Section 1
Questions 1-14
Questions 1-8: TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN
[In this type of question, candidates are asked to find out whether:
The statement in the question agrees with the information in the passage – TRUE
The statement in the question contradicts the information in the passage – FALSE
If there is no information on this – NOT GIVEN
For this type of question, you can divide each statement into three independent pieces and make your way through with the answer.]
Consumer advice on buying shoes
Question 1: If you return unwanted shoes straightaway, with a receipt, the shop will probably give you a refund.
Keywords for this question: return unwanted shoes straightaway, receipt, shop, probably, give, refund,
The answer to this question is included in the section named ‘Step 1’, paragraph no. 1 in lines 1-3, “Go back to the shop with proof of purchase. If you return faulty shoes at once, you have a right to insist on a refund. It is also likely that you will get one if you change your mind about the shoes and take them back immediately.”
Here, It is also likely = will probably, change your mind about the shoes = return unwanted shoes, proof of purchase = receipt,
So, the answer is: TRUE
Question 2: You are advised to accept a credit note if you are offered one.
Keywords for this question: advised to accept, credit note, if, offered,
The answer lies in the section called ‘Step 1’ paragraph no. 2, in line 1, “If you are offered a credit note, you don’t have to accept it.”
Here, don’t have to accept = not advised to accept,
The statement directly contradicts with the information in the passage.
So, the answer is: FALSE
Question 3: The factory is responsible for replacing unwanted shoes.
Keywords for this question: factory, responsible, replacing, unwanted shoes,
The answer lies in the section called ‘Step 1’ paragraph no. 3 in lines 2-3, “But don’t be put off by the shop which claims that it’s the manufacturer’s responsibility. This isn’t true.”
The statement directly contradicts the information in the passage.
So, the answer is: FALSE
Question 4: You can ask any shoe shop to send shoes to the Footwear Testing Centre.
Keywords for this question: can ask, any shoe shop, send shoes, Footwear Testing Centre,
The answer to this question is in the section called ‘Step 3’, “Most shops are covered by the Footwear Code of Practice. If the shop you are dealing with is covered, you can ask for the shoes to be sent to the Footwear Testing Centre for an independent opinion.”
The lines suggest that you cannot ask any shop to send shoes to the Footwear Testing Centre. You can only ask for this service if the shop is covered by the Footwear Code of Practice.
So, the answer is: FALSE
Question 5: Shops prefer to give a credit note rather than change shoes.
Keywords for this question: shops, prefer, give, credit note, rather than, change shoes,
The keyword for this question is ‘credit note’ which is found only in Step 1. But there is no information about shops’ preference given to a credit note instead of change shoes.
So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN
Question 6: The customer contributes to the cost of having faulty shoes tested.
Keywords for this question: customer, contributes to, cost, faculty shoes tested,
The answer can be traced in lines 3-4 in the section named ‘Step 3’, “ .. . . The shop has to agree with whatever the resulting report says. There is a charge of £21. You pay £7 and the shop pays the rest (including postage).”
The lines suggest to the fact that the charge (£21) of having faulty shoes tested is shared by the customer (£7) and the shop (rest of the charge).
So, the answer is: TRUE
Question 7: The procedure for making a legal claim is easier in Scotland.
Keywords for this question: procedure, making, legal claim, easier, Scotland,
The mention of ‘Scotland’ is found in ‘Step 4’ but there is no information on whether the system of making a legal claim is easier or harder in Scotland.
So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN
Question 8: Legal advice and forms can be bought from certain shops.
Keywords for this question: legal advice, forms, can be bought, certain shops,
The answer is in the last lines of this passage, “Alternatively, some bookshops sell advice packs which contain the relevant forms.”
Here, some bookshops = certain shops,
So, the answer is: TRUE
Questions 9-14: Multiple choice questions
LOST CARDS
[This type of question asks you to choose a suitable answer from the options using the knowledge you gained from the passage. Generally, this question is found as the last question so you should not worry much about it. Finding all the answers to previous questions gives you a good idea about the title.]
Question 9: What should you do first if you lose a credit card?
Keywords for this question: should you do, first, if, lose, credit card,
This question’s answer can be found in the first paragraph, in lines 1-2, “If you discover that your credit card, cheque book, debit card or cash card is missing, telephone the credit card company or bank as soon as possible.”
