Sunset Tours- IELTS Reading Answers

The IELTS General Reading test consists of three sections, where there are multiple shorter passages in the first two sections while there is one long passage in the third one. Practising the passage, “Sunset Tours”, will help prepare for the exam, giving an opportunity to score more in IELTS Reading.

The passage, “Sunset Tours”, is a passage which has appeared in IELTS Reading exam. By attempting to answer the questions provided, it will give an insight and helps to understand the exam in real time. Ideally, you should be taking no more than 20 minutes to answer the questions.

Here are the question types in the reading test

Reading Passage (Sunset Tours)

• True/False/ Not Given (Q.1 – Q.9)
• Multiple Choice Questions (Q.10 – Q. 13)

Reading Passage

Sunset Tours

BOOKINGS

A deposit of $150 each is payable on booking and the balance is payable 30 days before tour departure. Feel free to contact us for further information:

Office Hours: 8 am-4 pm Monday-Friday

Phone 5500 0881

Fax 5501 0881

Email: info@sunsettours.co

CONDITIONS

The cost is subject to a minimum of 25 passengers traveling and we reserve the right to cancel if this number is not reached. Should the tour be canceled, you are entitled to a full refund.

NB: The itinerary is given as a guide only and is subject to alteration if weather conditions are unfavorable or in any other unforeseen circumstances.

LUGGAGE

Each passenger is entitled to bring a cabin bag and one item of checked luggage no heavier than 20 kg as per industry requirements. Couples traveling together are requested to use individual suitcases. Your suitcase should be of a size and weight you can manage as tour leaders may not be readily available to handle your luggage.

CANCELLATION & REFUNDS

You must have a travel insurance policy to cover sudden illness or accidents. Even so, an administration fee is retained for notice of more than 30 days before departure but, should cancellation occur through unforeseen circumstances not covered by travel insurance, 10% of the fare is retained for 15- 30 days’ notice, 20% for 4- 14 days and 50% Is held for less than 4 days’ notice. There will be no refund for notice of one day or on the day of departure.

RESPONSIBILITY

Although every endeavor is made by Sunset Tours to ensure your holiday goes according to plan, we act purely as an agent for the various accommodation and other services provided.

Sunset Tours shall not be liable for any accident, injury, delay, irregularity, loss, or damage caused by or arising out of the provision of or failure to provide any such service.

Questions 1-9

1 The full cost of the tour must be paid at the time the booking is made.

2. If there are not enough bookings, the tour will not go ahead.

3 If travel plans are disrupted because of unexpected problems, tourists can get their money back.

4 There is no weight limit on the traveler’s cabin luggage.

5 The tour leader is not allowed to help passengers with their baggage.

6 Tourists must insure against sickness and injury.

7 An insured traveler who cancels due to illness more than a month before departure gets a full refund.

8 Sunset Tours only gives a partial refund to passengers who cancel the day before the tour leaves.

9 Sunset Tours is not responsible for the state of hotel rooms.

Read the passage below and answer Questions 10-13.

5ZBG

Easy Listening Broadcasting Association

26/7/11

You Are Invited…

Dear Listener

We wish to express our sincere thanks for your support during our last successful fund-raising endeavor. Your annual donation makes it possible for us to improve the station in every way for your interest and pleasure.

We would like to extend to you an invitation to join us at the station on Wednesday, 16th August at 3.00 pm for afternoon tea and to discuss station programming. Your input will be a great help to us. It will enable us to continue programming to suit your requirements. Together we will be discussing future ideas for SZBG and whether frequent news broadcasts should be included in our agenda. There has also been a proposal to make the mainstay of our programming a talkback format. Any programming changes would have to be finalized by September 1st.

We hope you can join us and we look forward to sharing time with you. If you can join us, please be kind enough to phone, us and let us know. If you are unable to attend on this day, please phone and we will arrange a suitable date for you.

Yours sincerely

do/iia1 &,£

Tobias Rank

Programming Coordinator

RSVP by 5/8/11

Questions 10-13

10 5ZBG primarily

A relays news broadcasts.

B focuses on talkback shows.

C plays listeners’ requests.

D plays soothing music.

11 The listener is being thanked for

A listening to 5ZBG.

B giving money to the station.

C attending afternoon tea.

D providing his input.

12 The listener is being invited to an event where he will

A participate in a program.

B raise money.

C have refreshments.

D talk about improvements.

13 The listener should reply to the letter by

A August 5th.

B July 26th.

C August 16th.

D September 1st.

Reading Answers 

1 Answer: False

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 1

Answer explanation: We can understand from the first paragraph that a deposit of $150 each is payable on booking and the balance is payable 30 days before tour departure, which means that customers can pay a deposit of $150 and pay the remaining balance before the tour departure. As a result, the statement contradicts the information, so, the answer is False.

