IELTS-Cambridge-17-General-Reading-Test-2-Section-1

SECTION 1 Questions 1—14

Read the text below and answer Questions 1—5.

Want to rent a property?

Here is a brief description of some rental property agencies to choose from

A Aynho Properties

With over 50 years’ experience, we offer a comprehensive sales and lettings service. Our firm has been based in Shipton Street since its foundation and so we have a thorough knowledge of the surrounding neighborhood. Our staff make every effort to match clients’ needs to an appropriate property, whether you are looking to rent an apartment, a bungalow or a house.

B Danesdale Agency

As soon as you walk in our door, we will make every effort to find the right flat for you to rent. Everything we do is based on good practice — you supply written references and pay the rent on time, and in return we’ll visit the property every four months to ensure it is maintained and that any necessary repairs are done.

C Jakesford Properties

As a family—run business with over 20 years’ experience in the property market, we pride ourselves on treating every client with kindness and consideration. The landlords on our books have been selected with great care so that you can be sure they will look after your interests. Thousands of customers from all over the world have written to us to express their appreciation for the service we have offered them.

D Kasama Letting

Our highly experienced team works hard to provide peace of mind for both tenants and landlords. James Kettering, our customer liaison officer, is always at the end of the phone to answer any queries you may have. We also have an administration officer, who deals with contracts, rents and personal queries.

E Leftfield Letting

While the main objective of some letting agents is to get as much money as possible for their properties, we aim to secure a fair deal for tenants and a trouble-free service for landlords. We use modern marketing techniques that include price comparisons for similar properties with other agencies in the area so that you can make a fully informed decision.

Read the text below and answer Questions 6—14.

Cycle lights

What are the legal requirements?

You must have approved front and rear lights that are lit, clean and working properly when cycling between sunset and sunrise. It’s no defence to say that it was past sunset but not yet dark. The legal lighting obligations for cyclists are determined by sunset and sunrise times — not the ‘hours of darkness’, which start 30 minutes after the former, end 30 minutes before the latter and dictate when motorists must switch from sidelights to headlights.

Cycling UK’s guide to cycling regulations explains the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations in detail, but in summary you need a white light at the front and a red light at the rear, visible from the front and rear respectively and fixed to your bike. A light obscured by a saddlebag isn’t legal and neither is a torch on your head, though there’s nothing to stop you using a head-torch as an additional light.

The regulations also now allow flashing lights, provided they flash between 60 and 240 times per minute. The legal requirements for reflectors include a red rear reflector and four amber pedal reflectors, one at the front and rear of each pedal. Common sense might suggest that a reflective heel strip or ankle band could replace an amber pedal reflector, but unfortunately these do not meet the legal requirements. This is an annoying problem for riders who use bikes where the feet are attached to the pedals and cannot slip. These pedals are not designed with enough space to accommodate reflectors and make this an area of legislation in need of change.

Unlike with other vehicles, lights are not a legal requirement for cyclists when there is seriously reduced visibility during the daytime, although we wouldn’t recommend cycling through dense fog without lighting up.