Section
1: Questions 15-27
Read
the text below and answers to the questions 15-27 on your
answer sheet.
You
should take around 20 minutes to complete this task.
GT Reading Sample - "Tips for giving an effective business presentation" & "How to get a job in
journalism"
IELTS Preparation Course
Read the passage below and answer Questions
15-22.
Tips for giving
an effective business presentation
Preparation:
Get someone else to evaluate your performance and highlight your best skills.
For example, go through your presentation in front of a colleague or relative.
Think about who your audience is and what you want them to get out of the
presentation. Think about content and style.
Go into the presentation room and try out any moves you may have to make, e.g.
getting up from your chair and moving to the podium. Errors in the first 20
seconds can be very disorientating.
Familiarise yourself with the electronic equipment before the presentation and
also have a backup plan in mind, should there be an unexpected problem like a
power cut.
Dealing with presentation nervousness:
A certain amount of nervousness is vital for a good presentation. The added
adrenaline will keep your faculties sharp and give your presentation skills
extra force. This can, however, result in tension in the upper chest.
Concentrate on your breathing. Slow it right down and this will relax you.
Strangely, having something to pick up and put down tends to help you do this.
It may seem an odd idea, but we seem to fee! calmer when we engage in what’s
referred to as a displacement activity, like clicking a pen or fiddling with
jewellery. A limited amount of this will not be too obvious and can make you
feel more secure at the start.
Interacting with your audience:
Think of your presentation as a conversation with your audience. They may not
actually say anything, but make them feel consulted, questioned, challenged,
then they will stay awake and attentive.
Engage with your present audience, not the one you have prepared for. Keep
looking for reactions to your ideas and respond to them. If your audience
doesn’t appear to be following you, find another way to get your ideas across.
If you don’t interact, you might as well send a video recording of your
presentation instead!
Structuring effective presentations:
Effective presentations are full of examples. These help your listeners to see
more clearly what you mean. It’s quicker and more colourful. Stick to the point
using three or four main ideas. For any subsidiary information that you cannot
present in 20 minutes, try another medium, such as handouts.
End as if your presentation has gone well. Do this even if you feel you’ve
presented badly. And anyway a good finish will get you some applause – and you
deserve it!
Questions 15-22
Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 15-22 on your answer sheet.
15. Practising your presentation on a ………………….. or a family member
is helpful.
16. Be prepared for a problem such as a ………………….. .
17. One way to overcome pre-presentation nerves is to make your
………………….. less rapid.
18. It is acceptable to do something called a ………………….. at the
start of the presentation to reassure you.
19. Your presentation should be like a ………………….. with the people
who have come to hear you.
20. Check constantly for ………………….. to the points you are making.
21. Make sure you use plenty of ………………….. to communicate your
message effectively.
22. To keep the presentation short, use things like ………………….. to
provide extra details.
Read the text below and answer Questions
23-27.
How to get a job in journalism
You
can get a good qualification in journalism, but what employers actually want is
practical, rather than theoretical, knowledge. There’s no substitute for
creating real stories that have to be handed in by strict deadlines. So write
for your school magazine, then maybe try your hand at editing. Once you’ve done
that for a while, start requesting internships in newspapers in the area. These
are generally short-term and unpaid, but they’re definitely worthwhile, since,
instead of providing you with money, they’ll teach you the skills that every
twenty-first-century journalist has to have, like laying out articles, creating
web pages, taking good digital pictures and so on.
Most reporters keep a copy of every story they’ve had published, from secondary
school onwards. They’re called cuttings, and you need them to get a job —
indeed a few impressive ones can be the deciding factor in whether you’re
appointed or not. So start creating a portfolio now that will show off your
developing talent.
It seems obvious – research is an important part of an effective job hunt. But
it’s surprising how many would-be journalists do little or none. If you’re
thorough, it can help you decide whether the job you’re thinking about applying
for is right for you. And nothing impresses an editor more than an applicant
who knows a lot about the paper.
There are two more elements to an application – your covering letter and
curriculum vitae. However, your CV is the thing that will attract an editor’s
attention first, so get it right. The key words are brevity, (no more than one
page) accuracy (absolutely no spelling or typing errors) and clarity (it should
be easy to follow).
In journalism, good writing skills are essential, so it’s critical that the
style of your letter is appropriate. And, make sure it conveys your love of
journalism and your eagerness to do the work.
Questions 23-27
Complete the flowchart below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 23-27 on your answer sheet.
Getting a job in journalism
Gain relevant experience, e.g. writing
articles to meet specific deadlines.
⇩
Apply for temporary 23 ………………. with local papers and acquire
the extra 24 ………………. you’ll need.
⇩
Build up a set of 25 ………………. in a portfolio, displaying how
your writing ability has progressed over time.
⇩
Take time to do detailed 26 ………………. first, before applying for
a post with a paper.
⇩
Once you decide to apply, make sure your CV is short, makes sense and is
without 27 ………………. of any kind.
⇩
Write your covering letter, paying particular attention to the style.
Sample 2
SECTION 2: Questions
15 - 27
You should spend about 20 minutes
on Questions 15-27, which are based on Reading Passages below.
