There are various reasons why words might be unfamiliar to a reader. One of them could be culture. An American, for instance, might not immediately figure out what lorry is, since Americans use the word truck. The same goes with biscuits and cookies. This could be a hurdle to the test taker.

The second reason is use of specialised words. Words like Soprano and Tenor may not something a sports person knows, nor would a test-taker from India who might not even have heard of what an Opera is.

A challenging sentence structure, where familiar words are used in less-than familiar ways can also pose many problems to a non-native English speaker.

What is the solution? Reading texts from different sources can certainly widen the vocabulary resource. To score a 9.0 in IELTS general reading, the candidate needs to score at least 34 questions correct. This means that the candidate should understand the nuances of the language. And that is exactly where the test comes in.

In this test, we present you with a few confusing sentence structures that are commonly used in tests.

Practice Exercise

1 What does it say? a)There is no way to go inside the building. b)Young people under 18 are allowed only with someone older. c)No free place available at the moment.

2 What does it say? a)There are first-class music lessons in Room 452 tonight after school. b)If you want to begin music lessons after school, go to Room 452 tonight. c)To be the first to attend music classes in school, go to Room 452.

3 Which of the following is true? a)While the wave machine is working, people who can't swim should leave the water. b)While the wave machine is working, people should go to shallow water to enjoy the waves.he water. c)While the wave machine is working, people shouldn't go into deeper water if they can't swim.

4 Sean is texting Michela to a)ask her for a lift to the party. b) explain the travel arrangements to the party. c)tell her what time she'll see her at the party.

5 Sam is contacting Jake to a)say he disagreed with Ben's opinion about the book. b)ask what he thought of Ben's book. c)tell him how good Ben's book was.

Questions 6 to 12 are based on this reading passage Length of the passage - 555 words

I grew up in the south of Spain in a little community called Estepona. I was 16 when one morning, my father told me I could drive him into a remote village called Mijas, about 18 miles away, on the condition that I take the car in to be serviced at a nearby garage. Having just learned to drive and hardly ever having the opportunity to use the car, I readily accepted. I drove Dad into Mijas and promised to pick him up at 4 p.m., then drove to a nearby garage and dropped off the car.

Because I had a few hours to spare, I decided to catch a couple of movies at a theater near the garage. However, I became so immersed in the films that I completely lost track of time. When the last movie had finished, I looked down at my watch. It was six o'clock. I was two hours late! I knew Dad would be angry if he found out I'd been watching movies. He'd never let me drive again. I decided to tell him that the car needed some repairs and that they had taken longer than had been expected.

I drove up to the place where we had planned to meet and saw Dad waiting patiently on the corner. I apologized for being late and told him that I'd come as quickly as I could, but the car had needed some major repairs. I'll never forget the look he gave me. "I'm disappointed that you feel you have to lie to me, Jason." “What do you mean? I'm telling the truth." Dad looked at me again. "When you did not show up, I called the garage to ask if there were any problems, and they told me that you had not yet picked up the car. So you see, I know there were no problems with the car."

A rush of guilt ran through me as I feebly confessed to my trip to the movie theater and the real reason for my tardiness. Dad listened intently as a sadness passed through him. "I'm angry, not with you but with myself. You see, I realize that I have failed as a father if after all these years you feel that you have to lie to me. I have failed because I have brought up a son who cannot even tell the truth to his own father. I'm going to walk home now and contemplate where I have gone wrong all these years." "But Dad, it's 18 miles to home. It's dark. You can't walk home."

My protests, apologies and the rest of my utterances were useless. I had let my father down and I was about to learn one of the most painful lessons of my life. Dad began walking along the dusty roads. I quickly jumped in the car and followed behind, hoping he would relent. I pleaded all the way, telling him how sorry I was, but he simply ignored me, continuing on silently, thoughtfully and painfully.

For 18 miles I drove behind him, averaging about five miles per hour. Seeing my father in so much physical and emotional pain was the most distressing and painful experience that I have ever faced. However, it was also the most successful lesson. I have never lied to him since.

