business planning ielts reading answers

Business Planning Reading Questions and Answers

The Blog post contains the following IELTS Reading Questions:

• IELTS Reading Flowchart Completion
• IELTS Reading Yes/No/Not Given

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IELTS Reading passage – Business Planning

Business Planning

What is a Business plan?

It is probably best described as a summary and evaluation of your business idea, in writing.Preparation of a business plan is the first and most important task for the business starter. The plan should include details concerning the industry in which you operate, your product or service, marketing, production, personnel and financial strategies.

What purpose does it serve?

A business plan allows you to think through all the factors of a business, and to solve potential problems before you come to them. It will identify strengths and weaknesses and help to assess whether the business can succeed. It is a blueprint for starting, maintaining or expanding a business. It is a working plan to use in comparing your achievements to the goals you set. It should provide information required by financial institutions when finance is sought.                  

How to produce a Business plan

Step 1: Collect InformationGather as much relevant information as possible concerning the industry in which you intend to operate (the number of businesses already operating, the size of their operations, where they are located). Use books, industry associations, and existing business owners to help you.Collect all possible information regarding the market/s you are aiming for (who buys, why do they buy, what are the key features the customer looks for).Learn all you can about the product/s or services you intend to produce, distribute or offer.Step 2: AnalysisRead over all the material you have collected and decide what is relevant to your business idea. You may have to modify your idea depending on what your research shows. The key question to ask is:“Can you design a business that will earn enough to cover costs and pay a wage and reasonable profit to you as a proprietor?”When Steps 1 and 2 are completed, you should have decided if there is a market for your product or service which is large enough and sufficiently accessible to make your new business financially worthwhile. Now you are ready to commit your plan to paper.Step 3: Strategy FormulationDecide how the business will operate. You should describe how the business will be managed, and the staff and organisational structure that will be in place. Diagrams may be useful to show how these areas will work. Don’t forget to include the areas of responsibility for each member of staff. This is especially important if some of your staff will be family members.There are three further parts that go together to make a comprehensive business plan:  

•  A Marketing plan, which includes location, method of selling, packaging, pricing and so on. In all these areas you must be aware of consumer trends to make sure that your business does not become outdated or irrelevant.   •  An Operational plan, which describes the day-to-day running of the business. You should include supply sources, cost and quantities of materials, processes, equipment and methods of extending the services or products offered.   •  A Financial plan, which is a master budget for the operation and includes:

–  cash flow forecast –  balance sheet –  profit and loss statement –  sources of finance –  sales forecast and target. The financial aspects of the plan are most important and you should develop or access financial skills to make sure this part of your plan is accurate and realistic. Don’t forget set-up costs and the money needed to see you through an initial period of low cash flow when calculating your first year’s budget.

Update your Business plan

Nothing remains constant in business; circumstances change, markets change, fashions change, methods change. From time to time you must check your sources of information and reassess your business plan. What is relevant when you start is not necessarily so in five years’ time. You may also need to revise targets and budgets if external factors (such as interest rates) vary.Keep your information up-to-date and be prepared to change as circumstances demand. A business plan should be thought of as flexible, not fixed. If you use these steps to develop a business plan, changing it according to circumstances, you will be well on the way to a successful business.

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Questions 28-34

Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in the passage “Business Planning?” In boxes  28-34  on your answer sheet write    

YES     if the statement agrees with the views of the writer     NO     if the statement contradicts the views of the writer     NOT GIVEN     if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

28.  A business plan must be written down. 29.  Creating a business plan is only necessary for a new business. 30.  A business plan should include a diagram of your proposed office or shop layout. 31.  A business should generate enough money to pay salaries and some profit to the owner. 32.  The roles of family members in the business must be clearly defined in the business plan. 33.  You should expect not to earn much money in the first year. 34.  Once a business plan is finished, no further changes will need to be made to it.

Want to excel in identifying the writer’s views and claims? Click here to explore our in-depth guide on how to accurately determine Yes, No, or Not Given in the IELTS Reading section .

Questions 35-40

The text describes how to make a business plan.

Choose the correct word or phrase from the box to complete the following flow chart of how to make a business plan.

Write its letter in boxes  35-40  on your answer sheet.

A.    Advertising B.    Keep your business up-to-date C.    Find information D.    Create a sample product E.    Find a good location F.    Organisational structure G.    Can I find good staff? H.    Operations I.     Create your business plan J.     Can my business make enough money?

Boost your performance in Summary, Notes, Table, and Flowchart Completion tasks . Click here to explore our detailed guide and learn how to effectively complete summaries, notes, tables, and flowcharts in the IELTS Reading section.

28. YES 29. NOT GIVEN 30. NOT GIVEN 31. YES 32. YES 33. YES 34. NO 35. C 36. J 37. I 38. F 39. H 40. B

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Business Planning – IELTS General Reading Passage

Read the text below and answers to the questions  28-40  on your answer sheet.

GT Reading: “Business Planning”

Read the text below and answer  Question 28-40 .  

