IELTS General Training Reading - Section 2
This is the second section of the IELTS General Training Reading Test. It contains one piece of writing. Read each piece and answer the questions. The time limits for this section is 20mins.
IELTS Mock Test
14 questions
20 mins
Individuals
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- The test has 14 questions and you should aim to complete the test within 20 minutes.
- Make sure you read a question in full before answering.
- Overall score is provided at the end of the test.
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General Training Reading - Section 2
This is the Second section of the IELTS General Training Reading Test. It contains two pieces of writing. Read each piece and answer the questions. The time limits for this section is 20mins.
Questions 15-21
Read the text below and answer questions 15-21.
Beneficial work practices for preventing work-related musculoskeletal disorders among office workers
A) A combination of physical, cognitive, and organisational ergonomic interventions can help prevent work-related upper limb and neck musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Work-related upper limb and MSDs are one of the most common occupational disorders worldwide.
B) Everyone has a role to play in the prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Preventing any disorders can be done when the employee reports any physical symptoms such as back pain, wrist pain, or neck pain. Once the employer knows about a health and safety problem in the workplace, they can take steps to reduce risks for employees. An employer may need to make adaptations to the workplace. It can include changing tools and equipment, organising the way employees work and take breaks, and changing the work environment such as the temperature or lighting in an office.
C) Changes to the workplace design can also include the following: rearranging the office layout to keep everything within easy reach, using ergonomically-designed furniture and equipment, and keeping chairs at waist height so that shoulders can relax and arms can bend gently at the elbows.
D) An individual can prevent injuries by maintaining a neutral posture and adjusting one’s chair so the lower back is supported. A correctly adjusted chair can bring immediate relief and reduce strain on the back. Knees should be slightly lower than the hips. If necessary, adding a footrest can also help. Once a chair is adjusted, make sure that the wrists and forearms are straight and level with the floor and the feet rests firmly on the floor. The screen should be directly in front, with the top of the screen roughly at eye level.
E) Place the keyboard directly in front when typing. Leave a gap of about 4 to 6 inches at the front of the desk to serve as a resting place for the wrists. Some prefer having a wrist rest to keep wrists straight and at the same level as the keyboard. When using a mouse, position it nearby to prevent further strain. Some people also prefer having a mousepad with a wrist rest.
F) Preventing glare is another necessary step to prevent any injuries or unnecessary stress. Adjusting a monitor’s brightness or contrast levels can go a long way. Positioning the monitor to avoid overhead lighting can also keep the monitor as glare-free as possible. Preventing glare is an important step to prevent eye fatigue and neck and shoulder pain.
G) People with MDSs can quickly recover if a problem is recognised and treated immediately. Once an employee files a report, other employees who may have also been experiencing work-related disorders can share any issues they may have. An employer can then assess the workplace and provide treatment recommendations. Questions 15–21
The text above has seven sections, A–G. Choose the correct heading for each section from the list of headings below.
Select the correct number, i–x for questions 15–21.
List of headings |
| i | Why is it important to report discomfort in the workplace? |
| ii | What interior design changes can be done? |
| iii | How is eye fatigue prevented? |
| iv | What do some people prefer to make their wrists comfortable while typing? |
| v | What makes for a good keyboard? |
| vi | What can an individual do to bring immediate relief while working? |
| vii | What is the best keyboard and office chair to have? |
| viii | How can everyone contribute to prevent musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace? |
| ix | What can be done to prevent one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders worldwide? |
| x | Where should an employee put their monitors? |
Section AA combination of physical, cognitive, and organisational ergonomic interventions can help prevent work-related upper limb and neck musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Work-related upper limb and MSDs are one of the most common occupational disorders worldwide.
Section BEveryone has a role to play in the prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Preventing any disorders can be done when the employee reports any physical symptoms such as back pain, wrist pain, or neck pain. Once the employer knows about a health and safety problem in the workplace, they can take steps to reduce risks for employees. An employer may need to make adaptations to the workplace. It can include changing tools and equipment, organising the way employees work and take breaks, and changing the work environment such as the temperature or lighting in an office.
Section CChanges to the workplace design can also include the following: rearranging the office layout to keep everything within easy reach, using ergonomically-designed furniture and equipment, and keeping chairs at waist height so that shoulders can relax and arms can bend gently at the elbows.
