“First, click on ‘Start Test ’, then read the passage below. Select or write your answers on the right side corresponding to the questions. If you find any issue, please contact us.”
Section 1 Read the text below and answer questions 1-5.
Arriving in Singapore by plane
Baggage claim You can refer to the flight information television screens on Level Two for the allocation of your baggage claim belt. Free trolleys are available near all baggage claim belts and our friendly porters are at your service on request. Should you require their assistance with carrying luggage, please ask at the Information Desk. You can proceed to the Lost and Found Counter for advice if you cannot find your baggage or would like to report damaged baggage.
Customs clearance Please use the Green Channel for your baggage clearance if you do not have controlled or prohibited items to declare, or have not exceeded your Duty-Free Concession. Please use the Red Channel if you have items to declare or are in doubt.
Hotel reservations
You can make these at the hotel reservation counter with S$10.00 per reservation deposit, deductible from your hotel bill at the end of your stay. These counters do not handle the transit hotels. For these go to the reception desk on level three.
Singapore Airport
Goods and Services Tax (GST) relief A 3% GST is levied on the sale of all goods imported into Singapore. If you are a visitor returning citizen or permanent resident of Singapore you may be granted GST relief under certain conditions.
Tax free shopping As a tourist or visitor you can apply for a refund at customs of the 3% GST on goods purchased during your stay in Singapore provided you:
– shop at stores with the ‘Tax free shopping’ logo spend a minimum amount of S$100 at any one shop and at least S$300 in total obtain a Global Refund Cheque from the place of purchase
When collecting your refund you have several choices – cash, bank cheque or Changi Airport Shopping Voucher which comes with an additional 10% in value.
Please note that a handling fee will be deducted from the GST amount for the refund service.
Read the text below and answer questions 11-14.
Singapore Guide: A walk around the Orchard Road District
The route begins just opposite the Orchard MRT station at the Singapore Marriott Hotel. This eye catching landmark has a distinctive Chinese styled green roof and red pillars.
In 1958 a former lace padler C K Tang, foresaw that the area could become a bustling shopping centre since residents in the neighbouring Tanglin district had to pass enroute to work at the commercial centre Raffles Place. So with roof tiles brought in from his hometown in the Swatow province of China, Tang built a department store on what was then a cheap isolated plot of land. The plot faced a cemetery which is consolidated a bad omen in Chinese culture. His foresight paid off. Today Tangs is one of Singapore’s most prominent and recognised home grown department stores proudly showcasing local fashion and household products. Even when the original building was torn down in 1982 to give way to the present superstore and skyscraper hotel it retained its unique Chinese architecture.
From the foyer at Tangs turn left to Lucky Plaza. One of the oldest along Orchard Road, this mall is a perennial favourite with shoppers. Be amazed by the staggering array of cosmetics, jewellery, leather goods and hi-fi equipment. Prices though are not always fixed so bring along a good set of bargaining skills.
Coming out of Lucky Plaza continue along Orchard Road and enter the Paragon Shopping Centre. Apart from a wide range of shops and restaurants there is also a Singapore Airlines Service centre to facilitate bookings and offer information to tourists. Also available are a number of computer terminals for self booking. Check out the life-sized sculptures by a well known Taiwanese sculptor Sun Yu-li outside the shopping centre. These were inspired by depictions of life in rock paintings dating back 20000 years ago in Inner Mongolia.