Business Planning

What is a Business plan? It is probably best described as a summary and evaluation of your business idea, in writing. Preparation of a business plan is the first and most important task for the business starter. The plan should include details concerning the industry in which you operate, your product or service, marketing, production, personnel and financial strategies. What purpose does it serve? A business plan allows you to think through all the factors of a business, and to solve potential problems before you come to them. It will identify strengths and weaknesses and help to assess whether the business can succeed. It is a blueprint for starting, maintaining or expanding a business. It is a working plan to use in comparing your achievements to the goals you set. It should provide information required by financial institutions when finance is sought.                   How to produce a Business plan Step 1: Collect Information Gather as much relevant information as possible concerning the industry in which you intend to operate (the number of businesses already operating, the size of their operations, where they are located). Use books, industry associations, and existing business owners to help you. Collect all possible information regarding the market/s you are aiming for (who buys, why do they buy, what are the key features the customer looks for). Learn all you can about the product/s or services you intend to produce, distribute or offer. Step 2: Analysis Read over all the material you have collected and decide what is relevant to your business idea. You may have to modify your idea depending on what your research shows. The key question to ask is: “Can you design a business that will earn enough to cover costs and pay a wage and reasonable profit to you as a proprietor?” When Steps 1 and 2 are completed, you should have decided if there is a market for your product or service which is large enough and sufficiently accessible to make your new business financially worthwhile. Now you are ready to commit your plan to paper. Step 3: Strategy Formulation Decide how the business will operate. You should describe how the business will be managed, and the staff and organisational structure that will be in place. Diagrams may be useful to show how these areas will work. Don’t forget to include the areas of responsibility for each member of staff. This is especially important if some of your staff will be family members. There are three further parts that go together to make a comprehensive business plan:    •  A Marketing plan, which includes location, method of selling, packaging, pricing and so on. In all these areas you must be aware of consumer trends to make sure that your business does not become outdated or irrelevant.     •  An Operational plan, which describes the day-to-day running of the business. You should include supply sources, cost and quantities of materials, processes, equipment and methods of extending the services or products offered.    •  A Financial plan, which is a master budget for the operation and includes: –  cash flow forecast –  balance sheet –  profit and loss statement –  sources of finance –  sales forecast and target. The financial aspects of the plan are most important and you should develop or access financial skills to make sure this part of your plan is accurate and realistic. Don’t forget set-up costs and the money needed to see you through an initial period of low cash flow when calculating your first year’s budget. Update your Business plan Nothing remains constant in business; circumstances change, markets change, fashions change, methods change. From time to time you must check your sources of information and reassess your business plan. What is relevant when you start is not necessarily so in five years’ time. You may also need to revise targets and budgets if external factors (such as interest rates) vary. Keep your information up-to-date and be prepared to change as circumstances demand. A business plan should be thought of as flexible, not fixed. If you use these steps to develop a business plan, changing it according to circumstances, you will be well on the way to a successful business.

Questions 28-34

Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in the passage “Business Planning?” In boxes  28-34  on your answer sheet write      YES     if the statement agrees with the views of the writer      NO     if the statement contradicts the views of the writer      NOT GIVEN     if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this 28.  A business plan must be written down. 29.  Creating a business plan is only necessary for a new business. 30.  A business plan should include a diagram of your proposed office or shop layout. 31.  A business should generate enough money to pay salaries and some profit to the owner. 32.  The roles of family members in the business must be clearly defined in the business plan. 33.  You should expect not to earn much money in the first year. 34.  Once a business plan is finished, no further changes will need to be made to it.

Questions 35-40

The text describes how to make a business plan.

Choose the correct word or phrase from the box to complete the following flow chart of how to make a business plan.

Write its letter in boxes  35-40  on your answer sheet.

A.    Advertising B.    Keep your business up-to-date C.    Find information D.    Create a sample product E.    Find a good location F.    Organisational structure G.    Can I find good staff? H.    Operations I.     Create your business plan J.     Can my business make enough money?

Answer: 28. YES 29. NOT GIVEN 30. NOT GIVEN 31. YES 32. YES 33. YES 34. NO 35. C 36. J 37. I 38. F 39. H 40. B

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General IELTS Reading Test 13 Answers

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GT Reading Test 21 Section 2 - Industrial Business Solutions & Home Business

Gt reading mock test 21:, section 2: questions 15-27, gt reading: industrial business solutions & home business: points to consider, question 15, questions 16 - 20, home business: points to consider, questions 21-27.

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Ielts reading – setting up your own business s11gt4, ielts reading.

Setting up your own business

Here are some ideas about how you should start:

Know your market

So you know what you want to sell – the most important thing is that it should be something that people want to buy. Start by thinking about who your target customers are. Are they people who live locally? Are they a particular group of people?

Now look at your Q1 competitors. What is different about what you will be doing and how will you persuade people to come to you instead of going to someone who is already established?

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How will you reach the customers?

Will you promote your product by phoning people, or visiting local traders, or advertising in magazines or online? Will your Q2 delivery system be direct or through shops?

How will your business work?

