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1. IELTS GTR 001
IELTS General Training Reading
IELTS General Training Reading exercises are
planned to give you practice in target reading skills.
Please attempt the exercises well in advance.
During your on-line class the reading text will be
discussed in detail and strategy and skills needed in
answering the questions will be built.
It is not advisable to use a dictionary while
answering the questions. Try to guess the meanings
of any difficult word with the help of the clues
provided by the context.
These practice materials are written by
Sunil Pathiraja

2. Google sees quarterly profit up
Internet search engine Google has seen better-than-expected quarterly results even as revenue
growth slowed following the economic downturn.
A) The firm saw net income reach $1.48bn (£900m) in the three
months to 30 June, compared to $1.25bn a year before. Revenue
rose 3% for the period at $5.52bn and just over half - 53% - came
from outside the US. Analysts reacted broadly positively to the
results, noting that the firm had performed well in containing
costs.
B) The firm was upbeat about the results "especially given the
continued macro-economic downturn". Chief executive Eric
Schmidt said: "These results highlight the enduring strength of our business model and our
responsible efforts to manage expenses."
C) Google earned $5.36 a share, excluding certain items, better than the $5.08 per share forecast by
analysts. Sameet Sinha, an analyst with JMP Securities said: "The numbers are good. Revenue
was in line with expectations, and strong operating efficiencies were brought about by the new
chief executive." "It definitely shows that Google is a best-of-breed company for online
advertising, and it's a must buy."
D) But Ross Sandler, an analyst at RBC Capital, described the results as mixed. "Overall, the focus
is on what's going to happen in the second half." Shares in the firm Google gained 1% to
$442.60 on but later dropped 2.4% in after-hours trade. Paid clicks - which include clicks
related to ads served on Google sites and the sites of AdSense partners - were 15% higher year-
on-year, but 2% less than in the first quarter.
© BBC MMIX
Which paragraph contains the following information ?
1. One analyst's opinion that the income made by Google shows both positive and negative trends.
2. Company Chief Executive gives two main reasons for their success.
3. Quarterly revenue and net income figures are given with corresponding figures of the same
quarter last year.
4. An analyst appreciates company's financial performances.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS OR A NUMBER as answer to each of the following
questions.
5. How much was the net income of the company for the same quarter of the year before ?
6. What percentage of their revenue came from outside the USA for the given quarter ?
7. What has the company been able to limit in order to achieve their revenue targets according to
analysts ?
8. How does the Chief Executive describe their business model ?
9. What is the earnings per share forecast ?
10. What two indicators' drops are quoted to say that results are 'mixed' ?

3. Acid and Base
Acids and bases are two related groups of chemicals. They are important to living things and to
industry.
Some acids are found in food. They include acetic acid in vinegar, lactic acid in milk, and citric acid in
lemons. They often have a sour taste. Others are found in animals. The stomach makes an acid that
helps break down food. Amino acids are the building blocks of helpful chemicals called proteins. Acids
that do not come from living things are stronger than those that do. They can often corrode, or break
down, metals. Sulfuric acid is one example. It is used to make fertilizers, dyes, drugs, explosives,
detergents, and certain batteries.
A base is a substance that feels slippery in water. Some are used in foods or medicines. These often
have a bitter taste. Examples of such bases include baking soda and milk of magnesia. Other bases are
used in manufacturing. Sodium hydroxide, or lye, breaks down animal and plant tissues. It is used to
make soap, paper, and artificial fibers. A water mixture that contains a base is called a basic, or
alkaline, solution.
When acids and bases are combined they produce water and compounds called salts. They have a salty
taste and none of the characteristic properties of either acids or bases. The reactions between acids and
bases can be quite strong. One result is that they can quickly produce gases. This is why baking soda is
useful for baking pastries and cakes. When it is combined with an acid such as lemon juice or sour
cream in a dough mixture, it releases gases that make the dough rise.
Acids and bases make some materials change color. A special kind of paper called litmus paper is one
type of material that does this. An acid in water turns litmus paper red. A base in water turns the paper
blue. A neutral substance, such as pure water, gives litmus paper a color midway between red and blue.
Fill the gaps in the following statements using the words selected from the reading passage above.
11. Acetic, lactic and …............ acids are examples of the acids found in food.
12. In the …......... an acid is produced to break down food that we eat.
13. Proteins are made up of the units called …...... acids.
14. Compared to acids found in living things, those that are not present in living things are ….......
15. Acids have a …............ taste while bases taste ….........
16. Sodium hydroxide is use in the manufacturing of …........., …............ and ….........
17. Combination of an acid and base produces ….......... and ….......
18. The dough is made to rise by the gasses produced by …................. when it is mixed with an
acid like lemon juice.
19. Litmus paper can be used to detect acids and bases in water as an acid turns the paper …......
and a base …..................
20. Water does not make a litmus paper either red or blue as it is …........

