This General Training IELTS Reading post deals with a solution package for IELTS Cambridge 7 Reading Test A Section 2 that has a passage entitled ‘Choosing premises for a new business‘ and ‘California State College‘. This is an aimed post for candidates who have major problems searching for and understanding Reading Answers. This post can guide you the best to understand every Reading answer easily and without much difficulty. Finding IELTS Reading answers is a step-by-step process, and I can confidently say that this post will help you in this respect.

IELTS Cambridge 7 Test A: GT Reading Module

Section 2: 

Question 1-7: CHOOSING PREMISES FOR A NEW BUSINESS

Question 15: Some people choose expensive premises because they want to create an impressive _________ for their company.   

Keywords for this question: expensive premises, want to create, impressive,  

The answer can be found in the section ‘What you need’. In the second paragraph, the writer says, “Ironically some firms swing too far in the other direction, committing themselves to a heavy initial outlay because they believe in the importance of image – and that does not come cheap.”

Here, does not come cheap = expensive,

So, the answer is: image

Question 16: Businesses which depend on __________ need to be on or near the principal shopping areas.

Keywords for this question: depend on, need to be, on or near, principal shopping area,    

The answer can be found in the ‘Location’ section. Here, in the first paragraph, the writer says, “High street premises are important for shops which rely on passing trade – but these are expensive.”

Here, High street premises = principal shopping areas, rely on = depend on,

So, the answer is: passing trade

Question 17: Businesses which produce goods must check there is ___________ to the premises for delivery vehicles.

Keywords for this question: produce goods, must check, delivery vehicles,   

The answer can be found in the ‘Location’ section. Here, in the second paragraph, the writer says, “Manufacturing and storage relies heavily on access. Think about how vans and lorries will deliver and collect goods from the premises.”

Here, vans and lorries = delivery vehicles,

This means businesses that depend heavily on easy access to the premises for delivery vehicles must check there is ample access.

So, the answer is: access

Question 18: When choosing a building for your premises, find out whether ___________ could be removed to create more room.

Keywords for this question: choosing a building, find out, could be removed, to create more room,   

The answer can be found in the ‘Growth’ section. Here, in the first paragraph, the writer says, “Every small business aims to become a big business, but this prospect can be obstructed if the wrong decisions are made early on. It is important to consider flexibility from the start. Can a building be physically altered internally by knocking down walls or by extending outwards or adding extra floors?”

Here, knocking down = removed, a building be physically altered = to create more room,  

So, the answer is: walls

Question 19: Make sure that the __________ states what type of building alterations might be permitted.

Keywords for this question: make sure, states, type of building alternations, might be permitted,      

The answer can be found in the ‘Growth’ section. Here, in the second paragraph, the writer says in the beginning, “Landlords obviously have to agree to any changes so it is important that the contract includes details of what will be allowed and how much extra will be charged on top of the costs of rebuilding or alteration.”

Here, it is important = make sure, details of what will be allowed = what type of building alterations might be permitted,

So, the answer is: contract

Question 20: If business premises are located close to _________, extensions may not be allowed.

Keywords for this question: business premises, located, close to, extensions, may not be allowed,

The last line in the section ‘Growth’ gives us the answer to this question. The writer says, “ . . .. The building may be in a conservation area or near housing, in which case it will be much more difficult to consider changes.”

Here, near = close to, it will be much more difficult to consider changes = extensions may not be allowed,

So, the answer is: housing   

Questions 21-27: [Short answer to open questions (NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS)

[In this kind of question candidates have to answer some questions, only with some conditions like NO MORE THAN THREE/TWO WORDS and/or A NUMBER or, ONE WORD ONLY. Each question has keywords that will lead to the answer. This question type generally follows a sequence.]

The headline of the passage: CALIFORNIA STATE COLLEGE  

Question 21: Where do most employees collect their wages?

Keywords for this question: employees, collect, wages,

In the ‘Payday’ section, the writer says, “Employees are paid every other Friday. If Friday is a holiday, payday will be the following Monday. Generally, employees pick up the pay checks in their department; if not, they may be picked up at the Business Office.”       

Here, pick up = collect, pay checks = wages,

So, the answer is: their department

Question 22: Who has to authorise any overtime an employee wishes to do?

Keywords for this question: who, authorise, overtime, employee wishes to do,    

In the ‘Overtime’ section, the author states in line no. 3, “… .. . The supervisor must approve all overtime before overtime occurs.”

Here, approve = authorise,

So, the answer is: (the) supervisor

Question 23: Who is not paid extra for working more than 40 hours a week? 

Keywords for this question: not paid extra, working, more than 40 hours a week,  

The answer in found in the ‘Overtime’ section. Here, in the beginning, the writer says, “All time worked over eight hours in one day and forty hours in a workweek, and also the first eight hours worked on the seventh day of work in a workweek is considered overtime for non-exempt employees.” Then at the end of this section, the writer says, “. .. . Exempt employees receive no additional compensation for overtime hours.”

Here, receive no additional compensation = not paid extra, overtime hours = working more than 40 hours,

So, the answer is: exempt employees

Question 24: Where should employees go if they wish to have the parking charge taken off their salary? 

Keywords for this question: where, employees go, if, wish to have, parking charge taken off, salary,   

The answer is traced in the ‘Parking’ section, where the author says in the beginning, “All employees who will be parking in a staff parking zone must obtain a parking permit. A monthly pre-tax payroll deduction can be made by visiting Human Resources.”

Here, pre-tax payroll deduction = parking charge taken off . .. . salary,  

So, the answer is: Human Resources / HR

Question 25: What method is used to calculate part-time employees′ holidays? 

Keywords for this question: method, use, calculate, part-time employees’, holidays,   

In the ‘Holidays’ section, the writer mentions in lines 2-3, “Regular part-time employees will receive holiday benefits worked out using a prorated system.”

Here, worked out = calculate,

So, the answer is: (a) prorated system  

Question 26: Which documents must employees fill in to select their Personal Holiday?

Keywords for this answer: documents, must, employees fill, select, Personal Holiday, 

In the ‘Personal Holiday’ section, the writer says in the end, “ . . . Employees requesting Personal Holiday will be required to complete ‘Leave Request’ forms.”

Here, required to complete = must .. .. fill in,

So, the answer is: Leave Request forms  

Question 27: What is the name of the special entitlement provided to employees with birthdays in the second half of December? 

Keywords for this answer: name, special entitlement, employees with birthdays, second half of December,

In the last lines of the ‘Birthday Holiday’ section, the writer says, “. . . .. What is known as a grace period through January 15th is given to those employees whose birthdays fall between December 16th and the end of the year.”

Here, fall between December 16th and the end of the year = second half of December,

So, the answer is: (a) grace period  

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 7 GT Reading Test A Section 1

Click here for solutions to Cambridge 7 GT Reading Test A Section 3