A Traveller’s View of Group Holidays
About this practice test
A traveller considers the advantages and drawbacks of group holidays, including safety, flexibility, group size, cost and honest advertising.
What you’ll practice
Finding detail
Locate specific information and evidence.
Interpreting ideas
Connect main points and inferences.
Evaluating arguments
Assess claims, evidence, and limitations.
What to expect:
10 questions with explanations to review after submission.
Study the questions and tasks
Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.
- Practice level
- B1. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.
- Question formats
- Yes / No / Not Given
How to approach this practice
Read the passage for its main idea, then return to the relevant sentence or paragraph for each question. Base answers on the passage.
A Traveller’s View of Group Holidays
I have taken holidays alone, with family, and once on a coach trip with strangers. From these experiences, I do not think group holidays are perfect for every traveller, although I understand why they remain popular. When I was tired after planning a long route, it was comforting to let someone else arrange hotels and tickets. A group can also make a new city feel safer, especially on the first evening, when the streets are unfamiliar and everything seems new. At the same time, being with the same people all day can be tiring, especially if you want to stop, look around, or change your mind without asking permission. A holiday loses something when every day is fixed in advance. On my coach trip, we spent too long in souvenir shops and too little time in the old quarter I had hoped to explore. I would rather have one clear meeting time and a few shared meals than a strict timetable from morning to night. Smaller groups are usually better, because people can speak more easily and make decisions without long arguments. In a small group, it is also simpler to notice when someone is tired, hungry, or unhappy, and that can prevent small problems from growing. Some friends say group travel is cheaper, and that is often true, but price is only one part of the choice. A bargain is not helpful if the bus is crowded and the hotel is far from the centre. I also believe group holidays work best when the organiser is honest about the plan. If the advertisement promises free time, there should really be free time. For me, the ideal trip mixes company and independence: enough people to share stories, but enough space to follow your own interests. That balance is what makes me feel relaxed rather than trapped.
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Question 1 · Yes / No / Not Given
Decide whether the statement agrees with the writer’s or speaker’s view. Choose Not Given when the view is not stated.
The writer thinks smaller groups are usually better.
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Yes
- No
- Not Given
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Yes
Yes. The passage says, 'Smaller groups are usually better,' so the statement matches the writer’s opinion exactly.
Smaller groups are usually better
Yes: Correct. The writer says this directly.
No: Incorrect. The passage supports the statement.
Not Given: Incorrect. The opinion is given plainly.
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Question 2 · Yes / No / Not Given
Decide whether the statement agrees with the writer’s or speaker’s view. Choose Not Given when the view is not stated.
The writer thinks group holidays should include many shopping stops.
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Yes
- No
- Not Given
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- No
No. The writer complains that the group spent too long in souvenir shops, so this is the opposite of the writer’s view.
we spent too long in souvenir shops
Yes: Incorrect. The writer complains about too much shopping time.
No: Correct. The writer is clearly unhappy with too many shopping stops.
Not Given: Incorrect. The writer gives a clear opinion here.
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Question 3 · Yes / No / Not Given
Decide whether the statement agrees with the writer’s or speaker’s view. Choose Not Given when the view is not stated.
The writer believes price is the only factor worth considering when choosing a group holiday.
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Yes
- No
- Not Given
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- No
No. The writer says price is only one part of the choice and also considers comfort, location and independence. Price is therefore not the only factor.
price is only one part of the choice
Yes: Incorrect. The writer considers several factors, not price alone.
No: Correct. The writer explicitly says price is only one part of the choice.
Not Given: Incorrect. The writer explicitly discusses the role of price alongside other factors.
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Question 4 · Yes / No / Not Given
Decide whether the statement agrees with the writer’s or speaker’s view. Choose Not Given when the view is not stated.
The writer thinks every group holiday should include a local guide.
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Yes
- No
- Not Given
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Not Given
Not Given. The writer talks about an organiser and about honest plans, but does not say that a local guide is needed on every group holiday.
I also believe group holidays work best when the organiser is honest about the plan
Yes: Incorrect. A local guide is not mentioned as a necessary feature.
No: Incorrect. The writer does not reject local guides; they are simply not discussed.