Now think about what your business needs to succeed. Do you need to look for Q3 premises or can you work from home? Do you need to invest in manufacturing equipment to start with?

Is the business something chat you can do on your own, or if you get more work will you be looking to recruit staff? If so, what skills would they need?

Whether you’re a sole operator or are looking to recruit a team, effective management is essential.

The Q4 law regulates how companies are run and you need to set aside the time to see that this is done properly, in relation to issues like accounting, insurance and tax.

As you are working our die prices for your products, you need to make sure you build in all your Q5 costs. Remember you will probably need help from an accountant at least once a year, so build that in too, and do a forecast of how much money you think will flow in and out of the business.

Look at what you expect to happen over the next three years — and work out what you need to do to break even, as well as the turnover that you hope to achieve to give you a profit. If you think you will need to find some Q6 funding to help get the business off the ground, how much will you need and who will you approach to get it?

Your business plan

Now write it all up and call it a business plan.

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Tips for giving an effective business presentation: IELTS Reading

IELTS General Test – Passage 08: Tips for giving an effective business presentation reading with answers explanation, location and pdf summary. This reading paragraph has been taken from our huge collection of Academic & General Training (GT) Reading practice test PDF’s.

Tips for giving an effective business presentation

Preparation: Get someone else to evaluate your performance and highlight your best skills. For example, go through your presentation in front of a colleague or relative. Think about who your audience is and what you want them to get out of the presentation. Think about content and style. Go into the presentation room and try out any moves you may have to make, e.g. getting up from your chair and moving to the podium. Errors in the first 20 seconds can be very disorientating. Familiarise yourself with the electronic equipment before the presentation and also have a backup plan in mind, should there be an unexpected problem like a power cut. Dealing with presentation nervousness: A certain amount of nervousness is vital for a good presentation. The added adrenaline will keep your faculties sharp and give your presentation skills extra force. This can, however, result in tension in the upper chest. Concentrate on your breathing. Slow it right down and this will relax you. Strangely, having something to pick up and put down tends to help you do this. It may seem an odd idea, but we seem to fee! calmer when we engage in what’s referred to as a displacement activity, like clicking a pen or fiddling with jewellery. A limited amount of this will not be too obvious and can make you feel more secure at the start. Interacting with your audience: Think of your presentation as a conversation with your audience. They may not actually say anything, but make them feel consulted, questioned, challenged, then they will stay awake and attentive. Engage with your present audience, not the one you have prepared for. Keep looking for reactions to your ideas and respond to them. If your audience doesn’t appear to be following you, find another way to get your ideas across. If you don’t interact, you might as well send a video recording of your presentation instead! Structuring effective presentations: Effective presentations are full of examples. These help your listeners to see more clearly what you mean. It’s quicker and more colourful. Stick to the point using three or four main ideas. For any subsidiary information that you cannot present in 20 minutes, try another medium, such as handouts. End as if your presentation has gone well. Do this even if you feel you’ve presented badly. And anyway a good finish will get you some applause – and you deserve it!

Questions 15-22

Complete the sentences below. Choose  NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS  from the text for each answer. Write your answers in boxes  15-22  on your answer sheet . 15.  Practising your presentation on a ………………….. or a family member is helpful. 16.  Be prepared for a problem such as a ………………….. . 17.  One way to overcome pre-presentation nerves is to make your ………………….. less rapid. 18.  It is acceptable to do something called a ………………….. at the start of the presentation to reassure you. 19.  Your presentation should be like a ………………….. with the people who have come to hear you. 20.  Check constantly for ………………….. to the points you are making. 21.  Make sure you use plenty of ………………….. to communicate your message effectively. 22.  To keep the presentation short, use things like ………………….. to provide extra details.

________________

1) IELTS 11 READING PASSAGE – THE ZEBRA’S LONG WALK ACROSS AFRICA ↗

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Check out Tips for giving an effective business presentation reading answers below with explanations and locations given in the text.

15. colleague 16. power cut 17. breathing 18. displacement activity 19. conversation 20. reactions 21. examples 22. handouts

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13. Business

Reading passage:, answers are at the bottom of the page, the digital shift: the challenge facing traditional retailers.

The emergence of the internet has redefined our daily routines, and one of the most noticeable changes has been in the way we shop. With just a few clicks, consumers can now access a vast array of products and services online. This transformation, from traditional brick-and-mortar retail to online shopping, is having profound effects on the retail industry.

One of the primary factors propelling the shift to online shopping is technological advancement. The internet has become faster and more accessible, with secure payment systems making online transactions safer than ever before. This has drastically improved the online shopping experience, making it an attractive option for consumers. Furthermore, the convenience and accessibility of online shopping, offering the opportunity to shop at any time, from anywhere, is a major draw for consumers with busy lifestyles. According to Forrester research, this accessibility factor has been a significant driver behind the surge in online sales.

Online retailers also enjoy distinct cost advantages over their traditional counterparts. The cost efficiency of operating an online store, without the overheads associated with physical storefronts, allows for competitive pricing and potentially higher profit margins. Additionally, the global reach of e-commerce platforms transcends geographical boundaries, providing much simpler access to an international market. This not only benefits retailers, but consumers too, who now have a choice of a wider range of goods than ever before.

