This General Training IELTS Reading post deals with a solution package for IELTS Cambridge 11 Reading Test 2 Section 3 that contains a passage entitled ‘What is it like to run a large supermarket?‘. This is a targeted post for candidates who have big problems finding out and understanding Reading Answers. This post can guide you the best to understand every Reading answer without much difficulty. Finding IELTS Reading answers is a gradual process, and I can confidently say that this post will help you in this respect.

IELTS Cambridge 11 Test 2: GT Reading Module

Section 3: Questions 28-40

The headline of the passage: What is it like to run a large supermarket?

Questions 28-35:  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 28: Section A  

The answer to this question can be found at the beginning of the section in lines 4-5, “ . . . . This involves identifying customers who might need help, greeting them, asking what they need, providing it, thanking them and leaving them in peace. . .. .. .” Then the writer goes on describing how the help is provided.

Here, identifying = noticing, might need help = need assistance,

So, the answer is: viii (Noticing when customers need assistance)

Question 29: Section B 

Lines 2-4 of section B give us the answer to this question. The writer says here, “ … . . . The store opens at 7 am, Monday to Saturday, meaning that some staff, including Perriss, have to be here at 6 am to make sure it’s clean, safe and stocked up for the morning rush. .. . . .”

This means shop managers like Perriss have to prepare themselves for their customers to arrive.

So, the answer is: ii (Preparing for customers to arrive)

Question 30: Section C 

In section C, take a look at the first lines, “Perriss has worked in supermarkets since 1982, when he became a trolley boy on a weekly salary of £76.”

This clearly indicates that the section is about how Perriss started his career.

So, the answer is: x (Perriss’s early career)

Question 31: Section D 

Section D mainly talks about showing a ‘new concept’ that . . .. all Morrisons’ managers. .. …  had to see.

Look at these lines, “ . .. he was put in charge of launching new stores and heading up a ‘concept’ store, where the then new ideas of preparing and cooking pizzas in store, having a proper florist and fruit and vegetable ‘markets’ were trialled. All Morrisons’ managers from the whole country spent three days there to see the new concept.”

Here, new concept = different way,

So, the answer is: iv (Demonstrating a different way of organising a store)

Question 32: Section E

Section E discusses how Perriss checks and makes sure that products on sale are good enough for customers. Take a look at these lines, “  .. .. He examines the baking potato shelf and rejects three, one that has split virtually in half and two that are beginning to go green. He then pulls out a lemon that looks fine to me. When I ask why, he picks up a second lemon and says: ‘Close your eyes and just feel and tell me which you would keep.’ I do and realise that while one is firm and hard, the other is going a bit squashy.”

So, the answer is: vii (Making sure the items on sale are good enough)

Question 33: Section F

Section F talks about the forecasts for sales. Take a look at lines 4-6, “ . .. . Department heads know exactly how much they’ve sold that day and how much they’re likely to sell the next, based on sales records and allowing for influences such as the weather.”

Here, exactly = accurate,

So, the answer is: v (The benefits of accurate forecasting)

Question 34: Section G

Section G of this passage is mainly on how Perriss helps his staff to develop. Have a look at these lines, “ . .. He is keen to hear what staff think. He recently held a ‘talent’ day, inviting employees interested in moving to a new job within the store to come and talk to him about why they thought they should be promoted, and discuss how to go about it.”

So, the answer is: iii (Helping staff to develop)

Question 35: Section H

The last lines of this section guide us to the answer. Perriss says, “ . . .. ‘You have to do so much and there could be something wrong with every single one, every day,’ he says. ‘You’ve got to minimise those things and shrink them into perspective. You’ve got to love the job.’”

So, the answer is: vi (Keeping everything running as smoothly as possible)

Questions 36-40: TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN

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

The statement in the question agrees with the information in the passage – TRUE
The statement in the question contradicts the information in the passage – FALSE
If there is no information on this  – NOT GIVEN

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

Question 36: Perriss encourages staff to offer help to all customers.

Keywords for this question: Perriss, encourages staff, offer help, all customers,  

The answer can be traced in lines 5-7 of section A, “. .. .. If they don’t look like they want help, they’ll be left alone. But if they’re standing looking lost and perplexed, a member of staff will approach them.”

The sentences suggest that staff only approaches those customers who need help. They do not help all customers.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 37: Perriss is sometimes worried that customers will arrive before the store is ready for them.

Keywords for this question: Perriss, sometimes worried, customers, will arrive before, the store, ready for them,  

To find the answer to this question, we should look at lines 4-5 of section B, “ . .. . Sometimes he walks in at 6 am and thinks they’re never going to be ready on time,. . ..”

Here, thinks they’re never going to be ready = sometimes worried that customers will arrive before the store is ready,

So, the answer is: TRUE

Question 38: When Perriss first became a store manager, he knew the store was going to close.

Keywords for this question: Perriss, first became, store manager, knew, the store, going to close,

The answer to this question should be found in Section C where we come to know about the early career of Perriss. However, we cannot find any such information or comment made by Perriss about the store going to be closed.  

The information is NOT GIVEN.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Question 39: On average, produce worth £4,200 is thrown away every week.

Keywords for this question: On average, produce worth £4,200, thrown away, every week,  

To find this answer we have to look for an amount of money. We find it in section F. Let’s read there.
In lines 2-3 of this section, the writer says, “ . .. the wastage each week is tiny: produce worth £4,200 is marked down for a quick sale, and only £400-worth is scrapped. . .. .”

Here, scrapped = thrown away,

So, products worth only £400 are thrown away each week.

So, the answer is: FALSE

Question 40: Perriss was surprised how many staff asked about promotion on the ‘talent’ day.

Keywords for this question: Perriss, surprised, how many staff, asked, promotion, ‘talent’ day,  

 We find information about the ‘talent day’ in section G. But nowhere in this section, it mentions about Perriss’s surprise in the number of staff asking about promotion.

So, the answer is: NOT GIVEN

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 11 GT Test 2 Section 1

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 11 GT Test 2 Section 2