Not Given: Correct. The passage does not state this view.
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Question 5 · Yes / No / Not Given
Decide whether the statement agrees with the writer’s or speaker’s view. Choose Not Given when the view is not stated.
The writer believes group holidays are best in spring.
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Yes
- No
- Not Given
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Not Given
Not Given. The passage discusses comfort, freedom, group size, price, and honesty, but it says nothing about spring being the best season. The writer’s view on seasons is not stated.
For me, the ideal trip mixes company and independence
Yes: Incorrect. The passage does not mention spring as the best season.
No: Incorrect. The passage does not say spring is a bad season.
Not Given: Correct. No view about spring appears in the passage.
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Question 6 · Yes / No / Not Given
Decide whether the statement agrees with the writer’s or speaker’s view. Choose Not Given when the view is not stated.
The writer believes a group can make a new city feel safer on the first evening.
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Yes
- No
- Not Given
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Yes
Yes. The passage says that a group can make a new city feel safer, especially on the first evening. This matches the statement closely.
A group can also make a new city feel safer, especially on the first evening
Yes: Correct. This is exactly the writer’s view.
No: Incorrect. The writer says the opposite.
Not Given: Incorrect. The view is clearly stated.
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Question 7 · Yes / No / Not Given
Decide whether the statement agrees with the writer’s or speaker’s view. Choose Not Given when the view is not stated.
The writer prefers one clear meeting time and a few shared meals to a strict timetable.
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Yes
- No
- Not Given
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Yes
Yes. The writer explicitly says, 'I would rather have one clear meeting time and a few shared meals than a strict timetable from morning to night.' That directly supports the statement.
I would rather have one clear meeting time and a few shared meals than a strict timetable from morning to night
Yes: Correct. The writer states this preference directly.
No: Incorrect. The writer does not prefer the strict timetable.
Not Given: Incorrect. The preference is stated clearly.
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Question 8 · Yes / No / Not Given
Decide whether the statement agrees with the writer’s or speaker’s view. Choose Not Given when the view is not stated.
The writer believes group holidays work best when the organiser is honest about the plan.
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Yes
- No
- Not Given
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Yes
Yes. The writer says this directly: 'I also believe group holidays work best when the organiser is honest about the plan.'
I also believe group holidays work best when the organiser is honest about the plan
Yes: Correct. The writer states this opinion directly.
No: Incorrect. The writer supports honesty in planning.
Not Given: Incorrect. The opinion is explicitly stated.
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Question 9 · Yes / No / Not Given
Decide whether the statement agrees with the writer’s or speaker’s view. Choose Not Given when the view is not stated.
The writer says children enjoy group holidays more than adults.
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Yes
- No
- Not Given
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Not Given
Not Given. The passage never compares children and adults. It gives the writer’s own preferences, but not this claim about age groups.
For me, the ideal trip mixes company and independence
Yes: Incorrect. The passage does not make this comparison.
No: Incorrect. The writer does not disagree with it; the idea is simply not mentioned.
Not Given: Correct. No comparison between children and adults is stated.
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Question 10 · Yes / No / Not Given
Decide whether the statement agrees with the writer’s or speaker’s view. Choose Not Given when the view is not stated.
The writer thinks group holidays are perfect for every traveller.
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Yes
- No
- Not Given
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- No
No. The writer says, 'I do not think group holidays are perfect for every traveller,' which directly disagrees with the statement. The passage does not leave this open to interpretation.
I do not think group holidays are perfect for every traveller
Yes: Incorrect. The writer says the opposite.
No: Correct. The writer clearly disagrees with the statement.
Not Given: Incorrect. The writer’s view is stated directly.
What to review next
Find the words that support each answer. For a mistake, compare the question with the evidence and identify the detail or inference you missed.
A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.
Before you practise: a worked example
Look for evidence in the text. Separate what the writer says from what you already know about the topic.
The library normally closes at six, but on Fridays it stays open until eight. When does it close on Friday?
The answer is eight. But introduces an exception to the normal closing time, so the first time mentioned is not the answer.
This teaching example is separate from the scored questions. After your test, compare any mistakes with the explanation and revisit the topic before trying again.