This General Training IELTS Reading post deals with a solution package for IELTS Cambridge 11 Reading Test 2 Section 1 that has two texts entitled ‘Sustainable School Travel Strategy’ and ‘Flu: the facts’. This is a targeted post for candidates who have big problems finding out and understanding Reading Answers. This post can guide you the best to understand every Reading answer without much difficulty. Finding IELTS Reading answers is a gradual process, and I can confidently say that this post will help you in this respect.

IELTS Cambridge 11 Test 2: GT Reading Module

Section 1: Questions 1-14

Questions 1-6 (TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN):

In this type of question, candidates are asked to find out whether:

The statement in the question matches with the account in the text- TRUE
The statement in the question contradicts with the account in the text- FALSE
The statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- NOT GIVEN

[For this type of question, you can divide each statement into three independent pieces and make your way through with the answer.]  

The headline of the passage: Sustainable School Travel Strategy

Question 1: More children are injured when walking or cycling to school than when travelling by car.

Keywords for this question: children, injured, walking, cycling, to school, than travelling by car,    

There is no mention of ‘injury of children’ anywhere in the text.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 2: Children who are driven to school are more ready to learn than those who walk or cycle.  

Keywords for this question: children, driven to school, more ready to learn, than, walk or cycle,   

The answer can be found at the end of the first paragraph as the writer says here, “ . .. . It has been noted by teachers that children engaging in active travel arrive at school more alert and ready to learn.”

Here, active travel means travelling on foot or by cycle (as the body parts remain active in this way.) So, children are more ready to learn when they walk or cycle to school.

So, the answer is: FALSE                 

Question 3: Every year the Council gathers information about travel to schools.

Keywords for this question: every year, the Council, gathers information, travel to schools,    

At the beginning of the second paragraph, the writer says, “The County Council has a strong commitment to supporting and promoting sustainable school travel. We collect data annually about how pupils get to school … .. .. ..”

Here, collect data = gathers information, annually = every year, how pupils get to school = travel to schools,

This line is a clear match with the question.

So, the answer is: TRUE                   

Question 4: The Council is disappointed with the small reduction in number of cars taking children to school.  

Keywords for this question: The Council, disappointed, small reduction, in number of cars, talking children to school,   

In the second paragraph of the text, the author says in lines 5-7, “ . . .. . . and we are proud that we have been able to reduce the number of cars on the daily school run by an average of 1% in each of the last three years,. .. . .”

Here, we are proud = The council is NOT disappointed, reduce the number . .. . .. by an average of 1% = the small reduction,

So, the lines clearly contradict the statement in the question.

So, the answer is: FALSE                             

Question 5: The number of children in schools has risen in recent years.

Keywords for this question: number of children, in schools, has risen, in recent years,  

The last line of paragraph no. 2 has the answer. The author says here, “. . . .. of the last three years, which is equivalent to taking approximately 175 cars off the road annually, despite an increase in pupil numbers.

Here, the last three years = in recent years, an increase in pupil numbers = the number of children in schools has risen,

This line is a clear match with the question.

So, the answer is: TRUE      

Question 6: Parents can get help with paying for their children to travel to school by public transport.

Keywords for this question: Parents, can get help, paying for, their children, to travel, to school, by public transport,   

We don’t find the mention of any suggestions that parents may get help with paying for their children to travel to school by public transport.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN    

Questions 7-14: Identifying information:

[This question asks you to find information from the passage and write the number of the paragraph (A, B, C or D … ..) in the answer sheet. Now, if the question is given in the very first part of the question set, I’d request you not to answer them. It’s mainly because this question will not follow any sequence, and so it will surely kill your time. Rather, you should answer all the other questions first. And just like List of Headings, only read the first two lines or last two lines of the expected paragraph initially. If you find the answers, you need not read the middle part. If you don’t find answers yet, you can skim the middle part of the paragraph. Keywords will be a useful matter here.]

The headline of the passage: Flu: the facts  

Question 7: examples of people who are likely to be particularly badly affected by flu   

Keywords for this question: examples of people, likely to be, particularly badly affected, by flu,    

In section D of the text, the author writes about the potential group of people who are likely to be affected badly by flu, “ . .. Although anyone can catch flu, certain people are at greater risk from the implications of flu, as their bodies may not be able to fight the virus. If you are over 65 years old, or suffer from asthma, diabetes, or certain other conditions, you are considered at greater risk from flu and the implications can be serious.”

So, the answer is: D

Question 8: how to get a vaccination if you choose to pay for it   

Keywords for this question: how to get, vaccination, if, choose, pay for it,  

In the short section E, the writer says, “If you are not eligible for a free flu vaccination, you can still protect yourself and those around you from flu by getting a flu vaccination at a local pharmacy.”

Here, by getting a flu vaccination at a local pharmacy = by paying for a flu vaccination at a local pharmacy/chemist,

So, the answer is: E

Question 9: why new vaccines become available

Keywords for this question: why, new vaccines, available,  

In section I, we can find the answer for this question, “The influenza virus is constantly changing and vaccines are developed to predicted strains each year so it is important to get vaccinated against the latest strains.”

Here, vaccines are developed to predicted strains each year means by developing new vaccines every year the latest predictable strains of influenza virus can be fought easily.  

So, the answer is: I

Question 10: how long a vaccine remains effective

Keywords for this question: how long, vaccine, remains, effective,

The last line of section F provides the answer, “ . . .. This protection lasts about a year.”

This means the vaccination remains effective for a year.

So, the answer is: F

Question 11: reference to the possibility of catching a different type of flu from the ones in the vaccine

Keywords for this question: reference, possibility, catching, different type of flu, the ones, in the vaccine,  

In section H the author writes at the end, “. . .. . so there is a small chance you could catch a strain of flu not contained in the flu vaccine.”

Here, a strain of flu not contained in the flu vaccine = a different type of flu from the ones in the vaccine,

So, the answer is: H

Question 12:  categories of people who do not have to pay for vaccination

Keywords for this question: categories of people, do not, have to pay, for vaccination,

Take a very close look at the last lines of section D, “ . .. . If you fall into one of these ‘at-risk’ groups, are pregnant or a carer, you are eligible for a free flu vaccination.”

Here, free = do not have to pay,

So the answer is: D

Question 13: information about what a vaccine consists of

Keywords for this question: information, what, vaccine, consists of,  

In section G, the first line says, “A flu vaccination contains inactivated, killed virus strains so it can’t give you the flu.”  

Here, contains = consists of,  

So the answer is: G

Question 14: signs that you might have flu

Keywords for this question: signs, might have, flu,  

In section C, the author writes at the beginning, “Symptoms can include fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, extreme fatigue, a dry cough, sore throat and stuffy nose.”

Here, symptoms = signs of flu,

So the answer is: C

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 11 GT Test 2 Section 2

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 11 GT Test 2 Section 3