This Academic IELTS Reading post focuses on solutions to IELTS Cambridge 6 Reading Test 3 Reading Passage 2 entitled ‘Motivating Employees under Adverse Conditions’. This is a targeted post for IELTS candidates who have big problems finding out and understanding Reading Answers in the AC module. This post can guide you the best to understand every Reading answer without much trouble. Finding out IELTS Reading answers is a steady process, and this post will assist you in this respect.

IELTS Cambridge 6 Test 3: AC Reading Module

Reading Passage 2: Questions 14-26

The headline of the passage: Motivating Employees under Adverse Conditions

Questions 14-18: List of headings:

[In this question type, IELTS candidates are provided with a list of headings, usually identified with lower-case Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, etc,). A heading will refer to the main idea of the paragraph or section of the text. Candidates must find out the equivalent heading to the correct paragraphs or sections, which are marked with alphabets A, B, C and so forth. Candidates need to write the appropriate Roman numerals in the boxes on their answer sheets. There will always be two or three more headings than there are paragraphs or sections. So, some of the headings will not be used. It is also likely that some paragraphs or sections may not be included in the task. Generally, the first paragraph is an example paragraph that will be done for the candidates for their understanding of the task.

TIPS: Skimming is the best reading technique. You need not understand every word here. Just try to gather the gist of the sentences. That’s all. Read quickly and don’t stop until you finish each sentence.]

Question no. 14: Key Point Two

Take a close look at the first lines of Key Point Two, “The literature on goal-setting theory suggests that managers should ensure that all employees have specific goals and receive comments on how well they are doing in those goals.”

Here, all employees have specific goals = establish targets, receive comments on how well they are doing in those goals = give feedbacks,

So, the answer is: vii (Establish targets and give feedback)

Question no. 15: Key Point Three

The answer can be found in lines 1-4 of Key Point Three. Here, the writer says, “Regardless of whether goals are achievable or well within management’s perceptions of the employee’s ability, if employees see them as unachievable they will reduce their effort. Managers must be sure, therefore, that employees feel confident that their efforts can lead to performance goals. .. .. .”

Here, if employees see them as unachievable they will reduce their effort = targets should not be unrealistic,

So, the answer is: iii (Ensure targets are realistic)

Question no. 16: Key Point Four

The answer can be found in lines 1-3 of Key Point Four. Take a look at these lines, “Since employees have different needs, what acts as a reinforcement for one may not for another. Managers could use their knowledge of each employee to personalise the rewards over which they have control. .. .. .”

Here, personalise the rewards over which they have control = match rewards to individuals,

So, the answer is: ii (Match rewards to individuals)

Question no. 17: Key Point Five

The answer can be found in the very first sentence of Key Point Five. The writer says here, “Managers need to make rewards contingent on performance. . .. .. ”

Here, performance = achievement, contingent = reliant/linked,

So, the answer is: iv (Link rewards to achievement)

Question no. 18: Key Point Six

The answer can be found in the first lines of Key Point Six. The author says here, “The way rewards are distributed should be transparent so that employees perceive that rewards or outcomes are equitable and equal to the inputs given.  .. ..”

Here, The way rewards are distributed = reward system, transparent = fair,

So, the answer is: i (Ensure the reward system is fair)

Questions 19-24: YES, NO, NOT GIVEN:

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to find out whether:

The statement in the question matches with the claim of the writer in the text- YES
The statement in the question contradicts with the claim of the writer in the text- NO
The statement in the question has no clear connection with the account in the text- NOT GIVEN

[TIPS: For this type of question, you can divide each statement into three independent pieces and make your way through with the answer.]

Question no. 19: A shrinking organisation tends to lose its less skilled employees rather than its more skilled employees.

Keywords for the question: shrinking organisation, tends to lose, less skilled employees, than, more skilled employees,

The answer can be found in the ‘THE CHALLENGE’ section in the first paragraph. The writer says here, “. . .. . When an organization is shrinking, the best and most mobile workers are prone to leave voluntarily. …they are the ones….with the highest skills and experience.” 

