Cambridge IELTS 20 General Training Test 1 Reading Answers and Explanations

11 min read Academic & General Training

All answers on this page include the question number, correct answer and a brief explanation of where to find it in the passage or audio. Use these alongside the original Cambridge IELTS books for the best practice experience.

Cambridge IELTS 20 | General Training Reading

General Training Test 1 answers with clear explanations

These Cambridge IELTS 20 General Training Test 1 Reading answers explain all 40 questions. Review campsites, cycling, workplace advice, business planning and child archaeologists.

40answers explained
3reading sections
60 minofficial practice time
GTGeneral Training
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Cambridge IELTS 20 General Training Test 1 Reading answer key

Use these cards for quick marking. Read the detailed explanations when an answer needs more review.

1. Campsites and cycling in Plymouth

Questions 1 to 14
1D
2B
3C
4F
5E
6TRUE
7FALSE
8FALSE
9NOT GIVEN
10TRUE
11TRUE
12NOT GIVEN
13TRUE
14NOT GIVEN

2. Difficult workplace conversations and a new business

Questions 15 to 27
15behaviourAlso: behavior
16conflict
17environment
18friend
19solutions
20workload
21skills
22half
23reviews
24employees
25dates
26rights
27competitors

3. Children as archaeological investigators

Questions 28 to 40
28B
29F
30C
31D
32G
33C
34D
35B
36A
37university
38game
39workshop
40C

Section 1: Campsites and cycling in Plymouth

Section 1 compares recommended campsites and gives practical information about cycling in Plymouth. It covers facilities, locations, routes, safety and visitor services.

Question types: Matching features, True, False, Not Given.

Review strategyMatch each campsite detail carefully. For True, False, Not Given, distinguish a contradiction from information the cycling text never states.
1You can pay to hire a tent at this campsite.D

Why: The passage links this detail to Bluewater Bay.

2There is a short period each day when you cannot use the showers.B

Why: The passage links this detail to Treetops Farm.

3There is a place on site where you can wash clothes.C

Why: The passage links this detail to The Downs.

4A member of staff is available all day to help visitors.F

Why: The passage links this detail to Rock Harbour.

5Visitors to this campsite can go swimming in the winter.E

Why: The passage links this detail to Dean Park.

6The number of traffic-free cycle paths in the city is increasing.TRUE

Why: The passage directly confirms the information in this statement.

7You are likely to reach your destination faster if you drive in the city than if you cycle.FALSE

Why: The passage gives information that contradicts this statement.

8There are numerous days in the winter when the weather prevents you cycling.FALSE

Why: The passage gives information that contradicts this statement.

9Using a bike app to hire a bike is very popular.NOT GIVEN

Why: The passage does not provide this specific information.

10You will have to pay a higher price to buy a bike that is light.TRUE

Why: The passage directly confirms the information in this statement.

11Only folding bikes can be taken on local trains at any time.TRUE

Why: The passage directly confirms the information in this statement.

12You need to book to take a bike on a train at least a week before you travel.NOT GIVEN

Why: The passage does not provide this specific information.

13If you are repairing a puncture, you will need a piece of equipment called a tyre lever.TRUE

Why: The passage directly confirms the information in this statement.

14Broken glass is the most common cause of tyre punctures.NOT GIVEN

Why: The passage does not provide this specific information.

Section 2: Difficult workplace conversations and a new business

Section 2 explains how to manage difficult workplace conversations and build a successful new business. It covers behaviour, planning, customers, finance and professional support.

Question types: Sentence completion, Note completion.

Review strategyUse grammar to predict each missing word. Then confirm the exact workplace or business term in the passage.
15A lot of people find it hard to challenge colleagues about their poor ____.behaviour

Why: The passage uses "behaviour" to complete this answer accurately.

Also accepted: behavior.

16People are often afraid of causing ____ with colleagues if they raise tricky issues.conflict

Why: The passage uses "conflict" to complete this answer accurately.

17It is important to select the most suitable ____ for a difficult talk.environment

Why: The passage uses "environment" to complete this answer accurately.

18It may help to consult a ____ for feedback on how you are communicating the main points.friend

Why: The passage uses "friend" to complete this answer accurately.

19It often works best if the speaker sounds as if they want to find ____ to the problem under discussion.solutions

Why: The passage uses "solutions" to complete this answer accurately.

20A line manager that fails to communicate may have an excessive ____.workload

Why: The passage uses "workload" to complete this answer accurately.

21If colleagues never have anything good to say, they may lack the appropriate ____ to make requests appropriately.skills

Why: The passage uses "skills" to complete this answer accurately.

22Statistically, out of all new business ventures, ____ will not survive two years.half

Why: The passage uses "half" to complete this answer accurately.

23Arrange frequent ____ to ensure these goals are still practicable.reviews

Why: The passage uses "reviews" to complete this answer accurately.

24Make sure all ____ are fully aware of them.employees

Why: The passage uses "employees" to complete this answer accurately.

25Ensure the projected cashflow will be adequate by noting ____ for paying tax and other outgoings.dates

Why: The passage uses "dates" to complete this answer accurately.

26Draw up a document stating the ____ and what partners are responsible for doing in the business.rights

Why: The passage uses "rights" to complete this answer accurately.

27Find out how your product differs from what ____ offer.competitors

Why: The passage uses "competitors" to complete this answer accurately.

Section 3: Children as archaeological investigators

Section 3 examines children working as archaeological investigators. It explores research methods, learning, adult expectations and evidence from practical projects.

Question types: Matching features, Multiple choice, Summary completion.

Review strategyTrack each researcher's view before matching. Use the summary structure and multiple-choice evidence to reject distractors.
28How unusual it is for archaeologists and children to have equal responsibilitiesB

Why: The passage links this detail to Paragraph B.

29The relevance of the children's achievements to a country's educational requirementsF

Why: The passage links this detail to Paragraph F.

30The location of the archaeologists' main projectC

Why: The passage links this detail to Paragraph C.

31A place where a large amount of archaeological material was foundD

Why: The passage links this detail to Paragraph D.

32A relative's connection to a local businessG

Why: The passage links this detail to Paragraph G.

33The experiment described in paragraph A is designed to showC

Why: Option C is the only choice supported by the passage.

34In paragraph B, what does the writer say most schoolchildren do when they visit archaeological sites?D

Why: Option D is the only choice supported by the passage.

35The water mill is an example of something that the childrenB

Why: Option B is the only choice supported by the passage.

36What does the writer say about one child's grandmother?A

Why: Option A is the only choice supported by the passage.

37First the children went to look at the exhibits on display at the ____ museum.university

Why: The passage uses "university" to complete this answer accurately.

38Then they created a ____ for visitors to test their knowledge of the items.game

Why: The passage uses "game" to complete this answer accurately.

39One piece of pottery was recognised as being made at a particular ____.workshop

Why: The passage uses "workshop" to complete this answer accurately.

40What would be a suitable title for the article?C

Why: Option C is the only choice supported by the passage.

How to review your answers

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  2. Group mistakes by question type and reading section.
  3. Find the exact sentence that proves each correct answer.
  4. Retake the test after reviewing your weakest question type.

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