Minnesota Department Of Natural Resources (DNR) & Top Tips On How To Get Further Up The Career Ladder - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Practice Test Plus 3 General Training Reading Test 1 · Part 2 · Questions 15–27
Reading Passage
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 15-27.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Volunteering program
Volunteers work with DNR managers, professionals and technicians to help manage the state’s diverse natural resources. Volunteer positions range from jobs requiring no previous experience to specialist positions requiring extensive skill and experience. Volunteers provide work which supplements DNR personnel. Volunteers help to preserve and enhance Minnesota’s natural beauty for the enjoyment of people of all ages, interests and abilities.
Follow these steps to sign up as a volunteer for DNR:
Volunteer opportunities are available throughout the state at State Parks, State Forest Campgrounds, Wildlife Management Areas, fisheries and hatcheries, the 150+ DNR area offices, four regional headquarter offices, the St. Paul Central Office and at special event sites. Check our website to learn about volunteer positions available in your area.
Contact the DNR officer who is designated for the project you are interested in. (If you live in Greater Minnesota, you may use our toll free number at 1-555 646-6367. Hearing impaired individuals may call (651) 296-5484. The DNR officer will inform you if the position is still open and will register you.
Arrive on time (or a little early) to work on the project for which you registered to work. The schedule you agree to is important: be sure to call if you will be absent or need to leave early. The DNR is counting on you to be a dependable volunteer.
While working for the DNR, take account of the following guidelines:
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Represent the DNR in a positive fashion. You are not expected to be knowledgeable in all areas concerning the DNR. If working with the public in your volunteer position, all questions from them related to DNR policies and procedures are to be passed on to your supervisor, or to the DNR Information Line at 1-888-646-6367. Avoid expressing a personal opinion.
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Keep a note of your hours. This is important for liability coverage, for reporting to the legislature, and for volunteer recognition. When the project is finished, turn in your records to your supervisor, who will pass them on to the programme manager.
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Your supervisor will be happy to discuss any worries that you may have, as well as any special needs, and try to offer solutions that may help you perform your volunteer duties better.
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Top tips on how to get further up the career ladder
Moving jobs is no longer quite as easy as it was just a couple of years ago, prompting many to look to develop their careers within existing companies until the recruitment outlook improves.
The following tips can help you take control of your career and make yourself more attractive to both your current and any future employer:
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Keep up with industry developments
Ensuring you are up-to-date with the latest trends in your industry through attending conferences can make you an invaluable employee, and change the way managers see you, says John Grange, an adviser at free business advice and support service Business Link.
In recent years, online networking, using corporate sites such as LinkedIn, has also given employees the ability to liaise with people doing similar work. It’s a great way of keeping up-to-date with what people in similar jobs and industries are thinking about, and plenty of people are willing to help if you have a problem or want some advice.
But Leon Benjamin, author of the book Winning By Sharing, warns that the effectiveness of such sites in advancing your career varies considerably, depending on your industry sector. ‘For people who’re working in digital media it’s everything, but in the building trade it’s almost pointless because of its low level of take up,’ he says.
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Request suitable training
Ensuring you have access to training to improve your skills is essential to progressing both your career and earning potential. By getting the right skills, individuals can sometimes get salary increases, as well as making themselves more likely to gain promotion.
Finding the right type of training, though, is vital. Apart from on-the-job training, there are self-help books that can be found in book shops or libraries, as well as formal courses. Individuals should decide what their genuine areas of weakness are, and then talk about them with their Staff Development coordinator to find out what kind of training might be best.
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Broaden your experience
Experiencing other parts of the business through temporary roles or job-shadowing can give you a more rounded view of the organisation and ensure you won’t be pigeon-holed in one particular area.
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Grange says, ‘If you have an appreciation of what goes on within all departments you become much more valuable to the business, because you understand that if you take an action over here, there’s a knock-on effect over there.’
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Work with your manager
One of the key skills is dealing with your boss, and part of that is knowing what your boss is being judged by. They all have targets, from the chief executive and other more senior managers, so look at ways in which you can help them to deliver those while still helping yourself.