2 Answer: True

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 2

Answer explanation: Paragraph 2 illustrates the conditions of Sunset Tours, that is the cost is subject to a minimum of 25 passengers traveling and we reserve the right to cancel if this number is not reached. These lines suggest that the tour will not proceed until there are not enough bookings. Thus, the statement agrees with the information, so, the answer is True.

3 Answer: Not Given

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 4

Answer explanation: We find a reference for cancellation of the tours in Paragraph 4, which states that travelers must have a travel insurance policy to cover sudden illness or accident. However, it’s not mentioned anywhere that if travel plans are disrupted due to unexpected problems, the tourists can get a refund. Therefore, the answer is Not Given.

4 Answer: Not Given

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 3

Answer explanation: We find a reference for cabin bags in Paragraph 3, which states that each passenger is entitled to bring a cabin bag and one item of checked luggage no heavier than 20 kg as per industry requirements. However, it is not mentioned anywhere that there’s no weight limit on the traveler’s cabin luggage. Thus, the answer is Not Given.

5 Answer: False

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 3,last line

Answer explanation: In the last line of the 3rd paragraph, it is stated, “Your suitcase should be of a size and weight you can manage as tour leaders may not be readily available to handle your luggage.” We can deduce from these lines that Sunset Tours has advised the tourist to manage the size of their luggage since the tour leaders will not always be available to handle their luggage. These lines illustrate that tour leaders help the tourists with their luggage. Hence, the statement contradicts the information, so, the answer is False.

6 Answer: True

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 4

Answer explanation: We can understand from Paragraph 4 that travelers must have a travel insurance policy to cover sudden illness or accident. As a result, tourists must insure against sickness and injury. Hence, the statement agrees with the information, so, the answer is True.

7 Answer: False

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 4

Answer explanation: Paragraph 4 discusses the cancelation and refunds of Sunset Tours. It is mentioned in this paragraph that you must have a travel insurance policy to cover sudden illness or accident. Even so, an administration fee is retained for notice of more than 30 days before departure but, should cancellation occur through unforeseen circumstances not covered by travel insurance, 10% of the fare is retained for 15- 30 days’ notice, 20% for 4- 14 days and 50% Is held for less than 4 days’ notice. We can deduce from these lines that an insured traveler who cancels due to illness for more than a month before departure will get only the remaining refund after some amount has been retained by the tour company. Thus, the statement contradicts the information, so, the answer is False.

8 Answer: False

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 4, last line

Answer explanation: In the last line of paragraph 4, it is mentioned that there will be no refund for notice of one day or on the day of departure. Hence, there’ll be no refund for passengers canceling a day before the departure date. Thus, the answer is False.

9 Answer: True

Question type: True/False/Not Given

Answer location: Paragraph 5

Answer explanation: Paragraph 5 states that although every endeavor is made by Sunset Tours to ensure your holiday goes according to plan, we act purely as an agent for the various accommodation and other services provided. These lines indicate that sunset tours are not responsible for the state of hotel rooms as they act as an agent for various accommodation and services. Thus, the answer is True.

10 Answer: D

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: – 

Answer explanation: Although we don’t find any reference to what exactly 5ZBG is, we can understand from the format of the letter that 5ZBG is a broadcasting agency that primarily plays soothing music to its listeners. Because programming in the letter refers to performing music (program). Thus, the answer is D.

11 Answer: B

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: Paragraph 1

Answer explanation: The first paragraph of the letter states, “We wish to express our sincere thanks for your support during our last successful fund-raising endeavor. Your annual donation makes it possible for us to improve the station in every way for your interest and pleasure.” We can understand from these lines that the authorities of 5ZBG are expressing their heartfelt thanks for their listener’s support during their fund-raising endeavors. Because of annual donations, the 5ZBG authorities can improve their station. Thus, the listener is being thanked for offering their assistance. Hence, the answer is B.

12 Answer: D

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: Paragraph 2

Answer explanation: Paragraph 2 illustrates, “We would like to extend to you an invitation to join us at the station on Wednesday, 16th August at 3.00 pm for afternoon tea and to discuss station programming. Your input will be a great help to us. It will enable us to continue programming to suit your requirements. Together we will be discussing future ideas for SZBG “In the 2nd paragraph of the letter, the 5ZBG authorities have invited their listeners to join the station to discuss station programming as their input will be of great help. It will enable them to continue programming to suit their requirements. Further, a discussion regarding future ideas for 5ZBG will also be held. Thus, it is evident that the listener is being invited to an event where he along with 5ZBG will discuss improvements. Thus, the answer is D.

13 Answer: A

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location: –

Answer explanation: The 5ZBG authorities have concluded the letter by writing RSVP by 5/8/11, which means the listeners are required to reply or respond to the letter by August 5. Here, the term “RSVP” comes from the French expression répondez s’il vous plaît, meaning “please respond.” If RSVP is written on an invitation, it means the host has requested that the guest respond to say if they plan to attend the party. Thus, the answer is A.

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