IELTS General Training Reading full test 2

Section 1: Weekend markets around Riverton

A. Riverton Farmers' Market Every Saturday, 7 am to 12 pm, in the primary school grounds. Fresh fruit, vegetables, eggs and bread from local farms within 100 km. Bring your own bags: plastic bags are not provided. Free parking on school ovals.

B. Harbour Night Market Fridays, 5 pm to 10 pm, October to April only. Street food from around the world, live music and craft stalls. Most stalls accept cash only. Ten minutes' walk from Riverton station.

C. Old Mill Antiques and Collectables First Sunday of every month, 8 am to 2 pm. Vintage furniture, records, books and jewellery. Entry $3, children free. Dogs welcome on a lead.

D. Green Valley Makers' Market Second and fourth Saturdays, 9 am to 3 pm. Handmade soap, pottery, clothing and art from local makers. Children's craft workshops at 10 am ($5, bookings essential).

E. Riverton Car Boot Sale Every Sunday from 6 am at the showground. Anyone can sell second-hand goods from their car for $15 per space; no booking needed, simply arrive early. Buyers enter free.

Section 1: Using the Westside Aquatic Centre

The Westside Aquatic Centre has a 50-metre outdoor pool, a heated 25-metre indoor pool and a children's water play area. The outdoor pool is open from September to April; the indoor pool is open all year.

Casual entry costs $8 for adults and $5.50 for children aged 3 to 15. Children under 3 swim free. A 10-visit pass gives you two free visits compared with paying casually, and passes do not expire.

Children under 10 must be supervised by a responsible person aged 16 or over, who must stay within arm's reach of children under 5 at all times.

Swimming lessons run in four terms of nine weeks. Enrolments for the next term open two weeks before the current term ends, and existing students are offered their place first. Lockers are available for a $2 coin, which is returned when you open the locker.

Section 2: Your first week at Brightside Aged Care

Orientation. On your first day, report to reception at 8 am, not to your ward. You will spend the morning with the Training Coordinator completing compulsory modules on infection control, manual handling and residents' rights.

Buddy shifts. For your first three shifts you will work alongside an experienced carer, known as your buddy. You will not be counted in staff numbers during these shifts, so please use them to ask questions and observe routines.

Uniform. Two sets of uniform are provided free of charge. Additional sets can be ordered at cost price. Closed, non-slip shoes must be worn at all times; these are not supplied.

Rosters. Rosters are published every second Friday on the staff app and cover the following fortnight. If you need to swap a shift, find a colleague to cover it and then ask your team leader to approve the swap.

Section 2: How to write a winning job application

Most employers spend less than a minute on a first read of each application, so the opening of your cover letter matters. Begin by naming the role you're applying for and giving one strong reason you're suited to it, ideally a specific achievement.

Tailor every application. Read the job advertisement carefully and use the same key terms where they honestly describe your experience. Many larger employers use software to screen applications before a person reads them, and applications that don't match the advertisement's language may be filtered out.

In your résumé, list your most recent job first and focus on results rather than duties. 'Reduced customer complaints by 20%' is far more convincing than 'responsible for handling complaints'. Keep it to two or three pages, and leave out personal details such as your date of birth or marital status, which Australian employers do not need.

Finally, choose referees who have supervised you recently, and always ask their permission before giving their names. A quick phone call to let them know which roles you've applied for means they'll be ready if an employer calls.

Section 3: Growing food in small spaces

A In cities around the world, people with no garden are finding ways to grow their own food. Balconies, rooftops, kitchen windowsills and even the walls of apartment buildings are being turned into small vegetable plots. What began as a hobby among a few enthusiasts has become, in some cities, a widespread movement, supported by councils, community groups and businesses selling equipment.

B For most beginners, the advice is to start small. Herbs such as basil, mint and parsley grow well in pots and are expensive to buy fresh, so they offer quick rewards. Cherry tomatoes, chillies and salad leaves are also good choices because they produce a harvest within weeks. Experts recommend checking how many hours of direct sun a space receives before choosing plants, since most vegetables need at least six.

C However, growing food in small spaces is harder than it may appear. Containers dry out quickly in hot weather and may need watering twice a day in summer. Soil in pots also loses nutrients faster than garden soil, so plants must be fed regularly. On high balconies, strong winds can damage plants, and some buildings have rules about the weight of pots that balconies can safely carry.

D Technology is helping to overcome some of these problems. Self-watering pots with a water reservoir at the bottom reduce the need for daily attention, and small indoor systems use LED lights and water instead of soil, allowing people to grow lettuce and herbs in a kitchen cupboard. Critics point out, however, that these systems can be expensive and use electricity, which reduces their environmental benefit.

E On a larger scale, some cities now have commercial rooftop farms. In one well-known example, a farm on top of a warehouse supplies salad greens to nearby restaurants within hours of picking. Supporters say such farms cut transport emissions and food waste, although researchers note that rooftop farms currently supply only a tiny fraction of the food a city consumes.

F Perhaps the most important benefits are not about the amount of food produced at all. Studies of community gardens have found that gardeners report lower stress, eat more vegetables and know more of their neighbours. For people living alone, a shared garden can be one of the few places where they regularly talk to others. As one community gardener put it, 'I came for the tomatoes, but I stayed for the people.'