Tips: For main idea questions, think about what the whole discussion is about, not just one detail.

Why the other options are wrong:

• Reviewing safety violations from the previous skating season.: Last season’s poor ice and overlapping bookings are background problems, not a review of safety violations.
• Negotiating a contract with a professional ice maintenance company.: A part-time attendant and volunteers are discussed; no contract with a professional maintenance company is negotiated.
• Planning the construction of a new indoor skating arena.: The rink already exists and needs plans for the coming season; a new indoor arena is not proposed.

Correct Answer: The ice surface was only usable about half the time due to inconsistent maintenance.

Why this is correct: The ice was usable only about half the time because there was no consistent maintenance routine. Volunteers and the Zamboni schedule were not coordinated reliably.

Tips: Check each option against the reason the speaker gives.

Why the other options are wrong:

• The parks department refused to cooperate with the committee.: The source reports poor coordination, rather than refusal by the parks department to cooperate.
• The rink's refrigeration system broke down repeatedly.: Repeated refrigeration breakdowns are not reported.
• Too many volunteers showed up and caused scheduling confusion.: Different volunteer arrival times are mentioned, but the source does not say excessive volunteer numbers caused the problem.

Correct Answer: Minor hockey association and public skating sessions kept overlapping.

Why this is correct: Minor hockey and public skating sessions kept overlapping. Families arrived and could not get onto the ice, showing why a clear booking schedule was needed.

Tips: Focus on the conflicting bookings rather than the separate maintenance problem.

Why the other options are wrong:

• The rink was not properly lit for evening use.: Poor evening lighting is not the booking issue reported.
• The Zamboni was too old and needed to be replaced.: An old Zamboni needing replacement is not the booking issue reported.
• The rink was closed too early in the evening.: Early evening closure is not the booking issue reported.

Correct Answer: Mornings before opening and once in the evening between sessions.

Why this is correct: The suggested fixed schedule resurfaces the rink before it opens in the morning and once in the evening between sessions. It aims to provide predictable ice quality.

Tips: Count the stated resurfacing times and note when each occurs.

Why the other options are wrong:

• Three times daily at fixed intervals.: Three daily resurfacing times are not proposed.
• Only when volunteers are available to operate the Zamboni.: The proposal sets fixed times instead of relying only on volunteer availability.
• Once a day in the early afternoon.: An early-afternoon-only resurfacing time is not proposed.

Correct Answer: Hiring at least one paid part-time attendant.

Why this is correct: At least one paid part-time attendant is proposed to run the Zamboni and coordinate the volunteer crew. The suggestion responds to the unreliable all-volunteer arrangement.

Tips: Identify the staffing change offered to make the maintenance routine reliable.

Why the other options are wrong:

• Asking the parks department to take over all maintenance.: The parks department taking over all maintenance is not proposed.
• Purchasing a second Zamboni for backup.: Buying a second Zamboni is not proposed.
• Recruiting more volunteers from the community.: The proposed change is paid coordination, rather than simply recruiting more volunteers.

Correct Answer: By applying for the City of Toronto's winter recreation grant.

Why this is correct: The proposed funding source is the City of Toronto's winter recreation grant. The grant is suggested because the committee budget is tight.

Tips: Listen for where a speaker suggests the money could come from, and why.

Why the other options are wrong:

• By reducing the hockey association's rink time.: Reducing hockey rink time is not suggested as funding.
• By using the committee's existing emergency fund.: An existing emergency fund is not mentioned as the funding source.
• By charging admission fees to all skaters.: Admission fees for all skaters are not suggested as funding.

Correct Answer: Weekends should be reserved for public skating sessions.

Why this is correct: Weekend public sessions are proposed, a Saturday family-only hour is added, and the response accepts those parameters for the draft schedule. That explicit uptake supports reserving weekends for public skating rather than inferring agreement from general enthusiasm.

Tips: Distinguish a general alternating-day pattern from a specific weekend exception.

Why the other options are wrong:

• Weekends should be split evenly between hockey and public skating.: Alternating hockey and public days is discussed generally, but weekends are specifically reserved for public sessions rather than split evenly.
• Weekends should be reserved exclusively for minor hockey games.: The weekend exception favors public skating, not exclusive minor hockey bookings.
• Weekends should be closed for maintenance and resurfacing.: Resurfacing is scheduled around skating sessions; the speakers do not close weekends for maintenance.

Correct Answer: A family-only hour on Saturday mornings.

Why this is correct: A family-only hour on Saturday mornings is suggested and accepted as a parameter for the draft schedule.

Tips: Keep the participant group, day and time together when matching a schedule detail.

Why the other options are wrong:

• An adult-only session on Saturday evenings.: An adult-only Saturday evening session is not suggested.
• A beginner's skating class on Sunday afternoons.: A Sunday beginner class is not suggested.
• A free public session on Sunday mornings.: A free Sunday public session is not suggested.