TOP MENU READING TEST 9A

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Questions 1-6
Look at the seven job advertisements, A-G, and read
the descriptions of people below.
Which is the most suitable job for each person?
Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet.
Q1  a person with two small children who wants a few hours a
week of unskilled work in the early mornings
Q2 a person with no experience or qualifications who is looking
for a short term full-time job, Monday to Friday
Q3 a lively student with no experience, who cannot work on weekdays
Q4 a person with more than 20 years’ experience in catering who
would like to run a business
Q5 a catering college graduate who is now looking for his first
full-time job
Q6 a person with many years’ experience working in hotels
who is now looking for well-paid part-time employment in a hotel

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1 D 2 C 3 A  4 G 5 F  6 B

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Questions 7-14 Look at the seven types of train ticket, A-G.

For which type of train ticket are the following statements true
Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes 7-14 on your answer sheet
 NB You may use any letter more than once.

Q7 There are advantages if you book a journey with a friend.
Q8 You cannot use this on a Friday.
Q9 This can be used without restriction.
Q10 This can only be booked up to 7 days before departure.
Q11 It’s the cheapest ticket available but there is a restriction
on departure time.
Q12 If you decide not to travel after you have bought the ticket,
you cannot get your money back.
Q13E This is not available if you’re travelling out on a Monday and
back the next day.
Q14D You cannot use this ticket for departures between midnight and 10am.

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6 B 7 F 8 C 9 G 10 B 11 A 12 A 13 E 14 D

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Questions 15-21 Complete the notes below.

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 15-21 on your answer sheet.

 

NOTES ON COMPANY DRESS CODE


Aim of formal dress code: to present a Q15 ————– to clients
Acceptable types of formal clothing: jacket or suit
State of clothes: they must be Q16 ————- and in good condition
Footwear: tennis shoes and open toe shoes are not allowed
Accessories: ties, scarves, belts and jewellery may be worn
– these must be Q17 ————– and not brightly coloured
Make up: avoid wearing too much make up and perfume
– these sometimes cause Q18 ————–
Hats
: hats should not be worn
– head covers in line with religious reasons or Q19 ————–are allowed
Dressing down: casual clothing is allowed on some Fridays
– clothing with the Q20 ————– on it is recommended
Breaking the dress code: if advice is repeatedly ignored, a Q21 ————– is given

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15 professional image 16 pressed 17 tasteful 18 allergic reactions
19 cultural tradition 20 company logo 21 verbal warning

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Questions 22-27 Complete the sentences below.

Questions 22-27 Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the text for
each answer. Write your answers in boxes 22-27 on your answer sheet

 

22 Pay increases depend on the Q22————– that each member of staff makes.
23 Employees must work a minimum of Q23 ————– to be eligible for a pension.
24 Staff may take a holiday at one of the Q24 ————–provided by the company.
25 The company pay half the seat price for Q25————- and plays.
26 The company gives financial assistance for both educational courses and
Q26 ————– as part of staff development.
27 Employees may be entitled to a Q27 ————– if they find themselves
in difficult circumstances.

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15 professional image 16 pressed 17 tasteful 18 allergic reactions
19 cultural tradition 20 company logo 21 verbal warning 22 progress
23 five years 24 (residential)clubs 25 concerts 26 leisure skills 27 loan

View Qs28-33

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Questions 28-33

The text has eight paragraphs, A-H.Which paragraphs contain the following
information? Write the appropriate letters, A-H, in boxes 28-33 on your answer sheet


 

Q28 the procedure for sorting through the remains of the fire
Q29 how Uppark looked after the fire
Q30 improvements made to the rebuilt Uppark
Q31 the selection of people to carry out the repair work
Q32 why the National Trust chose to rebuild Uppark
Q33 how people reacted to the rebuilt Uppark

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28 C 29 B 30 G 31 F 32 E 33 H

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Questions 34-37
Answer the questions below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS
from the text for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 34-37 on your answer sheet.

Q34 On what date in 1989 should the original repairs to the roof have been completed?
Q35 By what method were things rescued immediately from the burning house?
Q36 After the fire, what did the conservators require large quantities of immediately?
Q37 Into what did the conservators put material recovered from the fire?

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34 August 31st 35 human chain /chains
36 blotting paper 37 (countless) dustbins

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Questions 38-40 Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

Write the correct letter in boxes 38-40 on your answer sheet.


