IELTS General Reading Practice (4) Traditional Village

Questions 1-8

Look at the information about five museums A-E in Seoul, South Korea. For which museum are the following statements true?

Write the correct letter A-F next to Questions 1-8.
NB You may write any letter more than once.

1 This museum also functions as an occasional venue for performing arts______________.
2 You can learn about natural history in this museum_________________________.
3 This museum is the only one of its kind in Korea__________________________.
4 This is the most high-tech of the museums________________________.
5 A historical building once stood where this museum stands today__________.
6 This museum contains something for the very distant future__________.
7 The exhibits in this museum include objects from the distant past__________.
8 You can take classes one day a week at this museum__________.

A Namsangol Traditional Folk Village Located just north of Namsan Park, this recreation of a small village depicts the architecture and gardens of the Chosun Dynasty (1393-1910). There are five restored traditional houses from that era. A large pavilion overlooks a beautiful pond and an outdoor theatre hosts dance and drama performances on weekends. There is also a hall displaying traditional handicrafts and a kiosk selling souvenirs. Recently, a time capsule containing 600 items representing the lifestyle of modern-day people of Seoul was buried to celebrate the city's 600th anniversary. In 2394, it will be opened!

B Eunan Museum
This privately-owned museum displays rare specimens of animals, ores, and species of insects collected from around the world. The building comprises six floors. one under ground and five above. Among the fauna on exhibition are shellfish, insects, butterflies and birds. The collection is housed on the lower floors. On the third floor is a library and the fifth floor has a study room and an ocean exhibition hall. One aim of the museum is to bring animal extinction to the attention of the public.

C National Museum of Korea
This is one of the most extensive museums in Seoul, housing art and archaeological relics from Korean prehistory through to the end of the Chosun Dynasty (1910). Throughout the three-floor museum, there are 4,500 artifacts on display in 18 permanent galleries. Audio guides, touch screens, and video rooms all help to bring the ancient world alive here. In addition to regular exhibitions, the museum offers special educational programs such as public lectures, arts and crafts classes, and special tours.

D Seoul Metropolitan Museum of Art
Established in 1988, this museum is located on the former site of Kyonghee-gung palace. There are four floors with six exhibition halls. The collections include more than 170 Korean paintings, Western paintings and prints. Spend a peaceful and relaxing day amidst beautiful works of art. If you are an art enthusiast and would like to learn, the museum offers art courses every Friday.

E Korea Sports Museum
This is the sole museum in Korea dedicated to sports. It displays about 2,500 items tracing back to 1920, when Korea's first sports organization was founded. You can browse through sports memorabilia such as badges, medals, photographs, trophies, and mascots related to national and international sports events. Make sure not to miss the taekwondo-related exhibits.

Questions 9-14
Read the information below and answer Questions 9-14.

Buying a Backpack
Most walkers will know the value of a good backpack. Choosing one is a different matter, as any trip to an outdoor shop will reveal. To help, gear expert Peter Hawkins examines the ins and outs of a backpack.

A quick glance through my outdoor trade directory reveals 49 companies that sell or make rucksacks. If they all produce ten backpacks then we have a frightening number for the humble beginner to choose from. So before you set foot in an outdoor shop consider what you want your rucksack for.

The first and most vital consideration is your anticipated load. If your walks are short summer evening strolls then a small sack would be fine, but if your walks are day-long and year-round then your sack will need to be bigger. Mine typically contains a flask, packed lunch, waterproofs, clothing I've peeled off during the day, first aid kit and an emergency shelter. In winter I add a sleeping bag and a torch. I need a sack with a reasonable capacity.

My current backpack is a Craghopper AD30 (30 liters) which is just big enough. Admittedly, I do often lead walking parties in remote places so perhaps my added responsibilities cause me to carry more. Compare my list with yours to see if you need as much carrying space.

The second consideration is weight. Choose a light sack, but make sure it can take the weight of what you are carrying and it supports the load comfortably on your back.

The next thing to consider is the rucksack's features. Today you can get quite technically advanced backpacks boasting excellent features: advanced fabrics, a variety of side and lid pockets, loops for walking poles, internal frames, adjustable straps, hip belts and clever ventilation systems to keep your back cool.

You also need to look inside. It may seem obvious, but you should choose a backpack that allows you easy access. Some have narrow necks that make removing bulky items difficult. It's also important to choose a backpack that fits the length of your back. Being six feet I need a long, thin rucksack rather than a short, wider one. If I use the latter, I have a hip belt round my stomach!

Last, and probably least, we have the look of the sack to consider. Obviously, you can't see it when it's on your back, but why buy something that won't look good on you? After all, there's no shortage of colours or designs to choose from.

Questions 9-14

Do the following statements agree with the opinions of the writer in the Reading passage? Next to Questions 9-14 write

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

9 Few companies make backpacks ________.
10 When choosing a backpack, people should think about their needs__________.
11 The Crag hopper AD30 is more comfortable than other brands__________.
12 Manufacturers still need to solve the problem of backpacks causing your back to get hot__________.
13 A person's physical shape and size is an important consideration when choosing a backpack__________.
14 The style of a backpack is less important than other considerations__________.