Online shopping has grown hand in hand with customer reviews and feedback. Shoppers can quickly check the reputation of an online store by looking at customer reviews and comments. Meanwhile, thanks to endorsements from previous customers, online shops can demonstrate that they are reliable and safe to use to their potential customers. This system of reviews and feedback means that shoppers have good reason to feel secure about their online purchase and has really helped drive the trend towards online shopping.

Personalisation of the shopping experience has become of paramount importance. Online retailers can use algorithms and data analytics which enable them to easily track consumer behaviour, preferences, and purchase history, allowing for tailored recommendations and targeted advertising. This level of personalisation enhances the overall shopping experience, providing consumers with a customised selection of products that align with their tastes and interests. As a result, consumers feel more valued and understood, fostering a stronger connection between them and the online shop.

However, the transition to online retailing is not without its challenges. The online marketplace is fiercely competitive, with numerous retailers vying for consumer attention. Traditional businesses must employ effective marketing and branding strategies to remain competitive. Many of these businesses could not do this successfully, and have since gone bankrupt. In addition, many large online retailers are very well funded and, with relatively low overheads, can make it very difficult for local brick-and-mortar shops to operate profitably. In some cases, online retail giants have even been accused of predatory pricing, appearing to deliberately undercut competitors at the expense of profits. This is doubtless a factor in the disappearance of so many retailers from local high streets. These shops can’t offer the same deals as are found online, and have lost a lot of business as a consequence.

In response to this digital shift, traditional retailers are evolving their strategies. Many are adopting hybrid models, integrating online and physical storefronts to offer customers a seamless shopping experience. Verhoef et al, in their 2015 study, emphasised that this approach capitalises on the strengths of both platforms. Moreover, physical stores are focusing on creating memorable in-store experiences to attract and retain customers. These experiences include interactive displays, in-store events, and personalised services.

While traditional retailers have faced many challenges as a result of the online shopping phenomenon, it’s safe to say that consumers have largely benefitted. Shoppers have enjoyed lower prices, and a plethora of special offers and discounts on many of their favourite products. In addition, delivery services have improved massively over the years, to the point where it’s now often possible to have your purchase delivered on the same day it’s ordered, which of course, is very convenient.

With the success of online players, the competition in the marketplace has become even more fierce. This has driven efficiency gains and innovation, as businesses face-off against one another in the competition for consumers’ money, further driving down prices and improving products and services. Furthermore, thanks to online retail, consumers are able to source and purchase products abroad much more easily. The combination of online stores and quick and efficient worldwide shipping means that shoppers can purchase products from countries ranging from Thailand to Norway, at the touch of a button.

In fact, the only real downside for shoppers is the demise of the local high street. Town and village shopping areas have really lost out to online retailers and consequently the selection of goods and services available on high streets is much poorer than in the past. This is especially the case in smaller towns and villages where it’s almost impossible for a small retail business to operate profitably. As a result, the typical British village high street has now been largely reduced to coffee shops, restaurants and charity shops.

The trend towards online shopping is reshaping the retail landscape. Traditional businesses must adapt to changing consumer preferences and technological advancements to remain competitive. By leveraging the strengths of both online and physical platforms, retailers can thrive in this digital era. Meanwhile, consumers have reaped many benefits from the increased competition and innovation in the online space, enjoying access to a wider range of goods than ever, and at reasonable prices.

Questions 1-6

The Reading Passage has eight sections, A-H .

Which section contains the following information?

1. a reference to how easy it is to buy products from foreign countries

2. an explanation of some of the difficulties facing traditional retailers

3. a reference to the importance of safe payment mechanisms for shoppers

4. a reference to how traditional shopping areas are less popular than in the past

5. an explanation of how traditional retailers are changing

6. an explanation of why online shops make more money from a sale than traditional shops

Questions 7-10

Complete the summary below.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.

Shopping online is increasing in popularity. Shoppers have been encouraged to shop online thanks to faster and safer payments, as well as lower prices on goods and services. They  like online shopping because they can read customer reviews to quickly understand the 7 ____________ of the shop.

Online retailers have lower 8 ____________ because they don’t pay for a physical store. This means they can make larger profits or offer lower prices. However, this is making it hard for regular shops to compete. Some traditional retailers are trying new things like mixing online and physical stores. However, some have not been successful and have gone 9 ____________. Local retailers are now really struggling, and as a result many high street shops have closed.

Reading Answer Key:

1.F, 2.D, 3.A, 4.G, 5.E, 6.B, 7. overheads, 8. reputation, 9. bankrupt

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The Business of Space Reading Answers

Updated On Mar 27, 2023

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Recent IELTS Reading Test with Answers - Free PDF

The Academic passage,  The Business of Space Reading Answers , is a reading passage that consists of 13 questions.

With diligent practice, the  Reading Module  can be the top-scoring category for IELTS aspirants. To score well, you must understand how to approach and answer the different question types in the Reading Module.

