IELTS Reading Book-6 Test-A
Section 3
Questions 28 - 34
The text pages 110 and 111 has seven paragraphs A -G.
Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number, I - x, in boxes 28 - 34 on your answer sheet.
List of Headings
i) American water withdrawal
ii) Economic pricing
iii) What the future holds
iv) Successful measures taken by some
v) The role of research
vi) The thirsty sectors
vii) Ways of reducing waste
viii) Interdependence of natural resources
ix) The demands of development
x) The consequences for agriculture
28 Paragraph A
29 Paragraph B
30 Paragraph C
31 Paragraph D
32 Paragraph E
33 Paragraph F
34 Paragraph G
The Water Crisis
Greater efficiency in water use is needed to meet the growing demands of a changing world
A
Per capita water usage has been on an upward trend for many years. As countries industrialise and their citizens become more prosperous, their individual water usage increases rapidly. Annual per capita water withdrawals in the USA, for example, are about 1,700 cubic metres, four times the level in China and fifty times the level in Ethiopia. In the 21st century, the world's limited supply of renewable fresh water is having to meet demands of both larger total population and increased per capita consumption. The only practicable ways to reserve this problem in the longer term are economic pricing in conjunction with conservation measures.
B
Agriculture consumes about 70% of the world's fresh water, so improvements in irrigation can make the greatest impact. At present, average efficiency in the use of irrigated water in agriculture may be as low as 50%. Simple charges could improve the rate substantially, though it is unrealistic to expect very high levels of water use efficiency in many developing countries, faced as they are with a chronic lack of capital and a largely untrained rural workforce. After agriculture, industry is the second biggest user of water and, in terms of value added per litre used, is sixty times more productive than agriculture. However, some industrial processes use vast amounts of water. For example, production of 1 kg of aluminium might require 1,500 litres of water. Paper production too is often very water intensive. Though new processes have greatly reduced consumption, there is still plenty of room for big savings in industrial uses of water.
C
In rich countries, water consumption has gradually been slowed down by price increases and the use of modern technology and recycling. In the USA, industrial production has risen fourfold since 1950, while water consumption has fallen by more than a third. Japan and Germany have similarly improved their use of water in manufacturing process. Japanese industry for example, now recycles more than 75% of process water. However, industrial water consumption is continuing to increase sharply in developing countries. With domestic and agricultural demands also increasing, the capacity of water supply systems is under growing strain.
D
Many experts believe that the best way to counter this trend is to impose water charges based on the real cost of supplies. This would provide a powerful incentive for consumers to introduce water-saving processes and recycling. Few governments charge realistic prices for water, especially to farmers. Even in rich California, farmers get water for less than a tenth of the cost of supply. In many developing countries there is virtually no charge for irrigation water, while energy prices are heavily subsidised too (which means that farmers can afford to run water pumps day and night). Water, which was once regarded as a free gift from heaven, is becoming a commodity which must be bought and sold on the open market just like oil. In the oil industry, the price increases which hit the market I the 1970s, coupled with concerns that supplies were running low, led to new energy conservation measures all over the world. It was realised that investing in new sources was a far more costly option than improving efficiency of use. A similar emphasis on conservation will be the best and cheapest option for bridging the gap between water supply and demand.
E
One way to cut back on water consumption is simply to prevent leaks. It is estimated that in some of the biggest cities of the Third World, more than half of the water entering the system is lost through leaks in pipes, dripping taps and broken installations. Even in the UK, losses were estimated at 25% in the early 1990s because of the failure to maintain the antiquated water supply infrastructure. In addition, huge quantities of water are consumed because used water from sewage pipes, storm drains and factories is merely flushed away and discharged into rivers or the sea. The modern approach, however, is to see used water as a resource which can be put to good use - either in irrigation or, after careful treatment, as recycled domestic water. Israel, for instance, has spent heavily on used water treatment. Soon, treated, recycled water will account for most farm irrigation there. There are other examples in cities such as St Petersburg, Florida, where all municipal water is recycled back into domestic systems.
