Clear Lighting & Rights In The Workplace - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Practice Test Plus 2 General Training Reading Test 1 · Part 1 · Questions 1–13
Reading Passage
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13.
Clear Lighting
Use energy more efficiently and help save the planet by switching to low-energy light bulbs.
Many of us still use traditional bulbs around the house. But simply replacing one traditional 100-watt bulb in your home with a low-energy equivalent will save you the amount of electricity required to make 1,200 cups of tea. It will also reduce your annual electricity bill, so as well as using less energy, you'll be paying less money. This is because traditional bulbs only use 10% of the electrical energy to produce light, while the remaining 90% is wasted as heat. Low-energy bulbs, which are also known as compact fluorescent lamps, or CFLs, are more efficient because most of the electrical energy is used to generate actual light instead.
CFLS are more expensive to buy, costing an average of £6 each compared to 40p for a traditional equivalent, but they work out cheaper in the long run because they use less electricity and are much more durable, lasting at least six times longer.
However, they do have some drawbacks. For example, they can have a slow start-up, taking some time to reach their full brightness, so you are recommended to use them where they will be left on for longer periods, such as your living room or hallway. This also avoids frequent switching on and off, which may also shorten the life of the bulb.
CFLs are also noticeably dimmer when used in cold conditions, such as in a garage or outside, as this can reduce the bulb's efficiency, so this is not recommended. Finally, CFLs are also likely to be up to three times heavier than traditional bulbs, which may make them unsuitable for some light fittings, so you should always check these before changing your bulbs.
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Rights in the workplace
This leaflet explains your legal rights when you are at work, including what your employer must (and must not) do for you.
Do I need a contract?
A written contract of employment is useful to have because it sets out what you can expect from your job and from your employer. There are laws to protect workers, whether or not they have a written contract.
Every worker has the right to be paid and to enjoy a reasonably safe place of work. You also have certain legal rights, such as the right not to be discriminated against at work because of your sex, race or disability.
What can I do if I don't have a written contract?
Every employee has a legal right to receive a written statement which sets out your terms of employment. You should get this within eight weeks of starting your job. The terms include basic things like the name of your employer and where you will be working, the date you started work, how much you will earn and when you will be paid. It will also include terms about your hours of work, your holiday entitlement and any benefits, such as holiday and sickness pay and pensions. It should also state the length of notice you both have to give, as well as any disciplinary rules.
In many cases, employers don't do all of this. They either give employees a short offer letter or nothing at all. This is partly because an employer can't be fined for not giving you a proper contract.
If you want a contract, but your employer won't give you one, all you can do is apply to an employment tribunal for a list of what should be included in your written statement.
Questions
Questions 1–7 Sentence Completion
Look at the information about lighting on page 143.
Complete the sentences below with words taken from the passage.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
- If you change your type of light bulb you could save both energy and 1.
- Conventional bulbs convert most of the energy they use into 2.
- You do not need to replace CFLs very often because they are very 3.
- When they are first switched on, CFLs may have a 4.
- Constantly using the light switch may 5 of a CFL.
- Low temperatures may reduce the 6 of CFLs.
- CFLs may weigh more than other bulbs, so you must only use them with appropriate 7.
Questions 8–13 True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the extract above?
