Cambridge IELTS 21 General Training Test 2 Reading Answers and Explanations

10 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 21 | General Training Reading

GT Test 2 answers with clear explanations

These Cambridge IELTS 21 General Training Test 2 Reading answers explain all 40 questions. Review the county library, Riverton restaurants, workplace notices and cooperative parenting.

40answers explained
3reading sections
60 minofficial practice time
GTGeneral Training
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Cambridge IELTS 21 GT Test 2 Reading answer key

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

1. County libraries and places to eat in Riverton

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

2. J&G commitments and pool cars

Questions 15 to 27
15expectations
16feedback
17interviewsAlso: interview
18danger
19professional
20database
21discounts
22line manager
23Helpdesk
24codeAlso: security code
25marked bays
26faults
27mileageAlso: indicated mileage

3. Cooperative approaches to raising young

Questions 28 to 40
28ix
29iv
30viii
31v
32vii
33ii
34water
35predators
36milk
37C
38D
39C
40A

Section 1: County libraries and places to eat in Riverton

Section 1 presents county library service standards and 5 places to eat in Riverton. The questions cover customer communication, restaurant features, prices and current availability.

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

Review strategyFor True, False, Not Given, distinguish missing information from a contradiction. For matching, connect each detail to one named place.
1All library staff are required to display their job titles.TRUE

Why: Staff badges identify library employees and state the position each person holds.

2Library staff may interrupt their conversation with a customer in the library in order to answer the phone.FALSE

Why: Staff must finish helping the person in front of them before answering the telephone.

3Books that have been reserved will be kept behind the counter ready for collection.NOT GIVEN

Why: The library offers an automated reservation service. The collection location is not stated.

4There is a schedule for improving the library every year.TRUE

Why: The planned refurbishment programme is reviewed every year.

5If someone phoning the library is rude, library staff will immediately put the phone down.FALSE

Why: Staff may end an abusive call only after giving the caller a warning.

6Library staff will give complete answers to all written enquiries within a week.FALSE

Why: Emails receive an acknowledgement within 7 days. A complete answer may take longer.

7You can see celebrities eating at this place.D

Why: Thai Palace attracts well-known people from music, sport and the media.

8This place offers a wide range of wines.A

Why: Strollers offers a wide choice on both its cocktail and wine lists.

9You have to walk to this place.B

Why: Al Pomodoro is inside a pedestrianised area, so customers must approach on foot.

10Everyone pays the same amount for their meal at this place.E

Why: Riverton Hall serves a fixed four-course menu for £55 per person.

11This place has very comfortable seating.C

Why: The Old Tavern provides deep sofas for customers to relax in.

12You can listen to music at this place.E

Why: Riverton Hall entertains guests with folk songs during the meal.

13You can have your meal outside at this place.B

Why: Al Pomodoro allows customers to eat on its terrace throughout the year.

14This place is currently closed.A

Why: Strollers will reopen next month, so it is currently closed.

Section 2: J&G commitments and pool cars

Section 2 explains J&G's promises to job candidates and rules for company pool cars. It covers assignments, workplace safety, employee benefits, bookings and vehicle checks.

Question types: Summary completion.

Review strategyRead the words around each gap before scanning the notice. Copy the exact wording allowed by the instructions.
15Tailored assignments: to meet your ____ regarding assignments.expectations

Why: J&G works with candidates to confirm their assignment expectations.

16Information: to give updates, ____ and advice.feedback

Why: Candidates receive position updates, assignment feedback and development advice.

17Skills development: to help you prepare for ____.interviews

Why: J&G gives advice on interview techniques before candidates meet employers.

Also accepted: interview.

18Avoiding accidents: to back you up if you are in serious ____.danger

Why: The agency gives full support when a candidate faces significant danger.

19Non-discriminatory recruitment: to consider only ____ matters when recruiting.professional

Why: Recruitment decisions use professional criteria only.

20Advantages: to offer you training, e.g. in using a ____.database

Why: The employee benefits include database training.

21Advantages: to offer you ____ when buying from certain stores.discounts

Why: Loyalty programmes provide discounts at major retailers.

22Ask your ____ for authorisation.line manager

Why: Staff must obtain permission from their line manager before booking.

23To book, email or call the ____.Helpdesk

Why: A pool car is booked by contacting the Helpdesk.

24To enter the lower basement car park, use the ____ given in the logbook.code

Why: The required code appears inside the front cover of the logbook.

Also accepted: security code.

25Collect the car from one of the ____ in the car park.marked bays

Why: Pool cars are always kept in marked bays.

26Check the car and inform the Helpdesk about any ____ at once.faults

Why: Any faults must be reported to the Helpdesk immediately.

27Write the current ____ in the logbook.mileage

Why: The driver records the indicated mileage in the logbook.

Also accepted: indicated mileage.

Section 3: Cooperative approaches to raising young

Section 3 examines cooperative parenting among meerkats and banded mongooses. It explores kinship, intelligence, synchronised births and an unexpected feeding experiment.

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

Review strategyMatch each heading to the main idea of the full section. For multiple choice, check every part of the selected option.
28Section Aix

Why: Section A describes life in the dry Kalahari, with little water and few safe hiding places.

29Section Biv

Why: Section B explains how many pups help a group defend valuable land.

30Section Cviii

Why: A dominant female can produce up to 20 pups in one year.

31Section Dv

Why: Section D says low kinship requires greater intelligence and social planning.

32Section Evii

Why: Section E shows how giving birth together helps the whole group raise one litter.

33Section Fii

Why: The experiment disproved the expectation that larger newborn pups would keep their advantage.

34Meerkats have to survive without ____ for long periods.water

Why: Meerkats live through many months when no water is available.

35There are not many places where they can safely keep clear of ____.predators

Why: Safe places to hide from predators are difficult to find.

36Other females provide the young with ____ initially and keep them safe in burrows.milk

Why: Subordinate females first provide milk and protect pups in burrows.

37In Section B, when describing how meerkats breed, Professor Clutton-Brock isC

Why: Clutton-Brock is puzzled because helping others appears to conflict with individual survival.

38What conclusion did Professor Clutton-Brock reach during his study of meerkats?D

Why: Female meerkats pass on shared genes by helping their brothers and sisters survive.

39What does Professor Clutton-Brock think is important about lower kinship groups?C

Why: Animals in low-kinship groups must become clever to avoid being disadvantaged.

40Following his team’s experiment with feeding mongooses, Professor CantA

Why: Cant says mongooses repeatedly behave differently from what researchers expect.

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