Job Interview Success & Five Reasons Your Business Needs a Website - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Barrons IELTS Practice Exams General Training Reading Test 2 · Part 2 · Questions 15–27
Reading Passage
Read the text below and answer Questions 15-20.
Job Interview Success
When you apply for a job, the impression you create during the interview is just as important as the skills and background you bring to the table. The following suggestions will help you prepare for a successful interview.
Before You Leave Home
Dress appropriately. This means the attire you choose should be the same as what you would wear for work once you are hired. Conservative colors and styles always convey a more trustworthy image.
Rehearse the interview at home. Think of questions that you will probably be asked, and prepare answers for them. This will help you be calm when you are at the actual interview.
Don’t be late for your interview. The best way to avoid this problem is to decide ahead of time how you want to get there. If by bus or subway, check the schedules the day before. If by car, plan your route carefully and figure out how long it will take. Careful planning will ensure that you will make a good impression by arriving on time.
During the Interview
Speak clearly. Look the interviewer in the eye when speaking and use clear, confident tones. Do not speak too quickly or nervously. Rather, pronounce your words carefully and pause when searching for ideas. Speaking with a firm, clear voice is one of the best ways to give an impression of self-assurance.
Ask questions. Do not be afraid to do this. It will not make you appear unprepared or stupid. On the contrary, asking the right questions shows that you are knowledgeable about the company and conveys the impression that you are interested and enthusiastic.
______________
Read the text below and answer Questions 21-27.
Five Reasons Your Business Needs a Website
All businesses, large or small, need a website. Here are several reasons a website can help a company of any size improve its business.
A
A website is the most important tool a business has for maintaining contact with customers. The website gives customers a way to know what services or products you sell and how to contact you. By offering an e-newsletter sign-up on your website, customers can stay informed about events related to your business and your products, and you save on printing costs. A link to your blog keeps customers up-to-date on what is happening with your business, and keeps them coming back.
B
A website allows you to expand your customer base beyond your immediate community, and even to other countries. Anyone in the world can have access to your services and products through your website, at no extra cost.
C
No matter what the size of your business, it is not hard to afford a website. It is easy to set up, and it does not have to break your budget. There are templates available if you want to create a website yourself. Or, you can hire a Web designer for a more professional look. Depending on what you need, using the services of a professional does not necessarily cost huge amounts of money. The hosting fees you pay to keep your website up and running are minimal.
D
You can save on expenses by keeping your website simple. Even just a few pages can be enough to provide your customers with the necessary information to keep them interested in what your business has to offer. A large website with lots of pages is not always necessary. The most essential facts to include in any website—your business name and location, your products, and your contact information—can be contained on just one page.
E
Your website can be a place for your customers to buy your products. You may still do most of your selling at your physical place of business, but the website is another opportunity to sell, and you can reach more customers this way, too.
Questions
Questions 15–20 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text for each answer.
- Wearing 15 clothes makes a better impression during the job interview.
- Practice answering questions ahead of time so that you feel 16 during the interview.
- If traveling to the interview by bus, make sure you know 17 ahead of time.
- You will be 18 for the interview if you plan your trip beforehand.
- Use your 19 to convey an attitude of confidence.
