BREAK PACKAGES
Length of stay Cost (per person per night) Special features
2 days 16 £___________ Full cooked breakfast Entertainment in the 17

Entertainment in the 17_____________

3 days £60 As above, plus:

  • a 18_____________
5 days 19 £___________ As above, plus:

  • 2 days’ free beauty therapy
  • full-day membership of a 20_______________

SECTION 3

Questions 21-22

Complete the sentences below.

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

21. Last year, Fiona got a grade________________ for the Theory and Practice option.

22. Fiona has some free time because her_________________ has been cancelled.

Question 23

Choose ONE letter, A-E.

Which book does Fiona advise against?

A. Brown: Observing Theory in Practice

B. Jespersen: Theory’s Crucible

C. Piresi: On Giants' Shoulders

D. Willard: Practical Theories in the Social Sciences

E. Williams: Knowledge Theory

Questions 24-30

Complete the notes below.

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

How to use the recall system

  • Take a 24_________________ from librarian's desk.
  • Complete the details of the book. Write your 25___________________ address on back. Hand it in at the 26____________________.
  • Check mail in your department twice a day to see if book is ready to collect.
    It normally takes 3 days.
  • Cost: 27_______________________ per book.

Fiona’s advice on organizing a study group to work on an assignment

Find two or three people on the course who live near you.

Divide up the reading load.

Take it in turns to 28___________________ what you have read for the others.

Explain your 29____________________ to each other.

Write first draft of essay.

Exchange drafts and 30_______________.

Write final version of essay.

SECTION 4

Question 31

Choose ONE letter, A- D

Who are most likely to be the offenders of information-technology crime?

A. hackers and crackers
B. outsider users
C. employees
D. professional criminals

Questions 32-39

Complete the table below. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

COMPUTER CRIMES
Computer Crime Offender Types  Crimes Committed Reasons or Purposes
employees
  • intercept company communication
  • steal company’s 32__________
  • use IT for personal profit
  • steal 33 to sell
  • seek revenge for real or imaginary wrongs
  • show off their 34 over others
outsider users or 35__________ electronic connection get Electronic Data Interchange System
hackers& crackers
  • gain illegal access to company computer system for 36______________
  • gain illegal access to the system for evil purposes

 

  • get information for financial gain
  • shut down hardware
  • pirate software
  • destroy 37_____________
professional criminals use stolen information as a business 38________________ for illegal purposes
  • use 39 to trace illegal gambling debts
  • dealers use pagers as a link to drug buyers
  • forge checks, passports, etc.

Question 40

Complete the sentence below. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for the answer.

40. Computer Emergency Response Team can offer international information and computer security service to_____________________.

Answer keys:

Section 1

1. B

2. A

3. not big enough/too small

4. too expensive / $400 a week

5. reasonably priced / $250 a week / cheap

6. 14a Station Road

7-8. C; E (in either order)

9-10. B; D (in either order)

Section 2

11. C

12. B

13. C

14-15. A; D (in either order)

16. 75

17. evening(s)

18. (four-course) dinner

19. 52

20. golf club

Section 3

21. A+/Aplus

22. lecture

23. B

24. pink slip

25. departmental)

26. Information Desk

27. 25p / 25 pence

28. summarise / summarize

29. essay plan(s)

30. (give) feedback

Section 4

31. C

32. trade secrets

33. hardware or information

34 power

35. suppliers and clients

36. (a / the) challenge

37. data

38. tool

39. databases

40. Internet users

BONUS EXERCISE: GAP-FILLING 

The texts below are transcript for your IELTS Listening Practice Test. To make the most out of this transcript, we removed some words from the texts and replaced with spaces. You have to fill each space with the missing word by listening to the audio for this IELTS listening practice test.

SECTION 1

In this section you will hear a conversation between a house agent and Bahtt, an overseas student studying in Australia. Bahtt is enquiring about renting a place to live.

A = House Agent; B = Bahtt (female)

A: Good morning.

B: Good morning. Um.-.I’m looking for a place to rent near the university.

A: What are you after? A house, a flat…a room?

B: Well, [……………………….]a house, if that’s possible. There are three of us looking for [……………………….]altogether. We thought we might share if we could find something suitable.(Example)

A: So something near the university?

B: Yes, if that’s at all possible. We’re all students so it’d be good if we could find something within walking distance of the [……………………….].

None of us has a car and we don’t want to have to take [……………………….].

