Cards of Journey Railway is a topic of the IELTS Reading which includes 14 questions. The specified IELTS topic generates 2 types of questions: True/False/Not Given, and choosing a maximum of three words from the text. Candidates should read the IELTS Reading passage thoroughly in order to recognize synonyms, identify keywords, and answer the questions below. They can further enhance their reading skills by going through IELTS reading practice papers available on the website. Candidates can use IELTS reading answers to enhance their performance in the reading section.
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Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions
About the Card:
1/3 off rail fares and so much more…
There's every reason to be happy if you're in the age group 16 to 25 because with this Railcard you'll enjoy 1/3 off rail fares when you go by train. Here's what you need to know:
A quick check to make sure you're eligible…
16-25?
If you're between 16 and 25 years old, you're eligible. In this case, you can buy your Railcard online using a valid debit or credit card, a valid UK driving license or international passport, and a digital passport- style photo for uploading. It will then be delivered for free within 5 working days.
A mature student?
To be eligible as a mature student and buy a 1-year Railcard, you will need:
Get more for your money
If you're between 16 and 25, and you know you're going to be doing a lot of traveling over the next 3 years, why not buy a 3-year Railcard instead? It costs just £70, saving you £20 on the price of three 1-year Railcards. What's more you can get a 3-year 16-25 Railcard right up until the day before your 24th birthday.
Minimum Fares & Time Restrictions
A £12 minimum fare applies for journeys starting between 4.30am- 10am Monday to Friday excluding Advance Fares. This minimum fare does not apply on Public Holidays or throughout July and August.
Journeys that commence at 10:00 will receive the Railcard discount
If you travel regularly between 04:30 and 10:00 Monday to Friday, to work or your place of study for instance, a weekly or monthly season ticket could be the best way for you to save money. Railcards do not give discounts on season tickets.
Remember, not every ticket type is available for every journey that you might want to make, so it's always best to check before booking. And be sure to read the full terms and conditions for using your Railcard.
Buying the Rail Card
ONLINE
The quickest and easiest way to buy is right here online. All you need
is:
What happens next?
We aim to dispatch your Railcard within one working day of you ordering it, but it's probably best to allow up to five working days for your 16-25 Railcard to arrive. It'll be sent out free of charge by First Class post, but if you prefer, you have the option to pay for Special Delivery.
You'll need the physical Railcard with you to be able to get a discount on your rail ticket, so be sure to leave enough time before your journey for the Railcard to reach you. If you need to travel straight away, you're better off buying a 16-25 Railcard over the counter at your local staffed station.
At a staffed station ticket office
You can buy a 16-25 Railcard at any staffed station ticket office or National Rail-licensed Travel Agent. The main advantage of this is that you can do it on the day you are traveling.
If you're applying at a station for the first time you'll need to complete an application form here (you can pick this up at the station) and bring either of the following:
You’ll also need:
If you’re renewing your Railcard, you’ll need to fill in the application form, and take your existing Railcard and Photocard. Automatically, these are accepted as proof of your age. If you are renewing an online Railcard at a station you will need proof of age as above.
Once you’ve bought your Railcard at a station, you can then register it online. This will make it easier for you to renew or buy other cards online.
By Phone
You can get your Railcard over the phone. Call our telesales service on 0345 3000 250 (0700 hrs to 2200 hrs every day except Christmas Day). calls cost no more than calls to geographic numbers (01 or 02). Please note, you’ll also need to submit your photo via email.
Solution and Explanation
Questions 1 - 8
Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text for each answer.
Question 1: Having a railcard will mean your fares will be reduced by …..
Answer: one- third
Supporting Statement: “...with this Railcard you'll enjoy 1/3 off rail fares when you go by train…”
Keywords: railcard, one- third, rail fares, train
Keyword Location: para 1, line 1
Explanation: According to the writer, there's every reason to be happy if you're in the age group 16 to 25 because with this Railcard you'll enjoy 1/3 off rail fares when you go by train.
Question 2: The card should pay after several trips …..
Answer: for itself
Supporting Statement: “...So after three or four trips, the card will have paid for itself…”
Keywords: card, paid,
Keyword Location: para 1, line 4
Explanation: According to the writer, the card will have paid for itself after three or four trips.
Question 3: Your debit or credit card, and UK driving license or international passport must be …..
Answer: valid
Supporting Statement: “...you can buy your Railcard online using a valid debit or credit card, a valid UK driving license or international passport…”
Keywords: railcard, valid, debit card, credit card, UK driving license, international passport
Keyword Location: para 2, line 2
Explanation: According to the writer, you can buy your Railcard online using a valid debit or credit card, a valid UK driving license or international passport, and a digital passport- style photo for uploading
Question 4: Mature students at ….. are not eligible for the card.