Section DAn individual can prevent injuries by maintaining a neutral posture and adjusting one’s chair so the lower back is supported. A correctly adjusted chair can bring immediate relief and reduce strain on the back. Knees should be slightly lower than the hips. If necessary, adding a footrest can also help. Once a chair is adjusted, make sure that the wrists and forearms are straight and level with the floor and the feet rests firmly on the floor. The screen should be directly in front, with the top of the screen roughly at eye level.
Section EPlace the keyboard directly in front when typing. Leave a gap of about 4 to 6 inches at the front of the desk to serve as a resting place for the wrists. Some prefer having a wrist rest to keep wrists straight and at the same level as the keyboard. When using a mouse, position it nearby to prevent further strain. Some people also prefer having a mousepad with a wrist rest.
Section FPreventing glare is another necessary step to prevent any injuries or unnecessary stress. Adjusting a monitor’s brightness or contrast levels can go a long way. Positioning the monitor to avoid overhead lighting can also keep the monitor as glare-free as possible. Preventing glare is an important step to prevent eye fatigue and neck and shoulder pain.
Section GPeople with MDSs can quickly recover if a problem is recognised and treated immediately. Once an employee files a report, other employees who may have also been experiencing work-related disorders can share any issues they may have. An employer can then assess the workplace and provide treatment recommendations.
1 out of 2
Questions 22–28
Read the text below and answer questions 22–28.
Conducting Workplace Investigations
Before the investigation
If an employer deems that an informal resolution is not practical or possible, there are a number of considerations that an employer should bear in mind before proceeding. When an investigation is deemed necessary, it should immediately take place and an employer should clearly state the precise purpose and scope of the investigation.
Choosing an investigator will depend on different factors including, but not limited to, the severity or complexity of the case. The most important thing is that the chosen investigator will act fairly and objectively at all times.
Investigation meetings can be difficult, but a courteous investigator who follows a structured process can help reduce unnecessary stress and help resolve the issue as soon as possible. The interview process requires vital skills including proper listening and observational skills. An investigator should be able to challenge and test any given information in a professional manner. The right questioning approaches can help gather the right information from the interviewee.
Questioning approaches
Open questions encourages an interviewee to open up and provide a rich source of information to the investigator. These questions do not provide a simple yes or no answer. An investigator can then ask the interviewee to go into further detail and provide necessary information that could have never been known. Examples of open-ended questions include asking for details of the event, describing what someone might have seen or heard, and asking for the person to tell about an experience from their point of view.
Sometimes, an interviewee can provide too much information. This is where asking simple yes or no questions are beneficial. Asking yes or no questions can help an interviewer gather specific facts that are relevant to the case. Examples of yes or no questions include asking who, where, and what questions.
When inconsistencies arise, an interviewer can ask probing questions that are inquisitive rather than interrogative in nature. These questions, when asked correctly, can test the strength of an interviewee’s account and challenge any inconsistencies. Examples of probing questions include clarifying statements and going back to past statements and asking for the interviewee to tell more about a specific statement they issued earlier.
Feelings questions help reveal an interviewee’s beliefs. This can help reveal important information but investigators are advised to use these questions sparingly to avoid unnecessarily long investigations. Examples include “How do you think it will affect you?” or “Why do you think this is important in the investigation?”.
“What else” questions help investigators probe deeper and understand the situation better. However, investigators need to handle this question carefully. Examples include “What else can you tell me about the matter?”.
Questions 22 and 23
Complete the sentences below. Choose no more than three words from the text for each answer.
If an employer deems that __________ , is not practical or possible, there are a number of considerations that an employer should bear in mind before proceeding.
Choosing an investigator will depend on different factors including, but not limited to, the __________ of the case.
Questions 24–28
Look at the following descriptions (Questions 24–28) and the list of terms in the box below. Match each description with the correct term A–E. Choose the appropriate letter A–E for questions 24–28.
An investigator probes deeper and asks for more details about the incident.
An investigator requires specific answers.
An investigator requires specific answers.An investigator needs a lot of information and asks for details by asking an interviewee to describe what happened.
The type of question that reveals an interviewee’s beliefs.
These questions test the strength of an interviewee’s account.
Remember, there are three sections to the Reading test and you have 60 minutes to complete all three!
You have completed the second section of your Reading test. Now move on to Section 3, questions 29–40.
2 out of 2