A: Yeah. Well, everybody wants that of course.

B: Yeah, I [……………………….]they do.

A: Are you in your first year?

B: No, I’ve been here a year already. Last year we all lived in a hall of [……………………….]. That was really great, even the food wasn’t too bad. We had a lot of fun there. But in the second year they kick you out into the real world!

A: OK, so let me have a look and see what we’ve got… Well, there’s a [……………………….]house in Newtown which is quite cheap.

B: That’d be good because it’s very near the university, but if we all want our own rooms it isn’t really big enough.

 A: Too small. Give that one a miss?

B: Yeah, 1 think so. Got anything else?

A: What about, this? A three-bedroom flat, close to the university… It’s [……………………….]a week.

B: Oh, that’s too [……………………….].

A: Alright, well… here’s something that might interest you. It’s a three-bedroom house with [……………………….].

B:        Not bothered about the garden, but where is it?

A         Near the airport.

B:        That’s miles from the university.

A         Yes. it is auite far. but it’s [……………………….]priced at [……………………….]a week. Why don’t you go and have a look?

B:        Oh…alright. We will. Can I have the address?

A:        Right, w’ell it's at [……………………….]. Botany.

B:        Is anyone living there at the moment?

A:        No, it's vacant.

B: Does it have any furniture?

A: Well, it says here that it’s well [……………………….].

B: What does that mean exactly?

A: Well, there's a kitchen table and chairs, two single beds, a  double bed, two [……………………….], a kitchen cooker and a washing & machine. Not bad really for the money.

B: Is there a fridge?

A: It doesn’t mention it here. I can let you have the key and you can pop round and see for yourself.

B: Right…thanks. We’ll do that.

A: Hello…you’re back. How did you find the house?

B: Well… not bad. It’s certainly large enough and there’s quite a big garden. But it’s completely [……………………….]. You can hardly get out the back door because the [……………………….]is so high. We’d have to have it. [……………………….]a bit before we moved in.

A: OK.

B: The kitchen is fine, but there’s an awful smell [……………………….]the house.

A: The place hasn't been [……………………….]for a couple of months, so that’s probably why it’s a bit [……………………….]. It’ll be fine when you open up the windows for a bit.

B: Yeah. Well, I think the [……………………….]ought to pay to clean the  &[……………………….]at least.

A: I can put that to him, though I’m not sure whether he’ll agree.

We can but ask.

B: OK. Well, if he does, we’d probably be interested…

SECTION 2

You will hear a recorded message giving information about an English hotel.

Welcome to the Bridge Hotel Information Line. The Bridge Hotel is part of the Compact group, which is a large [……………………….]of family- owned hotels offering a warm friendly [……………………….]and high quality service at [……………………….]prices. All of them cater for a wade range of people-from business to [……………………….]clients.

Set in a quiet [……………………….]area on the attractive outskirts of  Belford. About [……………………….]from the city centre, the Bridge Hotel is a – popular choice for [……………………….]. After recent refurbishment and expansion, it now has 25 [……………………….]and 20 singles. All 45 are en suite with TV and coffee-and-tea-making facilities.

The Bridge Hotel is set in three and a half [……………………….]of grounds with an open-air swimming pool and four tennis courts. Here is also a newly opened [……………………….]with fitness suit, which is considered one of the best [……………………….]in the area. Non-resident membership is available.

We have a fully licenced restaurant for residents and [……………………….], which provides a wide range of dishes with a particular focus on dishes from around the world.

For the [……………………….]business customers, we have designated business rooms with phone links allowing full [……………………….]. Our & conference facilities cater for up to [……………………….]and we are able to offer transport to guests to and from [……………………….]Airport at a small extra cost.

There now follows information about short break packages.

Welcome to the Bridge Hotel Short Breaks Information Line. We offer three packages: 2-day, 3-day and 5-day.

The 2-day break costs [……………………….]per person per night and includes full cooked breakfast and evening entertainment. Very popular for weekend get aways.

The 3-day break costs £60 per person per night and in addition to offers for the 2-day break, includes one four-course dinner. This allowrs guests to enjoy the full range of hotel [……………………….].

The 5-dav break costs £52 per person per night and, in [……………………….]to  offers from the 2- and 3-day breaks, includes free beauty [……………………….]on two days and a full-dav pass to the golf dub. This package is [……………………….]popular for couples wiio want a completely relaxing break.

