LGN Energy – Code Of Conduct & Maternity Leave - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Official IELTS Practice Materials General Training Reading Test 1 · Part 2 · Questions 17–29
Reading Passage
Read the text below and answer Questions 15-21.
LGN Energy - Code of Conduct
The purpose of this Code of Conduct is to advise employees of LGN's expectations in respect of conduct, breach of which may lead to investigation and disciplinary action.
A The companies that provide goods and services to LGN Energy are an important resource and should be treated with fairness at all times. Employees should maintain the highest ethical standards in all dealings with them, and managers must act with integrity at all times and lead by example.
B LGN Energy aims to promote its products vigorously in the market place. None of its employees are allowed to collude with rival companies. It is LGN Energy policy to sell products and services on their merits. Therefore the products or services of rival companies should not be criticised.
C Employees should keep accurate, timely and reliable accounts, as these are critical to meeting the financial, legal and management obligations of the company. All reports, invoices and other essential data should be prepared promptly and honestly, and treated with discretion.
D Except as authorised by their manager or required by their duties under their employment contract, employees must not use for their own benefit or gain, or divulge to any person or organisation, any data belonging to the company, or relating to its affairs or dealings, which come to their knowledge during employment.
E Employees should not download or reproduce any material (e.g. music or text) without complying with licensing conditions. Such actions could result in criminal proceedings not only against the company but also against the individual concerned.
F LGN Energy wants to encourage employees to disclose information on any conduct within the company that is causing them concern. If an employee suspects fraud or other behaviour that contravenes this Code of Conduct, they should promptly inform their manager.
G If any employee makes any discoveries or developments capable of being patented during the course of, or in connection with, their employment at LGN, they must tell their manager. All works and intellectual property rights related to their employment will belong to LGN Energy.
______________
Read the text below and answer Questions 22-27.
Maternity Leave
The purpose of this policy is to inform female employees of their entitlement to statutory and company-enhanced maternity rights.
Antenatal Care
All company employees are entitled to reasonable paid time off during working hours to enable them to receive antenatal care. To qualify, employees are required to produce a certificate from a registered medical practitioner stating that the employee is pregnant, together with an appointment card or other written confirmation of the appointment. However, these requirements do not apply to the first antenatal visit.
Employees are requested to give their immediate manager as much notice as possible and arrange appointments, insofar as is possible, so as not to disrupt the business of the company. Employees will be paid their basic salary in respect of attendance at these appointments.
Ordinary Maternity Leave (OML)
All employees, irrespective of their length of service, qualify for 26 weeks' OML. An employee must notify the company no later than 15 weeks prior to her Expected Week of Childbirth (EWC) of the date on which she intends to begin her OML.
An employee is not required to give notification if she is absent due to a pregnancy-related illness, or if the baby is born before the planned date for starting maternity leave. Please note that the employee must notify the company that she has given birth as soon as is reasonably practicable.
Returning from Maternity Leave
No employee is entitled to return from maternity leave until 2 weeks after the birth of the child. Within 28 days of receiving notification from the employee of the date she intends to start her OML, the company will advise her of the date her leave will end. An employee who intends to return to work at the end of her OML period does not have to notify the company in advance of her return.
If the employee wishes to use any annual leave she has accrued to delay her return, she is obliged to request authorisation from the company at least 28 days before she wishes to take it.
Questions
Questions 17–23 Matching Headings
The text has seven sections, A-G.
Choose the correct heading for each section from the list of headings below.
i. Standard procedure for disciplinary action
ii. Reporting improper activities
iii. Relationships with suppliers
iv. Inventions and designs
v. Company records
vi. Confidential information
vii. Promoting creativity
viii. Respecting media copyright
ix. Accessing legal information
x. Relationships with competitors
Questions 24–29 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the text for each answer.
