This General Training IELTS Reading post focuses on solutions to IELTS Cambridge 11 Reading Test 4 Section 2 that has two texts entitled ‘How to prepare for an interview’ & ‘Setting up your own business’. This is a targeted post for IELTS candidates who have big problems finding out and understanding Reading Answers in the GT 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 11 Test 4: GT Reading Module

Section 2: Questions 15-27

The headline of the passage: How to prepare for an interview

Questions 15-21: Completing sentences with ONE WORD ONLY

In this type of question, candidates are asked to write one word only to complete sentences on the given topic. For this type of question, first, skim the passage to find the keywords in the paragraph concerned with the answer, and then scan to find the exact word.

[TIPS: Here scanning technique will come in handy. Target the keywords of the questions to find the answers. Remember to focus on Proper nouns, random Capital letters, numbers, special characters of text etc.]

Question no. 15: By preparing for an interview, you will gain ________ which will help you present yourself well.

Keywords for the question: preparing for, interview, gain, help you, present, yourself, well,  

The answer can be found in the ‘Why prepare?’ section. The writer talks about three points here. Take a close look at point no. 2, “If you’re well prepared, you will have more confidence and this will affect the way you come across.”

Here, have = gain, this will affect the way you come across = will help you present yourself well,

So, the answer is: confidence

Question no. 16: Read through any documents you have received about the company and also go to their ________.

Keywords for the question: read through, documents, received, about, company,

The answer can be found in the ‘What to prepare?’ section. The author says in the very beginning,

“Find out about the organisation:

• Visit the website and read any materials that you have been sent. . … . . .”

Here, read = read through, materials that you have been sent = any documents you have received, visit = go to,  

So, the answer is: website

Question no. 17: Check the job description to find out what ________ are involved in the post you have applied for.  

Keywords for the question: check, job description, find out, involved, post, you, applied for,

Again, in the ‘What to prepare?’ section, go through carefully the following lines,

“Find out about the job:

• Ask for a job description or specification. This will tell you the duties that go with the job.”

Here, ask for = check, go with = involved in,

So, the answer is: duties

Question no. 18: Interviewers may be interested to hear about any unpaid help you have given to a _________.  

Keywords for the question: interviewers, may be interested, hear, about, unpaid help, you, given to,  

The answer can be found in the ‘What to prepare?’ section. Here, take a close look at the following lines in the point ‘Find out what the employer is looking for:’,

“Add in a few ‘lesson learned’ – what you did and how you might have done it better. You can also outline any voluntary work you have done for a charity, or any experience of paid work in an unrelated sector.”

Here, you can also outline = interviewers may be interested to hear about, voluntary work you have done = unpaid help you have given,   

So, the answer is: charity

Question no. 19: Be ready to talk about your ________ for the development of your career.  

Keywords for the question: be ready, talk about, development, your career,

In the ‘What to prepare?’ section, take a look at the point named ‘Preparing for other kinds of questions’, “Interviewers are also looking for someone who is likely to stay with the organisation and progress within it. Prepare to answer questions about your ambitions for the future.”

Here, prepare to answer questions = be ready to talk about, progress = development,

So, the answer is: ambitions

Question no. 20: Explain any ________ that there are in your work record and clarify how you used the time to improve your skills.  

Keywords for the question: explain, your work record, clarify, how, used, time, improve, skills,  

Again, in the ‘What to prepare?’ section, take a look at the point named ‘Preparing for other kinds of questions’ and read these lines, “You may also be asked to account for gaps in your career history, if you have any. Be positive and accentuate the learning or experience you gained during these periods.”

Here, account for = explain, career history = work record, learning or experience you gained during these periods = how you used the time to improve your skills,

So, the answer is: gaps

Question no. 21: Questions about _______ should be delayed until a later stage.  

Keywords for the question: questions about, should be delayed, until, later stage,

The answer can be found in the ‘What to prepare?’ section. Here, go to the very end and find the point named ‘Preparing your own questions’ and read carefully, “Don’t ask about salary unless you have been offered the job.”

Here, Don’t ask = questions. . .. should be delayed, unless you have been offered the job = until a later stage,

So, the answer is: salary

The headline of the passage: Setting up your own business

Questions 22-27: Completing sentences with ONE WORD ONLY:

In this type of question, candidates are asked to write one word only to complete sentences on the given topic. For this type of question, first, skim the passage to find the keywords in the paragraph concerned with the answer, and then scan to find the exact word.

[TIPS: Here scanning technique will come in handy. Target the keywords of the questions to find the answers. Remember to focus on Proper nouns, random Capital letters, numbers, special characters of text etc.]

Question no. 22:

Step 1: Decide who you are going to sell to and compare yourself with the _________ you are going to have.

Keywords for the question: step 1, decide, who, going to sell to, compare yourself, going to have,  

The answer can be found in the ‘Know your market’ section. The writer says in the first paragraph, “. .. . . Start by thinking about who your target customers are. Are they people who live locally? Are they a particular group of people?”

Here, Start by thinking about who your target customers are = Decide who you are going to sell,

Then in the second paragraph of the same section the writer says, “Now look at your competitors. What is different about what you will be doing and how will you persuade people to come to you instead of going to someone who is already established?”

The last lines (the italic lines) here suggest that if you want to sell perfectly, you need to compare yourself with your competitors.

So, the answer is: competitors

Question no. 23:

Step 2: Consider how you will market your product and your method of _________.

Keywords for the question: step 2, consider, how, market, product, method of,  

In the ‘How will you reach the customers?’ section, the writer asks this question, “Will you promote your products by phoning people, or visiting local traders, or advertising in magazines or online? Will your delivery system be direct or through shops?”

Here, promote your products = market your products, system = method,

So, the answer is: delivery

Question no. 24:

Step 3: Decide if you will have to find _________ to work in, or buy equipment.  

Keywords for the question: step 3, decide, if, will have to find, work in, buy equipment,  

In the beginning of the ‘How will your business work?’ section the writer says, “Now think about what your business needs to succeed. Do you need to look for premises or can you work from home? Do you need to invest in manufacturing equipment to start with?”

Here, look for = find, invest = buy,

So, the answer is: premises

Question no. 25:

Step 5: Make sure you deal with the accounts and other essentials in accordance with the ________.

Keywords for the question: step 5, make sure, deal with, accounts, other essentials, in accordance with, 

Again, at the end of the ‘How will your business work?’ section the writer says, “The law regulates how companies are run and you need to set aside the time to see that this is done properly, in relation to issues like accounting, insurance and tax.”

Here, you need to set aside the time to see = make sure you deal with, issues like accounting, insurance and tax = the accounts and other essentials,

So, the answer is: law

Question no. 26:

Step 6: Calculate all the ________ involved in your business when deciding how much to charge.

Keywords for the question: step 6, calculate, all, involved in, business, when deciding, how much, to charge,

The answer can be found in the ‘The money’ section. The writer says here in the first paragraph, “As you are working out the prices for your products, you need to make sure you build in all your costs.”

Here, working out the prices for your products = deciding how much to charge, build in = calculate,

So, the answer is: costs

Question no. 27:

Step 8: Consider if you require any ________ to start your business, and where to find it.

Keywords for the question: step 8, consider, if, require, any, start, business, where to find it,   

The answer can be found in the ‘The money’ section. The writer says here in the second paragraph, “. .. .. . If you think you will need to find some funding to help get the business off the ground, how much will you need and who will you approach to get it?”

Here, If you think you will need to find = consider if you require, to help get the business off the ground = to start your business,

So, the answer is: funding

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 11 GT Test 4 Reading Section 1

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 11 GT Test 4 Reading Section 3