Questions
Questions 15–21 Flow Chart Completion
Complete the flow chart below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Volunteering for the DNR
Find out about local vacancies from the DNR's 15
↓
Get in touch with the named DNR 16
↓
Register for the post.
↓
Turn up punctually for work (call if you need to change your 17 ).
↓ ↓ ↓
|
Refer questions about the DNR from the 18 to your supervisor (do not give your own 19 ). |
Give a record of your 20 to your supervisor. |
Tell your supervisor if you have any concerns or particular 21 |
Questions 22–27 Note Completion
Look at the top tips in the passage above.
Complete the notes below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer.
Keep up with developments by:
- going to conferences
- 22, using business websites (but not useful for employees in the 23 ).
Ask for training
- could result in a salary increase
- types of training – on-the-job, books or 24
- identify weaknesses and discuss them with the person in charge of 25
Get more experience by:
- doing temporary work in other departments
- 26
Work with the manager
- find out what their 27 are and help them succeed
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q15 | website | Check our website to learn about volunteer positions available in your area | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage instructs readers to look at the organization's internet page to find out about volunteer jobs that are open in the place where they live. Answer Explanation: The answer is the location on the internet where people can find information about available volunteer jobs. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'website' because the passage explicitly tells potential volunteers to look there to discover which positions are open nearby. The text uses the phrase 'available in your area' as a synonym for 'local vacancies' mentioned in the flowchart. |
| Q16 | officer | Contact the DNR officer who is designated for the project you are interested in | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that you should talk to the specific worker (called an officer) who is in charge of the project you want to help with. Answer Explanation: The answer is the specific person at the organization that a volunteer needs to speak with to join a project. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is derived from the instructions on how to sign up as a volunteer. The text says that you must contact the person assigned to a project. In the passage, 'Contact' matches the phrase 'Get in touch with' from the flow chart, and 'officer' is the person you need to reach out to. |
| Q17 | schedule | The schedule you agree to is important: be sure to call if you will be absent or need to leave early | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that the work times you promised to do are very important, so you must phone the office if you cannot work at those times or if you have to go home sooner than you planned. Answer Explanation: The answer 'schedule' refers to the planned list of times and days you have agreed to come in and do your volunteer work. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'schedule' because the passage emphasizes that the specific times you agreed to work are important. It instructs volunteers to call if they will be 'absent' or 'leave early,' both of which are changes to the agreed-upon work times or 'schedule.' |
| Q18 | public | If working with the public in your volunteer position, all questions from them related to DNR policies and procedures are to be passed on to your supervisor, or to the DNR Information Line at 1-888-646-6367 | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that if a volunteer's job involves talking to people who do not work for the DNR, the volunteer must send any questions about the organization's rules to their manager. Answer Explanation: The answer "public" refers to the ordinary people or citizens who might interact with the DNR volunteers. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "public" because the passage instructs volunteers to pass along any questions they receive from the general public to their supervisor. The text mentions that if a volunteer is "working with the public," they should not answer policy questions themselves but instead direct those questions to someone in charge. This ensures that accurate official information is given to people who are not part of the organization. |
| Q19 | opinion | If working with the public in your volunteer position, all questions from them related to DNR policies and procedures are to be passed on to your supervisor, or to the DNR Information Line at 1-888-646-6367. Avoid expressing a personal opinion | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that if people (the public) ask questions about official rules, you should give those questions to your boss and make sure you do not tell them your own personal thoughts. Answer Explanation: The answer means what you personally think or feel about a topic, rather than official facts or rules. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is correct because the volunteer guidelines state that volunteers should not share their personal thoughts when asked about DNR rules. Instead, they should let their supervisor or the information line answer. The text uses the phrase 'Avoid expressing a personal opinion,' which matches the flow chart's instruction not to give your 'own opinion.' |
| Q20 | hours | Keep a note of your hours. This is important for liability coverage, for reporting to the legislature, and for volunteer recognition. When the project is finished, turn in your records to your supervisor, who will pass them on to the programme manager | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage tells the workers to write down how many hours they work. It explains that when the job is done, they must give those notes to their boss. Answer Explanation: The answer means the amount of time someone spends working at a volunteer job. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'hours' because the text instructs volunteers to write down the time they work and provide that information back to the person in charge. The passage uses the phrase 'keep a note of your hours' and later says to 'turn in your records' to the supervisor. In this context, 'records' refers to the notes about the hours worked. |
