IELTS General Reading Practice Test 03
Three sections · Five passages · 40 questions · 60 minutes
SECTION 1
Passage A
Portsmouth City Council: Residential Kerbside Recycling Scheme
Welcome to Portsmouth City Council’s guide to residential recycling. Our kerbside collection scheme is designed to make it as easy as possible for residents to dispose of household waste responsibly. Each household is provided with a blue-lidded bin for recycling, which is collected on a fortnightly basis. Please ensure your bin is placed at the edge of your property by 7:00 am on your scheduled collection day.
What can be put in your blue-lidded recycling bin?
We accept a wide range of materials, but it is vital that only the correct items are included to avoid contamination of the entire load. All items must be clean, dry, and placed loose in the bin (not in plastic bags).
Paper and Cardboard
Yes please: Newspapers, magazines, telephone directories, catalogues, junk mail (envelopes with plastic windows are accepted), cardboard boxes (please flatten), cereal boxes, and egg boxes.
No thanks: Shredded paper (it gets caught in the sorting machinery), dirty pizza boxes, and used paper towels or tissues.
Metals
Yes please: Food tins, drink cans, and empty aerosol cans (such as hairspray or deodorant). Please rinse tins and cans.
No thanks: Aluminium foil or trays, metal pots and pans, or cutlery.
Plastics
Yes please: Plastic bottles only. This includes milk bottles, soft drink bottles, and empty bleach or shampoo bottles. Please remove lids and rinse.
No thanks: Plastic pots (e.g., yoghurt or margarine pots), plastic trays (e.g., meat trays), plastic film, or carrier bags.
Glass
Please do NOT put glass in your blue-lidded bin. Glass must be taken to your local bottle bank, located at various supermarkets and car parks throughout the city.
If your bin contains the wrong items, our collection team will leave a hanger on the bin explaining why it was not emptied. You will need to remove the incorrect items and wait for the next scheduled collection.
Passage B
Grangeview Medical Centre: Patient Information and Appointments
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday: 8:00 am–6:30 pm
Saturdays: 8:30 am–11:30 am (emergency pre-booked appointments only)
The surgery is closed on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Appointments
Consultations are by appointment only. These can be booked online via our website (registration required), over the telephone, or in person at the reception desk.
Standard appointments are scheduled for 10 minutes. If you have multiple issues to discuss or feel you need more time, please request a double appointment when booking. We endeavour to offer appointments with the doctor of your choice; however, this may not always be possible, particularly for urgent, same-day bookings.
If you are unable to attend your appointment, please notify us as soon as possible, preferably at least two hours in advance. This allows us to offer the time slot to another patient. Patients who repeatedly fail to attend without cancellation may be asked to register with another practice.
Urgent Appointments and Home Visits
If you require an urgent appointment, please call the surgery as early as possible after 8:00 am. You will be triaged by a clinician who will assess the urgency of your condition. Home visits are for patients who are truly housebound or too ill to attend the surgery. Requests for home visits should ideally be made before 10:30 am.
Out of Hours
When the surgery is closed, please call the NHS 111 service (dial 111). This service provides medical advice and can direct you to the most appropriate local facility, such as an urgent care centre or an out-of-hours GP. NHS 111 is free to call from landlines and mobiles. In a genuine life-threatening emergency, always dial 999.
Repeat Prescriptions
Repeat prescriptions can be ordered online or by ticking the required items on the counterpart of your previous prescription and dropping it into the designated box at reception. We require two working days to process prescription requests. We are unable to take prescription orders over the telephone due to the risk of error.
SECTION 2
Passage C
Harbour View Hotel: Fire Safety Procedures for Staff
As an employee of the Harbour View Hotel, it is your duty to be familiar with the fire safety procedures. Fire drills are conducted every six months, and participation is mandatory for all staff on duty.
Upon Discovering a Fire
- Immediately break the glass on the nearest fire alarm call point. These are situated at every stairwell landing and next to all final exit doors. Do not attempt to extinguish a fire yourself unless you have been trained and it is safe to do so.
- Telephone Reception by dialling ‘0’ and state clearly, “FIRE”, and the exact location.
- Evacuate the immediate area.
Upon Hearing the Fire Alarm
The fire alarm is a continuous high-pitched siren.
- If you are with guests, politely instruct them to leave the building immediately via the nearest escape route. Escort them to the designated assembly point in the North Car Park.
- Ensure that any fire doors in your area are closed behind you as you leave. These doors are designed to resist fire for at least 30 minutes, significantly slowing the spread of smoke and flames.
- Do not stop to collect personal belongings.
- Do not use the lifts. You must use the designated stairwells.
Departmental Responsibilities
Reception: Upon receiving notification of a fire, the receptionist must immediately telephone the Fire Brigade (999). Reception is also responsible for collecting the guest register and the staff signing-in book and bringing them to the assembly point.
Housekeeping: If the alarm sounds, room attendants must immediately stop cleaning rooms, close the door of the room they are currently in, and evacuate. If near a guest room that is obviously occupied, knock on the door while exiting the corridor.
Restaurant and Bar Staff: All cooking appliances must be switched off immediately if it is safe to do so. Staff must guide diners and patrons towards the nearest exit in an orderly manner.
Assembly Point
All staff must report to the North Car Park Assembly Point. You must not re-enter the building under any circumstances until the ‘All Clear’ is given by the Fire Brigade Officer in charge. Staff members who fail to report to the assembly point may cause rescuers to enter a burning building unnecessarily to look for them.
Passage D
Recruitment Process at Oakhaven Care Home
Oakhaven Care Home prides itself on providing high-quality residential care for older people. We aim to recruit individuals who demonstrate compassion, patience, and a commitment to maintaining the dignity of our residents. The following outlines our recruitment process for Care Assistant positions.
