This General Training IELTS Reading post deals with a solution package for IELTS Cambridge 8 Reading Test A Section 1 that has two texts entitled ‘Holiday Plus’ and ‘Sydney Travel College’. This is a targeted post for candidates who have significant problems in searching for and understanding Reading Answers. This post can guide you the best to understand every Reading answer easily and without much difficulty. Finding IELTS Reading answers is a step-by-step process and I can confidently say that this post will help you in this respect.

IELTS Cambridge 8 Test A: GT Reading Module

Section 1: 

Question 1-6: 

The headline of the text: Holiday Plus

Questions 1-3 (Matching statements with descriptions):

[In this type of question candidates are asked to match the statements (holiday descriptions marked A, B, C, D etc.) with the given statements as questions. Candidates have to write the correct letter for each answer. Here, having a close look at different numbers and important information will do the trick to find the answers.

Question 1: This holiday doesn’t cater for young children.

Keywords for this question: doesn’t cater, young children,

Take a look at holiday description C and read the ‘Holiday location’ column:

• ‘Cedar Lodge: a blend of casual sophistication and rich rainforest ambience for those over 25.’

Here, for those over 25 = doesn’t cater for young children,

So, the answer is: C

Question 2: This holiday provides a tour at no extra cost.

Keywords for this question: tour at no extra cost,   

Take a look at holiday description B and read the ‘Comments’ column:

• ‘Pelican Resort: free minibus trip around island’

Here, free = at no extra cost, trip = tour,

So, the answer is: B               

Question 3: This holiday involves most travel time from the airport.   

Keywords for this question: most travel time, from the airport,    

Take a look at advertisement A and read the ‘Transport to/ from airport’ column:

• ‘Mountain Lodge: self-drive auto 1 hour 15 minutes or bus three times/week approx. 2 hours.’

Here, compared to holiday descriptions B and C, this holiday has most travel time (1 hour 15 minutes/ approx. 2 hours).

So, the answer is: A  

Questions 4-6 [Short answer to open questions (NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS)

[In this kind of question 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 which will lead to the answer. This question type generally follows a sequence.]

Question 4: When will one of the holiday locations not be open?

Keywords for this question: when, not be open,   

Take a look at holiday description B of Pelican Resort and read the ‘Comments’ column:

• ‘refurbishment: resort will close for May.’

Here, close = not be open,

So, the answer is: (for/in) May                     

Question 5: Which two outdoor activities are provided at no extra cost at Mountain Lodge?   

Keywords for this question: two outdoor activities, no extra cost, Mountain Lodge,  

Take a look at holiday description A of Mountain Lodge and read the ‘Comments’ column:

• free canoeing
• free talks in the evening
• free open-air tennis courts

Here, free canoeing and free open-air tennis courts are the two outdoor activities.

Note: We know canoeing means boat-ride and this must be done outdoors. Moreover, open-air tennis means this is another outdoor activity.

Here, open-air = outdoor, 

So, the answer is: (in any order; both required for one mark)

canoeing,

tennis,            

Question 6: What is the fastest way to travel to Mountain Lodge?  

Keywords for this question:  fastest way, travel, Mountain Lodge,    

Take a look at holiday description A of Mountain Lodge and read the ‘Transport to/ from airport’ column:

• self-drive auto 1 hour 15 minutes or bus three times/week approx. 2 hours.’

This means self-drive by automobiles takes 45 minutes less than the bus drives.

So, the answer is: (by) (self-drive) auto(mobile)

Question 7-14: 

The headline of the text: SYDNEY TRAVEL COLLEGE

Questions 7-14 (Classifying statements)

[This type of question asks candidates to classify information from the given reading text. Candidates are given some statements from the text, and a list of options, which are listed as A, B, C etc. They must match the correct statements with the correct options.

N.B.: This question doesn’t follow any sequence. So, they should be answered after all other questions in the passage.]

Question 7: A student travelling overseas suddenly needs hospital treatment.   

Keywords for this question: travelling overseas, suddenly needs, hospital treatment,  

In the section entitled ‘1. Medical’, take a look at the very first lines of paragraph no. 1, “Australia has reciprocal medical arrangements with the governments of the eight nations you will be visiting. This arrangement will cover all emergency hospital treatment.”

