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IELTS Style Reading Practice Test 2

IELTS General Training Reading Practice Test 2

Three complete reading passages with questions and answer keys

General Reading- Section 1

This is the first section of the IELTS General Training Reading test. It contains two pieces of writing. Read each piece and answer the questions.

Text for Questions 1-7
Community Gym Guidelines for New Members
Welcome to Riverside Community Gym! Please read these important guidelines before using our facilities.
Health and Safety	Members are responsible for their own well-being while exercising. If you have a medical condition, you should inform the gym staff before using the equipment. Any prescribed medicines you normally keep with you must be left at the reception desk during your visit, where they are stored securely.
Sign-in Procedure	All members must check in at the reception desk on arrival. This is essential for insurance and emergency purposes. You will be given a wristband which must be worn while you are in the gym. Please return it at the end of your session.
Smoking Policy	Smoking and vaping are strictly forbidden anywhere inside the gym or in the outdoor workout area.
Communication	Staff may contact you by phone, email or leave notices on the community board located beside the main entrance. If you need to reach an instructor, the easiest method is to leave a note in their mailbox at reception.
Flexible Hours	We understand that members have busy lives. You can choose your own training schedule during opening hours.
Role of the Duty Manager	The duty manager is responsible for allocating lockers, monitoring member attendance, organising training sessions, and helping with any issues. If you face difficulties, speak directly to them at reception.

Questions 1–7

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text?

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

Question	Answer
1. Members are expected to tell staff about any health problems they have.
2. You can smoke in the outside training zone.
3. Medicines must be handed in at reception.
4. If you do not check in, you may not be covered by insurance.
5. The best way to contact an instructor is by speaking to them directly.
6. Members can decide when they want to work out.
7. The duty manager keeps track of who attends the gym.

Text for Questions 8-14
Weekend Farmers' Market – Visitor Information
Every Saturday morning, the Riverside Farmers' Market brings together local growers, bakers, and craftspeople. To keep the market safe and enjoyable, visitors are asked to follow these guidelines:
Planning Your Visit	Entry is free, but some stalls only accept cash, so bring some with you. The market operates rain or shine, but occasionally stalls may close in extreme weather. Parking is available in the public car park, but please do not block residential driveways.
Food and Drink	Many stalls offer samples, but please ask before tasting. Bringing your own reusable bag is encouraged. Do not feed birds or stray animals with leftover food as it attracts pests.
Waste and Cleanliness	Bins are provided throughout the market for small items. Larger rubbish must be taken home. Do not attempt to burn or leave rubbish on the ground. Help us keep the market clean for everyone.
Stalls and Goods	Vendors sell fresh fruit, vegetables, baked goods, handmade soap, and other crafts. Bargaining is allowed, but please be respectful. Some items, like honey or dairy products, may run out early – arrive early if you want them.
Safety	Keep children with you at all times. For hygiene reasons, animals are not permitted in food areas.

Questions 8–14

The passage refers to how visitors should behave at the market.

Classify the following actions as something that visitors:

A. must do

B. may do

C. must not do

Write the correct letter A, B or C

Question	Answer
8. Bring cash in case stalls don't take cards
9. Taste food without asking first
10. Feed animals with leftovers
11. Dispose of rubbish properly
12. Bargain with stallholders
13. Bring a reusable shopping bag
14. Park in front of someone's driveway

Answer Key — Section 1

Questions 1–7

TRUE
FALSE
TRUE
TRUE
FALSE
TRUE
TRUE

Questions 8–14

General Reading - Section 2

This section contains two passages. Read each carefully and answer the questions.

Text for Questions 15-21
Staff Travel Policy
Working Hours	Most full-time staff work 38 hours per week. Additional hours may be requested, in which case overtime pay applies. Part-time employees work fewer hours but on a regular weekly schedule. Temporary staff are engaged only when needed and are paid daily or hourly.
Leave Entitlements (Full-time staff only):	Parental leave – up to 10 months of unpaid leave for new parents, including adoption. Sick leave – up to 12 days per year. More than 3 days off in a row requires a doctor's certificate. Annual leave – 20 paid days off each year, plus 5 extra days for staff who regularly work night shifts. Public holidays – staff are entitled to a paid day off on official holidays, unless rostered to work. Anyone who works on a holiday receives 20% extra pay. Termination – 2 weeks' notice is required for staff under 55 years old. Those above 55, with at least 2 years of service, are entitled to 3 weeks' notice.
Part-time & Temporary Staff	Part-time staff receive the same benefits as full-time staff but on a reduced, proportional basis. Temporary staff do not receive paid leave, overtime, or notice of termination.

Questions 15–21

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text?

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

Question	Answer
15. Part-time staff can receive overtime payments.
16. Temporary workers may be employed by the hour or day.
17. Parents adopting a child can take time off work.
18. A medical certificate is required if a worker is sick for 3 days in a row.
19. A full-time night-shift worker can take 25 paid days off each year.
20. Employees over 55 must always be given 3 weeks' notice if terminated.
21. Temporary workers can be dismissed without prior warning.