Here, telephone (verb) = make a phone call,
So, the answer is: D (make a phone call)
Question 10: Credit Card Shield is –
Keywords for this question: Credit Card Shield,
This question’s answer can be found in paragraph no. 2, in lines 1-4, “Because plastic money is now so common, central registration schemes such as Credit Card Shield and Card Protection System exist to help customers whose cards are lost or stolen. Under the schemes, you file details of all your cards – including cash cards and account cards issued by shops – with a central registry, for a small annual fee.”
Here, file details of all your cards = register people’s card details,
So, the answer is: B (a system for registering people’s card details)
Question 11: When contacted, the Card Protection System company will –
Keywords for this question: contacted, Card Protection System, company will,
Again, this question’s answer can be found in paragraph no. 2. At the end of the paragraph the writer says, “. .. . As soon as you have called, your responsibility for any bills run up by the thief ends and the scheme’s staff make sure that all the companies whose cards you had are notified.”
Here, As soon as you have contacted = when contacted, are notified = get in touch,
So, the answer is: B (get in touch with the relevant credit card companies)
Question 12: You are fully covered by both banks and shops if you lose –
Keywords for this question: fully covered, both banks and shops, if, lose,
In the section ‘CHEQUES AND GUARANTEE CARD’, the writer of the text says, “Unless you have been careless – by signing blank cheques, say – you will not have to pay for any forged cheques a thief uses. The bank or shop that accepts them will have to bear the loss.”
Here, Unless you have been careless – by signing blank cheques = if blank cheque is unsigned, fully covered by both banks and shops = The bank or shop that accepts them will have to bear the loss,
So the answer is: B (a blank unsigned cheque)
Question 13: If you have written your personal number on a stolen card, you may have to –
Keywords for this question: written, personal number, on, stolen card, may have to,
This question’s answer can be found in the section ‘If your cash card is stolen’, “Legally, you can be made to pay back any sums a thief withdraws using your card, … …. … unless the bank can prove gross negligence, such as writing your personal identification number on your card.”
This means if your cash card is stolen and you’ve already written your personal number on it, you may have to pay for anything the thief buys using the card.
So the answer is: C (pay for anything the thief buys on it)
Question 14: What happens if your cash card is stolen?
Keywords for this question: what happens, if, cash card, stolen,
Again, this question’s answer can be found in the section ‘If your cash card is stolen’, “Legally, you can be made to pay back any sums a thief withdraws using your card, but only up to the time you report the loss and up to £50, .. . . .”
So the answer is: C (You may have to pay up to £50 of any stolen money)
Section 2
Questions 15-21: [Short answer to open questions (NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS)
[In this kind of questions candidates have to answer some questions, only with some conditions like NO MORE THAN THREE/TWO WORDS and/or A NUMBER or, ONE WORD ONLY. Each question has keywords that will lead to the answer. This question type generally follows a sequence.]
Recycling at work – handy hints to employers
Question 15: What does the writer think should be carried out in a company before it starts recycling?
Keywords for this question: should be, carried out, before, starts, recycling,
The answer is in the second section of the text named ‘Setting up a company scheme’, in ‘Waste audit’ part: “Before starting a recycling scheme, perform an audit. This will make you aware of how much waste you are producing in the company.”
Here, perform = carried out,
So, the answer is: (an) audit/ (waste) audit
Question 16: What machines can help to cut the stationery budget?
Keywords for this question: machines, help to cut, stationery budget,
The answer can be found in the second section of the text named ‘Setting up a company scheme’, in ‘Company Policy’ part: “Buy recycled paper. Although this is sometimes more expensive, costs can be reduced by lowering consumption and using duplex printers.”
Here, costs can be reduced = cut . .. . .budget,
So, the answer is: (duplex) printers
Question 17: What can be displayed in the workplace to publicise the recycling scheme?
Keywords for this question: can be displayed, workplace, publicise, recycling scheme,
The answer is in the second section of the text named ‘Setting up a company scheme’, in ‘Get everyone involved’ part, point no. 1: “ • Raise awareness internally within the company, perhaps by putting up educational posters.”
Here, Raise awareness = publicise, putting up = displayed
So, the answer is: (educational) posters
Question 18: What can be distributed to motivate staff to recycle more?