By solving and reviewing Sample Reading questions from past IELTS papers, you can ensure that your Reading skills are up to the mark. Take the reading passage  The Business of Space  below and try more  IELTS reading practice tests  from IELTSMaterial.com.

The question types found in this passage are:

• Multiple Choice Question  (Q. 14-18)
• True/False/Not Given  (Q. 19-26)

Reading Passage 2

The business of space.

Up until very recently space travel and exploration were solely the preserve of governments, most notably the Russian and American. However, with the decline of government wealth and the dramatic increase in personal wealth, the whole landscape of space travel is changing.

The first tentative steps into the commercialisation of personal space travel began when billionaire Dennis Tito paid $20 million to ride on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft for a week’s holiday on a space station. Since then, there have been seven space tourists who have paid large sums of money for a space experience. Yet, collectively, their financial contribution is minute and certainly would not appear to represent a feasible business.

Richard Branson, billionaire and entrepreneur, has formed Virgin Galactic, a spaceship company with some very ambitious plans for space travel. Surprisingly, he is not alone; there are some 12 or 13 other space organizations worldwide with similar plans. Of course, there are setbacks, but Virgin Galactic plan to have to pay flights beginning in late 2017, with tickets at $250,000 each. Expensive? Yes! But there are over 20,000 people who have expressed interest, despite the tragic death of a co-pilot during a test flight accident.

It seems that people who want to take short zero gravity suborbital flights are fully aware of the dangers and are willing to take the risk. It is also worth noting that there were almost 2000 billionaires in the world in 2016, and that number is growing. So entrepreneurs like Richard Branson may represent the tip of the iceberg of young rich investors who want to make their childhood dreams of space travel come true.

Obviously, the key to the success of any business venture is to ensure that the price of the product maximises sales and to reduce the very high costs of the vehicles and rockets needed to do this. Currently, space vehicles can only be used once, so the race is on to develop reusable space vehicles. It is this reusability that will break the ‘cost-barrier’ and bring this activity into the price bracket where middle class and moderately wealthy people can afford it.

So what would you pay for a zero-gravity sub-orbital space trip? A recent, unscientific study, amongst US millennials (people who became adults around the year 2000) suggested that if the price of the flights was reduced by a factor of five – a figure entirely possible given the progress being made with reusable vehicles – the yield would be about $20 billion a year of revenues for the space tourism industry.

Twenty billion dollars is an interesting figure, as it is about the same amount generated each year by the film industry in the US through ticket, DVD and other sales. So now it is possible to make an analogy between the business model of Hollywood and space travel. Which do you think is more expensive? A Hollywood blockbuster, or the cost of a space launch? Back in the 1960s and 1970s, a space launch cost hundreds of times more than a Hollywood film. But as more money came to be spent on Hollywood movies, the cost of space travel has been decreasing. One particularly illustrative example is the comparison between the film Avatar, a movie about life on an ‘exomoon, and the Kepler spacecraft. Both of these costs about $400 million dollars. So for about half a billion dollars, you can either get a film about life on other planets, or you can pay for a mission, which may actually find Earth-like worlds. As a scientist, which is the better deal?

So what really is in the future for space travel? Probably offers of suborbital travel by companies like Virgin Galactic will become fairly common after the initial teething phase is over. Other companies are developing space hotels, so people who can afford more than just the space trips can spend their money holidaying in space. All the technologies allowing this to happen are advancing very rapidly and most of this is happening in the private sector.

Space is going to get commercialised and this may not be a good thing. Do we really want to see massive advertising signs in space? The moon littered with commercial rubbish? If this happens it will be very hard to regulate. While there is in existence a Treaty of the Moon, to acknowledge that no one can own the Moon or Mars, not one space-faring country has signed it.

The future of space travel has never been more exciting than it is now. Young children with pictures of planets and space rockets on their bedroom have a greater chance than ever of actually going into space than ever before. But at what cost?

Questions 14-18

Choose FIVE letters, A-l.

Write the correct letter in boxes 14-18 on your answer sheet.

NB Your answers may be given in any order

Below are listed some popular beliefs about commercial space travel.

Which five of these are reported by the writer of the text?

A Space travel today is no different than space travel in the 1960s.

B To date, the amount of space travel undertaken by private individuals could not sustain a business.

C Richard Branson’s plans for commercial space travel may be described as ‘daring’.

D It is not surprising that Branson’s company is not the only company interested in commercial space travel.

E Virgin Galactic’s proposed fares will be highly affordable to many.

F Individuals who want to fly into space are gamblers.

G Parallels can be drawn between space travel and the Hollywood movie industry.

H The rise of companies like Virgin Galactic is unconditionally positive.

I Laws governing space travel will be difficult to enforce.

14 ……..

15 ……..

16 ……..

17 ……..

18 ……..

Questions 19-26

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?

In boxes 19-26 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE                    if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE                  if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN         if there is no information on this

19 Space travel today remains under the control of the Russian and American governments.

20 The first commercial space passenger was Richard Branson.

21 The Virgin Group was established by Richard Branson in 1970.

22 Space vehicles are presently capable of being used more than once.

23 $20 billion is the amount that millennials currently spend on space travel.