Answer: open university
Supporting Statement: “...Unfortunately, Open University, distance learning, and part-time courses do not qualify…”
Keywords:
Keyword Location: para 3, point 1
Explanation: According to the writer, to be eligible as a mature student and buy a 1-year Railcard, you will need to be attending a recognized college or university, for over 15 hours a week, at least 20 weeks a year (Unfortunately, Open University, distance learning, and part-time courses do not qualify).
Question 5: A ….. may be a better choice if you plan to do many trips over 3 years.
Answer: 3- year railcard
Supporting Statement: “... you know you're going to be doing a lot of traveling over the next 3 years, why not buy a 3-year Railcard instead…”
Keywords: traveling, 3- year, railcard
Keyword Location: para 4, line 1
Explanation: According to the writer, if you're between 16 and 25, and you know you're going to be doing a lot of traveling over the next 3 years, it is better to buy a 3-year Railcard instead.
Question 6: At certain times of the year the …. is not applicable.
Answer: minimum fare
Supporting Statement: “...minimum fare does not apply on Public Holidays…”
Keywords: minimum fare, public holidays,
Keyword Location: para 5, line 2
Explanation: According to the writer, the minimum fare does not apply on Public Holidays or throughout July and August.
Question 7: There is no reduction in the price available for …..
Answer: season tickets
Supporting Statement: “...do not give discounts on season tickets…”
Keywords: discounts, season tickets
Keyword Location: para 5, line 5
Explanation: According to the writer, railcards do not give discounts on season tickets.
Question 8: It is advisable to ….. because there is no guarantee you can purchase the type of ticket you require.
Answer: check before booking
Supporting Statement: “...ticket type is available for every journey that you might want to make, so it's always best to check before booking…”
Keywords: ticket type, journey, before booking
Keyword Location: para 5, line 6
Explanation: According to the writer, you have to remember that not every ticket type is available for every journey that you might want to make, so it's always best to check before booking.
Questions 9 - 14
Do the following statements agree or disagree with the information given in the text?
True: If the statement agrees with the information
False: If the statement contradicts with the information
Not Given: If there is no information on this
Question 9: The travel card should not take more than 5 working days to arrive once ordered.
Answer: true
Supporting Statement: “...but it's probably best to allow up to five working days for your 16-25 Railcard to arrive…”
Keywords: five working days, railcard
Keyword Location: para 7, line 1
Explanation: According to the writer, it is aimed to dispatch your Railcard within one working day of you ordering it, but it's probably best to allow up to five working days for your 16-25 Railcard to arrive.
Question 10: You can still travel and get a discount on your first trip if your railcard has not arrived.
Answer: false
Supporting Statement: “...you need the physical Railcard with you to be able to get a discount on your rail ticket…”
Keywords: physical railcard, discount, rail ticket
Keyword Location: para 7, line 3
Explanation: According to the writer, you need the physical Railcard with you to be able to get a discount on your rail ticket, so be sure to leave enough time before your journey for the Railcard to reach you.
Question 11: A benefit of applying to a station office is that staff can help you with the form.
Answer: not given
Explanation: No relevant information has been provided in the passage in order to support the said statement. Therefore, we can clearly conclude the statement as an invalid one.
Question 12: At least two pieces of identification are required the first time you apply.
Answer: false
Supporting Statement: “...all you need is a valid passport or UK driving license to verify your identity, a digital passport-style photo saved to your computer, tablet or …”
Keywords: valid passport, UK driving license, digital passport- style photo
Keyword Location: para 6, all points
Explanation: According to the writer, when you apply for the first time, all you need is a valid passport or UK driving license to verify your identity, a digital passport-style photo saved to your computer, tablet or mobile phone, and a debit or credit card.
Question 13: A current railcard and photocard can be used as evidence of age when renewing a railcard.
Answer: true
Supporting Statement: “...you’ll need to fill in the application form, and take your existing Railcard and Photocard…”
Keywords: application form, existing, railcard, photocard
Keyword Location: para 8, last line
Explanation: According to the writer, while renewing your Railcard, you’ll need to fill in the application form, and take your existing Railcard and Photocard.
Question 14: If you apply by phone you can talk to a customer sales representative.
Answer: not given
Explanation: No relevant information has been provided in the passage in order to support the said statement. Therefore, we can clearly conclude the statement as an invalid one.
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