Serer You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 13-27, which are based on Reading Passage 2 on pages 34 and 35 34 How to Build A tree house is a place where you can give free rein to your individual creativity. However, while there are almost as many types of tree house as there are types of tree, some general principles do apply when it comes to tree house construction. Before you begin your tree house plans, check with your local planning authorities about any restrictions on building tree houses that may exist. In some places, if a structure is below a certain size and not used as a permanent dwelling it wll not need planning approval, but there may be restrictions on height or on windows overlooking adjacent properties. Safety is vital during construction. Always use a safety harness, and firmly tie it to a strong branch, Think before you act, and keep a first aid kit handy. First Steps First, you need to choose a tree and decide on a position within it for your tree house. Think about what you want from your tree house: Will it be an adult hideaway or children’s play area? If you are considering a tree house for children, keep it close to the ground: Consider whether you ‘want your tree house to be hidden or vsible,and make sure it will not disturb other people. Choose a mature, healthy tree with no special protection orders that may affect pruning. When selecting a tree it is best to consult a qualified arborist, and if any pruning is necessary arrange for this to be done professionally. Decide how you want to access your tree house and what materials you want to use. Whatever you decide, it is best to start small and simple. Every tree is different, so let the tree be your guide. Follow the form of the tree, allow for growth and movement, and keep the structure lightweight. Keep the various positions Cf the sun in mind when planning small decks. f there is not cone ideal tree, then several closely spaced, smaller trees will suffice. Ideally. plan the structure on paper before starting ‘work, allowing for a deck if you want one, Never make the ‘tree house too big for the tree, IELTS: Test 1.» READING MODULE > Pas: a Tree House Building a Platform The platform, providing a secure foundation for the rest of the structure, is the key element of almost any tree house, Ie should be built close to the trunk, with diagonal bracing for extra strength, if it is not supported by branches or posts. Make sure the platform is level,and keep it balanced centrally around the tree to support uneven loads and reduce swaying When securing the structure, do everything you can to limit damage to the tree. Ideally use rope lashing, but make sure you know the right knots. If necessary, use strong galvanised steel screws, as ungalvanised screws or rails will rust and encourage disease and rot. Avoid cutting the bark all the way round, or constricting it too tightly with rope or wire. Once the platform is secure, you need to add the floor For this you might use plywood sheets or conventional floorboards. The walls can either be built in situ in the tree Cr prefabricated on the ground and then hoisted up into position (for larger tree houses the latter is much easier and safer), To minimise the amount of work done while perched Up in the tree, you can even add external wall finishes on the round and prefix doors and windows. The roof may also be pre-assembled, but if branches are to penetrate it, or if itis an irregular shape, itis generally best to build itn situ. Once in position, the roof should be covered and protected with roofing felt If desired the roof can be finished with local materials such as palm leaves or recycled shingles. Windows and Doors In a tree house, adhering to convention is unnecessary. This is a place to experiment and indulge your design fantasies. ‘Whether your taste leans toward Gothic towers or rustic cottages, the possiblities for windows and doors are endless. ‘The important thing is to keep them in proportion to the size and design of the tree house. For safety and lightness, use Perspex or Plexiglas instead of glass for windows. Try to use (old or recycled items whenever possible.Deck and Railings Nothing can beat the experience of sitting outside a tree house. among the leaves and branches, on an outside deck, balcony or veranda. A deck can be part of the tree house platform, or it might be ina separate place nearby, perhaps at a different level and reached by a rope bridge or ‘wooden walkway. Whichever you choose, the deck must be surrounded by safe ralings. Functional these may be, but as. ‘with doors and windows, you can still give your imagination {free rein. For something different, why not make a giant hammock by attaching a strong rope net to the deck? Spread ‘with pillows and cushions it makes a great place to relax. Tree House Access Now that you have built your tree house, how will you get up there? A simple wooden or rope ladder i fine if the house is not far from the ground, but steps, ideally with Exam Essentials handrails, are better for higher constructions. Spiral steps, winding around the trunk are always fun and look more hatural than a straight flight. If higher stil it is a good idea to break the journey with a series of landings. Sometimes it Is possible to build a bridge or rope walkway from an adjacent tree, building or area of high ground. For really high tree houses, a rope pulley system with a harness or chair may be the most convenient method. A rope pulley with a basket is indispensable for hoisting up provisions, whatever the height your tree house. ‘After all the effort involved in designing and building tree house, the last thing you want is for it to fall down. Remember to check the floors, decks and railings frequently for rot or weakness. Inspect any steps, adders and walkways, ‘and repair damage immediately. Check the tree annually for growth and movement, and adjust or refix attachments to the tree as necessary. \ELTS: Test 4 >> READING MODULE >» Passace 2 35)fc Geers WRITIN SPEAKING M@DULE Questions 13-18 Complete the sentences below with words taken from Reading Passage 2. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer B will provide information about restrictions that might apply to your construction. 14 Planning approval is not usually necessary fora small tree house that is not @ Ib A held securely in place i essential when working high up in a tree 16 A tree house planned as. ‘can be built higher than one planned for children to play in. 17 You might not be allowed ro prune a tree that has 18 Small decks will benefit from. ferent times of the day Sentence completion - filling gaps with words from the text Task guide For this task, you have to complete individual > The task will normally consist of sentences that focus ‘generally be instructed to use ether two or three words (see the instructions for Questions 13-1@ above) (Seance aera arouses ine fe fn a particular part ofthe passage rather than on| > The texts will come from a variety of sources and information spread throughout the whole passage. even ifthe subject matter is outside your experience, __the sentences do relate to the whole passage, youvill ‘such as this passage on tree houses, remember that allthe information you need to answer the questions willbe found inthe text. > Sometimes, a sentence completion task will have its > The task is similar to other gapzfling tasks (summary WN heading, which will help you locate the relevant fF flow chart completion, for example, but each part of the passage. sentence is separate, and there isnot necessarily » You must write words that appear in the text, Do ‘2 connection between the specific topic of each, ‘ot use other words or phrases that you think make Contrast this task with a note completion task, which __sense, and do not change the form of words. Fequites you to complete information in note form Read the instructions careful, as they will ell you how father than complete full grammatically conventional many words you ean use for each answer. The number sentences. ‘ot words varies in each task ofthis type, but you will | es i OT at FD 36 IELTS: Test 1»> READING MODULE » > Passace 2TESTS am Essentials WRITING MODULE SPEAKING MODULE ustenne noone ERIN Questions 19-23 Label the diagram below. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the reading passage for each answer, Platforms, windows and doors platform trunk. WB ee adds strength WF om —— = 1 J3B__IELTS: Test 1) READING MODULE b> Passace 2Exam Essentials WRITING MODULE SPEAKING MODULE USTENING MODULE Puen eens ASSAD Questions 24-27 Complete each sentence with the correct ending AH from the box below: White the correct leter A-H in boxes 24-27 on your answer sheet. 24 An outside deck 25 A basic wooden ladder 26 Arope walkway 27 Arope pulley should be higher than the main part of the construction. saves carrying items up ladders and staircases. can connect one tree with another. should not be too unconventional in, design. {s best suited to low constructions. is a potentially dangerous option, can be constructed to wind around the va @ > trunk of the tree. may increase the likelihood of a construction collapsing. Sentence completion - choosing endings Task guide > For this task, you have to complete a number of sentences by choosing from possible endings listed in a box, using information provided in the passage. There are llways more options (sentence endings) than there are questions (sentence stems}, $0 you must dismiss some of the options as incorrect This task may focus on information in a particular part of the passage or on information spread throughout the whole passage. ifthe task checks your comprehension of the ‘whole passage, you will have o scan the tex for relevant information. Tne questions will follow the order in which information is provided in the passage. ‘The options wil be randomly arranged in the box. The aim of this task i to test your understanding of the ‘grammar, Any of th ‘need to read carefully to check thatthe information given isco! ‘will begin withthe same part of speech, a simple past verb or a modal verb, for example. Language used in the sentence endings land sometimes in the sentence stems! will paraphrase language used in the passage, You will need to read all of the options ‘carefully to identify which say the same thing as the relevant parts ofthe text. ‘The additional options (those which are to be dismissed will always relate to Information provided in the text, and will often be close in meaning ta information required to answer a question. Qan't choose an option simply because it appears 10 immediately relate to a sentence stem ~it may be there to deliberately mislead you. = ome 140 IELTS: Test 4 >> READING MODULE >» Passace 2