Read the following message.
Hi Yasmin,
Thank you for agreeing to facilitate our community budget discussion. I have attached a simplified example showing how a government budget can include both direct services and payments that transfer money to people. Please make clear that the percentages in the example are invented for the exercise. They are not the current figures for any particular government.
Residents will work in four groups. Each group will receive the same fictional budget and decide how to allocate an additional amount of money. They must explain their reasoning, but they do not have to reach the same decision as the other groups. The aim is to understand trade-offs, not to choose a winning political position.
We have reserved the hall from six until eight on Monday. Please arrive at 5:30 to help arrange the tables. I will bring the large budget sheets and markers. Could you bring a calculator for each group? Phone calculators are also fine, provided the volunteers operating them are comfortable using them.
After the group discussions, each table will have three minutes to explain its choice. Please stop the discussion at 7:30 so that every group has time to speak before we close.
We will collect the written suggestions, but nobody needs to put their name on them. A summary will go into the residents' newsletter next month without identifying individual participants.
Thanks,
Peter
Using the drop-down menu (▾), choose the best option according to the information given in the message.
2.The main point of Peter's message is that residents will meet
3.Yasmin should arrive
4.Yasmin should supply
5.Discussion must stop at 7:30
6.Suggestions will be reported
Here is a response to the message. Complete the response by filling in the blanks. Select the best choice for each blank from the drop-down menu (▾).
I will explain that the figures are 7. I will bring enough calculators for 8. groups and arrive at 5:30. I will stop the table discussions at 9., leaving time for the reports. Each group will have 10. to explain its choice. I will reassure residents that the newsletter summary will 11.
Best,
Yasmin
AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Correct Answer: as fictional figures for an exercise
Why this is correct: The percentages were created only for the group activity. Therefore, they should be presented as fictional figures for an exercise.
Passage Reference: Please make clear that the percentages in the example are invented for the exercise.
Tips: Look for invented and not current before interpreting any percentage.
Why the other options are wrong:
- as the residents’ proposed real budget: Residents use the example to discuss choices. It is not their real budget proposal.
- as the previous year’s official figures: Peter says the figures are invented, not last year’s official figures.
- as the government’s current allocation: Peter clearly says they are not current government figures.
Correct Answer: to explore choices and trade-offs
Passage Reference: The aim is to understand trade-offs, not to choose a winning political position.
Why this is correct: Everything Peter plans supports one idea. The groups do not need to agree, and nobody picks a winner. He says clearly that the aim is to understand trade-offs. So the main point of his message is that residents will meet to explore choices and trade-offs.
Tips: For a main point question, look for the idea the whole message keeps coming back to, not one small detail.
Why the other options are wrong:
- to identify which group allocates the most money: Every group shares out an extra amount. The aim is not to rank spending totals.
- to agree on one political position: Groups need not agree on one political position.
- to approve the government’s next budget: This exercise does not approve a real government budget.
Correct Answer: at 5:30
Passage Reference: Please arrive at 5:30 to help arrange the tables. I will bring the large budget sheets and markers.
Why this is correct: Peter asks Yasmin to arrive at 5:30. This gives her time to help arrange the tables before the session.
Tips: Separate the facilitator’s setup time from the public session.
Why the other options are wrong:
- at 7:30: 7:30 is when table discussions stop, not when Yasmin arrives.
- at 7:00: Seven in the evening is not the requested preparation time.
- at 6:00: Six is when the hall session starts. Yasmin should arrive earlier.
Correct Answer: calculators for the groups
Passage Reference: Could you bring a calculator for each group? Phone calculators are also fine, provided the volunteers operating them are comfortable using them.
Why this is correct: Peter asks Yasmin to bring one calculator for each group. Her requested supply is therefore calculators for the groups.
Tips: Peter lists several things to bring. Notice which ones he will bring himself and which one he asks Yasmin for.
Why the other options are wrong:
- printed newsletter copies: The newsletter comes next month. Yasmin is not asked to bring copies.
