This General Training IELTS Reading post focuses on solutions to IELTS Cambridge 15 Reading Test 4 Section 2 that has two texts titled ‘How to make your working day more enjoyable’ & ‘How to get promoted’. This is a targeted post for GT 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 15 Test 4: GT Reading Module

Section 2:

The headline of the text: How to make your working day more enjoyable

Questions 15-21: Completing sentences with ONE WORD ONLY

In this type of question, candidates are asked to write a maximum of one word 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 15: Bringing a personal ________ to work will make the place feel more homely.  

Keywords for this question: bringing, personal, will make, place, feel more homely,    

In the second paragraph, the author of the text says in lines 2-4, “ . .. . Get some green plants or a family photo for your desk. File all those add bits of paper or throw them away. All of these little touches can make your work environment feel like it’s yours. .. . .”   

Here, family = personal, make your work environment feel like it’s yours = will make the place feel more homely,

So, the answer is: photo

Question 16: It is important to check the position of all _______ before use to avoid pulling any muscles.   

Keywords for this question: important to check, position, before use, avoid, pulling, any muscles,      

Again, in paragraph no. 2, read lines 4-5, “ .. . Make sure any screens you have are at a suitable height so you’re not straining your neck and shoulders.”

Here, Make sure = it is important to check, at a suitable height = check the position, not straining your neck and shoulders = avoid pulling any muscles,  

So, the answer is: screens

Question 17: Leaving the office in the middle of the day may help to raise ________ later on.

Keywords for this question: leaving, office, middle of the day, may help, raise, later on,

Take a look at lines 1-3 in paragraph no. 3, “Humans need a change of environment every now and then to improve productivity. Go out at lunchtime for a quick walk. If you have the option, it’s a good idea to work from home occasionally. . . .”

Here, improve = raise, Go out at lunchtime & work from home occasionally = leaving the office in the middle of the day, 

So, the answer is: productivity

Question 18: It is advisable to avoid checking a ______ during breaks.

Keywords for this question: advisable, avoid checking, during breaks,     

Lines 1-3 of the fourth paragraph say, “Use coffee time to get to know a colleague you don’t usually speak to. There’s no point in getting away from starting at one thing though, only to replace it with another; so leave your mobile alone! . .. .”

Here, coffee time = breaks, leave your mobile alone = it is advisable to avoid checking mobile,  

So, the answer is: mobile

Question 19: Getting involved in _______ at work may have negative results.

Keywords for this question: Getting involved in, work, may have, negative results,     

The last few lines of paragraph no. 4 say, “.. . .. Another tip is to try and stay out of office gossip. In the long run it could get you in more trouble than you realise.”

Here, could get you in more trouble than you realise = may have negative results,

So, the answer is: gossip

Question 20: Having a few _______ available can help people concentrate better at work.  

Keywords for this question: having, few, available, help people, concentrate, better,      

The answer can be found in paragraph no. 5. Here, in lines 1-3, the author of the text says, “ .. . . If you can keep some healthy snacks in your desk because if you have something you can nibble on, it will make you work more effectively and you’ll enjoy it more. .. . .”

Here, keep some = having a few, it will make you work more effectively and you’ll enjoy it more = can help people concentrate better at work,

So, the answer is: snacks

The headline of the text: How to get promoted  

Questions 21-27: Completing notes

[In this type of question, candidates are asked to complete different notes with NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage. Keywords are important to find answers correctly. Generally, this type of question maintains a sequence. However, we should not be surprised if the sequence is not maintained. Find the keywords in the passage and you are most likely to find the answers.]

Title of the notes: Steps to take to achieve a promotion

Question 21:

First step: examine past successes and any _________ that would help gain promotion

Keywords for this question: First step, examine past successes, would help, gain promotion,

In the second paragraph, the writer of the text says in lines 2-3, “ . .. .. Take an honest look at yourself – your achievements and also your skills, particularly those you could exploit to take on a different role.”  

Here, achievements = past successes, those you could exploit to take on a different role = that would help gain promotion,   

So, the answer is: skills

Question 22:

Set up a meeting with your boss to talk about:

• how best to use your high level of ________ in future

Keywords for this question: set up, meeting, your boss, talk about, how best to use, high level, in future,    

In paragraph no. 3, the writer says in the beginning, “Your boss is the gatekeeper. If you think your boss is likely to be on your side, ask for a meeting to discuss your serious commitment to the organisation and how this could translate into a more defined career plan. .. ..”

Here, ask for a meeting to discuss = Set up a meeting with your boss to talk about, serious = high level of,

 So, the answer is: commitment

Question 23:

• or how much extra ________ you already bring to the company  

Keywords for this question: how much, extra, already bring, the company,   

Again, in paragraph no. 3, the writer says in lines 4-5, “ . .. . start softly with a more deliberate focus on increasing your boss’s understanding of the work you do and the added value you deliver.”

Here, added = extra, you deliver = you already bring to the company,

So, the answer is: value

Question 24:

Focus on the important people in the company:

• find out which ones will be members of the _________ who decide on the promotion

Keywords for this question: focus, important people, find out, which ones, will be, members, who decide on, promotion,

The answer can be found in paragraph no. 4. Here, take a look at lines 1-3, “Think about how you are perceived at work. In order for you to get your promotion, who needs to know about you? Who would be on the interview panel and whose opinion and input would they seek? … …”   

Here, Who would be = which ones will be, the interview panel = members of the panel, whose opinion and input would they seek = who decide on the promotion,

So, the answer is: panel  

Question 25:

• consider how much they are aware of your _________ for the future

Keywords for this question: consider, how much, aware, your, for the future,

In paragraph no. 4, the writer says again in lines 3-5, “ .. . . And once you’ve got a list of people to impress, ask yourself – do they know enough about you? And I mean really know – what you do day to day at your desk, your contribution to the team, and perhaps most importantly, your potential.”

Here, do they know enough about you? = consider how much they are aware,

So, the answer is: potential   

Question 26: Take steps to raise your profile by:

• offering to create a feature for a company publication
• participating in the _________ of events for customers

Keywords for this question: take steps, raise, profile, by, offering, create feature, company publication, participating, events for customers,

The answer can be found in the fifth paragraph. Here, the writer says in lines 2-5, “ . . .. Raising your profile in your organisation is critical so that when those in change start looking at that empty office and considering how best to fill it, the first name that pops into their heads is yours. If your firm has a newsletter, volunteer to write a feature to include in it. If they arrange regular client events, get involved in the organisation of them. And so on.”

Here, client events = events for customers, get involved in = participate in,  

So, the answer is: organisation / organization   

N.B: Here, the word ‘organisation’ is included in two places; first, in line no. 2 (organisation = company), and then, in line no. 5 (organisation = the action of organizing something). The answer is taken from line no. 5.

Question 27: Work on self-development:

• take any ________ that fill in gaps in knowledge

Keywords for this question: improve, grammar,  

In the final paragraph (paragraph no. 6), the writer says in lines 1-3, “If you think your experience needs enhancing, then look at ways you can continue to improve it. If you are confident in your professional expertise but lacks the latest management theory, enrol on some relevant courses that fit around your day job.”

Here, look at ways you can continue to improve = work on self-development, lacks the latest management theory = gaps in knowledge,  

So, the answer is: courses   

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 15 Test 4 GT Reading Section 1

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 15 Test 4 GT Reading Section 3