Write answers to questions in boxes 15-27 on
your answer sheet.
GT Reading Sample - "How to
become a great leader" & "Resigning from a Job in a
Professional Manner"
IELTS Preparation
Course
Read the text below and answer Questions
15-21.
How to become a great leader
Stepping
into a new management role can be unnerving. Here’s how to inspire your team:
Set
the tone of your leadership style from the outset. Be confident, self-assured,
and respectful with everyone you meet. Speak as you want to be spoken to, and
remember to listen. The first few weeks are when people develop their
perceptions of you, so work hard to earn their trust. This will be key to
effective change and progress.
Part
of a leader’s brief is to set bold goals. They could take years to achieve, but
they need to be specific enough that everyone in the organization understands
them, buys into them, and is willing to work together to achieve them.
Don’t
do everything yourself. Great leaders surround themselves with talented
individuals and they should trust them to make things happen. If things need
changing, tell people and involve them in making the changes by participating
in the design of a new strategy. If the team is too cautious to embrace change,
give them one more chance but be clearer about what you want.
Stamp
out the ‘them and us’ culture. In many organizations, employees feel distant
from senior management. The message must be plain: we all work together, but
leaders need to work hard to ensure this filters through to everyone in the
organization.
Allow
time for innovation. It’s important to give staff time to come up with new ideas
and solutions that will fix new problems. However, be clear that a decision is
expected; set a time limit and stick to it.
It
is likely that the formula that makes the business you are managing successful
will have been created many years ago – but it’s important to remember how the
business started. Honour those early pioneers and instil a sense of pride
across the organization.
Leaders
need to accept that some risk may be required if the situation calls for it.
Playing it safe is never a good business rule, and leaders must make sure their
business stays ahead by being prepared to act quickly.
Show
you are passionate and enthusiastic. People spend a large part of their lives
working for an organization, and having a leader who is genuinely thrilled
about its future is hugely inspiring.
Questions 15-21
Complete the sentences below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 15-21 on your answer sheet.
15. Initially, a leader needs to focus on
gaining the ............... of the staff.
16. A leader should decide on ............... that their staff are
happy to fulfil.
17. Leaders should involve their staff in the process of producing
a different ............... .
18. If tricky issues arise, leaders should give staff the space to
find ............... to them.
19. Leaders need to encourage their staff to feel ...............
in the past achievements of the company.
20. It is important for leaders to agree to a certain degree of
............... when necessary.
21. If leaders find the ............... of the company exciting,
their staff will be more motivated to work hard.
Read the text below and answer Questions 22-27.
Resigning from a Job in a Professional
Manner
When
you take the decision to resign and move on to another job, you might really
want to dance your way out of the door, or get your own back by criticising
your boss to the whole office. But you need to resist these temptations because
in future you might find you’re working with your ex-line manager or other
colleagues in a different company.
Letting your manager know
Show courtesy by telling your boss first. Request a meeting to say that you’re
leaving, following up soon after with an official letter. Before the meeting
with your boss, write a list of ongoing tasks along with status updates and
suggestions concerning completion.
Use the meeting to clarify any other points, such as your notice period
and leaving date, and how you will inform others (colleagues or external
clients, contacts and suppliers). Ask about a reference too; your employer may
only supply the most basic type but your line manager might also give you a
more personal one. Making sure you get a good one can make subsequent job hunting
less stressful.
Preparation
Work out how you can ensure a smooth transition and minimise disruption to your
employer. There may be a range of things you can do to hand over
professionally, such as completing projects, working out the priorities with
your line manager, and leaving clear documentation for the successor in your
post concerning processes or software.
Your letter of resignation
Keep your letter short. You don’t need to give lots of explanations or
justification for why you’re leaving. Don’t be tempted to address the failings
of the company or your boss, either. Instead, thanking your employer for the
job and mentioning what you appreciated about it is a graceful touch. Here’s an
idea of what to include:
·
First
paragraph – the basics:
Inform the employer that you wish to resign and confirm the agreed final date
at work.
·
Second
paragraph – thank your employer:
Mention any particular career-building projects you worked on or opportunities
to develop skills and contribute to the employer’s goals and successes. You can
also mention your appreciation at being able to work in a great team.
·
Third
paragraph – handover:
State your willingness to finish existing projects and hand over your work
smoothly.
Questions 22-27
Complete the sentences below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 22-27 on your answer sheet.
The
best way to resign
Avoid all 22 ...............
to resign in an angry way. Instead, follow this procedure:
Arrange a meeting with the boss to:
·
mention
any projects which are underway and give ideas for their 23 ...............
.
·
discuss
how much notice you need to give before you go.
·
request
information on the type of 24 ............... you will
receive.
Steps you can take before you leave:
·
Work
to cause as little 25 ............... as possible to the
organisation.
·
Make
sure your successor has adequate guidance on the organisation’s systems.
In the resignation letter:
·
avoid
mentioning any 26 ............... in the organisation.
·
show
appreciation for aspects of the job, e.g., the chance to improve your 27 ...............
.
·
indicate
your wish to leave everything in good order.
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