A Case Study Of A Risk Assessment For General Office Cleaning & Preparing For A Virtual Job Interview - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 13 General Training Reading Test 4 · Part 2 · Questions 15–27
Reading Passage
==== Read the text below and answer questions 15-21. ====
A case study of a risk assessment for general office cleaning
A commercial cleaning service took on a new contract to clean an office complex. Before sending cleaning staff to the offices, the manager of the cleaning service carried out a risk assessment using guidance provided by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
To identify the hazards, the cleaning service manager visited the office complex and walked through the areas where cleaning staff would be working, noting things that might pose potential risks. Following this, he consulted the health and safety representatives of the cleaning service about these risks, taking into account the needs of any particular staff members, such as whether they were pregnant or aged under 18.
In order to gather further information, he then had a meeting with the client company during which a number of issues were discussed. These included the client company’s own standard of housekeeping, such as the immediate clearing up of spills and keeping walkways clear, as well as the action to be taken if a fire broke out. He also established what facilities and equipment would be available to the cleaners, including the amount of storage space available, as well as the availability of sinks and taps, etc. and agreed on a method of reporting near-miss accidents and risks discovered by cleaners (e.g. damaged floor tiles).
Following the meeting, the manager created a risk assessment document. He wrote down who could be harmed by each risk or hazard identified and in what way, and he then described what controls, if any, were in existence to manage these hazards. The manager then compared these to the good practice guidance set out on the HSE’s website and identified any areas where improvement was needed.
The manager discussed the findings with the cleaning staff, making sure they understood the risks of the job and how these risks would be monitored. One cleaner, whose first language was not English, had difficulty understanding this, so the manager arranged for translation to be done by a bilingual cleaner from another team. Finally, to ensure that all the cleaning staff had access to a copy of the risk assessment, the manager pinned a copy in the cupboard where cleaning equipment was kept.
==== Read the text below and answer Questions 22-27. ====
Preparing for a virtual job interview
Businesses are always looking for new ways to increase efficiency and profits. For example, organisations often reduce costs by conducting virtual job interviews. The video or Skype interview benefits both interviewer and interviewee, especially when an applicant would otherwise need to travel far. Despite the convenience though, it poses unique challenges.
How a virtual interview is the same
The typical interview process usually entails multiple steps. First, there is screening, lasting about thirty minutes. Its purpose is to ensure candidates have the basic requirements. In the second interview, they’re assessed for their technical skills and on whether they would fit the organisation. Virtual interviews follow the same steps so you’ll need to focus on the same core topics. Identify what the critical topics are based on the job description and prepare to talk about them. If you can, gather inside information so you can impress interviewers with your knowledge.
How a virtual interview is different
Normally, you travel somewhere for an interview. One advantage of that is that you aren’t responsible for the place, whereas in a virtual interview you must ensure you have an appropriate location and appropriate equipment. Modern technology is great when it works, but a pain when it doesn’t. So, it’s wise to check you can operate your webcam, especially if you don’t use it often. Test the headset too and find out how intelligible your voice sounds. It’s also wise to establish what software the interviewer is going to work with and give it a trial run.
Probably the biggest problem in a virtual interview is what the camera can see. You want the interviewer to see you as a professional. Having a messy or cluttered room behind you won’t help you achieve this image – a clear white background is usually a safe bet.
The most important part of your preparation is to run through everything first as best you can. Have a friend conduct a rehearsal with you before the big day. This will help you know how to behave in front of the camera. All things considered, though, virtual interviews should be treated like any other type of interview. Being at home requires as much preparation as a traditional interview. If you follow the steps mentioned above, you have every chance of getting the job you want. Good luck!
Questions
Questions 15–21 Flow Chart Completion
Complete the flow-chart below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
| Stages followed by manager in carrying out risk assessment |
|---|
| He visited the offices to be cleaned and noted potential risks |
| He talked to health and safety 15 about the risks |
| At a meeting, he talked to the client company about
– the policy of the company regarding 16 (e.g. clear walkways) – procedures to be followed in case of a 17 – facilities available to cleaners (e.g. space available for 18) – a way of 19 risks and hazards |
| He created a risk assessment document identifying existing controls of risks and hazards |
| He compared there to information that the HSE provided on its 20 |
| He displayed a copy of the risk assessment inside a 21 available to all cleaning staff |
Questions 22–27 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer. Write your answers in boxes on your answer sheet.
- Some companies prefer to interview job applicants digitally because of lower 22
- As with the standard recruitment process, virtual recruitment opens with 23
- Applicants should read any details about the advertised post carefully and pick out important 24 which they can discuss if necessary.
- It is a good idea for applicants to check if they can be clearly understood when they use a 25
- Applicants may not be familiar with the 26 that the person conducting the interview will use, so they should try it out.