- Show what you know by asking 20
Questions 21–27 Matching Information
The text contains five sections, A–E. In which section can information about the following be found? You may use any letter more than once.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q15 | conservative | Conservative colors and styles always convey a more trustworthy image | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that simple and traditional choices for clothes and colors give people the idea that you can be trusted. Answer Explanation: The answer means quiet, traditional, and simple styles or colors rather than bright or extreme ones. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'conservative' because the text states that choosing conservative styles and colors gives a more trustworthy image, which helps make a better impression during an interview. |
| Q16 | calm | This will help you be calm when you are at the actual interview | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that practicing your answers ahead of time will help you stay peaceful and not feel nervous during the interview. Answer Explanation: The answer means feeling relaxed and not worried or nervous. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "calm". According to the text, preparing your answers to questions before going to the interview will help you feel calm during the actual interview. |
| Q17 | the schedules / the schedule | If by bus or subway, check the schedules the day before | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that if you take a bus or subway, you should look at the times (schedules) the day before your interview. Answer Explanation: The answer means the timetable showing the times when buses arrive and leave. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer fills in the blank about what to check when taking public transportation. The text mentions that if you go by bus or subway, you should check 'the schedules' the day before so that you know when to travel and avoid being late. |
| Q18 | on time | Careful planning will ensure that you will make a good impression by arriving on time | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that preparing and planning your journey carefully ensures you get to your interview on time. Answer Explanation: The answer means arriving at the exact planned time without being late. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "on time" because the text explains that careful planning before you leave home helps you arrive at the right time. In the question, "plan your trip beforehand" matches the text's idea of "careful planning" and deciding how to get there "ahead of time". |
| Q19 | voice | Speaking with a firm, clear voice is one of the best ways to give an impression of self-assurance | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that talking with a strong, clear voice is a great way to show that you feel confident in yourself. Answer Explanation: The answer means your speaking sound, which should be clear and strong when you talk. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is correct because the text explains that speaking with a strong and clear voice helps you look confident (self-assurance) during a job interview. In the sentence, 'attitude of confidence' matches the meaning of 'self-assurance' in the text. |
| Q20 | the right questions / questions | On the contrary, asking the right questions shows that you are knowledgeable about the company and conveys the impression that you are interested and enthusiastic | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that asking proper questions proves to the interviewer that you have good knowledge about the company and that you are genuinely interested in the position. Answer Explanation: The answer means the correct or suitable questions to ask during a job interview. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is '(the right) questions' because the passage states that asking the correct questions demonstrates that you know a lot about the company. In the text, 'asking the right questions' matches 'asking ', and 'shows that you are knowledgeable' means 'Show what you know'. |
| Q21 | B | A website allows you to expand your customer base beyond your immediate community, and even to other countries | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that having a website helps a business find new buyers outside its local area, including people in other countries. Answer Explanation: The answer is section B. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is section B because it mentions that a website can help a business grow its customer group into other countries. The phrase 'other countries' means 'international'. |
| Q22 | C | The hosting fees you pay to keep your website up and running are minimal | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the money you pay to keep your website active and working is very low. Answer Explanation: The answer choice C means section C contains the information. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because section C talks about the price of keeping a website online. In section C, it mentions that the "hosting fees" (the cost) needed to "keep your website up and running" (maintain it) are very small ("minimal"). |
| Q23 | A | A website is the most important tool a business has for maintaining contact with customers | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that a website is the main tool a business uses to keep in touch and communicate with its customers. Answer Explanation: The answer choice A means that Section A is the part of the text that has information about how to communicate with customers. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Section A explains how a website helps a business in 'maintaining contact with customers', which means communicating or keeping in touch with them. It gives examples such as using e-newsletters and blogs to share updates with customers. |
| Q24 | E | Your website can be a place for your customers to buy your products | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that people can buy the things you make or offer directly on your website. Answer Explanation: The answer is section E. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is E because section E talks about how customers can use your website to purchase items. Using a website to let people buy items is the definition of selling your products online. |
| Q25 | D | A large website with lots of pages is not always necessary | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that having a big website that contains a lot of pages is not always needed. Answer Explanation: The answer D means that section D has information about how big or small your website can be. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because section D specifically mentions the size of a website. It explains that a website does not need to be large with many pages, and even a simple one-page or few-page website can work well for your business. |
| Q26 | C | There are templates available if you want to create a website yourself. Or, you can hire a Web designer for a more professional look | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that you can build a website by yourself using design templates, or you can pay a Web designer to make it look more professional. Answer Explanation: The answer C means section C contains information about how a website is designed. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Section C discusses website design options, such as using existing layout templates to make the site yourself or hiring a professional Web designer. |
| Q27 | D | The most essential facts to include in any website—your business name and location, your products, and your contact information—can be contained on just one page | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the most important details to put on a website, like the company's name, address, items for sale, and contact details, can fit on a single page. Answer Explanation: The answer D means section D is the part of the text that talks about the most important details to put on a website. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because section D mentions "essential facts", which means the most important information to include. It lists examples of this key information, such as the business name, location, products, and contact information. |