Here, the lines clearly suggest that the less skilled workers have a lower chance to lose their jobs than the highly skilled ones.

Here, most mobile workers = more skilled workers,

So, the answer is: NO

Question no. 20: It is easier to manage a small business than a large business.

Keywords for the question: easier to manage, small business, than, large business,  

In ‘KEY POINT ONE’, small and large businesses are mentioned but we do not find any comparison on managing them.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question no. 21: High achievers are well suited to team work.

Keywords for the question: high achievers, well suited, team work,

The answer can be found in ‘KEY POINT ONE’, in lines 7-8. The author says here, “ . .. . High achievers will do best when the job provides moderately challenging goals and where there is independence and feedback.”

Here, where there is independence = not teamwork but work with freedom,

The line clearly contradicts the question.

So, the answer is: NO

Question no. 22: Some employees can feel manipulated when asked to participate in goal-setting.

Keywords for the question: some employees, can feel, manipulated, asked to participate, goal-setting,  

The last few lines of ‘KEY POINT TWO’ provide us with the answer to this question as the author explains here, “ . .. . If participation and the culture are incongruous, employees are likely to perceive the participation process as manipulative and be negatively affected by it.”

Here, manipulative = manipulated,

So, the answer is: YES

Question no. 23: The staff appraisal process should be designed by employees.

Keywords for the question: staff appraisal process, should be, designed, by employees,

‘KEY POINT THREE’ mentions about ‘staff appraisal process’. Take a look at the last lines, “. .. . For managers, this means that employees must have the capability of doing the job and must regard the appraisal process as valid.”
However, it’s not mentioned whether the process should be designed by employees or managers.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question no. 24: Employees’ earnings should be disclosed to everyone within the organisation.

Keywords for the question: employees’ earnings, should be disclosed, to everyone, within, organisation,

In ‘KEY POINT FIVE’ the writer mentions employees’ earnings. Here, in lines 5-6, the writer says, “ . .. . Eliminating the secrecy surrounding pay by openly communicating everyone’s remuneration, publicising performance bonuses and allocating annual salary increases in a lump sum … .. . . . make rewards more visible and potentially more motivating.”

Here, make rewards more visible = should be disclosed to everyone,

So, the answer is: YES

Questions 25-27: Matching places/names/groups from list of descriptions:

[The rules for finding answers to this sort of question are simple. Just find the name of the person/places/groups, read around it carefully and try to match with the given list of descriptions. Then, give a quick look to check whether there is another statement or idea provided by the same person in the text. If there is, check the reference carefully and decide your answer. Remember, the questions will not follow any sequential order. Do the reverse method when the statements are in questions]

Question no. 25: high achievers

Keywords for the question: high achievers,

We find points made about high achievers in ‘KEY POINT ONE’ where the writer mentions where and why we should select high achievers. Then, in ‘KEY POINT TWO’ in lines 3-4, the writer says, “ . .. . For those with high achievement needs, typically a minority in any organisation, the existence of external goals is less important because high achievers are already internally motivated. .. . .”

Here, For those with high achievement needs = high achievers, the existence of external goals is less important = they have less need of external goals.

So, the answer is: B (They have less need of external goals.)

Question no. 26: clerical workers

Keywords for the question: clerical workers,    

The answer can be found in ‘KEY POINT SIX’ in lines 7-8, “ . . .. the clerical workers considered factors such as quality of work performed and job knowledge near the top of their list, . .. .”

Here, quality of work performed = quality of their work, the top of their list = important,

So, the answer is: C (They think that the quality of their work is important.)

Question no. 27: production workers

Keywords for the question: production workers,   

In ‘KEY POINT SIX’, take a look at line no. 13, “.. .. . For example, production workers rated advancement very highly, . .. ..”

Here, advancement = promotion, very highly = to be important,  

So, the answer is: A (They judge promotion to be important.)

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 6 AC Test 3 Reading Passage 1

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 6 AC Test 3 Reading Passage 3