Free wireless connection in great outdoor locations, Have You Considered A Career in Film? and Pioneer 10 | IELTS General Reading Practice Test 5 with Answers

Reading passage 1

Free wireless connection in great outdoor locations

With summer fading, the more time spent outdoors the better…and work doesn’t have to keep you from enjoying the day! From entire downtown stores to tiny cafes, many locations now offer free, wireless internet connection. Here’s a guide to hotspots here where you can connect up, email friends or get some work done while enjoying a coffee, a drink or meal outdoors.

A. Fairview Park

Make a park bench in your office, and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature in the middle of the city. Pack a picnic and soak up the sun. As an extra attraction, lunchtime concerts run between noon and 2pm every tuesday and Thursday.

B. Dragon’s tail

Shake off jet lag while munching on homemade chicken fingers and sipping one of the 14 special drinks. Only four blocks from the airport, the patio, restaurant and lounge are all wired.

C. Southport landing

Pull your boat right up to this neighbourhood favourite on the river. Great seafood reasonably priced. Only 5 minutes from downtown, this is the place for a long lunch. With wireless access on the 100 seat patio you’ll get a spot even on the sunniest days.

D. One World Cafe and Language Centre

Get online at Gazebo while deciding which ethnic dish to try. Wood oven pizzas are a speciality. Take and English or Spanish lessons for dessert while sipping on fair trade coffee.

E. Harvest Moon

Farm fresh organic salads and homemade soup are as delightful as the street side tables. Like the internet, this cafe never closes, freeing you up to set your own business hours. Don’t forget the organic pastries and fair trade espresso for dessert. Check out the poetry special events nights.

Questions 1-3

1. It is late at night. You are hungry and you still need to put together and send off some emails before going home.

2. You are looking for a place to have a bite to eat, get some work done and maybe meet people from different cultures.

3. You want to have lunch while you finish up a report before flying out of town to attend a conference.

Questions 4-6

Which TWO descriptions mention:

4. entertainment                                              ………………………                         ……………………
5. natural environment                                   ………………………                         ……………………
6. central location                                             ………………………                         ……………………

Read the passage and answer questions 7-14

Using LP Gas Safely Around the Home

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LP Gas) – also known as bottled gas – is widely used in the home for cooking, room and water heating. It may also be used on a range of leisure appliances such as camping equipment, barbecues and caravans.

LP Gas is propane gas, stored in cylinders under pressure as liquid and then used as a gas when connected to domestic and portable appliances. It is not the same as Automotive LP Gas ( known as Autogas) which is used in specially converted cars. Autogas is a mixture of propane and butane and therefore must not be used in domestic or portable outdoor appliances.

LP Gas is clean burning, heavier than air and non-toxic. In its natural state LP Gas is odourless. So that gas leaks can be detected, a chemical is added which gives it a very distinctive smell.

Domestic and portable LP Gas appliances are designed only for use with propane gas.

LP Gas is not the same as natural gas – gas which is piped to your house by a gas company. LP Gas must never be used in natural gas appliances and vice-versa. Operating an appliance on the wrong type of gas can be hazardous. LP gas contains much more energy than natural gas and as such presents a fire risk if connected the wrong appliance.

Identification dates on LP Gas( propane) appliances have red writing on silver. Natural gas appliances have black writing on silver. Always check the id plate to make sure the appliance uses LP Gas.

If You Smell Gas Indoors

You should never use a naked flame to try and find a gas leak.

It may not be a gas leak – people sometimes accidentally leave gas cooker burners turned on and unlit and this may be the cause of gas smell. Also, check that any heaters have been properly lit. Turn the burner off and wait until you can no longer smell the gas before trying to use a gas appliance.

Open doors and windows. Don’t operate power or light switches, don’t turn electrical appliances on or off, and don’t use your telephone, as they might spark and create a fire. In particular, don’t use a fan to provide ventilation.

If burners haven’t been accidentally been left on, leave the premises and turn the gas supply off at the cylinder. If safe to do so, switch off the power at the fuse box so that electrical appliances can’t operate and generate a spark.

Call a licensed gas fitter from a neighbour’s telephone or use a cell phone outside – it may be unsafe to use your home phone. Don’t go back into the house until the gas is turned off at the cylinder and the smell of the gas is cleared.

Questions 7-10

A IP gas

B Autogas

C Natural gas

[7] Not for household use ———-

[8] Used for outdoor appliances ———-

[9] ID plate show a silver background with black text ————

[10] Made up of a combination of gases ———-

Questions 11-14

Check that the stove has not been turned on and left… 11_________________

For ventilation, open doors and windows but don’t use… 12_____________

Leave the premises and switch off the electricity at… 13_____________

If assistance is required, call from… 14________________

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Reading Passage 2

Have You Considered A Career in Film?