24 The film ‘Avatar’ cost about $400 million to make.

25 It is unlikely that recycling will become common practice on the moon.

26 Children today have a better chance of realizing their dreams of space travel than children in the 1960’s did.

Explanation 

14  Answer: B

Question type:  Multiple Choice Question

Answer location:  Paragraph 2, line 2 – line 3

Answer explanation:  In the mentioned lines, it is given  “ Since then, there have been seven space tourists who have paid large sums of money for a space experience. Yet, collectively, their financial contribution is minute and certainly would not appear to represent a feasible business. ”.  In the light of the fact that space travel has been undertaken by many private individuals but could not sustain a feasible business, the answer is B.

15  Answer: C

Answer location:  Paragraph 3, line 1

Answer explanation:  In the mentioned line, it is given  “ Richard Branson, billionaire and entrepreneur, has formed Virgin Galactic, a spaceship company with some very ambitious plans for space travel. ”.  This reference proves that Richard Branson’s plans for commercial space travel may be described as ‘daring’ (ambitious). Hence, the answer is C.

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16  Answer: F

Answer location:  Paragraph 4, line 1

Answer explanation:  In the fourth paragraph, it is stated that  “ It seems that people who want to take short zero gravity suborbital flights are fully aware of the dangers and are willing to take the risk. ”  It can be pointed out that people who want to fly into space are aware of the risks involved and still want to take the risk (gambler). Hence, the answer is F.

17  Answer: G

Question type: Multiple Choice Question

Answer location:  Paragraph 7, line 1 – line 2

Answer explanation:  Through lines like,  “ Twenty billion dollars is an interesting figure, as it is about the same amount generated each year by the film industry in the US through ticket, DVD and other sales. So now it is possible to make an analogy between the business model of Hollywood and space travel. ” , it can be concluded that parallels have been drawn between the business model of space travel and the Hollywood movie industry. Hence, the answer is G.

18  Answer: I

Answer location:  Paragraph 9, line 4

Answer explanation:  In the mentioned paragraph of the passage, it is noted that,  “ While there is in existence a Treaty of the Moon, to acknowledge that no one can own the Moon or Mars, not one space-faring country has signed it. ” . Based on this reference, it can be concluded that laws governing space travel, like the Treaty of the Moon, will be difficult to enforce, as countries will not follow it. Hence, the answer is I.

19  Answer: False

Question type:  True/False/Not Given

Answer location:  Paragraph 1

Answer explanation:  In Paragraph 1, it is said that  “ Up until very recently space travel and exploration were solely the preserve of governments, most notably the Russian and American. However, with the decline of government wealth and the dramatic increase in personal wealth, the whole landscape of space travel is changing. ”.  This points out that even though earlier space travel and exploration was under the control of Russian and American governments, now, due to a decline in wealth, the control is shifting. Hence, the answer is False.

20  Answer: False

Answer location:  Paragraph 2, line 1

Answer explanation:  The following lines – The first tentative steps into the commercialisation of personal space travel began when billionaire Dennis Tito paid $20 million to ride on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft for a week’s holiday on a space station. – establishes the fact that Dennis Tito, and not Richard Branson, was the first commercial space passenger. Hence, the answer is False.

21  Answer: Not Given

Answer location:  N.A.

Answer explanation:  Although there is a mention that the Virgin Group was established by Richard Branson, the specific year of establishment is not mentioned. Hence, the answer is Not Given.

22  Answer: False

Answer location:  Paragraph 5, line 2

Answer explanation:  In Paragraph 5, it is stated that  “ Currently, space vehicles can only be used once, so the race is on to develop reusable space vehicles. ”.  This statement indicates that space vehicles are presently incapable of being used more than once and in future, changes are being made. Hence, the answer is False.

23  Answer: False

Answer location:  Paragraph 6, line 2

Answer explanation:  The given line specifies that  “ A recent, unscientific study, amongst US millennials (people who became adults around the year 2000) suggested that if the price of the flights was reduced by a factor of five – a figure entirely possible given the progress being made with reusable vehicles – the yield would be about $20 billion a year of revenues for the space tourism industry. ”.  It is indicated that $20 billion is the amount that is generated as an annual revenue for the space tourism industry. Hence, the answer is False.

24  Answer: True

Answer location:  Paragraph 7, line 7 – line 8

Answer explanation:  The specified line of Paragraph 7 says that  “ One particularly illustrative example is the comparison between the film Avatar, a movie about life on an ‘exomoon, and the Kepler spacecraft. Both of these costs about $400 million dollars. ”.  It is evident that the film ‘Avatar’ cost about $400 million to make. Hence, the answer is True.

25  Answer: Not Given

Answer explanation:  Since there is no reference on whether it is unlikely that recycling will become common practice on the moon or not. Hence, the answer is Not Given.

