Job Openings For Sales Clerks & Forklift Operator Course - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 21 General Training Reading Test 1 · Part 2 · Questions 15–27
Reading Passage
Read the text below and answer Questions 15-20.
Job openings for sales clerks
Teatime, a leading seller of tea in North America, has immediate openings for salespeople in its two new retail stores. No previous experience is required
We expect our sales clerks to maintain regular and consistent attendance. Clerks are also expected to be punctual for each shift. Note that a clean and neat appearance is required. Shift work may be necessary, depending on the location. If you are unable to work a combination of early mornings, evenings, weekends and holidays, please do not apply. Because of the nature of our business, employees whose time is flexible are wanted. Must be proficient in English. French and Spanish are an asset.
A good mindset at work is essential. There are so many tasks to do in a day that each should be approached with urgency in order to complete the work in a timely fashion. Being capable of juggling a variety of things simultaneously is a must. Working alongside co-workers on your shift without friction is important to the operation of the store, as is having a cheerful manner while you work. Clerks must be confident individuals who welcome coaching and see it as an opportunity to learn about how best to represent our product.
Responsibilities and essential job functions include, but are not limited to, the following areas:
• contributing to sales growth at your location: delivering personal and team sales goals by upselling and suggestive selling to customers based on what they need
• being responsible for teaching customers about our teas as they sample them; providing clients with this positive educational journey has made our company a top retail leader in tea
• maintaining, rotating, dating and organizing stock
• advising your team leader of any shortages you notice in quantities of inventory as you work
• ensuring that beverage stations are kept clean according to government health standards, and that damaged and defective items are disposed of as per company best practices, which ensure safety of all partners on your shift
• always ensuring the policy set out by Teatime is followed when dealing with cash.
______________
Read the text below and answer Questions 21-27.
Forklift operator course
The Liftsure Training Academy offers a comprehensive course for individuals wishing to be certified as forklift operators. There are very few legal requirements to train for a job as a forklift operator. Those that do exist are for your safety and that of the people around you. The minimum age for operating the equipment is 17, with course completion possible at age 18.
Forklift operators are expected to be in good health, meaning that they cannot suffer from any condition that would interfere with the alert operation of the lift truck. Trainees should recognize that although the law makes no reference to this, screening by a future employer could involve a health test as part of the process of getting hired.
We offer new lift operators a five-day course. The fact that our training is conducted so quickly in no way suggests that participants are released into the workforce before they’re ready. In fact, our accelerated approach has been proven to boost knowledge retention in the workplace.
So, what exactly will the course cover? To begin with, students will learn how the forklift’s design is vital to its stability during operation. You will be given detailed instruction on the theory used for the various forklift models. Along with this, there will be an in-depth explanation of the parts that make up the vehicle.
Afternoons will be spent in our academy warehouse onboard the trucks. Driving the forklift itself may not be problematic; however, once a load of significant weight is added, operating the vehicle can be a challenge for new drivers. Instruction concentrates on this area since proper load transportation is paramount. Class sizes are kept small to allow instructors to monitor driving and correct improper actions. Driving a forklift will also involve having a working knowledge of dangerous goods. Classroom study will include how to recognize dangerous goods, their proper packaging, and the immediate action to be taken when a spill occurs with such a product. Students will also have time to work on strategies to use when driving in confined spaces and narrow aisles.
It should be noted that forklifts can be dangerous pieces of machinery. Therefore, we include a module emphasizing the need for an inspection by the operator before each shift. It includes such things as tire pressure and signs of wear to key parts. This simple precaution is a proven way to lessen on-the-job accidents. On completion of the course, students will sit an exam and demonstrate the correct operation of a forklift.
Questions
Questions 15–20 Note Completion
Complete the notes below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Sales clerk job
Expectations of employees:
• be on time and have a tidy 15
• must be 16 with work schedules
• need to have good English
Employee attitude:
• perform duties with 17 to finish them quickly
• avoid 18 with other staff
• respond to coaching in a positive way
Job duties include:
• meeting sales goals to achieve 19 at the store
• explaining the tea world to customers
• reporting 20 of supplies to management
• handling money according to company policy
Questions 21–27 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
- Legal requirements for training are to ensure the 21 of the driver and others.
- Training is fast-paced in order to improve the 22 of information.
- A thorough 23 of all the components of the forklift truck is provided.
- Participants practise moving heavy items as this is often a 24
- Students learn how to respond to a 25 involving a harmful product.
- Students learn about 26 for operating forklifts in tight spaces.