If you ask everyone who works in the film industry how they got there you will find probably as many stories as there are people. There are literally hundreds of different jobs in the film industry, each one requiring a unique combination of specialist skills. You have only to watch the credits at the end of the film to get an idea of how many different types of jobs there are. The film industry is divided into three key sections: development, production and post production. The development stage involves writing, packaging and financing film ideas and scripts. The production stage is where the majority of the people are employed. This is the process of setting up and shooting each scene in a film. In the post production phase, all the shots are assembled, treated and mixed into the final product.

Professional film makers work long hours, sometimes under enormous pressure. Some people in the motion picture industry belong to labour unions, but many others are freelance. Jobs are seldom permanent but begin and end in each production. While movies can be made anywhere, most people in the film business will find they must live close to one of the production centres for the industry.

There is tremendous competition in the film production industry but there is also great shared camaraderie. The nature of the work in some ways sets movie people apart from people who work “nine to five” jobs. Demand for people in the film making industry is expected to rise faster than average over the next decade; however men and women seeking the available jobs in this exciting industry will always exceed the amount of work available.

Film schools are vocational training institutions specializing in courses related to motion pictures. The specific curriculum varies rather widely from school to school but in general, in film school teaches the fundamentals of movie-making; the dynamics of storytelling production and editing. Not only do you study these things in a classroom, but you learn by actually doing them. Making your own movies and helping others making theirs will also reveal your own strengths and weaknesses and will help you discover whether this career is what you really want to have, and if so, what professional path to take.

Most film schools have a 1-year program that is broken into 3 or 4 sections. If you are interested in a specialised 8 week workshop you should expect to pay around $4000. A one year total immersion program can cost as much as $30,000, not counting supplies and equipment charges. There are even some film schools that charge by the unit ( usually around $1000). Since most film schools are private institutions they are not eligible for government grants and loans. There are scholarships available for the most deserving students. Nearly all film schools provide a diploma to competing students and some even issue BA degrees.

If you are serious about becoming a practitioner, aim for a hands-on course rather than theory. Computer editing and animation offer exciting creative opportunities in areas that they have expanded rapidly in recent years. Do your homework when selecting a school, visit the facilities, see what is on offer and talk to students there. They will give you the best insight to the school.

Questions 15-17

(15) Demand for jobs in the film industry

(16) Most film-making professionals

(17) Many film schools

List of Phrases

A are not permanent employment.

B work in major production centres.

C exceeds the amount of work available.

D provides government financial assistance.

E work on a freelance basis.

F offer scholarships to deserving students.

Questions 18-21

(18) The majority of people employed in the film industry…

A work in the set up and filming stages.

B are involved in the development phase.

C work in post production, creating the final product.

D work in all three key sectors.

(19) If you want a job in the film industry, be prepared to…

A work part-time.

B join a trade union.

C work anywhere.

D accept temporary employment.

(20) In film school, the most effective way to learn is…

A by studying all the areas of production.

B by imitating successful film-makers.

C by making films.

D by storytelling.

(21) Which of the following is NOT given as a recommendation, when choosing a film school?

A Find out about the school from students attending.

B Select a school with a practical focus.

C Look at the homework assigned for the courses.

D Check into schools offering courses in fast-growing, film technology.

Read the application information below and answer questions 22-28.

Studio Ten Film School

Application for Admission

Minimum grade 12 to 19 years of age. Copy of high school diploma and/or Birth certificate required.

• Most recent copy of transcript of marks from High School, college or university.
• Detailed resume outlining work history and education. Include volunteer work if available.
• Headshots. Supply two small paragraphs, 2.5 cm x 3 cm approximately, colour or black & white. One will be kept on file and the other used to prepare a student identification card.
• Two references from past employers or instructors. References will be checked. Please supply names and phone numbers. Reference letters are not required, simply the names and phone numbers.
• Type written personal statements of goals and objectives. The personal statement should outline the applicant’s background, any acting or film experience aspirations, level of determination and long term career goals. Preference will be given to those who are highly motivated with a clear sense of direction.
• Audition tape. One minute minimum, rehearsed monologue to be submitted on ½” VHS tape. Applicants introduce themselves, state the full name of the program they are applying for, the start date of the program, and then begin a monologue.  Applicant to choose their own material for the monologue.
• Film critique. Applicant to view film and submit typewritten critique from a technical standpoint . Contact Director for Admissions for film list.
• Advanced level of English for English as a second language student. Minimum  IELTS 6, TOEIC 700 score or TOEFL 500 score required. Supply the most recent copy of IELTS, TOEIC or TOEFL score equivalent, if available.
• Interview(s) with the director of Educational programs. To be arranged once all prerequisites have been submitted. Because of the demands of the program, the applicant’s maturity, self motivation and commitment will be considered. Telephone interviews will be arranged for out of town applicants.

For more information about how to register and complete the process, please contact our admission Office

Questions 22-28

22 Do I have to be a high school graduate to apply?

23 Should the resume mention unpaid work?

24 Can I send colour photos?

25 Should I include letters of reference?

26 Can I use professional actors for the audition video?

27 Is English language support provided in the program?

28Will I have to attend an interview if I live in another city?