If you would like more information about these special [……………………….], call Extension 3469 to speak to our Customer Service Manager, John Martin.

Thank you for calling the Bridge Hotel Information Line.

SECTION 3

You will hear three students talking about their study programmes.

E = Elaine; N = Neil; F = Fiona

N: Hi, Elaine, I was hoping I'd see you here. How're things?

E: All right. You?

N: Not bad, but I’m beginning to worry about that [……………………….].

E: What, the one on Theory and Practice?

N: Yes.

E: When’s it got to be in by?

N: Next Thursday, and I just can’t get to grip with it.

E: Yes, it’s a [……………………….]one. I’m hoping to get down to it over the weekend. I tell you what, there’s [……………………….]. Let’s see if she has any pearls of [……………………….]on the subject. She took the Theory and Practice option last year, didn’t she? And got an A+ for it, I think.

N: How does she do it?

E: Let’s ask her. Hi, Fiona. Hard at work?

F: Not exactly. The lecture’s just been cancelled, so I’ve [……………………….] got a free morning on my hands.

E: That's lucky. You’ve met Neil, haven’t you?

F: Yes.

E: We were just talking about the Theory and Practice assignment we've got to hand in next Thursday. Can we just pick your [……………………….]a moment?

F: How far have you got with it?

E: Well, still at the early [……………………….]really.

F: Are you? Well, one bit of advice I'd definitely give is not to spend hours [……………………….]through the [……………………….]– Theory's Crucible bv Jespersen: it really isn’t very helpful. I think the only reason they keep it on the reading list is that the library has got so many copies of it. Personally, I found the [……………………….]source – On Giants' Shoulders written by Piresi. Have you read it yet?

E: Piresi? I don’t think so.

F: That’s a great book. It must be on your reading list.

N: Right.

F: Another one I found very useful was the [……………………….]called something like Practical Theories by, was it Williams, or Willard? Yes, Willard. Also, if you want to look at case studies, that small book of Ron Brown’s has got some interesting stuff in – you know the one I mean?

N: Ron Brown, yes. I looked for it in the library but it was out on loan.       ,

F: Yes, it's a very popular book. Did you try the recall [……………………….]?

N: The what?

F: Don’t you use the recall system? You should, you know. You iust, have to take a pink slip from any of the [……………………….], fill the details of the book in, out vour departmental address on the back- vour departmental address, not vour home address-and hand the & slip in at the Information Desk. Then check the mail in your department [……………………….]. Say 10:00 in the morning and 3:00 in the afternoon, for a slip telling you the book is ready to collect. Last week I [……………………….]a book at lunch time and got the slip telling me it was ready just [……………………….]later. That wras [……………………….]: it usually takes 3 days.

N: T didn’t know’ you could do that. Is it expensive?

F: No. There’s a normal charge – [……………………….]a book. I think. It’s well worth it if you’re preparing for an assignment. Are you going to be working together on it?

N: Erm…I’m not sure.

E: I would, if I wrere you. You get so much more out of the assignment that way.

N: But surely the [……………………….]would notice that our [……………………….]were the same?

F: No, no. I’m certainly not [……………………….]you should actually write the thing together. I’m talking about when you first start on a big [……………………….]. I think it’s a good idea to find two or three others on the course who live near you, and divide up the reading load between you. Then you can meet up again a few days later and take it in turns to [……………………….]vour reading for each other. At the next stage you go round the group [……………………….]vour essav plan, which makes it easier for [……………………….]then to go off and write the first draft of their [……………………….]on their own. Later on you usually exchange drafts and give [……………………….]in the group, before finally writing your essays individually.

N: Did you really do all that?

F: Usually, yes. It makes the whole thing much easier and more [……………………….].’

N: Right. Well, I think I need another [……………………….]before getting started. Can I get you one?

F: Yes, why not.

SECTION 4

In this section, you will hear a talk given by Donn Parker, an expert on computer security, about the computer criminals.

Hi there.

As an expert on computer [……………………….], my job is to oversee and analyse the [……………………….]in computer users. Computers have been common place in our daily life, making our life and work [……………………….]and lively. However, with the development of computer [……………………….], computer crime has started to attract more people’s [……………………….]. NOWT in respect of this topic I will present some of my view’s and studies.

What kinds of people are [……………………….]most of the information- technology crimes?

According to my research, over [……………………….] may be employees, the rest are outside users, [……………………….]and [……………………….], and professional criminals. It is amazing that the [……………………….]account for this large proportion. Let us see them in detail.