- markers for each table: Peter says he will bring the markers, so Yasmin need not supply them.
- large budget sheets: Peter says he will bring the large budget sheets himself.
Correct Answer: to allow every group to report
Passage Reference: Please stop the discussion at 7:30 so that every group has time to speak before we close.
Why this is correct: The discussions must end early enough for all four tables to speak. Stopping at 7:30 will allow every group to report.
Tips: Read the clause after the 7:30 instruction to find its purpose.
Why the other options are wrong:
- to let the organizers choose the best proposal: The exercise explores trade-offs, so the organizers will not select a winning proposal.
- to collect the calculators before closing: Collecting calculators is not the reason given for stopping discussion.
- to give participants time to rewrite the budget: The remaining time is for group reports, not rewritten budgets.
Correct Answer: in an anonymous summary
Passage Reference: A summary will go into the residents' newsletter next month without identifying individual participants.
Why this is correct: The newsletter will share a summary without identifying any participant. This means the suggestions will appear in an anonymous summary.
Tips: Connect no names with the way the newsletter reports the exercise.
Why the other options are wrong:
- with every participant’s name attached: Names are unnecessary and individuals will not be identified.
- as the winning group’s final budget: The activity does not choose a winning budget.
- as separate reports approved by each resident: The newsletter will contain a summary, not individually approved separate reports.
Correct Answer: fictional
Passage Reference: Please make clear that the percentages in the example are invented for the exercise.
Why this is correct: Invented figures are not real government figures. Yasmin should describe them simply as fictional.
Tips: Find Peter's word for how the percentages were made. Choose the option that means the same thing.
Why the other options are wrong:
- official: The example figures are invented for the exercise rather than official statistics.
- current: They are not current figures for any government.
- approved: No official approval of the example is claimed.
Correct Answer: four
Passage Reference: Residents will work in four groups. Each group will receive the same fictional budget and decide how to allocate an additional amount of money.
Why this is correct: The residents will be divided into four groups. Yasmin therefore needs calculators for four groups.
Tips: Check the number of groups, rather than borrowing a number from the schedule.
Why the other options are wrong:
- six: The exercise divides residents into four groups, not six groups.
- three: There are four groups. Three is the length of each report in minutes.
- five: The message describes four resident groups, so five is unsupported.
Correct Answer: 7:30
Passage Reference: Please stop the discussion at 7:30 so that every group has time to speak before we close.
Why this is correct: Peter gives 7:30 as the exact stopping time for discussion. Yasmin repeats that time in her reply.
Tips: Reserve the period after 7:30 for the group presentations.
Why the other options are wrong:
- 8:00: Eight is the closing time. Stopping then would leave no time for reports.
- 7:00: Peter specifies 7:30 as the discussion stopping time, not 7:00.
- 7:45: 7:45 would leave less time than the planned 7:30 stop.
Correct Answer: three minutes
Passage Reference: After the group discussions, each table will have three minutes to explain its choice.
Why this is correct: Every table receives three minutes for its report. Yasmin should therefore allow each group three minutes to explain.
Tips: Read the paragraph about what happens after the table talks. It gives the time for each table, not for the whole evening.
Why the other options are wrong:
- ten minutes: Ten minutes is not the speaking time offered to each table.
- two minutes: Each group receives three minutes to report, not two minutes.
- five minutes: Five minutes exceeds the stated three-minute reporting slot for each group.
Correct Answer: not identify individuals
Passage Reference: A summary will go into the residents' newsletter next month without identifying individual participants.
Why this is correct: Peter says the public summary will leave out participants' identities. Yasmin can reassure residents that it will not identify individuals.
Tips: Peter explains how the written suggestions will be shared. Look for what the summary will leave out about the people.
Why the other options are wrong:
- name the group with the best proposal: No best proposal or winning group is selected.
- include everyone’s signed suggestions: Peter says participants do not need to sign their written suggestions.
- ask each resident to defend a public statement: No one has to make a public statement. The summary does not name anyone.
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