- The course stresses the importance of a regular vehicle 27
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q15 | Appearance | Note that a clean and neat appearance is required | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that workers must look clean and tidy when they come to work. Answer Explanation: The answer "Appearance" means the way a person looks on the outside, including their clothes and grooming. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed because the text explains the requirements for sales clerks. The notes ask for an employee to "have a tidy [input]". In the text, the phrase "clean and neat" matches the meaning of the keyword "tidy". The word following "clean and neat" is "appearance", which fits the requirement of choosing ONE WORD ONLY. |
| Q16 | Flexible | Because of the nature of our business, employees whose time is flexible are wanted | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the company wants to hire workers who can adapt their work hours to different times. Answer Explanation: The answer "Flexible" means able to easily change plans or work at different times. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "Flexible" because the notes ask about an expectation regarding work schedules. In the text, the employer explains that employees must be ready to work early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays, stating that "employees whose time is flexible are wanted." Therefore, employees must be flexible with their schedules. |
| Q17 | Urgency | There are so many tasks to do in a day that each should be approached with urgency in order to complete the work in a timely fashion | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that there is a lot of work to do every day, so staff members must act fast and treat every task as urgent so they can finish on time. Answer Explanation: The answer "urgency" means doing something very quickly because it is important and needs fast action. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "urgency" because the text explains how employees should handle their daily work. The phrase "finish them quickly" in the notes matches "complete the work in a timely fashion" in the text, and "perform duties" matches dealing with tasks. According to the text, workers must approach their tasks "with urgency". Therefore, "urgency" correctly fills in the blank. |
| Q18 | Friction | Working alongside co-workers on your shift without friction is important to the operation of the store, as is having a cheerful manner while you work | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that staff members must work together smoothly and peacefully without getting into arguments or conflicts with their teammates. Answer Explanation: The answer "friction" means disagreement, conflict, or bad feelings between people working together. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "friction" because the note mentions an attitude expectation: "avoid with other staff". In the third paragraph, the text states that "Working alongside co-workers on your shift without friction is important to the operation of the store". Here, "co-workers" means "other staff", and working "without" something means you should "avoid" it. Therefore, the single word needed to complete the sentence is "friction". |
| Q19 | Growth | contributing to sales growth at your location: delivering personal and team sales goals by upselling and suggestive selling to customers based on what they need | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that one of the job duties is helping sales grow at the shop by reaching individual and team sales targets. Answer Explanation: The answer "Growth" means an increase in sales or making a business bigger and more successful. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "Growth" because the text lists "contributing to sales growth at your location" by "delivering personal and team sales goals". In the notes, "meeting sales goals" matches "delivering personal and team sales goals", and "at the store" corresponds to "at your location". Therefore, sales goals are met in order to achieve "growth". |
| Q20 | Shortages | advising your team leader of any shortages you notice in quantities of inventory as you work | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage means that workers must tell their manager if they see that there is not enough stock or inventory available. Answer Explanation: The answer "Shortages" means situations where there is not enough of something that is needed. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "Shortages" because the notes mention "reporting of supplies to management." In the text, one of the sales clerk's duties is "advising your team leader of any shortages you notice in quantities of inventory as you work." Here, "advising your team leader" matches "reporting ... to management," and "quantities of inventory" matches "supplies." |
| Q21 | Safety | There are very few legal requirements to train for a job as a forklift operator. Those that do exist are for your safety and that of the people around you | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that there are not many official rules to train for this job, and the few rules that exist are made to keep the driver and other people around safe. Answer Explanation: The answer "safety" means being protected from danger, injury, or accidents. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "safety" because the text explains the purpose of the legal requirements for training. The passage states that the rules that do exist are meant to protect the driver ("your safety") as well as the people nearby ("that of the people around you"). This matches the sentence prompt: "Legal requirements for training are to ensure the safety of the driver and others." |
| Q22 | Retention | In fact, our accelerated approach has been proven to boost knowledge retention in the workplace | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that their fast training method actually helps workers remember their knowledge better on the job. Answer Explanation: The answer "retention" means keeping or remembering something in your mind over time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "retention" because the sentence states that the fast-paced training helps improve how well information is remembered. In the passage, the phrase "accelerated approach" corresponds to "Training is fast-paced," "to boost" matches "in order to improve," and "knowledge" means "information." Therefore, the missing word that describes what is boosted is "retention." |
| Q23 | Explanation | Along with this, there will be an in-depth explanation of the parts that make up the vehicle | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the course will give a very detailed and thorough description of every part that makes up the forklift. Answer Explanation: The answer "explanation" means describing or giving clear details about something so that others can easily understand it. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "explanation" because the sentence refers to a detailed discussion of all the parts of the forklift. In the passage, the author states that students will receive "an in-depth explanation of the parts that make up the vehicle." Here, the phrase "in-depth" matches "thorough," and "the parts that make up the vehicle" matches "all the components of the forklift truck." |
| Q24 | Challenge | however, once a load of significant weight is added, operating the vehicle can be a challenge for new drivers | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that driving the vehicle becomes difficult or a "challenge" for beginners when carrying something heavy. Answer Explanation: The answer "challenge" means something that is difficult to do and requires hard work or skill. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "challenge" because the passage discusses driving when "a load of significant weight is added" (which means "moving heavy items"). It states that doing this "can be a challenge for new drivers." Therefore, handling heavy loads is frequently a difficult task or a challenge. |
| Q25 | Spill | Classroom study will include how to recognize dangerous goods, their proper packaging, and the immediate action to be taken when a spill occurs with such a product | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that students in the classroom will learn about dangerous items, how they should be packed, and what quick action to take if one of those items spills. Answer Explanation: The answer "spill" means an accident where a liquid or harmful material leaks or pours out by mistake. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "spill" because the text explains what students will be taught about dangerous goods (harmful products). Specifically, classroom lessons cover the "immediate action to be taken" (how to respond) when a "spill" happens involving these materials. |
| Q26 | Strategies | Students will also have time to work on strategies to use when driving in confined spaces and narrow aisles | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that learners will practise methods and plans for driving the forklift in small, tight areas. Answer Explanation: The answer "strategies" means plans or methods used to do something well. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "strategies" because the sentence talks about what students learn for driving in tight areas. The text states that learners work on "strategies to use when driving in confined spaces and narrow aisles." Here, "confined spaces" means "tight spaces," and "driving" corresponds to "operating forklifts." |
| Q27 | Inspection | Therefore, we include a module emphasizing the need for an inspection by the operator before each shift | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the training program teaches drivers that checking the vehicle before each work shift is very necessary. Answer Explanation: The answer means a careful check or examination of something to make sure it is safe and working properly. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "Inspection" because the text mentions that the course includes a part that highlights how important it is to check the forklift before every shift. The words in the sentence "stresses the importance of a regular vehicle" directly correspond to the phrase "emphasizing the need for an inspection" in the text. |