Text for Questions 22-27
The text below has six sections, A–F.
Workplace Messaging App – Guidelines for Use
A)	Choose a short, clear subject line so people know instantly what the message is about. If it's part of an ongoing discussion, add the date or project name for clarity.
B)	Keep one main topic per message. If you need to raise different issues, send separate messages. If points are related, number them or use bullet points to make them easy to follow.
C)	Get to the point quickly. Start with the main purpose in the first sentence, then add only the necessary details. Avoid long paragraphs.
D)	Always tell people what action you expect – do you want them to reply, attend a meeting, or confirm something? Include your contact details so they can respond easily.
E)	For very short reminders, you may place the entire note in the subject line. Write "EOM" at the end, which means "end of message", so the reader knows not to open the body.
F)	Messages are still written communication, so don't be too casual. Avoid emojis, slang, or spelling errors. Even in internal chats, professionalism matters.

Questions 22–27

Choose the correct heading for each section, A–F, from the list of headings below.

Write the correct number, i–x.

List of Headings
i. Written communication
ii. Clarity
iii. Style
iv. Research
v. End of message
vi. One point per message
vii. Relevance
viii. Specify the response you want
ix. The subject line
x. Internal messages

Question	Answer
22. Section A
23. Section B
24. Section C
25. Section D
26. Section E
27. Section F

Answer Key — Section 2

Questions 15–21

TRUE
TRUE
TRUE
FALSE
TRUE
FALSE
TRUE

Questions 22–27

ix
vi
ii
viii
v
i

General Reading – Section 3

This is the third section of the IELTS General Training Reading test. You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 28–40, which are based on the passage below.

Text for Questions 28-40
The World of Coffee Brewing
When people talk about coffee, they often discuss the beans, the roast, or the flavour notes. But just as important is the method used to brew it. Different brewing styles have developed around the world, and each method highlights a unique aspect of the drink. One of the oldest methods is the Turkish coffee style. Finely ground beans are simmered in a small pot called a cezve. The grounds are not filtered out, so the drink is thick, aromatic, and usually sweetened with sugar. It is more about ritual and tradition than speed or convenience.
A more modern and widely used technique is the drip filter method. Hot water passes slowly through a paper filter containing medium-ground beans. This produces a clean, mild cup and allows the drinker to enjoy subtle flavours. The downside is that it can be slow and requires electricity. The espresso machine, invented in Italy, works under high pressure. Water is forced through tightly packed coffee grounds, producing a small but intense shot of coffee with a thick crema on top. This shot can be enjoyed on its own or used as a base for popular drinks such as cappuccinos and lattes. Espresso machines are expensive but valued in cafés for speed and consistency.
A brewing style that has gained popularity in recent years is the French press. It uses coarse coffee grounds steeped in hot water for several minutes before pressing down a plunger with a metal mesh. This keeps the natural oils in the drink, creating a fuller, heavier taste compared to filtered coffee. The cold brew method requires patience. Coarse grounds are steeped in cold water for 12–24 hours, then strained. The result is smooth, less acidic, and often served over ice. Although trendy and refreshing, it requires planning ahead.
Some brewing styles are considered more showpiece than practical. The syphon, for example, looks like a science experiment: water is heated in a glass chamber, rising through a tube to mix with coffee grounds, and then drawn back down as the heat is removed. While spectacular to watch, it is fragile and expensive. Similarly, the coffee capsule machine is convenient and stylish, offering quick results with minimal mess, but capsules are costly and create waste.
Just as film-makers choose their camera shots carefully, coffee lovers select their brewing methods depending on whether they want ritual, speed, spectacle, or simply a daily pick-me-up.

Questions 28–33

Look at the following descriptions (Questions 28–33) and the list of brewing methods below.

Match each description with the correct method, A–H.

Question	Answer
28. Coffee prepared by soaking in cold water overnight
29. A traditional, unfiltered style usually served sweet
30. A method that keeps coffee oils in the drink
31. A dramatic and scientific-looking brewing process
32. A small but powerful base for lattes
33. A quick but costly single-serve option

List of Brewing Methods
A. Turkish coffee
B. French press
C. Cold brew
D. Drip filter
E. Espresso
F. Syphon
G. Capsule machine
H. Instant coffee

Questions 34–37

Answer the questions below.

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

Write your answers in boxes 34–37 on your answer sheet.

34. What does drip filter coffee allow you to taste?

35. What part of espresso forms on the surface of the shot?

36. What does the French press retain that paper filters remove?

37. What must cold brew drinkers have before making it?

Questions 38–40

Complete the summary below.

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

Write your answers in boxes 38–40 on your answer sheet.

Some brewing methods are used more for appearance than practicality. The syphon, for example, is fragile but visually striking, resembling a 38.
Coffee capsule machines, on the other hand, are simple and tidy, but the 39 of capsules makes them expensive and also creates unnecessary 40.

Answer Key — Section 3

Questions 28–33

Questions 34–37

subtle flavours
crema
natural oils
planning ahead

Questions 38–40

science experiment
cost
waste

Tip: Complete each section under timed conditions (20 minutes per passage) before checking answers.

For practice purposes only

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