 

Q38 The fire destroyed
A all the contents of the ground floor.
B most of the contents of the basement.
C the roof of the house.
D all the contents of the first floor.

Q39 One of the reasons the National Trust decided to rebuild Uppark was that
A the Meade-Featherstonhaugh family wanted them to.
B the building as it stood was unsound.
C they wouldn’t have to pay for the repairs.
D nothing on this scale had been tried before.

Q40 Some of the craftsmen and women employed in the restoration of
Uppark have benefited because
A they were very well paid for doing intricate work.
B their businesses have become more competitive.
C they were able to work with Grinling Gibbons.
D they acquired skills they didn’t have previously.

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38 C 39 C 40 D

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36D 37A 38D 39C 40B

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PASSAGE 1A


SECTION 1
Questions 1 -14
Read the text below and answer Questions 1-6.
HELP – snack bar serving person
Bright, friendly, experience not essential
Energy and enthusiasm an absolute must
Sat & Sun only
Call or drop in at Kingsway Centre, Melbourn/Royston.
Tel: 01763 24272 and ask for the Manager.

 B Granta Hotel
requires a part-time silver service waiter/waitress.
Only applicants with experience and good references need apply.
Excellent wages, meals on duty. Tel: 01223 51468 (office hours)

 C WANTED from January till July, a nanny/carer for Toby, 2 yrs.
Formal qualifications not as important as a sensible, warm and imaginative
approach.
Hours: 8.30-5.00 Mon-Fri
Car driver essential, non smoker
References required
For further details phone: 01480 88056 after 6pm.

D Cleaner required for 12 -floor modern office block in the Station Road area,
St Ives.
2 hours per day. Mondays to Fridays – to finish work before the offices open
Wages: £80 per week Tel: 01223 93292

Mature, experienced 
Administrator/Secretary
for soft furnishing company, working within the hotel industry
Hours: 1 pm – 5pm, Mon – Fri
Phone: Mr S Quinn 01353 71251

F FULL-TIME COOK for a new and exciting cafe venture.
Good conditions. Pay and hours can be negotiated.
Apply Red Cafe (01863) 72052

G 50-Seater Restaurant -TO LET
Ideal for very experienced person looking to start up on their own.
Located on busy A10 road.
Reply Box No. P762, Newmarket Newspapers Ltd.,
51 Cambridge Road, Newmarket, CB8 3BN


Questions 1-6
Look at the seven job advertisements, A-G, and read the descriptions of people
below. Which is the most suitable job for each person? Write the correct letter,
A-G, in boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet.

Q1  a person with two small children who wants a few hours a week of unskilled
work in the early mornings
Q2 a person with no experience or qualifications who is looking for a short term
full-time job, Monday to Friday
Q3 a lively student with no experience, who cannot work on weekdays
Q4 a person with more than 20 years’ experience in catering who would like to
run a business
Q5 a catering college graduate who is now looking for his first full-time job
Q6 a person with many years’ experience working in hotels who is now looking
for well-paid part-time employment in a hotel

SHOW ANSWER

 

Read the text below and answer Questions 7-14.

INTERCITY Sleeper between London and Scotland

Most tickets may be used for travel by Sleeper, subject to availability, and a
reservation in a two-berth cabin can be made for £25, except in the case of Solo
and Special tickets, which include Sleeper reservations in the fare. The price
includes early morning tea or coffee and biscuits. A continental or hot breakfast
can be ordered if you wish.
Choose from a range of tickets to suit your journey.

A-SuperApex
Only available for travel after 9am. Book at least 2 weeks ahead and travel
between Edinburgh or Glasgow and London for the unbeatable price of £59
return. This ticket is  non-refundable unless the service is cancelled.

B – Apex
A real bargain fare. Only £69 return between Edinburgh or Glasgow and London.
Great value Sleeper travel available by booking at least a week before outward travel. Ticket refundable on payment of a 25% administrative charge.

C – SuperSaver
Available right up to the day of travel and valid any day except these peak days: all
Fridays, also 18-30 December, 31 March and 28 May. Departures between
midnight and 2am count as previous day’s departures. London to Glasgow or
Edinburgh £82.

D – Saver
This flexible ticket is valid every day and can be bought on the day of travel. Your
ticket allows standard class travel on any train between 10am and midnight. No
seat reservations available. London to Glasgow or Edinburgh £95.