4. Teenagers 'desperate' for a baby
With the UK's teenage pregnancy rate the highest in Europe, and one in 10 UK babies born to a
teenage mother, a BBC documentary crew followed two girls who badly wanted to get pregnant
as they were forced to rethink their decision.
Sixteen-year-old Chantelle lost her virginity at 13. Having been with her boyfriend for a year and a
half, she was desperate for a child. "I could see myself as a mum next year pushing a baby around, I get
jealous when I see people with babies, I feel like it should be me." But her mother, Mandy Pitt, was
horrified by the idea, as she knew only too well the stark reality of being a teenage mother. "She
basically thinks that she's got all the answers and all the solutions, like, 'oh you'll help me', well I won't,
I'm not turning my back on her, but I won't help her make that wrong decision." "Chantelle wanting a
child brings back memories, I made that decision at 17 and thought I was ready to have a baby.
"I ended up on my own… and it was really rough and it was tough and there was no support or
nothing… it was horrible not having anyone to turn to." Mrs Pitt found teenage motherhood so hard she
eventually gave her child up for adoption… and was adamant that Chantelle did not follow in her
footsteps.
But there was an underlying reason why Chantelle was so desperate for a baby. "I want a baby because
I had an abortion when I was 14, I didn't want to do it but I had to because I needed to live myself and
ever since, there's just been that little bit missing."
Headstrong only child Lydia, was convinced she was independent enough to raise a child, even though
she's only 14 and does not have a boyfriend. "I don't know anyone else who wants a baby as much as
me… I really, really, really, really, really want a baby. "At one point I got the Argos catalog out and
wrote everything down that I'd need if I had a child."
Lydia's mother Josephine Boggis was 37 when she had her daughter, and cannot understand why she
would want to throw her teenage years away. "I think she's looking for something or someone she can
shower in love, something that she can be in charge of, because she likes to be in charge." The
relationship between Lydia and her mother has been strained, and has played a large part in the reason
why Lydia wants a baby. "Well I'd love to have a baby so you could bring it up like you wanted to have
been brought up, if you know what I mean."
In order to help the girls make an informed decision about getting pregnant, both were taken to see
what their future could be like. They met with teenage mothers who were living in one-bed mother and
baby hostels. Kim, who is now 16, gave birth to her son when she was 13. With nowhere to go after he
was born, she was one day away from being housed in a hostel for drug users and abused women. "You
have no choice, it's not that easy to get a house. "I don't know why you'd want to have a baby so young.
"I don't want people to make the same mistake as me and to have to face everything that I have, just
because they want a child."
Both families visited a maternity ward and talked openly and honestly about themselves and their
relationships with a psychotherapist. The teenagers also had a sleepless night looking after
computerised babies, in order to have all the information they needed to make a decision. After going
through a week of these tough challenges, Chantelle and Lydia decided that motherhood could most
definitely wait. Chantelle has enrolled at a hairdressing college and has decided to wait at least a
decade before having a baby.
Chantelle said: "When I see babies and (their) mums now I feel sorry for them and ask, 'are they good

5. sleepers?'. "That's the first thing I ask." Her mother Mandy Pitt has said she is thrilled with her
daughter's decision. "To hear her say that now, I think phew, it's amazing, it's just a relief you know,
and I just think, thank you."
And while Lydia still likes the idea of having a baby, she has decided to pursue a career in the catering
trade first. "When I see babies I think, 'oh how sweet', I'll definitely have one one day… in the future."
© BBC MMIX
Select the correct letter as answer to each of the questions given below.
A. Chantelle
B. Lydia
C. Chantelle and Lydia
21. Who talked openly to a psychotherapist at a maternity ward ?
22. Whose mother was a teenage mother herself ?
23. Whose mother was 37 when she was born ?
24. Who does not have a boy friend ?
25. Who decided to give up the idea of getting pregnant till late ?
26. Who had an abortion at 14 ?
27. Who were given to look after computerised babies over a night ?
28. Who has decided to obtain a job in catering trade ?
29. Who wanted a baby to compensate her strained relationship with the mother.
30. Who met Kim at one-bed mother and baby hostel ?