F
Another way of conserving water resources involves better management of the environment generally. Interference with the ecosystem can have a severe effect on both local rainfall patterns and water run-off. Forest clearings associated with India's Kabini dam project reduced local rainfall by 25%, a phenomenon observed in various other parts of the world where large-scale deforestation has taken place. Grass and other vegetation acts as a sponge which absorbs rainfall both in the plants and in the ground. Removal of the vegetation means that rainfall runs off the top of the land, accelerating erosion instead of being gradually fed into the soil to renew groundwater.
G
Global warming is bound to affect rainfall patterns, through there is considerable disagreement about its precise effects. But it is likely that, as sea levels rise, countries in low-lying coastal areas will be hit by seawater penetration of groundwater, other countries will experience changes in rainfall which could have a major impact on agricultural yield - either for better or for worse. In broad terms, it is thought that rainfall zones will shift northwards, adding to the water deficit in Africa, the Middle East and the Mediterrranean - a grim prospect indeed.
Questions 35 - 40
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer.
Choose your answers in boxes 35 - 40 on your answer sheet.
Individual water usage is rising dramatically as people living in industrialised countries become increasingly 35....................................... . As well as increased consumption per capita, the growing demand for fresh water is due to a bigger global 36................................... than in the past. The only way to control this increase in demand is to charge high prices for water while also promoting conservation measures. Improvements in irrigation systems and industrial processes could dramatically increase the efficiency of water use. There are examples of industries in some rich countries that have reduced their consumption rates through price increases, the application of 37........................... and recycling. But in agricultural and domestic sectors, the price of water is still subsidised so it is not regarded as a commodity that people need to pay a realistic price for.Other ways of protecting supplies are to reduce water loss resulting from 38.............................. in the supply systems and to find ways of utilising used water. Longer term measures, such as improved environment 39............................... would protect the ecosystem and ensure the replenishment of groundwater for future generations. Without such measures, future supplies are uncertain, especially when global warming is expected to interfere with rainfall patterns and to worsen the 40.......................already suffered by many countries today.
Ans: 28. ix
29. vi
30 iv
31 ii
32 vii
33 viii
34 iii
35 prosperous
36 population
37 technology
38 leaks
39 management
40 water deficit
GT: reading & Writing test -B
Section 1
Questions 1 - 14
Read the text below and answer Questions 1 - 8.
THE EMPLOYMENT PAGES Saturday Edition
Australia's biggest daily selection of job ads - helping you to find the perfect position for you
Saturday Job Guide
A. Government Positions (New South Wales)
B. Higher Education (Academic staff)
C. Primary and Secondary Schools (Academic staff)
D. Hospitals and Medical (Medical staff)
E. IT and Computing
F. Accountancy and Finance (Private)
G. Hospitality and Kitchen Staff
H. Self-employment Opportunities
I. Rural Posts (incl. farm work)
J. Casual Work Available
Monday - Friday Job Highlights
TUESDAY: Education
Local Government
THURSDAY: Hospital and Medical
Government Health Vacancies (New South Wales)
Questions 1 -2
Answer the questions below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 1 and 2 on your answer sheet.
1. On which TWO days does the newspaper advertise jobs for teachers?
2. On which TWO days does the newspaper advertise jobs for nurses?
Questions 3 - 8
Look at the ten categories of job advertisement, A - J, in the Saturday Job Guide on page 114.
Write the correct letter, A - J, in boxes 3 - 8 on your answer sheet.
Which category of job advertisement should you look at if
3. you are looking for a job as university lecturer?
4. You want to start your own business?
5. you want a permanent job in a hotel?
6. you are looking for a job in public administration?
7. you are looking for agricultural work in the country?
8. you are looking for temporary work?
Read the text below and answer the Questions 9 - 14.
STANFIELD THEATRE
BOOKING
There are four easy ways to book seats for performances:
- In person
The Box Office is open Monday to Saturday, 10 am - 8 pm.
- by post
Simply complete the booking form and return it to Stanfield Theatre Box Office, PO Box 220, Stanfield, ST 55 6GF. All cheques should be made payable to Stanfield Theatre.