E-Solo
Treat yourself and enjoy exclusive use of a Standard cabin. Solo is an inclusive return travel ticket with Sleeper reservations for one or both directions. Outward and return reservations should be made at the time of booking. The journey must include a Saturday night away. £140-£160 London to Edinburgh/Glasgow return.

F – Special
Special is an inclusive return travel package for two people including sleeper reservations for one or both directions. It can mean savings for both of you. Outward and return reservations should be made at the time of booking. From £120.

G – Standard
Not the cheapest option but available up to the time of travel and valid for all trains and at all times. You are advised to turn up early for travel on a Friday.


Questions 7-14
Look at the seven types of train ticket, A-G.
For which type of train ticket are the following statements true?
Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes 7-14 on your answer sheet

NB You may use any letter more than once.

Q7 There are advantages if you book a journey with a friend.
Q8 You cannot use this on a Friday.
Q9 This can be used without restriction.
Q10 This can only be booked up to 7 days before departure.
Q11 It’s the cheapest ticket available but there is a restriction on departure time.
Q12 If you decide not to travel after you have bought the ticket, you cannot get your money back.
Q13E This is not available if you’re travelling out on a Monday and back the next day.
Q14D You cannot use this ticket for departures between midnight and 10am.

SHOW ANSWER 

PASSAGE 2A

S E C T I O N 2 Questions 15-27

Read the text below and answer Questions 15-21.

FORMAL DRESS CODE FOR COMPANY EMPLOYEES

At TransitEuropean  the company’s objective in establishing a formal dress code is to enable our employees to project the  professional image that is in keeping with the needs of our clients and customers who seek our guidance, input and professional services. Because our industry requires the appearance of trusted business professionals and we serve clients at our site on a daily basis, a more formal dress code is necessary for our employees.

Formal Dress Code Guidelines
In a formal business environment the standard of dressing for men and women is a suit. Alternatively a jacket may be worn with appropriate accessories. Torn, dirty, or frayed clothing is unacceptable. Clothing should be pressed and never wrinkled. No dress code can cover all contingencies so employees must exert a certain amount of judgement in their choice of clothing to wear to work. If you experience uncertainty, please ask your supervisor for advice.

Shoes and Footwear
Conservative walking shoes, dress shoes, loafers, boots, flats, dress heels, and backless shoes are acceptable for work. Not wearing stockings or socks is inappropriate. Tennis shoes and any shoe with an open toe are not acceptable in the office.

Accessories and Jewellery
The wearing of ties, scarves, belts, and jewellery is encouraged, provided they are tasteful. Items which are flashy should be avoided.

Makeup, Perfume, and Cologne
A professional appearance is encouraged and excessive makeup is unprofessional. Remember that some employees may have allergic reactions to the chemicals in perfumes and makeup, so wear these substances in moderation.

Hats and Head Covering
Hats are not appropriate in the office. Head covers that are required for reasons of faith or to honour cultural tradition are permitted.

Dress Down Days
Certain days can be declared dress down days, generally Fridays. On these days, business casual clothing is allowed. Clothing that has our company logo is strongly encouraged. Sports team, university, and fashion brand names on clothing are generally acceptable. However, you may wish to keep a jacket in your office in case a client unexpectedly appears.

Violation of Dress Code
If clothing fails to meet these standards, as determined by the employee’s supervisor, the employee  will be asked not to wear the inappropriate item to work again. If the problem persists, the employee will receive a verbal warning verbal warning and may be sent home to change clothes.


Questions 15-21
Complete the notes below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 15-21 on your answer sheet.

NOTES ON COMPANY DRESS CODE

Aim of formal dress code: to present a Q15 ————– to clients
Acceptable types of formal clothing: jacket or suit
State of clothes: they must be Q16 ————- and in good condition
Footwear: tennis shoes and open toe shoes are not allowed
Accessories: ties, scarves, belts and jewellery may be worn
– these must be Q17 ————– and not brightly coloured
Make up: avoid wearing too much make up and perfume
– these sometimes cause Q18 ————–
Hats
: hats should not be worn
– head covers in line with religious reasons or Q19 ————–are allowed
Dressing down: casual clothing is allowed on some Fridays
– clothing with the Q20 ————– on it is recommended
Breaking the dress code: if advice is repeatedly ignored, a Q21 ————– is given

SHOW ANSWER 

Read the text below and answer Questions 22-27.

JLP RETAIL: STAFF BENEFITS

Whatever your role, your pay range will be extremely competitive and reviewed in the light of your progress. In addition to your salary you will enjoy an array of excellent benefits from the moment you join the company.

