This General Training IELTS Reading post highlights the solutions to IELTS Reading Test 1 Section 2 which has two texts titled ‘Reducing injuries on the farm’ and ‘Good customer service in retail’. This post is mainly for those GT IELTS candidates who have major problems finding and understanding Reading Answers in the GT module. This post can guide you to 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.

Section 2: Questions 15-20

The headline of the first text: Reducing injuries on the farm

Questions 15-20: Completing the table

[In this type of question candidates need to fill in the gaps in a table. For this table, candidates need to write ONE WORD ONLY to fill in the blanks. Scanning skill is essential for this type of question.]

Question 15:

Risk factor: Heavy loads

Examples of farm activities: lifting sacks of _________.  

Keywords for this question: heavy loads, lifting sacks,

Take a look at lines 1-4 in paragraph no. 2 where the author says, “The first risk relates to the carrying of an excessive load or weight. This places undue demands on the spine and can cause permanent damage. Examples of tasks that involve this risk are moving 50-kilogramme fertiliser bags from one site to another or carrying heavy buckets of animal feed around fields.”  

Here, an excessive load or weight = heavy loads, moving .. .. . from one site to another = lifting, bags = sacks,

So, the answer is: fertilizer/ fertilizer  

Questions 16, 17, 18:

Risk factor: Awkward posture

Examples of farm activities: lifting a restless 16. _________. 

Examples of farm activities: moving something around a big 17. _________. 

Risk reduction measures to consider: Buy particular 18. ________ to help with support.

Keywords for this question: Awkward posture, lifting a restless, moving something, around a big, buy, particular, help with support,

In paragraph no. 3, the author says, “If a load is bulky or hard to grasp, such as a lively or agitated animal, it will be more difficult to hold while lifting and carrying. The holder may adopt an awkward posture, which is tiring and increases the risk of injury. Sometimes a load has to be held away from the body because there is a large obstacle in the area and the person lifting needs to be able to see where their feet are going. This results in increased stress on the back; holding a load at arm’s length imposes about five times the stress of a close-to-the-body position. In such cases, handling aids should be purchased that can take the weight off the load and minimise the potential for injury.”

Here, lively or agitated = restless, a load has to be held away from the body = moving something around, large = big, should be purchased = buy, can take the weight off the load = help with support,

So, the answers are:

16. animal
17. obstacle
18. aids

Questions 19 & 20:

Risk factor: A lot of 19. ________ while working

Examples of farm activities: fixing a fallen 20. _________. 

Keywords for this question: a lot of, while working, fixing a fallen,

The first few lines of the final paragraph say, “Another risk that relates to awkward posture is repetitive bending when carrying out a task. An example might be repairing a gate that has collapsed onto the ground.  .. . . . . .”

Here, repetitive = a lot of, when carrying out a task = while working, repairing = fixing, has collapsed onto the ground = fallen,

So, the answers are:

19. bending
20. gate

The headline of the second text: Good customer service in retail

Questions 21-27: Completing sentences

In this type of question, candidates are asked to write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS 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 21: A _________ approach to selling is fine as long as you do not irritate the customer.  

Keywords for this question: approach, selling, fine, as long as, do not irritate, the customer,   

The answer can be found in lines 1-2 of the second paragraph, “Some customers just want to browse and not be bothered by sales staff. Try to be sensitive to how much help a customer wants; be proactive in offering help without being annoying. .. .. .”

Here, offering help without being annoying = fine as long as you do not irritate the customer,

So, the answer is: proactive

Question 22: Recommend additional products and _______ without being too forceful.

Keywords for this question: recommend, additional products, without being, too forceful,  

The final few lines of the second paragraph say, “. .. . . Suggest a product that naturally accompanies what the customer is considering or point out products for which there are special offers, but don’t pressure a customer into buying an item they don’t want.”

Here, Suggest a product & point out products = Recommend additional products, don’t pressure a customer = without being too forceful,

So, the answer is: special offers

Question 23: Know how to compare similar products which have different __________ .  

Keywords for this question: know, how to compare, similar products, have different,   

In the opening of the third paragraph, the writer mentions, “Build up a comprehensive knowledge of all the products in your shop, including the pros and cons of products that are alike but that have been produced under a range of brand names.”

Here, Build up a comprehensive knowledge = know, the pros and cons = how to compare, products that are alike = similar products, a range of = different,

So, the answer is: brand names

Question 24: Avoid _________ by always saying more than ‘no’.  

Keywords for this question: avoid, by, always saying, more than ‘no’,  

In lines 4-6 of the third paragraph, the writer says, “ . .  …. .. . . Negativity can put customers off instantly. If a customer asks a question to which the answer is ‘no’, do not just leave it at that – follow it with a positive, for example: ‘we’re expecting more of that product in on Tuesday’.”

Here, If a customer asks a question to which the answer is ‘no’, do not just leave it at that = avoid . . .. ..  .. . by always saying more than ‘no’,

So, the answer is: negativity

Question 25: Keep an eye on the __________ of goods on the shelves.   

Keywords for this question: keep an eye, on, goods on the shelves,

In the fourth paragraph, lines 1-3 say, “Meanwhile, if you see a product in the wrong place on a shelf, don’t ignore it – put it back where it belongs. This attention to presentation keeps the shop tidy, giving the right impression to your customers. .. . .. . . .. .”

Here, if you see a product in the wrong place on a shelf, don’t ignore it – put it back where it belongs = keep an eye,  

These lines suggest that the presentation of the right products should be given attention.

So, the answer is: presentation  

Question 26: If a customer has problems paying with their ________, handle the problem with care.

Keywords for this answer: if, a customer, problems, paying with, handle, problem, with care,  

In the fifth paragraph, the first few lines say, “When necessary, be discreet. For example, if the customer’s credit card is declined at the till, keep your voice down and enquire about an alternative payment method quietly so that the customer doesn’t feel humiliated. .. .. .. .” 

Here, When necessary, be discreet & keep your voice down and enquire about an alternative payment method quietly so that the customer doesn’t feel humiliated = handle the problem with care,

declined at the till = has problems paying with,

So, the answer is: credit card

Question 27: Any __________ from a customer should not affect how you treat them.   

Keywords for this answer: any, from a customer, should not affect, how you treat them,  

In the sixth paragraph, the writer says, “Finally, good manners are probably the most important aspect of dealing with customers. Treat each person with respect at all times, even when you are faced with rudeness.”

Here, Treat each person with respect at all times = should not affect how you treat them,

So, the answer is: rudeness

Click here for solutions to GT Test 1 Section 1: Helping pupils & Ripton Festival 

Click here for solutions to GT Test 1 Section 3: Plastic is no longer fantastic