GT Reading — Test 44

Reading passage

TEXT Text A — Riverbend Saturday Farmers' Market Every Saturday from April to October, the paved square beside the old wool store comes alive with more than sixty stalls. Gates open at 7.30 a.m. for early shoppers and the market winds down at 1 p.m. sharp, so plan to arrive before noon if you want the best of the morning bake. Parking is free in the Council lot on Mill Lane, a three-minute stroll away. The lot fills quickly, so cyclists are welcome to use the covered racks at the market entrance. Dogs on short leads are permitted everywhere except inside the covered food hall, where hygiene rules apply. Cash is handy for smaller traders, though most stalls now accept contactless cards. A free tote bag is given to the first fifty customers each week at the information booth by the fountain. Please note that the market does not run on public holidays. When a holiday lands on a Saturday, we move to the following Sunday and post the change on our noticeboard and website by the Wednesday before. Lost property is held at the booth for two weeks. ———————————— TEXT Text B — Become a Stallholder Thinking of selling at Riverbend? We would love to hear from growers, bakers, makers and cooks. Casual pitches cost £28 a day and are booked online no later than the Thursday evening before your chosen Saturday. Regular traders who commit to a full season pay a reduced rate of £22 a pitch and are guaranteed the same spot each week. All food producers must hold current insurance and register with the Council's food safety team at least three weeks before their first trading day. We cannot process a late application, so leave yourself plenty of time. Every pitch measures three metres by three metres. You bring your own gazebo, tables and weights; we provide the site, waste collection and a friendly steward on the day. Electricity is limited and must be requested when you book, as only twelve powered pitches exist. New traders are paired with an experienced mentor for their opening month. Craft and produce are our focus, so we do not accept stalls reselling mass-produced goods bought wholesale. Questions? Email the market office or drop by the booth any Saturday. ———————————— TEXT Text C — July Events at the Market Saturday 5 July – Strawberry Morning. Pick up a punnet from any fruit stall and join our jam-making demonstration at 10 a.m. beside the fountain. Children under twelve can decorate a free jar label at the craft tent. Saturday 12 July – Meet the Beekeepers. Local apiarists bring an observation hive (safely glassed in) and answer your questions from 9 a.m. Tastings of six single-flower honeys run until sold out. A short talk on protecting pollinators starts at 11 a.m. Saturday 19 July – Young Growers' Day. Stalls run by school gardening clubs sell seedlings and salad leaves. All money raised goes towards a new community polytunnel. Bring a spare pot and swap a plant at the seedling exchange table. Saturday 26 July – Cheese and Music. Three cheesemakers offer a guided tasting board for £6, bookable at the booth from 8 a.m. The Harbour Folk Trio plays acoustic sets through the morning. Please note the jam demonstration does not repeat this week. All events are free unless a price is shown. Timings may shift if the weather turns; check the noticeboard on the day.