Paid holiday
The holiday entitlement is four weeks per year, rising to five weeks after three years (or in the case of IT graduate trainees, after promotion to programmer or trainee analyst). There are further long-service increases for most staff after ten or fifteen years. Managers, including graduate trainees, receive five weeks’ holiday from the outset.

Pension scheme
We offer a non-contributory final salary pension scheme, payable from the age of 60, to most staff who have completed the qualifying period of  five years.

Life assurance
Our life assurance scheme pays a sum equivalent to three times your annual salary to your nominated beneficiary.

Discounts
After three months’ service, all staff are entitled to a 1 2% discount on most purchases from the company’s stores. This rises to 25% after one year’s service.

Subsidised dining room
In most sites, we provide a dining room where you can enjoy excellent food at very reasonable prices.

Holiday and leisure facilities
The business owns a number of  residential clubs which offer subsidised holiday accommodation for staff with at least three years’ service.

Sports clubs
We support an extensive range of sports activities including football, netball, golf, skiing, sailing, squash, riding and gliding.

Ticket subsidies
Ticket subsidies of 50% of the cost of plays or concerts are available. Staff may also take advantage of corporate membership to bodies such as the Science Museum.

Education subsidies
We give generous financial support to staff who wish to acquire leisure skills or continue their education, e.g. through the Open University or evening classes.

Extended leave
Staff who complete 25 years’ service can enjoy paid sabbatical leave of up to six months.

Health services
We have an occupational health service staffed by full-time doctors and health advisers.

Financial help, benefits and discounted deals
In cases of particular hardship, we will help staff with a loan. We have also negotiated a range of benefits for staff such as discounted private healthcare and a car purchase scheme, along with a number of one-off deals with hotels and amusement parks.


Questions 22-27
Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the text for each answer.Write your answers in boxes 22-27 on your answer sheet

22 Pay increases depend on the Q22————– that each member of staff makes.
23 Employees must work a minimum of Q23 ————– to be eligible for a pension.
24 Staff may take a holiday at one of the Q24 ————–provided by the company.
25 The company pay half the seat price for Q25————- and plays.
26 The company gives financial assistance for both educational courses and Q26 ————– as part of staff development.
27 Employees may be entitled to a Q27 ————– if they find themselves in difficult circumstances.

SHOW ANSWER 

PASSAGE 3A

S E C T I O N 3 Questions 28-40
Read the text below and answer questions 28-40.

OUT OF THE ASHES

A On the afternoon of 30th August 1989, fire broke out at Uppark, a large eighteenth- century house in Sussex. For a year builders had been replacing the lead on the roof, and by a stroke of irony, were due to finish the next day, on August 31st. Within fifteen minutes of the alarm being sounded, the fire brigade had arrived on the scene, though nothing was to survive of the priceless collection on the first floor apart from an oil painting of a dog which the firemen swept up as they finally retreated from the blaze. But due to the courage and swift action of the previous owners, the Meade-Featherstonhaugh family, and the staff, stewards and visitors to the house, who formed human chain/chains human chains to pass the precious pieces of porcelain, furniture and paintings out on to the lawn, 95 per cent of the contents from the ground floor and the basement were saved. As the fire continued to rage, the National Trust’s conservators were being mobilised, and that evening local stationers were especially opened to provide the bulk supplies of blotting paper so desperately needed in the salvage operation.

B The following morning, Uppark stood open to the sky. A sludge of wet charcoal covered the ground floor and basement, and in every room charred and fallen timbers lay amongst the smoke. It was a scene of utter devastation.

C After the initial sense of shock, the days which followed the fire were filled with discoveries. Helped by volunteers, the National Trust’s archaeologists and conservators swung into action, first of all marking the site out into a grid and then salvaging everything down to the last door handle. The position of each fragment was recorded, and all the debris was stored in  countless dustbins before being sifted and categorised.

D There was great excitement as remnants of the lantern from the Staircase Hall were pulled out from the debris of two fallen floors, and also three weeks later when the Red Room carpet, thought to have been totally lost, was found wrapped around the remains of a piano. There was a lucky reprieve for the State Bed too. Staff who had left the scene at 3am on the night of the fire had thought its loss was inevitable, but when they returned the next morning it had escaped largely undamaged. Firemen, directed by the National Trust’s conservators from outside the Tapestry Room window, dismantled the silk-hung bed and passed it out piece by piece. Twenty minutes later the ceiling fell in.