Keywords for this question: can be distributed, motivate, staff, recycle more,
The answer is found in the second section of the text named ‘Setting up a company scheme’, in ‘Get everyone involved’ part, point no. 4: “ • Send out regular newsletters reporting on all waste improvements. Staff will then see the impact their actions are having.”
Here, send out = distribute, staff will then see the impact = motivation,
So, the answer is: (regular) newsletters
Question 19: What can unwanted paper be used for in the office?
Keywords for this question: unwanted paper, used for, office,
The answer is in the third section of the text named ‘What to recycle and how’, in ‘Paper’ part, “According to a recent survey, 65% of waste produced is paper waste. The waste paper will inevitably be produced in the workplace, but it is not necessary to discard it. It can serve a variety of purposes before it is recycled, such as writing notes.. .. .”
Here, unwanted paper = paper waste/waste paper, serve… purposes = be used for,
So, the answer is: (writing) notes
Question 20: What can be bought to cut down on the waste produced by staff refreshments?
Keywords for this question: can be bought, cut down, waste, produced by, staff refreshments,
The answer lies in the third section of the text named ‘What to recycle and how’, in ‘Plastic cups’ part, “Rather than supplying disposable plastic cups in your workplace, get ceramic mugs that can be re-used. Not only do they make your tea taste better, but they can reduce your office waste by up to 1%!”
Here, get = can be bought, reduce = cut down,
So, the answer is: (ceramic) mugs
Question 21: Where can unwanted PCs be sent?
Keywords for this question: unwanted, PCs, be sent,
The answer lies in the third section of the text named ‘What to recycle and how’, in ‘Electrical equipment’ part, “You could also consider donating your old computers to charities when it comes to replacing them.”
Here, old computers = wanted PCs, be sent = donate,
So, the answer is: (to) charities
Questions 22-27: (Completing sentences with ONE WORD ONLY):
In this type of question, candidates are asked to write ONE WORD ONLY to complete sentences on the given topic. For this type of question, first, skim the passage to find the keywords in the paragraph concerned with the answer, and then scan to find the exact word.
[TIPS: Here, scanning technique will come in handy. Target the keywords of the questions to find the answers. Remember to focus on Proper nouns, random Capital letters, numbers, special characters of text etc.]
How to answer any interview question
Question 22: The writer warns candidates not to imitate the way that _________ ignore questions in interviews.
Keywords for this question: warns, candidates, not to, imitate, ignore, questions, interviews,
In the second paragraph, the answer is found in lines 1-4, “Unlike some politicians, who take no notice of press questions and immediately introduce a different topic in response, job candidates must answer employers’ queries,’ says John Barford of the interview training firm Genesis.. .”
Here, take no notice = ignore, press questions = questions in interviews,
So, the answer is: (some) politicians
Question 23: Interviewees are recommended to follow a certain ___________ to allow them to communicate their main points.
Keywords for this question: Interviews, recommended, follow, certain, to allow, communicate, main points,
In the third paragraph, the answer can be found in lines 1-3, “He advises candidates at job interviews to apply the formula Q = A + 1: Q is the question; A is the answer; + is the bridge to the message you want to deliver; and 1 is the point you want to make.”
Here, advises candidates = interviewees advises, to follow = apply,
So, the answer is: formula
Question 24: Senior executives advise candidates to request information from __________ before an interview.
Keywords for this question: Senior executives, advise, candidates, request, information, before, interview,
The answer can be found in paragraph no. 4, point no. 1, “Diligent preparation is also necessary to effectively answer any interview question, say senior executives. They give a number of useful tips:
- Learn as much as you can beforehand. Ask company employees questions prior to job interviews to gain as much insight as you can.”
Here, Ask … . . questions prior to job interviews = request information,
So, the answer is: (company) employees
Question 25: A candidate can also learn about a business by studying its ___________.
Keywords for this question: candidate, can also learn, business, studying,
The answer can be found in paragraph no. 4, point no. 1, “If the company is publicly owned, find out how viable it is by reading shareholder reports. You can then tailor what you say to the company’s issues.”
Here, find out how viable it is by reading = learn .. . . by studying,
So, the answer is: shareholder reports
Question 26: The head of an interview training firm advises people to avoid telling __________.