Antenatal Care
- Obtain proof of pregnancy from a 24 and also an appointment card (NB not necessary for first antenatal visit)
- Tell your immediate manager as soon as you can
- You will receive your 25 from your company during antenatal care
Ordinary Maternity Leave
- Doesn't depend on your 26 (everyone gets same amount of OML)
- Tell your employer at least 27 before EWC about starting date of OML
- No need to tell your employer if you are off work because of 28
Returning from Maternity Leave
- Cannot return to work until 2 weeks after birth
- No need to notify company if coming back when OML finishes
- Must ask for permission if choosing to postpone return by taking any 29 still owing to you
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q17 | iii | The companies that provide goods and services to LGN Energy are an important resource and should be treated with fairness at all times | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that businesses providing goods and services to LGN Energy are essential and must always be treated fairly. Answer Explanation: The answer "iii" refers to the heading "Relationships with suppliers". Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "iii" because Section A explains how workers should interact with "companies that provide goods and services" (which are suppliers). It states that these companies are very important and must be treated with fairness and honesty in all business relationships. |
| Q18 | x | None of its employees are allowed to collude with rival companies. It is LGN Energy policy to sell products and services on their merits. Therefore the products or services of rival companies should not be criticised | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that workers must not make secret agreements with rival companies (competitors) and must not speak badly about the products or services that those competing businesses offer. Answer Explanation: The answer 'x' means the heading for Section B is 'Relationships with competitors'. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'x' because Section B talks about how workers should behave toward other rival businesses (competitors). It states that staff must not secretly work with rival companies and must not say bad things about their products or services. The term 'rival companies' is a synonym for 'competitors'. |
| Q19 | v | Employees should keep accurate, timely and reliable accounts, as these are critical to meeting the financial, legal and management obligations of the company. All reports, invoices and other essential data should be prepared promptly and honestly, and treated with discretion | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that workers must write down and maintain correct company information, such as financial accounts, reports, and invoices, on time and honestly. Answer Explanation: The answer means heading v, 'Company records'. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is heading v because Section C focuses on how workers must keep accurate, honest, and prompt accounts, reports, invoices, and data. These documents and accounts are 'company records'. |
| Q20 | vi | Except as authorised by their manager or required by their duties under their employment contract, employees must not use for their own benefit or gain, or divulge to any person or organisation, any data belonging to the company, or relating to its affairs or dealings, which come to their knowledge during employment | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that workers must not share company data with anyone or use it for themselves unless their boss says it is okay or their job requires it. Answer Explanation: The answer "vi" means that Section D matches the heading "Confidential information". Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "vi" because Section D explains that employees are not allowed to share or use secret company data for personal gain or give it to outside people or organizations without permission. Keeping secret company data safe is about handling confidential information. Keywords like "divulge" (share/reveal) and "data belonging to the company" directly connect to the idea of confidential information. |
| Q21 | viii | Employees should not download or reproduce any material (e.g. music or text) without complying with licensing conditions | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that workers must obey licensing rules whenever they download or copy media materials such as music or written texts. Answer Explanation: The answer choice "viii" means "Respecting media copyright". Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is viii because Section E discusses the rules for saving and copying materials like music or text. It warns workers to follow copyright and licensing rules so they and the company do not get into legal trouble. Keywords like "download or reproduce any material (e.g. music or text)" directly match the concept of "media", and "complying with licensing conditions" matches "respecting copyright". |
| Q22 | ii | LGN Energy wants to encourage employees to disclose information on any conduct within the company that is causing them concern. If an employee suspects fraud or other behaviour that contravenes this Code of Conduct, they should promptly inform their manager | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the company wants workers to share information if they are worried about any behavior. If a worker thinks there is fraud or broken rules, they must tell their manager quickly. Answer Explanation: The answer choice ii means telling management about wrong or bad actions taking place in the workplace. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is ii because Section F focuses on encouraging workers to speak up and report bad behavior, such as fraud or actions that break company rules. Keywords like 'disclose information', 'suspects fraud', and 'inform their manager' match the idea of 'Reporting improper activities'. |