Employees: Employees are those with the skills, the [……………………….], and the access to do bad things. [……………………….]or disgruntled employees pose a far greater problem than most people have [……………………….]. To most supervisors and some experts, they worry that dishonest employees or outsiders can more easily [……………………….] communications or steal company’s trade secrets. Workers may use information technology for personal profit or steal [……………………….]or information to sell. They may also use it to seek [……………………….]for real or imagined wrongs, such as being passed over for [……………………….]. Sometimes they mav use the technology simply to [……………………….]to themselves that they have power over people. This may have been the case with a Georgia [……………………….]employee [……………………….]of sabotaging the firm's computer system. As files [……………………….]disappeared and the system randomly [……………………….], other workers became so [……………………….]and enraged that they quit.

Outside users: Outside users are company’s suppliers and clients. They may also gain access to a company's information technology and use it to commit, crimes. With both, this becomes more a [……………………….]as electronic connections such as Electronic Data Interchange Systems become commonplace.

Hackers and crackers: What are hackers? Hackers are people who gain [……………………….]access to computer or [……………………….]systems for the challenge or even the principle of it. Crackers also gain unauthorised access to information technology but do so for [……………………….]purposes. Crackers [……………………….]to break into computers and [……………………….]obtain information for financial gain, to shut down hardware, pirate [……………………….], or destroy data. The [……………………….]for hackers as the benign explorer has [……………………….]. Most communications systems [……………………….]view any kind of unauthorised access as a [……………………….], and they pursue the offenders [……………………….]. And educators also try to point out to students that universities cannot provide an education for everybody if [……………………….]

Professional [……………………….]: Members of organised crime rings don't just steal information technology. They use it in a legal wav as a [……………………….]tool, but for illegal purposes. For instance, [……………………….]can be used to keep track of illegal gambling debts and [……………………….].

Drug dealers have used pagers as a link to [……………………….]. Microcomputers, scanners, and printers can be used to forge checks, [……………………….]papers, passports, and drivers’ [……………………….]. Telecommunications can be used to transfer funds [……………………….].

As information-technology crime has become more [……………………….], in 1988, after the last [……………………….]Internet break-in, the U.S. Department created the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), although it has no power to arrest or [……………………….]. CERT provides round-the-clock international information and security- related support services to users of the Internet. Whenever it gets a report of an electronic [……………………….], whether on the Internet or on a corporate E-mail system, CERT stands ready to lend [……………………….]. It counsels the party under attack, helps them [……………………….]the intruder, and evaluates the system [……………………….]to protect against future break-ins.

Practice every day to improve your IELTS listening skills. Don’t forget to visit IELTS Material website on a daily basis to find more practice tests for every skill in the IELTS Test.

IELTS Writing Practice Test 34 (Task 1 & 2) & Sample Answers

Posted: 09 Jan 2017 10:21 PM PST

IELTS Writing Topic:

WRITING TASK 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The line graph below gives information about the rates of unemployment between 1991 and 2005 in three different countries in Europe. The table shows the percentage of men and women in the workforce in these three countries.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

ieltsmaterial.com - ielts writing practice test 34 & sample answers

Employment rates of men and women in three countries in Europe in 1991

 
Country Men Women
Germany 76.5% 54.4%
Spain 66.2% 32.3%
Italy 77.1% 37.8%


WRITING TASK 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Many of the world's cities are currently facing a serious housing shortage.

What are some of the reasons for this shortage and what solutions can you suggest?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

SAMPLE ANSWERS

Task 1 Model Answer

The graph shows unemployment levels in three countries from 1991 to 2005 while the table gives the proportion of men and women in these countries who worked in 1991.

In 1991, Spam had the highest unemployment rate at 13% increasing markedly to 18%( 1993-1995), then falling steadily to 9% in 2005. In contrast, unemployment was low in Germany starting at 4% but climbing gradually to 9% in 1997, dipping to 6% in 2001 and increasing to a high of 11% in 2005. Italy's unemployment rate fluctuated less than the otheis, starting and finishing at 8% over this period and reaching a maximum of 12% from 1997 to 1999.

In 1991, just over half the female population in Germany (54.4%) was working compared with more than three quarters of the men. However, in Spain, about a third of the women were working and a third of the men were not Italy's employment rate among men in that year was similar to Germany's, but not as many female workers were employed (37.8%).