Here, emergency hospital treatment = suddenly needs hospital treatment,

So, the answer is: A (covered by government arrangements)                 

Question 8: A student consults a doctor regarding a minor problem while abroad.

Keywords for this question: consults, a doctor, minor problem, while abroad,

In the section entitled ‘1. Medical’, take a look at lines 3-4, “ . .. . However, students will have to take out insurance such as Multiplan to cover the costs of all visits to doctors, and other non-emergency medical situations.”

Here, non-emergency medical situations = minor problem,

So, the answer is: B (covered by the Multiplan policy)

Question 9: A parent goes overseas to bring an injured or sick student to Australia.

Keywords for this question: parent goes overseas, bring, injured, sick student, to Australia,  

In the section entitled ‘1. Medical’, take a look at first three lines of paragraph no. 2, “If you have a serious accident or illness, Multiplan insurance will cover the cost of your flight back to Australia, if required. Depending on the circumstances, this may also pay for either medical personnel or a family member to accompany you home.”

Here, ‘depending on the circumstances’ and ‘may’ = in some situations, family members = parent,

So, the answer is: D (covered in some situations)

Question 10: A student is treated overseas for an illness he/she had before leaving Australia.

Keywords for this question: treated overseas, illness, had before, leaving Australia,   

In the section entitled ‘1. Medical’, take a close look at first three lines of paragraph no. 3, “If you do require medical treatment overseas, and you want to make a claim on your insurance, the claim will not be accepted unless you produce both your student card and your travel insurance card.”

This means if a student requires any medical treatment overseas and claims the service under medical insurance, it will be given if he/she can provide his/her student card and travel insurance card. So, this is not applicable in all situations, rather this is applicable in some situations.

So, the answer is: D (covered in some situations)

Question 11: A student who requires medical treatment has lost his/her travel insurance card.

Keywords for this question: requires, medical treatment, lost, travel insurance card,  

In the section entitled ‘2. Belongings’, read carefully from here, “This covers any loss or theft of your everyday belongings. For example, this insurance covers:
•  the present value of items that are stolen, provided that you  have purchase receipts for every item; if no receipts, no payment can be made
•  replacement value of your briefcase or backpack and study books
•  portable computers and CD players, if you specifically list them as items in the policy.”

We cannot find ‘travel insurance card’ in this coverage.

So, the answer is: C (not covered by the Multiplan policy)

Question 12: A student’s study books are lost.

Keywords for this question: student’s study, books, lost,

Again, in the section entitled ‘2. Belongings’, read carefully here, “This covers any loss or theft of your everyday belongings. For example, this insurance covers:
•  the present value of items that are stolen, provided that you  have purchase receipts for every item; if no receipts, no payment can be made
•  replacement value of your briefcase or backpack and study books
•  portable computers and CD players, if you specifically list them as items in the policy.”

So the answer is: B (covered by the Multiplan policy)

Question 13: A student’s laptop is stolen.

Keywords for this question: student’s laptop, stolen,

One more time, in the section entitled ‘2. Belongings’, read carefully here, “This covers any loss or theft of your everyday belongings. For example, this insurance covers:
•  the present value of items that are stolen, provided that you  have purchase receipts for every item; if no receipts, no payment can be made
•  replacement value of your briefcase or backpack and study books
•  portable computers and CD players, if you specifically list them as items in the policy.”

So, portable computers or laptops can also be claimed, but this has to be listed specifically as items in the policy.

So the answer is: D (covered in some situations)

Question 14: A student changes his/her mind about plans to study and decides not to take the booked flight. 

Keywords for this question: student changes, mind, about plans, study, decides, not to take, booked flight,  

In the section entitled ‘3. Cancellation’, take a close look at these lines, “This insurance covers any non-refundable deposit and other costs you have paid if you have to cancel due to ‘unforeseen or unforeseeable circumstances outside your control’. It does not provide cover if you change your study or travel plans for other reasons.”

This means if a student changes his/her mind about plans to study, the Multiplan policy does not cover it.

So the answer is: C (not covered by the Multiplan policy)

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 8 General Training Reading Test A Section 2
Click here for solutions to Cambridge 8 General Training Reading Test A Section 3