| Q21 | needs | Your supervisor will be happy to discuss any worries that you may have, as well as any special needs, and try to offer solutions that may help you perform your volunteer duties better | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that if a volunteer has any problems or requires specific help to do their work, they should talk to their manager about it. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to the specific requirements or help that a volunteer might require to do their job properly. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'needs' because the passage states that supervisors are available to talk about any 'worries' or 'special needs' a volunteer might have. In the flow chart, 'concerns' is used as a synonym for 'worries', making 'needs' the appropriate word to complete the sentence. |
| Q22 | online networking | In recent years, online networking, using corporate sites such as LinkedIn, has also given employees the ability to liaise with people doing similar work | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that connecting with people online helps workers talk to others who do the same kind of work they do. Answer Explanation: The answer "online networking" means using internet sites to connect and talk with other people in your line of work. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "online networking" because the text lists it as a way to keep up with industry developments. It explains that using websites to talk to others in similar jobs is a good way to stay updated on what is happening in your field. Key words like 'up-to-date' and 'similar work' show that this activity is about staying informed through professional connections. |
| Q23 | building trade | ‘For people who’re working in digital media it’s everything, but in the building trade it’s almost pointless because of its low level of take up,’ he says | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that using business websites to stay updated is not helpful for building workers because not many people in that industry use those websites. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to people who work in construction, like making houses or buildings. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found in the section about keeping up with industry developments. It explains that while websites like LinkedIn are good for some jobs, they are not helpful for everyone. Specifically, for those in the building trade, these websites are almost useless because very few people in that industry use them. This matches the part of the notes that mentions business websites are not useful for certain employees. |
| Q24 | formal courses | Apart from on-the-job training, there are self-help books that can be found in book shops or libraries, as well as formal courses | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage lists three different ways to get training: learning while doing the job, reading books, and taking official classes (formal courses). Answer Explanation: The answer refers to official classes or structured study programs that an employee can take to learn new skills. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer comes from a section about training. The passage lists different ways an employee can learn: learning at work (on-the-job training), reading self-help books, or taking structured classes, which it calls 'formal courses.' |
| Q25 | Staff Development | Individuals should decide what their genuine areas of weakness are, and then talk about them with their Staff Development coordinator to find out what kind of training might be best | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage suggests that workers need to find their weak spots and then communicate with the coordinator in charge of staff development to see what kind of learning is best for them. Answer Explanation: The answer is the official title of the worker who helps other employees improve their skills and find training. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is derived from the section on requesting training. The text suggests that to improve your career, you should first identify your 'areas of weakness' (the things you are not good at). It then instructs you to 'talk' to the person responsible for worker training, which is the 'Staff Development coordinator', to get advice on the best courses or training available. |
| Q26 | job shadowing | Experiencing other parts of the business through temporary roles or job-shadowing can give you a more rounded view of the organisation and ensure you won’t be pigeon-holed in one particular area | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that an employee can see how the whole organization works by working in different roles for a short time or by observing others through job-shadowing. Answer Explanation: The answer "job shadowing" means following and watching a more experienced person as they work to learn about their job and different parts of the company. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "job shadowing" because the passage identifies it as one of two methods to "broaden your experience." The notes already mention "doing temporary work," which matches the passage's mention of "temporary roles." Therefore, the other method mentioned in the same sentence, "job-shadowing," is the correct term to complete the notes. |
| Q27 | targets | They all have targets, from the chief executive and other more senior managers, so look at ways in which you can help them to deliver those while still helping yourself | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that all bosses have specific goals they must meet. It encourages workers to find ways to help their bosses reach these goals, which will benefit both the boss and the worker. Answer Explanation: The answer is targets, which means the specific goals or results that a boss is expected to achieve in their job. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "targets" because the passage explains that every boss is judged by specific goals set by more senior leaders. It suggests that employees should find out what these targets are so they can help the boss achieve them. Helping your manager succeed in reaching their goals is presented as a way to also help your own career progress. In the text, 'deliver' is used to talk about meeting or successfully finishing those goals. |