Keywords for this answer: head of an interview, training firm, advises, people, avoid telling,
This answer can also be found in paragraph no. 4. Here, the author says in point no. 3, “Count on being asked about a past mistake or blemish on your career record, and don’t try to dodge the issue. Ms Murphy, president of the Murphy Group, a media interview training firm, says that it’s important to steer clear of lies at all costs. Just answer the question and move on.”
Here, avoid telling = steer clear of,
So, the answer is: lies
Question 27: In his job interview, one executive explained how he had ___________ considerably from a previous failure.
Keywords for this answer: job interview, one executive, explained, considerably, from, previous failure,
This answer can also be found in paragraph no. 4. Here, the author says in point no. 4, “. . When he was being interviewed for his current job, he mentioned he had been involved in many successful turnarounds and one that failed. ’And I said how I’d benefited in many ways from going through that experience,’ he says.”
Here, one that failed = a previous failure, in many ways = considerably,
So, the answer is: benefited/ benefitted
Section 3:TALKING POINT
Questions 28-31 TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN
[In this type of question, candidates are asked to find out whether:
The statement in the question agrees with the information in the passage – TRUE
The statement in the question contradicts the information in the passage – FALSE
If there is no information on this – NOT GIVEN
For this type of question, you can divide each statement into three independent pieces and make your way through with the answer.]
Question 28: Most people who speak a second language in New Zealand were born in another country.
Keywords for this answer: most people, speak, second language, New Zealand, born, another country,
The answer to this question is found in lines 4-5 of paragraph no. 1, “This leaves a small number who claim to speak two or more languages – a small percentage of whom were born in New Zealand.”
Here, a small percentage of whom were born in New Zealand means most of the people who speak two or more languages were born outside New Zealand.
So, the answer is: TRUE
Question 29: Most New Zealanders believe it is good to teach children a second language.
Keywords for this answer: most New Zealanders, believe, good, teach children, second language,
The second paragraph gives examples of what people feel about learning and speaking a second language but it gives us NO INFORMATION about most or few New Zealanders’ belief on teaching children a second language.
So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN
Question 30: Chinese is the most common foreign language in New Zealand.
Keywords for this answer: Chinese, most common, foreign language, New Zealand,
The word ‘Chinese’ is mentioned in paragraph no. 3 and 15. However, it is NOT MENTIONED anywhere whether Chinese is the most common foreign language in New Zealand.
Here, He has always enjoyed being a daredevil showman = he likes to do what appears impossible.
Daredevil is the person who dares and loves to do tasks in a way that other people may think stupid.
So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN
Question 31: Some languages develop your intelligence more than others.
Keywords for this answer: some languages, develop, intelligence, more than others,
The answer can be found in paragraph no. 3, in lines 2-5, “Experts believe that bilinguals – people who speak two languages – have a clear learning advantage over their monolingual schoolmates. This depends on how much of each language they can speak, not on which language is used, so it doesn’t matter whether they are learning Maori or German or Chinese or any other language.”
Here, the lines suggest that it doesn’t matter if people learn Maori, German or Chinese to develop intelligence; all do the same amount of development in our intelligence. It mainly depends on how much of the languages we can speak.
So, the answer is: FALSE
Questions 32-38 (Matching statements with people)
[In this kind of question candidates are given some statements based on the text and asked to match them with the correct people. These sorts of questions DO NOT maintain a sequence generally, but sometimes they might. So, candidates need to be alert and must not read everything everywhere. Following KEYWORDS is the best idea here to locate the answers.
Question 32: Children learning two languages may learn one language faster.
Keywords for this answer: children learning, two languages,
The answer can is in paragraph no. 4, in lines 1-3, “Cathie Elder, a professor of Language Teaching and Learning at Auckland University, says: ‘A lot of studies have shown that children who speak more than one language sometimes learn one language more slowly, .. .. . ..”
Here, learn one language more slowly = may learn one language faster than the other language,
So, the answer is: A (Cathie Elder)
Question 33: It has been unexpectedly difficult to raise a bilingual child in New Zealand.
Keywords for this answer: unexpectedly, difficult to raise, bilingual child, New Zealand,
The answer to this question is in paragraph no. 7, lines 1-4, “In New Zealand, immigrants face the possibility of culture being lost along with the language their children no longer wish to speak. Tiffany’s mother, Susanne Dvorak, has experienced this. When she and husband Dieter left Germany six years ago to start up a new life in New Zealand, they thought it would be the perfect opportunity to raise their two-year-old as a bilingual. . .. . ..”