Reading Passage 3

Questions 29 – 41

Pioneer 10

When the space probe pioneer 10 was launched in 1972, it was designed for a twenty-one month mission. Propelled by the most powerful engine ever used for a spaceship, it was the fastest craft to leave Earth. Pioneer 10 reached the moon in just 11 hours and Mars in 12 weeks. It was the first vessel from Earth to pass through the asteroid belt, between Mars and Jupiter. Before Pioneer 10 no one knew whether craft could navigate this perilous zone, where debris from dust particles to rocks the size of a small country travels at 20kms per second. Pioneer 10 made the journey unscathed, paving the way for further explanation. It circled Jupiter, sending back the first close-up images, which showed clearly for the first time the composition of the planet, (mainly liquid) and its rings. Pioneer 10 conducted a range of experiments, fifteen in all, using a complex array of instruments to photograph, measure record and transmit data. The experiments studied magnetic fields, solar wind, cosmic rays and the atmosphere of Jupiter and its satellites.

Once its mission was accomplished, the spacecraft used the gravitational force of the giant planet in slingshot fashion, to accelerate away from Jupiter at a speed of 131,000 km per hour. It became in 1983, the first man-made object to leave the solar system and to everyone’s amazement, just kept going….. Continuing to transmit data, ‘writing home’ even as it approached the threshold of interstellar space. Gradually however, the power levels dropped and the experiments were turned off one by one. Finally, after three decades of faithful service, NASA engineers concluded that Pioneer 10’s power source had finally broken down. The last experiments were shut off and at that point, in 1997, the mission was formally ended. But that was not the end of the story. Faint signals from P10 as it was affectionately known continued to reach Earth for another 5 years until in April 2002 the spacecraft sent its final message. By that time it was 12.2 billion kilometers away. The radio signal at that time took 11 hours to reach the Earth, travelling at the speed of light.

Director of NASA’s Solar System Exploration Division, Colleen Hartman, ranks Pioneer 10 among the most historic and scientifically rich exploration missions ever undertaken, opening the way for exploration of the outer solar system. Given that the total cost to the end of the official scientific operations was only 350 million dollars, the project was an outstanding success. An additional benefit to the project was a sister ship, Pioneer 11, launched in 1973, as a backup, in case Pioneer 10 did not survive transit through the asteroid belt. When Pioneer 10 successfully completed its encounter with Jupiter, its twin was re-targeted midflight in the direction of Saturn, 1.5 billion miles away. There it took the first close-up images of that planet and discovered two additional moons in its orbit, before moving out of communication range.

Until 1998, Pioneer 10 had the distinction of remaining the most distant object in space. Then Voyager 1 launched in 1977, exceeded its reach. There are currently four spacecraft leaving the solar system for interstellar space. Three are Voyagers, all following a similar trajectory. Alone, Pioneer 10 heads in the opposite direction to the Sun’s motion through the galaxy. Travelling at 12.2 km per second, it has entered the vacuum of deep space where no further erosion of the capsule should take place. NASA predicts that Pioneer 10 will outlive both the Earth and the Sun.

The craft has become Earth’s silent messenger to distant worlds. It carries on its side a gold plaque depicting a man and a woman and showing the location of the sun and the Earth in our galaxy. The man’s right hand is raised in a gesture of goodwill, a message from our planet to whatever civilization may some day find the spacecraft. No longer in contact with the Earth, Pioneer 10, has become a ghost ship, drifting towards the red star Aldebaran, the eye of the bull in the constellation Taurus. That journey will take over 2 million years.

Questions 29-32

29 The Pioneer 10 mission was supposed to last…

A less than 2 years.

B 25 years.

C 30 years.

D 2 million years.

30 The experiments were stopped because of…

A a breakdown in the research equipment.

B problems with communication.

C excessive cost of the mission.

D power failure.

31 The mission officially ended…

A when the last signal from the spacecraft reached Earth.

B when the experiments were terminated.

C when the money ran out.

D when the spacecraft left the solar system.

32 The plaque on the spacecraft shows…

A two figures pointing to the Earth on a map.

B a man and a woman with raised hands.

C two figures, one with a raised hand.

D a man and a woman holding hands.

List of spacecraft:

A Pioneer 10 ……………………. ………………………………..

B Pioneer 11 ……………………. ………………………………..

C Voyager 1………………………. ………………………………..

List of Phrases

33 took close-up images of Saturn

34 most distant man-made object in space

35 first to leave the solar system

36 flight path re-programmed in mid-flight

37 following the direction of the sun’s movement

38 first to pass through the asteroid belt

Questions 39- 40

Complete the sentences below.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from Reading Passage 3 for each answer.

Write correct answers on boxes, 39-40 in your answer sheet.

39 Experiments on various aspects carried out by Pioneer 10 utilized a range of _________________ instruments.

40 Pioneer 10 has become a/an ___________________ craft after a long time of travelling towards other planets in our galaxy.

Answer Key

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