- It is very useful to go through a 27 of the interview, with someone playing the part of the interviewer.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q15 | Representatives | he consulted the health and safety representatives of the cleaning service about these risks | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that he talked to the safety helpers of the cleaning service about the risks. This means that these representatives give important information about safety. Answer Explanation: The answer 'Representatives' means people who help or speak for others, especially about safety in this case. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Representatives' because in the passage, it says the cleaning service manager consulted the health and safety representatives. These representatives help to talk about the risks and make sure everyone's safety needs are considered. |
| Q16 | Housekeeping | These included the client company's own standard of housekeeping, such as the immediate clearing up of spills and keeping walkways clear | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the company has rules about keeping things clean, like not leaving spills on the floor and keeping paths clear. This is important for safety. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the manager talked to the client company about how they keep the office clean and safe. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'housekeeping' because the passage says that during the meeting with the client company, the manager discussed their 'standard of housekeeping' which includes keeping walkways clear and cleaning up spills quickly. This shows that housekeeping is a big part of how to make the office safe for cleaning staff. |
| Q17 | Fire | as well as the action to be taken if a fire broke out | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that they talked about how to clean up spills and what to do if there was a fire. This means being ready for a fire was important. Answer Explanation: The answer means a fire. A fire can be dangerous. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'fire' because the passage mentions that the manager talked about procedures to follow in case of a fire when meeting with the client company. This shows that preparing for a fire was an important part of the risk assessment. |
| Q18 | Storage | He also established what facilities and equipment would be available to the cleaners, including the amount of storage space available | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the manager wanted to know what kind of space there was for the cleaners to keep their cleaning tools. This space is called storage. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Storage.' This means a place where things are kept. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Storage' because in the passage, the manager talked about what facilities and equipment would be available to the cleaners, including the amount of storage space available. This is important for making sure cleaners have space to keep their tools and supplies. |
| Q19 | Reporting | agreed on a method of reporting near-miss accidents and risks discovered by cleaners | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the manager decided on a way to tell about accidents that almost happened and any dangers the cleaners saw. This shows the importance of reporting these issues. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Reporting'. This means telling someone about something, especially if it's about accidents or dangers. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Reporting' because in the passage, the manager agreed on a method of reporting near-miss accidents and risks discovered by cleaners. This means he discussed how they could inform someone about any problems they found while cleaning. |
| Q20 | Website | The manager then compared these to the good practice guidance set out on the HSE's website and identified any areas where improvement was needed | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the manager checked the best practices for safety that were written on the HSE's website to find out if there were any areas he could improve. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the information was found on a website. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'website' because the manager compared the risk assessment to guidance provided on the HSE's website to see where improvements were needed. This shows that the website is an important source of information for safety practices. |
| Q21 | Cupboard | the manager pinned a copy in the cupboard where cleaning equipment was kept | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that the manager put a copy of the risk assessment in the cupboard. This means he wanted to make sure everyone who needed to see it could find it easily. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'cupboard,' which means a storage space or a closet where things can be kept. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'cupboard' because at the end of the risk assessment process, the manager made sure all cleaning staff could see the risk assessment document by pinning it in the cupboard. This way, the cleaners had easy access to important information about risks. |
| Q22 | Costs | For example, organisations often reduce costs by conducting virtual job interviews | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that companies try to spend less money by using virtual job interviews instead of traditional ones. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Costs'. This means the amount of money companies spend. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Costs' because the passage mentions that businesses are looking for ways to reduce expenses, and one way they do this is by conducting virtual job interviews, which saves money on travel. |
| Q23 | Screening | First, there is screening, lasting about thirty minutes. Its purpose is to ensure candidates have the basic requirements | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the first part of an interview is called 'screening' and it takes about thirty minutes. During this time, the company checks if the job applicants have everything they need to qualify for the job. Answer Explanation: The answer 'screening' means the first part of a job interview where the company checks if the candidates meet the basic needs for the job. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'screening' because the passage says that a typical interview process includes several steps, and the first step is screening, which lasts for about thirty minutes. This is done to make sure that candidates have the basic requirements for the job. |
| Q24 | Topics | Identify what the critical topics are based on the job description and prepare to talk about them | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage means you need to find out the important subjects related to the job description and be ready to discuss them. Answer Explanation: The answer means 'subjects' or 'main ideas' that are important for the job. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Topics' because the passage says that you should identify the critical topics based on the job description and prepare to talk about them during the interview. This means knowing the important subjects for the job helps you succeed. |
| Q25 | Headset | Test the headset too and find out how intelligible your voice sounds | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says it's important to test your headset. This means you should make sure it works well so that the interviewer can hear you clearly. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'headset'. A headset is a device that lets you hear and talk during a video call. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'headset' because the passage advises applicants to check if they can be clearly understood when they use a headset. This is important for good communication during a virtual interview. |
| Q26 | Software | It's also wise to establish what software the interviewer is going to work with and give it a trial run | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says you should find out what computer programs the interviewer will use and test them before the interview. Answer Explanation: The answer 'software' means the computer programs that you need to use for the virtual interview. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'software' because the passage mentions that applicants should find out what programs the interviewer will use and try them out. This is important for making sure everything works well during the interview. |
| Q27 | Rehearsal | The most important part of your preparation is to run through everything first as best you can. Have a friend conduct a rehearsal with you before the big day | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that practicing, called a rehearsal, is very important. It helps you feel ready and know what to do when you have your interview. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'rehearsal', which means practicing for something before it happens. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'rehearsal' because the passage says it's important to practice for the interview with a friend. This practice helps you know how to act in front of the camera. Rehearsal is a key part of preparation for the virtual interview. |