Here, face the possibility of culture being lost = difficult,
Also, they thought it would be the perfect opportunity to raise their two-year-old as a bilingual mean that they thought it would be very easy to raise a bilingual child in New Zealand.
So, the answer is: C (Susanne Dvorak)
Question 34: Her daughter sometimes speaks a mixture of two languages.
Keywords for this answer: daughter, sometimes, speaks, mixture, two languages,
The answer to this question is in paragraph no. 9, lines 1-2, “Today, when Susanne speaks to her daughter in German, she still answers in English. ‘Or sometimes she speaks half and half..”
Here, speaks half and half = speaks a mixture of two languages
So, the answer is: C (Susanne Dvorak)
Question 35: Children’s attitudes to language depend on general social attitudes.
Keywords for this answer: children’s attitudes, language, depend on, general social attitudes,
In paragraph no. 10, in the very first lines, Dr Brigitte Halford says, “Professor Halford, also a mother of two bilingual children, says, ‘It’s normal for kids to refuse to speak their home language at the stage when they start to socialise with other kids in kindergarten or school’. But, she says, this depends a lot on the attitudes of the societies in question.”
So, the answer is: B (Brigitte Halford)
Question 36: It is not important which language parents speak with their children.
Keywords for this answer: not important, which language, parents speak, their children,
The answer lies in paragraph no. 12, in lines 2-3, “‘ . . .. What parents should do is provide rich language experiences for their children in whatever language they speak well.”
Here, in whatever language they speak well = not important which language
So, the answer is: A (Cathie Elder)
Question 37: Learning a second language provides opportunities to learn another culture.
Keywords for this answer: learning, second language, provides, opportunities, learn, another culture,
Take a look at paragraph no. 14, lines 3-4, “. . .. . By learning another language she can open the door to another culture.”
Here, open the door to another culture = provides opportunities to learn another culture,
So, the answer is: D (Joanne Powell)
Question 38: Speaking a second language provides work opportunities.
Keywords for this answer: speaking, second language, provides, work opportunities,
The answer lies in paragraph no. 15, in the last lines, where Donna Chan explains how being bilingual helps her, “It’s quite beneficial speaking another language in my job. Last year, my company sent me to a trade fair in Hong Kong because I could speak Chinese. Being bilingual definitely opens doors,’ she says.”
Here, Being bilingual definitely opens doors = a second language provides work opportunities,
So, the answer is: E (Donna Chan)
Question 39-40 (Choosing TWO options from given list)
[In this kind of question candidates have to choose two or three answers for each question from five or six options. The answers will not follow any sequential order as they are randomly spread in the text, so this question will be time-consuming. Skimming will come handy and previous reading of the text can come in use. Therefore, other questions should be done first before answering this question.]
Question 39: Which TWO people stopped speaking one language as a child?
Keywords for this answer: stopped, speaking, one language, as, child,
In paragraph no. 8, lines 2-3, the author says, “. .. . .. But when Tiffany went to nursery school she stopped talking completely. She was quiet for about two or three months.”
So, the person is Tiffany Dvorak.
In paragraph no. 15, lines 2-3, the author says, “ .. . .. She also remembers refusing to speak Chinese when she started primary school.”
So, the person is Donna Chan.
So, the answer is: (in any order)
A, (Donna Chan)
C, (Tiffany Dvorak)
Question 40: Which TWO people think that their children’s language may develop as they get older?
Keywords for this answer: think, their children’s language, may develop, as, get older,
In paragraph no. 13, take a look at lines 3-5, “. . .. . she is aware that her daughter has a certain bilingual ability which, although mainly passive at this stage, may develop later on.”
So, the person is Susanne Dvorak.
In paragraph no. 14, take a look at lines 1-2, “. . .. ‘At the moment she may not want to speak Maori but that’s okay because she’ll pick it up again in her own time.”
So, the person is Joanne Powell.
Here, may develop later on/ she’ll pick it up again in her own time = may develop as they get older,
So, the answer is: (in any order)
B, (Susanne Dvorak)
F, (Joanne Powell)
