Community Allotment Gardens: A Members' Guide: Reading Answers & Explanations
IELTS Reading practice test · 13 questionsGeneral Trainingeasy
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About this passage
The passage opens: “Welcome to the Meadowbank Community Allotments. Our gardens provide members with a plot of land on which to grow their own fruit, vegetables and flowers, as well as a friendly community of fellow gardeners.”
- Passage length: about 717 words
- Questions: 13
- Question types: True / False / Not Given, Multiple Choice, Short Answer
“Community Allotment Gardens: A Members' Guide” is an original IELTS-style practice passage written by IELTS-Bank. It is not taken from an official IELTS or Cambridge test, so these answers only apply to our version.
Answer key at a glance
Community Allotment Gardens: A Members' Guide answers with explanations
Questions 1–6: True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the guide? Write TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN.
- 1
New members may have to wait several months before they are offered a plot.
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Answer: TRUE
Why: This sentence confirms the statement, so the answer is TRUE.
Evidence · Paragraph 3 “Because demand is high, there may be a wait of several months before a plot is offered.”
- 2
The annual rent is due at the start of the gardening year in March.
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Answer: TRUE
Why: This sentence confirms the statement, so the answer is TRUE.
Evidence · Paragraph 3 “…you will be asked to pay an annual rent, which is due at the start of each gardening year in March.”
- 3
Members are allowed to sell the produce they grow on their plots.
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Answer: FALSE
Why: This sentence directly contradicts the statement, so the answer is FALSE.
Evidence · Paragraph 7 “The allotments are intended for personal use only, and produce grown on the site may not be sold for profit.”
- 4
Connecting a hose directly to the site taps is permitted.
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Answer: FALSE
Why: This sentence directly contradicts the statement, so the answer is FALSE.
Evidence · Paragraph 9 “To conserve water, the use of hoses connected directly to the taps is not allowed.”
- 5
The produce show attracts visitors from other allotment sites.
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Answer: NOT GIVEN
Why: The statement claims that the produce show attracts visitors from other allotment sites, but the passage never confirms or denies this, as it does not mention a produce show at all.
- 6
Dogs are allowed on the site if they are kept on a lead.
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Answer: TRUE
Why: This sentence confirms the statement, so the answer is TRUE.
Evidence · Paragraph 11 “Dogs are welcome on the site but must be kept on a lead at all times, and owners must clean up after them.”
Question 7: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. anyone who joins the waiting list
- B. members over sixty-five or receiving certain benefits
- C. members who attend every working party
- D. members who garden organically
- 7
Who is entitled to a reduced rate of rent?
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Answer: B — members over sixty-five or receiving certain benefits
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports B — members over sixty-five or receiving certain benefits.
Evidence · Paragraph 3 “Members who are aged over sixty-five, or who are receiving certain benefits, are entitled to a reduced rate.”
Question 8: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. sell any excess produce
- B. ask the committee for permission
- C. remove all fruit trees
- D. pay an additional rent
- 8
What should a member do before putting up a shed or greenhouse?
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Answer: B — ask the committee for permission
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports B — ask the committee for permission.
Evidence · Paragraph 9 “…you must ask the committee for permission before putting up any structure, and it must not exceed the size limits set out in the site rules.”
Question 9: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
- A. only on designated days and never at weekends
- B. at any time during daylight
- C. only at weekends
- D. only during working parties
- 9
When are bonfires permitted on the site?
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Answer: A — only on designated days and never at weekends
Why: This is the part of the passage that supports A — only on designated days and never at weekends.
Evidence · Paragraph 11 “Bonfires are permitted only on designated days and never at weekends, when many people are relaxing in their gardens.”
Questions 10–13: Short Answer
Answer the questions below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the guide for each answer.
- 10
Whom should you inform if you will be unable to tend your plot for a while?(max 3 words)
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Answer: the site secretary (also accepted: site secretary)
Why: The answer “the site secretary” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 3-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 5 “…please let the site secretary know, and we will do our best to help.”
- 11
What may you install to collect rainwater from a shed roof?(max 3 words)
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Answer: a water butt (also accepted: water butt)
Why: The answer “a water butt” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 3-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 9 “…you are welcome to install a water butt to collect rainwater from a shed roof.”
- 12
What voluntary events are held several times a year to maintain shared areas?(max 2 words)
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Answer: working parties (also accepted: working party)
Why: The answer “working parties” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 2-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 13 “Several times a year we hold working parties, when members come together to maintain the shared areas.”
- 13
Where are details of all events posted, besides being emailed to members?(max 3 words)
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Answer: the notice board (also accepted: notice board / on the notice board)
Why: The answer “the notice board” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 3-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 13 “Details of all events are posted on the notice board by the main gate and sent to members by email.”
Estimated band score for this test
Your raw score out of 13 scaled to the 40-question IELTS Reading (General Training) conversion table. This is the same estimate the practice page shows after you submit. A single passage is a small sample, so treat it as a guide.
| Correct answers | Estimated band |
|---|---|
| 13 / 13 | 9.0 |
| 12 / 13 | 8.0 |
| 11 / 13 | 7.0 |
| 10 / 13 | 6.0 |
| 9 / 13 | 5.5 |
| 8 / 13 | 5.0 |
| 7 / 13 | 4.5 |
| 5–6 / 13 | 4.0 |
| 4 / 13 | 3.5 |
| 3 / 13 | 3.0 |
| 2 / 13 | 2.5 |
| 1 / 13 | 1.5 |
| 0 / 13 | 0.0 |
Full-test score? Use the IELTS band calculator.
Tips for the question types in this test
True / False / Not Given
- Read the statement first and underline the key idea, especially any qualifiers like "all", "only", "never", "always", "more than" or dates and numbers.
- Because the questions follow the order of the passage, scan for the paragraph that deals with the same topic rather than re-reading everything.
Common trap: Confusing "False" with "Not Given": choose False only when the passage actively contradicts the statement; if the passage is silent, it is Not Given.
Full True / False / Not Given strategyMultiple Choice
- Read the question stem carefully before the options so you know exactly what is being asked.
- Because multiple-choice questions follow passage order, locate the relevant section and read it in full — the answer usually depends on more than one sentence.
Common trap: Distractors that use exact words from the passage but distort the meaning.
Full Multiple Choice strategyShort Answer
- Read the instructions and note the exact word limit; going over it means zero marks even if the meaning is right.
- Turn each question into a set of keywords and predict what kind of answer it needs (a person, a date, a place, a noun).
Common trap: Exceeding the word limit (writing four words when only three are allowed).
Full Short Answer strategyPractise “Community Allotment Gardens: A Members' Guide” under exam conditions
Free, auto-marked, with the 20-minute timer and an instant band estimate.
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