6 The narrator was ordered to go to one of the nearby the garages to service the car. a)True b)False c)Not Given

7 The narrator had four hours to get the car back from the garage. a)True b)False c)Not Given

8 The narrator made up a lie to tell his father. a)True b)False c)Not Given

9 When the narrator did not come, his father made a call to the garage worrying about his son and car. a)True b)False c)Not Given

10 The narrator’s father looked at him in frenzy of rage only once. a)True b)False c)Not Given

11 The narrator left the car and followed his father the whole 18 miles. a)True b) False c)Not Given

12 That lesson was enough for the narrator for his entire life. a)True b)False c)Not Given

Questions 13 to 20 are based on this reading passage

On the face of it, there is little to connect the oriental art of Feng Shui with the world of hammers, power drills and paint. But the ancient Chinese philosophy, which involves changing the design of your living or working space to improve your fortune, is proving to be a big hit in the world of ‘Do-It-Yourself stores, where people go to buy building materials and tools.

Two vast new DIY superstores have been designed in the UK following Feng Shui guidelines, and their business is booming. Both store managers maintain their success is due to the positive energy that has been channelled into their shops by Feng Shui experts, who were called in for advice before the final decisions were made about the design of the new buildings.

‘I first encountered Feng Shui when I went to the opening of our company’s first store in Taiwan. Everyone there takes it so seriously you cannot fail to be impressed,’ said David Ingliss, store manager. Mr Ingliss’s hosts in Taiwan told him of the Hong Kong millionaire who relocated his business empire into a new skyscraper. However, soon after the move, the business began to go down. In desperation the businessman called in the Feng Shui experts, who said that because his new office block was round, it was like a huge cigarette, and all the energy was burning off through the roof. They said the only thing he could do was to build a swimming pool on the roof, which he did. And to this day there is an office block in Hong Kong with a swimming pool 40 floors up which no one ever uses, but there is a successful company underneath it.

‘Some people may think Feng Shui is just mystical rubbish and I must admit there is a superstitious element to it,’ said Mr Ingliss. ‘But much of it is just common sense and has a direct relevance to good selling. Experts believe that things should not be messy and crowded together — it interrupts the flow of positive energy — so we made a policy of keeping the aisles between the shelves wide, clear and welcoming, and generally followed the Feng Shui principles for positioning various departments and activities.’

Mr Ingliss’s store, with a floor area greater than two football pitches, has been described locally as a DIY Disneyland, which he takes as a great compliment. And it has also been one of the most successful in its first year of any of the chain of stores. Jon Dorsett, manager of a sister store, also sticks to the policy of wide, uncluttered aisles and even goes so far as to order all restocking work to be done outside opening hours. ‘We paid close attention to advice on colour, lighting and especially on the distribution of indoor plants,’ said Mr Dorsett. ‘We trained them to grow around the entrance to the garden centre and installed wind chimes. Wind chimes by doors help weaken negative energy and bring in positive opportunity.

The department is now among the top five in the company.’ ‘I’m not sure that I believe in the magical side to it, but I did move a mirror at home that was facing the front door - that is very unlucky apparently - and it actually just looks better in its new place,’ said Mr Dorsett not being chuffed.

13 What did the Feng Shui experts do for the UK stores? a)They gave some advice about business. b)They taught the managers their philosophy. c)They made suggestions about design. d)They helped to build the stores.

14 What impressed Mr Ingliss in Taiwan? the people's attitude to Feng Shui the opening of a new store how serious everyone seemed the amount of business there was

15 What does 'it' (in bold) refer to? a)a cigarette b)the building c)some energy d)the roof

16 Why was the swimming pool built? a)to provide somewhere for the employees to relax b)to stop the building from falling down c)to make the building safer in case of fire d)to stop the building's energy from being lost

17 What does Mr Ingliss think about Feng Shui? a)It is superstitious rubbish. b)It can give you more energy. c)It can help your sales. d)It doesn't tell you anything new.

18 What is meant by 'a DIY Disneyland' (in bold)? a)a very large building b)a DIY store which is enjoyable to visit c)somewhere for all the family d)a store where there are lots of things to do

19 What do Mr Ingliss's and Mr Dorsett's stores both have? a)successful garden departments b)long opening hours c)leisure areas d)lots of space for customers

20 The word ‘chuffed’ in the text close to … a) sad. b) sorrow. c) pleased. d)exhausted.