Wednesday, 9 April 2025

GT IELTS Reading

 

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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