Marketing Advice For New Businesses & Working Time Regulations For Mobile Workers - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 12 General Training Reading Test 1 · Part 2 · Questions 15–27
Reading Passage
==== Read the text below and answer Questions 15-20. =====
Marketing advice for new businesses
If you’re setting up your own business, here’s some advice on getting customers.
Know where your customers look
Your customers aren’t necessarily where you think they are. So if you‘re advertising where they’re just not looking, it’s wasted money. That’s why it pays to do a bit of research. Every time someone contacts your company, ask them where they found out about you. And act on this information so you’re advertising in the right places.
Always think like a customer
What makes your customers tick? Find out, and you’re halfway to saying the right things in your advertising. So take the time to ask them. A simple phone or email survey of your own customers, politely asking why they use you, what they really like and what they don’t, is invaluable.
Make sure customers know you’re there
If a customer can‘t see you, they can‘t buy from you. There are loads of opportunities to promote your business — print, press, direct mail, telemarketing, email and the internet — and using a mix of these increases your chances of being seen (and remembered).
Ignore your customers and they’ll go away
It sounds obvious, but companies who talk to their customers have much better retention rates than those that don’t, so it’s worth staying in touch. Capture your customers’ email addresses upfront. Follow up a transaction to check they’re happy with the service and, if possible, send them updates that are helpful, informative and relevant.
Know what works (and what doesn’t)
Do what the professionals do, and measure all your advertising. That’ll tell you what you’re doing right — and where there’s room for improvement. You never know, it might just throw up some information that could change your business for the better.
Remember word-of-mouth: the best advertising there is
A recent survey found that consumers are 50% more likely to be influenced by word-of-mouth recommendations than by TV or radio ads. So your reputation is your greatest asset. If your current customers are impressed with your company, they’ll be more inclined to recommend you to others. On the flip side, if they experience bad service they probably won’t complain to you — but you can be sure they will to their friends.
==== Read the text below and answer Questions 21-27. ====
Working Time Regulations for Mobile Workers
These rules apply to drivers and crew of heavy goods vehicles or public service vehicles. The rules limit the amount of time that can be worked.
Those defined in the Regulations as being self-employed are currently not covered by the Regulations.
What are the limits?
• An average of 48 hours’ work per week.
• In any single week up to 60 hours can be worked so long as the 48-hour average is maintained.
• Night work is limited to 10 hours per night, unless there is a workforce agreement to work longer.
• Statutory annual leave and any sick leave and/or maternity/paternity leave counts as working time.
What counts as work?
In general, any activities performed in connection with the transport operation count as work, for example, driving, loading/unloading and those checks that are the responsibility of drivers, such as checking lights, brakes, etc. There are a number of periods of time that do not count as work, for example, travelling between home and your normal place of work, lunch or other breaks and periods of availability.
Periods of availability are periods of time during which the mobile worker is not required to remain at their workstation but is required to be available for work, the foreseeable duration of which is known about in advance, for example:
• Delays at a distribution centre.
• Reporting for work then being informed that no duties are to be undertaken for a specified period.
• Accompanying a vehicle being transported, for example by train.
A period of availability can be taken at the workstation. Providing the worker has a reasonable amount of freedom (e.g. they can read and relax) for a known duration. this could satisfy the requirements of a period of availability.
Situations when a period of time should not be recorded as a period of availability:
• Hold-ups due to congestion, because the driver would be stopping and starting the vehicle.
• Frequently moving up within a queue (e.g. waiting within a queue to load or unload) every other minute.
Questions
Questions 15–20 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 15 will help you to discover the most effective places to advertise.
- A 16 of your customers will show you how they feel about your company.
- A 17 of forms of advertising will make it more likely that potential customers will find out about you.
- lf you can, provide customers with useful 18 about your business.
- Measuring the effects of your advertising can give you 19 that will improve your business.
- Success in finding new customers largely depends on your 20
Questions 21–27 Note Completion
Complete the notes below
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer. Write your answers in boxes on your answer sheet.
Working Time Regulations for Mobile Workers
These apply to people working on lorries, buses, etc.
They don‘t apply to 21 workers.
Maximum working hours: 60 hours a week, provided the 22 is no more than 48 hours.
Night work can be more than 10 hours with the 23 of the workers.
Work includes driving, loading and unloading, and carrying out various 24 of the vehicle.
