purpose of reading test in IELTS

There are four skill test in IELTS test.  Reading test is one of them. Why this test is included in IELTS Test- The IELTS Reading test is designed to assess a wide range of reading skills, including how well a examinees-

• Read for the general sense of a passage
• Read for the main ideas from the passage
• Read for detail in a passage
• Understand inferences and implied meaning from the passage
• Recognize a writer’s opinions, attitudes and purpose
• Follow the development of an argument

This is the case for whichever version of the IELTS test one examinees are taking.
courtesy: British Council.