-by telephone
Ring 01316 753219 to reserve your tickets or to pay by credit card (Visa, Mastercard and Amex accepted).
on-line
Complete the on-line booking form at www.stanfieldtheatre.com
DISCOUNTS
Saver: $2 off any seat booked any time in advance for performance from Monday to Thursday inclusive, and for all matinees. Savers are available for children up to 16 years old, over 60s and full-time students.
Supersaver:
half-price seats are available for people with disabilities and one companion. It is advisable to book in advance. There is a maximum of eight wheelchair spaces available and one wheelchair space will be held until one hour before the show (subject to availability).
Standby:
best available seats are on sale for $6 from one hour before the performance for people, eligible for Saver and Supersaver discounts and thirty minutes before for all other customers.
Group Bookings:
Ther is a ten percent discount for parties of twelve or more.
Schools:
school parties of ten or more can book $6 Standby tickets in advance and will get every tenth ticket free.
Please note: we are unable to exchange tickets or refund money unless a performance is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.
GIFT VOUCHERS
Gift vouchers for any value can be bought at the Box Office.
Questions 9 - 14
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text?
TRUE If the statement agrees with the information
False If the statement contradicts with the information
NOTGIVEN IF THERE IS NO INFORMATION ON THIS
9. It is possible to book tickets for performances using the Internet.
10. 60 -years - olds who want to book in advance have to prove their age to get a discount.
11. Someone accompanying a wheelchair user to a performance receives a discount.
12. Students can get Standby tickets 45 minutes before a performance begins.
13. A group of ten adults going to a performance can claim a discount.
14. Theatre-goers who are unexpectedly unable to attend a performance can get their money back.
SELF-STUDY TIPS
A
However difficult you find it to arrange your time, it will pay off in the long run if you set aside a certain part of the day for studying - and stick to it. It is best to make a weekly allocation of your time, making sure that you have enough left for recreational activities or simply to be 'with' yourself: reading a novel or watching a television programme.
B
As part of your weekly schedule, it is also advisable to consider exactly what you have to do in that week, and make sure that you tackle the most significant tasks first, leaving the easier or less urgent areas of your work until later.
C
On a physical level, make sure that you have an area or space for studying. Don't do it just anywhere. If you always study in the same place, preferably a room of your own, you will find it easier to adjust mentally to the activity when you enter that area. You should have everything that you might need at hand.
D
Make sure that all the physical equipment that you sue, such as a desk, chair etc. is at a good height for you. If you use a personal computer, there are plenty of guidelines available from the government on posture, angles, lighting and the like.Consult these and avoid the typical student aches and pains.
E
If you are doing a long essay or research paper which involves the use of library books or other articles, it helps to keep details of the titles and authors on small cards in a card box. It is also a good idea to log these alphabetically so that you can find them easily - rather like keeping telephone numbers. It's all too easy to read something and then forget where it came from.
F
Make use of equipment that is available to you. If you find a useful article in the library, it is best to make a copy of the relevant pages before you leave. Then, when you get back to you study, you can mark the article and make any comments that you have in the margin.
G
If you are working on a topic your teacher has set, but finding it hard to concentrate, it may be that you may be that you actually need to take your mind right off it for a period of time. 'Airing the mind' can work wonders sometimes. After a period away from the task, having not thought about it at all, you may return to it refreshed and full of ideas.
H
Similarly, it may help to discuss a topic with other people, especially if you feel that you have insufficient ideas, or too many disorganised ideas. Bring your topic up in conversations at meal times or with other students and see what they have to say. You don't want to copy their ideas but listening to what they think about something may well help you develop or refine your own thoughts.
Section 2
Questions 15 - 27
The text on page has 8 sections, A -H.
Choose the correct heading for sections B - H from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number, I - xii, in boxes 15 - 21 on your answer sheet.
List of Headings
i. Consult your teacher
ii. Take a break
iii. Make a timetable
iv. create a working space
v. Sit comfortably
vi. study at home
vii. talk about your work
viii. Photocopy important material
ix. Catalogue references.
x. Use the library
xi. Prioritise your work
xii. Exercise regularly
Example Answer
Section iii
15. Section B
16. Section C
17. Section D
18. Section E
19. Section F
20. Section G
21. Section H
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