TRUE
FALSE
NOT GIVEN
if the statement agrees with the information
if the statement contradicts the information
if there is no information on this
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | money | It will also reduce your annual electricity bill, so as well as using less energy, you'll be paying less money | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that changing your light bulbs will make your electricity bill smaller, which means you will 'be paying less money'. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'money'. This means if you change your light bulbs, you can save money. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'money' because the passage states that replacing traditional light bulbs with low-energy ones will 'reduce your annual electricity bill' and make you 'paying less money'. This directly links changing your light bulb type to saving 'money'. |
| Q2 | heat | This is because traditional bulbs only use 10% of the electrical energy to produce light, while the remaining 90% is wasted as heat | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that old light bulbs use only a little electrical energy to make light. The rest, a lot of the energy, is lost as 'heat'. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'heat'. This means that when old-style light bulbs are on, most of the energy they use turns into heat, not light. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'heat' because the passage explains how traditional bulbs use energy. It states that only a small part of the electrical energy becomes light, while the majority of it is wasted as 'heat'. This shows that conventional bulbs change most of their energy into heat. |
| Q3 | durable | CFLS are more expensive to buy, costing an average of £6 each compared to 40p for a traditional equivalent, but they work out cheaper in the long run because they use less electricity and are much more durable, lasting at least six times longer | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that even though CFLs cost more money to buy at first, they save you money later because they are 'much more durable'. This means they are very strong and last a long time, 'at least six times longer' than other bulbs. So, you won't need to replace them often. Answer Explanation: The answer 'durable' means strong and long-lasting, so you don't need to buy new ones often. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'durable' because the passage states that CFLs 'work out cheaper in the long run' partly because 'they are much more durable, lasting at least six times longer.' This means that because they are durable, they last a long time, so you don't need to replace them very often. |
| Q4 | slow start-up | For example, they can have a slow start-up, taking some time to reach their full brightness, so you are recommended to use them where they will be left on for longer periods, such as your living room or hallway | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that CFL bulbs 'can have a slow start-up,' meaning they are not instantly bright. It also says they take 'some time to reach their full brightness,' which means they get brighter slowly after you turn them on. Answer Explanation: The answer 'slow start-up' means that when you turn on these special light bulbs (CFLs), they don't get bright right away. They take some time to reach their full light. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'slow start-up' because the passage states that a disadvantage of CFLs is that 'they can have a slow start-up' and take some time to become fully bright. This phrase directly describes what happens when the bulb is first switched on. |
| Q5 | shorten the life | This also avoids frequent switching on and off, which may also shorten the life of the bulb | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that turning the light on and off many times (frequent switching) is not good because it can make the bulb stop working sooner (shorten the life). Answer Explanation: The answer means that if you turn a CFL light bulb on and off again and again, it might not last as long as it should. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'shorten the life' because the passage explains a negative effect of frequently turning CFLs on and off. It says that avoiding 'frequent switching on and off' is important because this action 'may also shorten the life of the bulb.' This directly links constant use of the light switch to making the bulb's life shorter. |
| Q6 | efficiency | CFLs are also noticeably dimmer when used in cold conditions, such as in a garage or outside, as this can reduce the bulb's efficiency, so this is not recommended | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that CFL light bulbs get less bright when it's cold. It explains that being in 'cold conditions' makes the bulb less good at its job, or 'reduce the bulb's efficiency'. So, cold weather makes them not work as well. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'efficiency'. This word means how well something works or how much good it does with the energy it uses. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'efficiency' because the passage states that when CFLs are used in cold places, they don't work as well. The passage explicitly says that cold conditions can 'reduce the bulb's efficiency', meaning the bulb will not be as effective at producing light. |
| Q7 | light fittings / fittings | Finally, CFLs are also likely to be up to three times heavier than traditional bulbs, which may make them unsuitable for some light fittings, so you should always check these before changing your bulbs | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that CFL bulbs are much heavier than normal bulbs. Because they are heavier, they might not fit or be safe in some places where you put bulbs, called 'light fittings'. So, the passage tells you to 'check these' (the light fittings) before you put in new CFL bulbs. Answer Explanation: The answer 'light fittings' means the part of the lamp or ceiling where you put the light bulb. You need to use the right 'light fittings' for heavy CFL bulbs. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'light fittings' because the passage explains a problem with CFLs: they are heavier than old-style bulbs. Because they are heavier, they might not work with all 'light fittings'. The passage says you should always 'check these' (meaning the light fittings) before you change your bulbs to CFLs. This means you need 'appropriate' or suitable 'light fittings' for heavier CFLs. |