Periods of availability include:
going on a 25 or other form of transport with a vehicle
a period at the workstation when the driver has some 26 might count as a period of availability
Periods of availability exclude:
time spent stopping and starting the vehicle when 27 causes delays being in a queue, e.g. in order to load or unload.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q15 | Research | That's why it pays to do a bit of research. Every time someone contacts your company, ask them where they found out about you | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage tells you that it is good to look for information. When customers contact you, you should ask them how they found out about your business. This helps you understand where to advertise. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Research'. This means to look for information to understand something better. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Research' because the passage says that doing research helps businesses know where to advertise. Customers are not always where you expect, so finding out the right places to reach them is very important. The passage suggests asking customers where they heard about the business as part of this research. |
| Q16 | Survey | So take the time to ask them. A simple phone or email survey of your own customers, politely asking why they use you, what they really like and what they don't, is invaluable | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that a survey is a good way to ask customers about their feelings and preferences. It helps businesses know what customers like and how to make their services better. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'survey', which means a way to ask people questions to get their opinions. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'survey' because in the passage, it talks about asking customers questions to understand what they like and dislike. This is called a survey and is important for businesses to learn how to improve their services. |
| Q17 | Mix | using a mix of these increases your chances of being seen (and remembered) | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that using different types of advertising together makes it more likely that people will see and remember your business. Answer Explanation: The answer 'mix' means using different types or kinds of things together. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'mix' because the passage says that using a mix of different ways to promote your business—like print, press, direct mail, telemarketing, email, and the internet—helps you be seen more. This is important for getting customers to notice your business. |
| Q18 | Updates | Follow up a transaction to check they're happy with the service and, if possible, send them updates that are helpful, informative and relevant | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that after a customer buys something, a business should check if they are satisfied and send them new information that is useful and important. Answer Explanation: The answer 'updates' means new information that you give to your customers. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'updates' because the passage talks about how businesses should send their customers useful information that is relevant and helpful. This way, customers feel connected to the business and stay informed. |
| Q19 | Information | it might just throw up some information that could change your business for the better | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage suggests that collecting information can help improve a business. It says that understanding the results of your actions can bring new ideas that make your business better. Answer Explanation: The answer 'Information' means details or facts that help you understand something better. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Information' because the passage explains that gathering and measuring results gives you useful details that can help make your business more successful. Keywords to notice are 'information' and 'improve your business', which show the importance of data in business decisions. |
| Q20 | Reputation | A recent survey found that consumers are 50% more likely to be influenced by word-of-mouth recommendations than by TV or radio ads. So your reputation is your greatest asset. | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that people trust what their friends say more than ads on TV or radio. A good reputation means people will talk positively about your business, which is very important. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Reputation'. This means how other people see you or your business. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Reputation' because the passage says that if your current customers are impressed with your company, they will recommend you to others. A good reputation helps you find new customers. |
| Q21 | Self-employed | Those defined in the Regulations as being self-employed are currently not covered by the Regulations | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that workers who are self-employed do not have to follow the rules. This means they are not included in the working time laws. Answer Explanation: The answer means workers who work for themselves and are not part of a company. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'self-employed' because the passage says that the Working Time Regulations do not cover self-employed workers. This means they are not included in the rules about working hours. |
| Q22 | Average | An average of 48 hours' work per week | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that workers can normally do about 48 hours of work each week. Answer Explanation: The answer 'Average' means the usual or normal amount over time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Average' because the passage mentions that mobile workers can work up to 60 hours in one week as long as their work does not go over an average of 48 hours per week. This 'average' is an important limit for working hours. |
| Q23 | Agreement | Night work is limited to 10 hours per night, unless there is a workforce agreement to work longer | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says night work usually cannot be more than 10 hours, but if workers agree, it can be longer. Answer Explanation: The answer means that if workers agree, they can work more hours at night. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Agreement' because the passage says that night work can be more than 10 hours if there is a workforce agreement. This means workers and employers can agree to longer night shifts. |
| Q24 | Checks | In general, any activities performed in connection with the transport operation count as work, for example, driving, loading/unloading and those checks that are the responsibility of drivers, such as checking lights, brakes, etc | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that actions related to driving or working with a vehicle are considered work. This includes driving, loading or unloading, and doing checks on the vehicle, like looking at the lights and brakes. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'checks'. This means things that you need to examine or confirm about the vehicle. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'checks' because the passage states that work includes activities like 'driving, loading/unloading and those checks that are the responsibility of drivers'. It shows that doing checks on the vehicle is part of the work that counts. |
| Q25 | Train | Accompanying a vehicle being transported, for example by train | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that a worker can go with a vehicle if it is being moved by train. This shows that 'train' is a form of transport related to the worker's job. Answer Explanation: The answer means a type of vehicle that travels on tracks. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Train' because in the passage, it mentions that a worker can be with a vehicle being transported by train. This indicates that train is a type of transport where the vehicle can be. |
| Q26 | Freedom | this could satisfy the requirements of a period of availability | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that having some freedom during a certain time can be part of the rules. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Freedom'. It means having the ability to choose what to do or how to act. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Freedom' because the passage says that a worker must have a reasonable amount of freedom during a period of availability. This means they can do things like read and relax. |
| Q27 | Congestion | Hold-ups due to congestion, because the driver would be stopping and starting the vehicle | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage talks about times that shouldn't be counted as available work time. It says that if there are too many cars on the road causing traffic, this is not counted as a time when the driver is available to work. Answer Explanation: The answer means a situation where too many vehicles are on the road, causing slow movement. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'congestion' because the passage explains that hold-ups due to congestion happen when a driver has to stop and start their vehicle because of too many vehicles. This is a situation that should not be counted as a period of availability. |