| Q23 | iv | If any employee makes any discoveries or developments capable of being patented during the course of, or in connection with, their employment at LGN, they must tell their manager. All works and intellectual property rights related to their employment will belong to LGN Energy | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that if a worker invents or creates anything new during their job, they must inform their manager, and those creations belong to the company. Answer Explanation: The answer, iv, stands for 'Inventions and designs'. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is iv because Section G talks about what happens when employees create new things at work. The text mentions 'discoveries or developments capable of being patented' and 'intellectual property rights', which directly relate to 'inventions and designs'. |
| Q24 | registered medical practitioner / medical practitioner | To qualify, employees are required to produce a certificate from a registered medical practitioner stating that the employee is pregnant, together with an appointment card or other written confirmation of the appointment | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that to receive time off for antenatal visits, workers must show a doctor's note proving pregnancy as well as proof of their appointment. Answer Explanation: The answer means a licensed or legally recognized doctor or healthcare professional. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is '(registered) medical practitioner' because the passage states that employees must provide proof of pregnancy in the form of a certificate from a 'registered medical practitioner' along with an appointment card to get paid leave for antenatal care. |
| Q25 | basic salary | Employees will be paid their basic salary in respect of attendance at these appointments | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that workers will receive their regular pay when they go to their pregnancy care appointments. Answer Explanation: The answer means the regular amount of money an employee is paid by their employer, not including extra pay like bonuses or overtime. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is basic salary because the 'Antenatal Care' section states that workers will receive this specific regular pay when attending their medical appointments. The phrase 'paid their basic salary' in the text directly matches the note stating 'receive your basic salary... during antenatal care'. |
| Q26 | length of service | All employees, irrespective of their length of service, qualify for 26 weeks' OML | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that every employee receives the same 26 weeks of maternity leave, no matter how much time they have spent working at the company. Answer Explanation: The answer means the total amount of time an employee has worked for the company. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "length of service" because the text states that all employees get 26 weeks of Ordinary Maternity Leave (OML) "irrespective of" (regardless of or not depending on) how long they have worked for the company. |
| Q27 | 15 weeks / fifteen weeks | An employee must notify the company no later than 15 weeks prior to her Expected Week of Childbirth (EWC) of the date on which she intends to begin her OML | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that a worker has to tell the company the date she wants to start her maternity leave at least 15 weeks before the week her baby is expected to be born. Answer Explanation: The answer means a time period of 15 weeks. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "15 weeks" because the passage states that a worker must inform the company at least 15 weeks before her Expected Week of Childbirth (EWC) about when she wants to start her maternity leave. In the sentence, "notify" corresponds to "Tell", "no later than 15 weeks prior to" corresponds to "at least 15 weeks before", and "Expected Week of Childbirth" matches "EWC". |
| Q28 | a pregnancy-related illness / pregnancy-related illness | An employee is not required to give notification if she is absent due to a pregnancy-related illness, or if the baby is born before the planned date for starting maternity leave | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that a female worker does not need to inform the company if she is away from work because of a sickness related to her pregnancy, or if her baby arrives earlier than expected. Answer Explanation: The answer means a sickness that is caused by being pregnant. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'pregnancy-related illness' because the passage states that a worker does not have to notify the company if she is absent from work for this reason. In the notes, 'No need to tell your employer' matches 'not required to give notification', and 'off work because of' matches 'absent due to'. |
| Q29 | annual leave / leave | If the employee wishes to use any annual leave she has accrued to delay her return, she is obliged to request authorisation from the company at least 28 days before she wishes to take it | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that if a worker wants to use her saved annual leave to come back to work later, she must ask the company for permission first. Answer Explanation: The answer means paid days off work that an employee has built up or saved over time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is '(annual) leave' because the passage states that an employee must ask for permission ('request authorisation') if she wants to delay coming back to work ('delay her return') by using the paid time off she has built up ('annual leave she has accrued'). Here, 'postpone return' matches 'delay her return', and 'still owing to you' matches 'she has accrued'. |