E The scale of the task to repair Uppark was unprecedented in the National Trust. The immediate question was whether it should be done at all. A decision had to be taken quickly, as the building was unsound and whatever had not been damaged by the fire was exposed to the elements. Within a month, after consulting many experts and with the agreement of the National Trust’s Executive Committee, the restoration programme began. It was undertaken for three main reasons. After the fire it had become apparent just how much remained of the structure with its splendidly decorated interiors; to have pulled the house down, as one commentator suggested, would have been vandalism. Also the property was covered by insurance, so the repairs would not call upon the National Trust’s own funds. Lastly, much had been saved of the fine collection acquired especially for Uppark from 1747 by Sir Matthew Featherstonhaugh and his son Harry. These objects belonged nowhere else, and complete restoration of the house would allow them to be seen and enjoyed again in their original setting.

F The search for craftsmen and women capable of doing the intricate restoration work was nation-wide. Once the quality and skill of the individual or company had been ascertained, they had to pass an economic test, as every job was competitively tendered. This has had enormous benefits because not only have a number of highly skilled people come to the fore – woodcarvers for example, following in the footsteps of Grinling Gibbons – but many of them, for example plasterers, have relearnt the skills of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries which can now be of use to other country house owners when the need arises.

G In June 1994 the building programme was completed, on time and on budget. The total cost of the work to repair the house and its contents came to be nearly £20 million, largely met from insurance. In addition, it made economic sense for the National Trust to invest time and money in upgrading water and heating systems, installing modern environmental controls, and updating fire and security equipment.

H The final stages of restoration and the massive programme of reinstallation took eight months. The family and the room stewards were visibly moved when returning to their old haunts, perhaps the best testament that the spirit of Uppark had not died. But the debate will no doubt continue as to whether or not it was right to repair the house after the fire. The National Trust has done its best to remain true to Uppark; it is for others to judge the success of the project.

Note: The National Trust is a charitable organisation in Britain set up over a hundred years ago to preserve the national heritage.


Questions 28-33
The text has eight paragraphs, A-H.Which paragraphs contain the following information? Write the appropriate letters, A-H, in boxes 28-33 on your answer sheet

Q28 the procedure for sorting through the remains of the fire
Q29 how Uppark looked after the fire
Q30 improvements made to the rebuilt Uppark
Q31 the selection of people to carry out the repair work
Q32 why the National Trust chose to rebuild Uppark
Q33 how people reacted to the rebuilt Uppark

Questions 34-37
Answer the questions below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 34-37 on your answer sheet.

Q34 On what date in 1989 should the original repairs to the roof have been completed?
Q35 By what method were things rescued immediately from the burning house?
Q36 After the fire, what did the conservators require large quantities of immediately?
Q37 Into what did the conservators put material recovered from the fire?


Questions 38-40
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D. Write the correct letter in boxes 38-40 on your answer sheet.

Q38 The fire destroyed
A all the contents of the ground floor.
B most of the contents of the basement.
C the roof of the house.
D all the contents of the first floor.

Q39 One of the reasons the National Trust decided to rebuild Uppark was that
A the Meade-Featherstonhaugh family wanted them to.
B the building as it stood was unsound.
C they wouldn’t have to pay for the repairs.
D nothing on this scale had been tried before.

Q40 Some of the craftsmen and women employed in the restoration of Uppark have benefited because
A they were very well paid for doing intricate work.
B their businesses have become more competitive.
C they were able to work with Grinling Gibbons.
D they acquired skills they didn’t have previously.

SHOW ANSWER 

RETURN TO –

PASSAGE1A PASSAGE2A PASSAGE3A

ANSWER KEY: GENERAL TRAINING TEST 9A

Section 1, Questions 1-14
1 D 2 C 3 A  4 G 5 F  6 B 7 F 8 C 9 G 10 B 11 A 12 A 13 E 14 D

Section 2, Questions 15-27
15 professional image 16 pressed 17 tasteful 18 allergic reactions 19 cultural tradition 20 company logo 21 verbal warning 22 progress 23 five years 24 (residential) clubs 25 concerts 26 leisure skills 27 loan

Section 3, Questions 28-40
28 C 29 B 30 G 31 F 32 E 33 H 34 August 31st 35 human chain /chains 36 blotting paper 37 (countless) dustbins 38 C 39 C 40 D

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