Application Stage
Vacancies are advertised on the Oakhaven website and in local community centres. All applicants must submit a fully completed Oakhaven Application Form. Please note that we do not accept general CVs. The application form requires detailed information regarding employment history, educational qualifications, and contact details for two referees, one of whom must be a previous employer.
Shortlisting
Applications are reviewed by the Home Manager and Senior Care Team. Candidates whose experience and skills best match the requirements of the role will be shortlisted for an interview. Due to the high volume of applications, we are unfortunately unable to provide individual feedback to candidates who are not shortlisted. If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, you should assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
Interview
The interview process typically involves a one-to-one interview with the Home Manager. This discussion will focus on your motivation for working in care, your understanding of the challenges faced by older residents, and your ability to handle difficult situations. For roles requiring specific technical skills, a practical assessment may also be required.
Pre-employment Checks
All job offers are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks. Oakhaven Care Home is committed to safeguarding the welfare of our residents. Therefore, successful candidates must undergo an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. A criminal record does not automatically disqualify you from employment, but certain offences may render you unsuitable. We also require two satisfactory written references and proof of your right to work in the UK.
Induction and Probation
New employees participate in a comprehensive induction programme. This covers mandatory training such as health and safety, food hygiene, moving and handling, and safeguarding. All new appointments are subject to a six-month probationary period. During this time, your performance and suitability for the role will be assessed. Regular review meetings will be held, and upon successful completion of probation, employment will be confirmed.
SECTION 3
Passage E
A Quiet Revolution: The Rise of Men’s Sheds
A In a small, nondescript building behind a community centre in a British town, a group of men is gathered. The air is thick with the scent of sawdust and the rhythmic sound of sawing and gentle banter. This is a ‘Men’s Shed’—an unassuming title for a concept that is quietly revolutionising social life for a significant, yet often overlooked, demographic. While community groups and social clubs are plentiful, they have historically struggled to attract men, particularly those of retirement age. The Men’s Shed movement, however, has found the key to unlock this door, offering a unique space that is reshaping lives, one wooden bird box at a time.
B The concept originated in Australia in the late 1990s. It was born from a realisation that when men retire or face unemployment, they often lose not only their income but also their social network and, crucially, their sense of purpose. For many men of a certain generation, their identity was inextricably linked to their occupation. Work provided structure, camaraderie, and a feeling of being a productive member of society. Without it, many men became isolated, occupying their time with solitary activities and rarely discussing their feelings. The Shed movement aims to replicate the positive aspects of the workplace environment—the shoulder-to-shoulder camaraderie—without the associated pressures.
C So, what exactly is a Men’s Shed? At its simplest, it is a communal workshop. It is a place where men can access tools, work on their own projects, or participate in group tasks that benefit the local community, such as repairing playground equipment or building benches for a local hospice. There is no set curriculum, no prerequisite skill level, and no pressure to produce. A man can spend his entire session working diligently on a piece of furniture, or he might spend it mostly drinking tea and chatting. The freedom to simply ‘be’ is a cornerstone of the Shed philosophy. The activities serve as a catalyst, a comfortable common denominator that draws men in.
D This ‘doing things together’ approach is the secret to the movement’s success. Research has consistently shown that men communicate differently from women. While women are generally comfortable talking face-to-face about their feelings, men often find this difficult. They are much more likely to open up when engaged in an activity, working shoulder-to-shoulder rather than eye-to-eye. In the Shed, a difficult conversation about bereavement or a recent health diagnosis can emerge naturally while two men are focused on aligning a piece of timber or fixing a lawnmower engine. The task provides a buffer, reducing the intensity of direct interaction and making vulnerability feel less exposed.
E The mental and physical health benefits of Men’s Sheds are profound. The reduction in social isolation is perhaps the most obvious benefit. Loneliness is a known risk factor for various health conditions, including depression and heart disease. By providing a welcoming, inclusive space, Sheds act as a preventative health measure. Regular attendance often leads to increased self-esteem and a renewed sense of value. Furthermore, the physical nature of many Shed activities encourages men to remain active, maintaining hand-eye coordination and general mobility. Many Sheds also invite health professionals to give informal talks on men’s health issues, which men might otherwise avoid discussing with their doctor.
F The success of Men’s Sheds in Australia led to rapid global expansion. The first Sheds appeared in the UK in the early 2010s, and the movement has grown exponentially since then. There are now hundreds of Sheds across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, supported by the UK Men’s Sheds Association. This charitable body provides advice on everything from finding premises and securing funding to insurance and health and safety regulations. Each Shed is autonomously run by its members, reflecting the needs and interests of the local community, but they are all united by the core mission of fostering men’s well-being.
G However, establishing a Shed is not without its challenges. Finding suitable and affordable premises is often the biggest hurdle. Many Sheds operate on shoestring budgets, relying on donations of tools and materials from local businesses and individuals. Securing ongoing funding is a constant concern. Furthermore, as the core demographic is older men, Sheds must inevitably deal with the decline in health or death of their members. The Shed often becomes a support network during these difficult times, but the loss is deeply felt. This highlights the importance of the initial mission: creating a space where men are supported, valued, and connected, right until the end.
H Looking forward, the future of the Men’s Shed movement seems bright. Its strength lies in its simplicity and its profound understanding of men’s social needs. It is not about ‘fixing’ men, but rather creating the right conditions for them to thrive. The Shed is not just a workshop; it is a sanctuary. As one member eloquently put it, “The Shed saved my life. After my wife died, I was lost. Now, I have friends, I have things to do, and I feel useful again.” In a world that can often feel increasingly disconnected, these sanctuaries of sawdust are playing an invaluable role, ensuring that a generation of men is not left behind.
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