26  Answer: True

Answer location:  Paragraph 10, line 2

Answer explanation:  In the mentioned lines, it is reported that  “ Young children with pictures of planets and space rockets on their bedroom have a greater chance than ever of actually going into space than ever before. ”.  This points to the fact that children today have a better chance of realizing their dreams of space travel than children in the past (1960’s). Hence, the answer is True.

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Play is a serious business

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Solution for: Play is a serious business

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Exam Review

Does play help develop bigger, better brains?

Bryant Furlow investigates

Playing is a serious business. Children engrossed in a make-believe world, fox cubs play-fighting or kittens teasing a ball of string aren’t just having fun. Play may look like a carefree and exuberant way to pass the time before the hard work of adulthood comes along, but there’s much more to it than that. For a start, play can even cost animals their lives . Eighty per cent of deaths among juvenile fur seals occur because playing pups fail to spot predators approaching. It is also extremely expensive in terms of energy. Playful young animals use around two or three per cent of their energy cavorting, and in children that figure can be closer to fifteen per cent. ‘Even two or three per cent is huge,’ says John Byers of Idaho University. ‘You just don’t find animals wasting energy like that,’ he adds. There must be a reason.

But if play is not simply a developmental hiccup, as biologists once thought, why did it evolve? The latest idea suggests that play has evolved to build big brains. In other words, playing makes you intelligent. Playfulness, it seems, is common only among mammals, although a few of the larger-brained birds also indulge. Animals at play often use unique signs - tail- wagging in dogs, for example - to indicate that activity superficially resembling adult behaviour is not really in earnest. A popular explanation of play has been that it helps juveniles develop the skills they will need to hunt, mate and socialise as adults. Another has been that it allows young animals to get in shape for adult life by improving their respiratory endurance. Both these ideas have been questioned in recent years.

Take the exercise theory. If play evolved to build muscle or as a kind of endurance training, then you would expect to see permanent benefits. But Byers points out that the benefits of increased exercise disappear rapidly after training stops, so any improvement in endurance resulting from juvenile play would be lost by adulthood. ‘If the function of play was to get into shape,’ says Byers, ‘the optimum time for playing would depend on when it was most advantageous for the young of a particular species to do so. But it doesn’t work like that.’ Across species, play tends to peak about halfway through the suckling stage and then decline.

Then there’s the skills-training hypothesis. At first glance, playing animals do appear to be practising the complex manoeuvres they will need in adulthood. But a closer inspection reveals this interpretation as too simplistic. In one study, behavioural ecologist Tim Caro, from the University of California, looked at the predatory play of kittens and their predatory behaviour when they reached adulthood. He found that the way the cats played had no significant effect on their hunting prowess in later life.

Earlier this year, Sergio Pellis of Lethbridge University, Canada, reported that there is a strong positive link between brain size and playfulness among mammals in general. Comparing measurements for fifteen orders of mammal, he and his team found larger brains (for a given body size) are linked to greater playfulness. The converse was also found to be true. Robert Barton of Durham University believes that, because large brains are more sensitive to developmental stimuli than smaller brains, they require more play to help mould them for adulthood . ‘I concluded it’s to do with learning, and with the importance of environmental data to the brain during development,’ he says.

According to Byers, the timing of the playful stage in young animals provides an important clue to what’s going on . If you plot the amount of time a juvenile devotes to play each day over the course of its development, you discover a pattern typically associated with a ‘sensitive period’ - a brief development window during which the brain can actually be modified in ways that are not possible earlier or later in life. Think of the relative ease with which young children - but not infants or adults - absorb language. Other researchers have found that play in cats, rats and mice is at its most intense just as this ‘window of opportunity’ reaches its peak.

‘People have not paid enough attention to the amount of the brain activated by play,’ says Marc Bekoff from Colorado University. Bekoff studied coyote pups at play and found that the kind of behaviour involved was markedly more variable and unpredictable than that of adults. Such behaviour activates many different parts of the brain, he reasons. likens it to a behavioural kaleidoscope, with animals at play jumping rapidly between activities . ‘They use behaviour from a lot of different contexts - predation, aggression, reproduction,’ he says. ‘Their developing brain is getting all sorts of stimulation.’

Not only is more of the brain involved in play than was suspected, but it also seems to activate higher cognitive processes . ‘There’s enormous cognitive involvement in play,’ says Bekoff. He points out that play often involves complex assessments of playmates, ideas of reciprocity and the use of specialised signals and rules . He believes that play creates a brain that has greater behavioural flexibility and improved potential for learning later in life. The idea is backed up by the work of Stephen Siviy of Gettysburg College. studied how bouts of play affected the brain’s levels of a particular chemical associated with the stimulation and growth of nerve cells . He was surprised by the extent of the activation. ‘Play just lights everything up,’ he says. By allowing link-ups between brain areas that might not normally communicate with each other, play may enhance creativity. 

What might further experimentation suggest about the way children are raised in many societies today? We already know that rat pups denied the chance to play grow smaller brain components and fail to develop the ability to apply social rules when they interact with their peers . With schooling beginning earlier and becoming increasingly exam-orientated, play is likely to get even less of a look-in. Who knows what the result of that will be?