Overall, in Germany, the rate of unemployment rose while there was a downward trend in the other two countries.

(190 words)

Task 2 Model Answer

Worldwide, steadily increasing demand for houses and accommodation has left many cosmopolitan cities unable to meet the housing needs of their citizens.

One of the main reasons for housing shortage in urban areas is an increase in urban populations. Many individuals have migrated from rural areas to the cities in search of a better life for themselves and their families. Similarly, foreign immigration rates to large cities continue to rise. Another cause behind the shortage in housing supply is the desire of citizens and councils to protect 'green spaces' and environmental areas within the city. As admirable as this goal may be, it actually ties up valuable land which could be used for housing. In addition, the economic recession has caused investment in construction projects to drop away, which has slowed development in this area accordingly. A final contributing factor in some cities is a lack of coordinated planning and vision for the future, which fails to consider population growth and the needs of future residents.

It is clear that solutions to this housing crisis need to be found. One suggestion is to implement town planning systems which encourage the concept of satellite cities to give residents the best of both worlds. These satellite cities have all the benefits of small town living in regard to environment and community, but are situated only a short commute from the nearest city for employment purposes. Thus, they take the pressure off city infrastructure and in particular housing stock. Pockets of high density inner-city housing could also assist in alleviating the housing shortage.

All in all, the answers to the urban housing crisis lie in effective planning for future population growth while addressing current needs.

(282 words)

IELTS Writing Recent Actual Test (Task 1, 2) in January 2017 & Model Essays

Posted: 09 Jan 2017 09:03 PM PST

IELTS Writing Task 1 Topic:

The chart below shows the average daily minimum and maximum levels of two air pollutants in four big cities in 2000.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

ieltsmaterial.com - ielts writing actual test in january 2017

Band 8.0 Sample Answers:

The provided chart represents the average minimum and maximum amount of Sulphur Dioxide and Dmitrous Oxide being disposed daily in various cities in 2000. Overall, Mexico city was the most polluted city with the highest level of both air pollutants.

As can be seen from the chart, an equal maximum volume of both S02 and N20 of approximately 200 microgram per m3 was observed m Mexico City, which doubled the minimum amount of around 80 to 100 microgram per m3. Los Angeles was primarily contaminated by N2O, with the minimum and maximum N2O levels being 39 and 104 micrograms per m3 respectively, while the maximum volume of S02 stood at only 10 microgram per m .

The second most polluted city was Beijmg where a minimum of 25 microgram per m3 and a maximum of 130 micrograms per m of S02 was recorded on a daily basis, whereas the level of N20 ranged from 14 to 54 units. Air quality m Calcuta was polluted by approximately 47 to 59 microgram per m3 of S02 and 30 to 52 micrograms per m3 of the other air pollutant.

From IPP IELTS

IELTS Writing Task 2 Topic:

Some universities offer online courses as an alternative to classes delivered on campus. Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

Band 8.0 Sample Answers:

There has been an increasing tendency of providing online courses in addition to formal ones by universities around the world. Concerning the effects of such a trend, I firmly believe that the availability of computer-based courses should be considered as a completely beneficial movement.

To begin with, it is a fallacy to consider the provisions of internet courses as a negative trend. In fact, some people insist that opting for online courses could lead to the probability of forming generations of students who would lack critical social skills such as inter-personal and teamwork capabilities. However, such a claimed scenario would not happen with the support of advanced online communication platforms. Thanks to the introduction of effective communication tools such as Skype or Facetime, students could easily interact with each other for academic discussions or team assignments, ensuring their chances to enhance essential communication skills. Therefore, it seems obvious to me that presumed negative impacts of visual classes would not be a matter.

On the other hand, I would strongly argue that the provision of online courses as alternatives is beneficial to both students and universities. Firstly, access to Internet-based courses would enable students, especially those who reside in remote regions, to get access to higher education with ultimate flexibility and convenience. Compared to traditional courses which require student attendance and fixed class schedules. Internet-based ones allow students to study at their own pace by granting them full rights to decide their schedules and academic progress. Secondly? with regard to universities, offering online courses could help them reach more students worldwide with reduced investments. Since classes could be conducted online with no geographic restrictions, colleges would be spared from the costs of expanding their schools yet still able to provide courses for more national and international students.

To conclude, the existence of computer-based courses as alternative options to formal classes should be considered as a profitable education progress in the modern world.

From IPP IELTS

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