Cambridge IELTS 18 · General Training · Test 1 · Section 1
What To Do If Your Clothes Have Been Lost Or Damaged By A Dry Cleaner & Groups For Readers And Writers — IELTS Reading Answers
All 14 answers for What To Do If Your Clothes Have Been Lost Or Damaged By A Dry Cleaner & Groups For Readers And Writers, Cambridge IELTS 18 General Training Reading Test 1 Section 1, with the passage evidence and an explanation for each.
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What To Do If Your Clothes Have Been Lost Or Damaged By A Dry Cleaner & Groups For Readers And Writers answer key at a glance
Questions 1–14. Tap an answer to see the evidence.
What this section tests
This section is tested with True / False / Not Given (Q1–7), Matching Information (Q8–14). Each section below gives the strategy for that question type, the answers, and the sentence that proves them.
Questions 1–7: True / False / Not Given
Strategy: Judge the whole statement against the text. FALSE contradicts the passage; NOT GIVEN means the passage never addresses that specific claim.
Dry cleaners are generally responsible for items left with them, even if there’s a sign saying the opposite.
“Dry cleaners are legally required to take reasonable care of anything left with them. You can claim compensation if your belongings are damaged or lost while in their care.”
TRUE: dry cleaners are 'legally required to take reasonable care' of items, and compensation can be claimed, so responsibility is a legal duty.
If the dry cleaner loses an item belonging to you, they should give you enough money to buy a completely new one.
“If they have to pay the cost of replacing a damaged or lost item, the maximum they’re obliged to offer you is the value of the item when it was left with them, not what it would cost to replace as new.”
FALSE: the maximum is 'the value of the item when it was left with them, not what it would cost to replace as new'.
If you have the receipt for a damaged item, the company should refund the amount you originally paid for it.
“the maximum they’re obliged to offer you is the value of the item when it was left with them, not what it would cost to replace as new.”
FALSE: even with a receipt, payouts are limited to 'the value of the item when it was left', not the price originally paid.
It may be possible to get support for your complaint from a dry cleaners’ trade association.
“If the dry cleaner is a member of a trade association such as the UK Fashion and Textile Association, you can pass your complaint to them and they may be able to help you.”
TRUE: if the cleaner belongs to a trade association, 'you can pass your complaint to them and they may be able to help'.
If you’re offered too little compensation, you can request a free report from an independent organisation.
“You could get an independent organization to look at your issue and produce a report, but this could be expensive (often around £100).”
FALSE: an independent report 'could be expensive (often around £100)', so it is not free.
Most people who take a case about a dry-cleaning company to court are satisfied with the outcome.
“If you’ve tried the options above and are still unhappy with the outcome, you could take your case to court.”
NOT GIVEN: 'you could take your case to court' is mentioned, but nothing says how satisfied claimants usually are.
If an item was lost or damaged nine months ago, you can still take the dry cleaner to court.
“There’s a time limit for going to court – from when you took the item to the dry cleaner, you have up to six years.”
TRUE: the limit is 'up to six years', so nine months is well within the period for court action.
Questions 8–14: Matching Information
Strategy: Scan for the idea, not the exact words. The answer is a paragraph letter, and one paragraph may be used more than once unless the instructions say otherwise.
Members of this group share ideas for the books they would like to read.
“We are a friendly group, with everybody keen to talk about what we’ve enjoyed reading recently and make suggestions on what we should read next.”
Group A: members are 'keen to talk about what we've enjoyed reading recently and make suggestions on what we should read next'.
It isn’t possible for any new members to join this group at present.
“The group is currently full but anyone interested is welcome to join the membership waiting list.”
Group F: 'the group is currently full', though interested readers can join a waiting list.
You can get feedback on your own work from other members of this group.
“Would you like to share your writing with others and hear their constructive suggestions for how to improve it?”
Group B: 'share your writing with others and hear their constructive suggestions for how to improve it'.
This group focuses on stories belonging to just one genre.
“The group is open to men and women who enjoy discussing the themes and issues found in science fiction novels.”
Group C: it is 'open to men and women who enjoy discussing the themes and issues found in science fiction novels', one genre.
Work produced by members of this group will be available to the public.
“your poems will be displayed in the library and online.”
Group F: members' poems 'will be displayed in the library and online', so the public can see them.
This group doesn’t read or write either poetry or fiction.
“Every month members of this group read a fabulous business book which is then discussed when we meet.”
Group E: members read 'a fabulous business book' each month, so neither poetry nor fiction is involved.
This group would suit someone who thinks they could write a book.
“Would you like to share your writing with others and hear their constructive suggestions for how to improve it? Have you got a book inside you but need the inspiration to get started?”
Group B: 'have you got a book inside you but need the inspiration to get started?' invites would-be authors.
Learn the question types in this section
Frequently asked questions
Where does the What To Do If Your Clothes Have Been Lost Or Damaged By A Dry Cleaner & Groups For Readers And Writers passage come from?
It is Section 1 of Cambridge IELTS 18 General Training Reading Test 1, and it covers Questions 1–14.
What question types appear in What To Do If Your Clothes Have Been Lost Or Damaged By A Dry Cleaner & Groups For Readers And Writers?
The section is tested with True / False / Not Given, Matching Information. Each type is explained on this page, alongside the answers.
Are these reading answers reliable?
Every answer is paired with the sentence that proves it, so you can check each one against the passage yourself. Use the page after a timed attempt, not instead of one.
Cambridge IELTS is published by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Band9Prep is not affiliated with Cambridge. This page is an independent study aid: it gives the answer key, the passage evidence and an explanation so you can review an attempt you have already made.