Questions 1-6

Reading Passage has nine paragraphs labelled A-I.

Which paragraph contains the following information?

Write the correct letter A-I in boxes 1-6  on your answer sheet.

NB You may use any letter more than once .

1 A B C D E F G H I the way play causes unusual connections in the brain which are beneficial Answer: H      Locate

2 A B C D E F G H I insights from recording how much time young animals spend playing Answer: F      Locate

3 A B C D E F G H I a description of the physical hazards that can accompany play Answer: A      Locate

4 A B C D E F G H I a description of the mental activities which are exercised and developed during play Answer: H      Locate

5 A B C D E F G H I the possible effects that a reduction in play opportunities will have on humans Answer: I      Locate

6 A B C D E F G H I the classes of animals for which play is important Answer: B      Locate

Questions 7-9

Choose THREE letters A-F.

Write your answers in boxes 1-9  on your answer sheet.

The list below gives some ways of regarding play.

Which THREE ways are mentioned by the writer of the text?

A a rehearsal for later adult activities

B a method animals use to prove themselves to their peer group

C an activity intended to build up strength for adulthood

D a means of communicating feelings

E a defensive strategy

F an activity assisting organ growth

Questions 10-14

Look at the following researchers (Questions  10-14 ) and the list of findings below.

Match each researcher with the correct finding.

Write the correct letter A-H in boxes 10-14  on your answer sheet.

List of Findings

A There is a link between a specific substance in the brain and playing.

B Play provides input concerning physical surroundings.

C Varieties of play can be matched to different stages of evolutionary history.

D There is a tendency for mammals with smaller brains to play less.

E Play is not a form of fitness training for the future.

F Some species of larger-brained birds engage in play.

G A wide range of activities are combined during play.

H Play is a method of teaching survival techniques.

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Unlocking the Secrets of Business Planning in IELTS Reading Answers

By knbbs-sharer.

Business planning has always been an integral part of ensuring the success of any organization. For students taking the IELTS exam, reading passages on business planning and management are quite common, and can pose a challenge if one is not familiar with the jargon used in the business world.

In this article, we will highlight some key tips and tricks on how to decipher and tackle questions related to business planning in IELTS Reading answers.

Introduction

The IELTS test is designed to assess an individual’s ability to effectively communicate in English. This includes reading comprehension, which is a crucial skill for anyone looking to pursue higher education or seek employment in an English-speaking country. The business world is a major contributor to the global economy, making it a common topic in the IELTS Reading section.

For those unfamiliar with the language of business planning, the passages can seem daunting. However, with a basic understanding of key terms and concepts, answering questions become much easier.

What is Business Planning?

Business planning is the process of setting a company’s goals, strategies, and objectives in order to achieve its desired outcomes. This involves analyzing market trends, identifying potential opportunities and risks, and creating action plans to achieve set goals.

When reading a passage related to business planning in IELTS Reading, it is important to be familiar with core terms such as SWOT analysis, risk management, and market segmentation.

SWOT analysis refers to an assessment of a company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This analysis is important in identifying areas where a company can improve and develop a competitive advantage.

Risk management involves identifying potential risks that could affect a company’s operations, and creating strategies to mitigate those risks. This can include creating contingency plans or implementing preventative measures.

Market segmentation involves dividing a market into smaller groups based on common characteristics, such as demographic or geographic factors. This helps companies tailor their products and services to specific groups, increasing the likelihood of success.

How to Approach Business Planning Questions in IELTS Reading

When faced with business planning questions in IELTS Reading, it is important to read through the passage thoroughly and identify key terms and concepts. Focus on understanding the overall message and purpose of the passage before attempting to answer questions.

Pay attention to any tables or graphs included in the passage, as they can provide valuable information to help answer questions.

Be mindful of any specific details mentioned in the passage, such as dates, names, or percentages. These details may be key in answering questions accurately.

Avoid rushing through the passage, as this can lead to misunderstandings or overlooking important information.

Example Case Study

To further illustrate these key concepts, let’s look at an example case study:

XYZ Company is looking to expand its operations into a new global market. The company has conducted a SWOT analysis and identified potential opportunities and risks within the market. XYZ plans to implement a risk management strategy to mitigate potential risks, and will tailor its products and services to specific market segments.

What is XYZ’s plan for expansion?

A. Conduct a market segmentation analysis B. Implement a risk management strategy C. Conduct a SWOT analysis D. None of the above

Answer: B. Implement a risk management strategy

In this example, understanding the purpose of a SWOT analysis and risk management strategy is crucial in correctly identifying the answer.

Business planning is a common topic in IELTS Reading, and can pose a challenge if one is not familiar with the language used. By understanding key terms and concepts related to business planning, tackling questions becomes much easier.

Be sure to read through the passage thoroughly, pay attention to key details, and avoid rushing through the passage.

By following these tips, you’ll be on your way to unlocking the secrets of business planning in IELTS Reading answers.

(Note: Do you have knowledge or insights to share? Unlock new opportunities and expand your reach by joining our authors team. Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.)

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Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way.

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