We often hear candidates complaining about the lack of time in the Reading test: the articles are long and difficult, and it seems impossible...
Answer the questions below.
Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Example: Where did Louise spend her summer holidays? .............Europe.......
How much was a Eurailpass Youth Ticket?
1
How many European countries did Louise’s ticket allow her to travel to?
2
Did the Eurailpass Youth Ticket include the train from London to Paris?
3
How old must you be if you want to purchase a Eurailpass Youth Ticket?
4
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Complete the notes below.
Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
Points that Louise makes about Eurail: |
• easy to travel to small towns • easy to meet 5 • 6 with times of the trains • niqht trains had many 7 as passenaers |
Advice that Louise gives about Eurail: |
• Don't take 8 bags • Be 9 with your belongings • Spend enough time in each country to experience 10 |
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Nguồn 1
Nguồn 2
You will hear two students who have just returned to university after their summer vacation. Listen to Louise and Kerry talking about their vacation.
First, look at Questions 1 to 4.
[SHORT PAUSE]
You will see that there is an example already done for you. For this question only the conversation relating to the example will be played first.
Kerry: Hi Louise - how was your summer vacation?
Louise: Oh fantastic! I only got back from Europe yesterday.
Kerry: Wow! That sounds exciting.
Louise: Yes, it was. How was your holiday?
Kerry: Pretty quiet compared with yours. I just stayed around Cambridge...
Louise said that she had just got back from Europe yesterday, so the correct answer is EUROPE.
Now we shall begin. You should answer the questions as you listen because you will not hear the recording a second time.
Now listen carefully and answer Questions 1 to 4.
Kerry: Hi Louise - how was your summer vacation?
Louise: Oh fantastic! I only got back from Europe yesterday.
Kerry: Wow! That sounds exciting.
Louise: Yes, it was. How was your holiday?
Kerry: Pretty quiet compared with yours. I just stayed around Cambridge - but we’re planning to go to Europe at the end of next term.
Louise: Oh you’ll have a great time! I really recommend it. How are you going to get around?
Kerry: Well, we’ve thought about renting a car. Flying is far too expensive. What did you do?
Louise: We bought Eurail tickets and traveled around Europe by train.
Kerry: Was it expensive?
Louise: No, not really. It cost us £203 for a Eurailpass Youth Ticket.
Kerry: I've heard of Eurail - what did that include?
Louise: Well, you get unlimited train travel in and between seventeen European countries. It lasted for a month.
Kerry: Gee for £203 that sounds reasonable. Did you visit all of the seventeen places?
Louise: Yes, all except for Ireland. We couldn’t really understand why Ireland was included on the pass but England wasn’t.
Kerry: Yes, that seems a bit strange. Did it include the trip from London to Paris in the Channel Tunnel?
Louise: No, unfortunately we had to pay extra for that train but we did get a discounted fare because we're students.
Kerry: Were there any other restrictions on the tickets?
Louise: Well, if you want to pay more or less money you can choose another plan - there are 15 and 21 day plans or 2 and 3 month plans. The only restriction for the Youth Ticket is that you have to be under 26.
Kerry: That suits my friends and me. None of us are 26 yet. We went to school together.
Louise: Oh, you really have to do it. It’s safe and easy and a great way to see the countryside. The weather was fantastic and so were the people!
Kerry: It sounds great.
Louise and Kerry go on to talk about travelling by train in Europe. As you listen to the rest of the
conversation, answer Questions 5 to 10.
Before the conversation continues, read Questions 5 to 10.
[SHORT PAUSE]
Kerry: What was the best part of your trip?
Louise: The trains really gave us the freedom to plan our own holiday. We went to lots of places which were out-of-the-way and met lots of local people - you know, small rural towns where trains are still an important form of transport.
Kerry: We’d like to meet the local people - did you do that easily?
Louise: Yes, the trains in Europe aren't like the commuter trains in London. People like to talk and have a chat on trains in Europe.
Kerry: That’s nice.
Louise: Yes. The train times were OK as well. Sometimes we had to get up early to catch the trains which were crossing into another country but most of the time, we were satisfied with the timetables. Very punctual.
Kerry: Should we take an alarm clock?
Louise: Well, I would. Having an alarm clock made us sleep more comfortably. We knew that we’d wake up on time.
Kerry: And were the trains safe - did you travel at night?
Louise: Lots of students traveled at night because it saved having to pay for accommodation.
Kerry: I hadn’t thought of that.
Louise: Well, lots of others have thought of it. We preferred to stay in local pubs or student hostels because you could mix with the locals. The night trains were filled with British students!
Kerry: It sounds as if you had a very positive experience. Is there anything you’d recommend we take or do?
Louise: Let me see -I can certainly tell you what not to take or do. Don’t take much luggage. There just isn't very much room in the trains for big suitcases. A backpack or two small bags is better than one big bag. That way you can also get on and off the trains easily too.
Kerry: I'll remember that. My mother always says to pack one week before you go on vacation and then take half of it out the night before you leave.
Louise: That’s good advice - especially when you're riding on cramped trains. The other thing is to be careful with your valuables. Lots of students had money and passports stolen - especially at night.
Kerry: Did you have anything stolen?
Louise: No but we met lots of people who did have things stolen. We all had money belts under our jackets.
Kerry: I’ll have to buy one of those.
Louise: Yes, you should - or you can borrow mine if you like.
Kerry: Oh thanks - that'd be good.
Louise: The only other thing I’d advise you to do is to make sure you spend a reasonable amount of time in each country. We found that lots of students traveled too quickly and they didn’t have enough time to meet the locals and enjoy the food and the culture.
Kerry: How long do you think you need in each country?
Louise: I can't say - it'll depend on who you meet and what you like to do and of course, the weather. It was so warm and sunny in some beach-side places that we stayed for four or five days. In other towns, if it was very quiet or boring, we just stayed overnight.
Kerry: I guess that's what’s great about the train. You can come and go as you please.
Louise: Exactly - and it’s cheaper and much more relaxing - not to mention safer - I don’t think I could get used to driving on the right-hand-side of the road!
That is the end of Section 1. You now have 1/2 minute to check your answers.
Now t urn to Section 2 of your Listening Question Booklet.
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