| Q8 | FALSE | This is partly because an employer can't be fined for not giving you a proper contract | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that companies (employers) will not get in trouble (can't be fined) if they do not give you a complete written job agreement (proper contract). Answer Explanation: The answer means that the statement is not true. Employers do not always have to give their employees a written contract. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the passage explains that employers actually aren't punished if they don't give a worker a full written contract. Even though workers have a right to a written list of their job terms, the passage clearly says that employers 'can't be fined' for not providing a 'proper contract'. This shows that it's not a strict requirement for employers to provide a written contract. |
| Q9 | TRUE | You also have certain legal rights, such as the right not to be discriminated against at work because of your sex, race or disability | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that you have important legal protections. This means that at work, no one can treat you badly or unfairly because you are a man or woman, or because of your race, or if you have a disability. These are rules to make sure everyone gets fair treatment. Answer Explanation: The answer means that it is true that rules exist to make sure all people are treated fairly at their job. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage clearly states that workers have specific legal protections against unfair treatment. It mentions 'legal rights' that include 'the right not to be discriminated against at work because of your sex, race or disability'. This directly supports the idea that laws are in place to ensure people are treated equally and not unfairly based on these characteristics. |
| Q10 | NOT GIVEN | A written contract of employment is useful to have because it sets out what you can expect from your job and from your employer Every employee has a legal right to receive a written statement which sets out your terms of employment |
Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that a 'written contract' is helpful because it explains what you can expect from your job. It also says that every worker has a 'legal right' to get a 'written statement' that shows the rules of their job. The passage tells us what each one is, but it never compares if they are equally important or have the same power. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the passage does not give enough information to say if a written statement and a contract are the same in terms of their importance or legal power. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'NOT GIVEN' because the passage describes what a 'written contract' is and what a 'written statement' is, but it does not compare their 'value' or legal standing. The 'Rights in the workplace' section states that a 'written contract of employment is useful to have' and that 'Every employee has a legal right to receive a written statement' listing terms of employment. While both are related to a worker's rights and employment conditions, the passage never explicitly states that they have the same value or legal significance. It provides details about each document separately without equating them. |
| Q11 | TRUE | Every employee has a legal right to receive a written statement which sets out your terms of employment. You should get this within eight weeks of starting your job | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that every worker has a legal right to get a paper that lists all their job rules. It also says that you should get this paper within eight weeks (which is about two months) after you begin your job. Answer Explanation: The answer means that it is true that bosses should give employees a paper that explains their job rules within the first two months of work. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the passage clearly states that every employee has a legal right to get a written statement with their terms of employment. It specifies that this should be given 'within eight weeks of starting your job'. Eight weeks is about the same amount of time as two months, so the statement agrees with the information provided in the passage, instructing employers on when to provide these documents. |
| Q12 | NOT GIVEN | It will also include terms about your hours of work, your holiday entitlement and any benefits, such as holiday and sickness pay and pensions | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that a written paper about your job should list things like how long you work, your holiday time, and other good things like sick pay and pensions. It shows that 'pensions' can be a part of your job agreement, but it does not say if your boss has to pay money into it. Answer Explanation: The answer 'NOT GIVEN' means that the passage does not say if employers must pay money into their employees' pensions or not. The information is not in the text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'NOT GIVEN' because the passage mentions 'pensions' as a type of employee benefit that should be included in a written statement of employment terms. However, the text does not state that employers are *legally required* to *contribute* money to these pensions. It only lists pensions as an example of a benefit that *might* be part of an employee's terms. Therefore, the passage does not provide enough information to confirm or deny if an employer *must* contribute. |
| Q13 | FALSE | If you want a contract, but your employer won't give you one, all you can do is apply to an employment tribunal for a list of what should be included in your written statement | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that if your boss does not give you a contract, the only thing you can do is ask an 'employment tribunal' (a special court for work problems) to give you 'a list' of what your contract should say. It does not say the tribunal can make your boss actually give you the contract, just a list of what it should contain. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'FALSE'. This means that the information in the passage does not support the idea that an employment tribunal can make bosses give out contracts. In fact, the passage says the opposite. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'FALSE' because the passage clearly states what an employment tribunal can do if an employer doesn't provide a written contract. It says, 'all you can do is apply to an employment tribunal for a list of what should be included in your written statement.' This means the tribunal can only give a *list* of what *should* be in a contract, not *force* the employer to actually *issue* or give you a physical contract. The statement 'An employment tribunal can force employers to issue contracts' is therefore incorrect based on the information provided. |