North Sydney Council & Registering As An Apprentice - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 12 General Training Reading Test 2 · Part 2 · Questions 15–27
Reading Passage
==== Read the text below and answer Questions 15-20. ====
North Sydney Council
North Sydney Council recognises the importance of balancing the demands of your work with the demands of your personal life.
The standard working Week for Full—time council employees is 35 hours For ‘Indoor Staff’ and 38 hours for ‘Outdoor Staff’, worked over 5 days. Indoor staff are able to access the benefit of flexi time. A number of these occasionally work from home where appropriate – an example of an initiative that can provide flexibility at certain stages of an employee’s career.
Staff are entitled to 3 weeks per annum sick or carer’s leave. In addition to the normal parental leave/maternity leave provisions, women who have completed 12 months of continuous service can access a total of 9 Weeks’ maternity leave that can be taken either as 9 weeks at full pay or as 18 weeks at half pay.
The annual entitlement to paid holidays is 20 days, pro-rata for part-time. After 5 years of continuous service, employees are entitled to 6.5 weeks Long Service Leave (LSL).
Our Financial Advice Program is conducted in partnership with FuturePlus Financial Services. We provide the services of advisors specialising in pensions, and all our employees are given the opportunity to meet them as part of the induction process.
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a counselling service provided at no charge to all employees and their families. The service is available by phone or face to face. The EAP provides registered psychologists for employees wishing to discuss work or non-work matters confidentially. Employees can also access information, such as articles and self assessments, online via eapdirect.
==== Read the text below and answer Questions 21-27. ====
Registering As An Apprentice
If you are keen to acquire new skills and learn best through ‘hands-on’ experiences, then registered apprenticeship is a good option for you. These programmes always involve work experience as well as classroom instruction and produce Workers skilled in the occupation. There is a written contract to be signed by the apprentice and the employer, which acknowledges their joint commitment to the training process. This contract is approved and registered by the New York State Department of Labor.
How Do I Qualify?
First of all you must meet the employer’s minimum qualifications. This could be a high school diploma or the equivalent. However, some employers will ask for specific high school courses, prior experience, or occupationally related courses.
What Is My Training Like?
Training for each apprenticeable occupation is conducted according to a training outline that has been standardized for the occupation. This assures that apprentices across the state have the same sets of basic competencies and skills. At the successful completion of each registered apprenticeship, the Department of Labor awards the apprentice a ‘Certificate of Completion’, which is a nationally recognized credential.
The length of time it takes you to learn the skills of the occupation depends upon two things: the standard training outline and your aptitude. Each trade has a definite term of training, listed in years As a registered apprentice, you may progress according to that established training term, or you may become skilled more quickly or more slowly. It may even be that you start your apprenticeship with credit toward the goal. Your employer may choose to award you this for previous working experience in the occupation, or for prior coursework related to the occupation.
As an apprentice, you are part of the employer’s workforce. You work full-time for the employer. A registered apprentice works under the guidance of more experienced craft workers called journey workers. From them, you learn the skills of die trade. As you master each skill, you become a more productive employee.
At the same time as you are working, you are also required to attend classes (usually in the evenings). The location and times of these are set up by the local education agent in consultation with the employer. Your progress is tracked by you, your employer and your education provider.
Successful completion of all requirements results in your certificate.
Questions
Questions 15–20 Short Answers
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes on your answer sheet.
Questions 21–27 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes on your answer sheet.
- You and your employer will need to sign a 21 before training starts.
- Employers may have different minimum requirements regarding applicants’ 22 and experience.
- Each industry has its own standardised 23 of training.
- You may be given credit for work experience or if you have done relevant 24
- You will be considered as a member of the 25 during the apprenticeship.
- While at work, apprentices are supervised by what are known as 26
- Employers are consulted when deciding the 27 and schedule for lessons.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q15 | Indoor / Indoor staff / Indoor employee / Indoor employe | Indoor staff are able to access the benefit of flexi time | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that indoor staff can use 'flexi time' which means they can change their working hours. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Indoor' or 'Indoor staff'. This means employees who work inside can change their working hours. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Indoor staff' because the passage says that indoor staff can access the benefit of 'flexi time'. This means they have the ability to choose their working hours instead of working regular hours. |
| Q16 | 3 weeks | Staff are entitled to 3 weeks per annum sick or carer's leave | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that workers can take 3 weeks off every year to take care of their sick family members. Answer Explanation: The answer is 3 weeks. This means that every year, a worker can take 3 weeks off to care for a family member. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 3 weeks because the passage states that staff are entitled to 3 weeks per annum sick or carer's leave. This means workers can take time off to take care of someone who is sick or needs help. |
| Q17 | Maternity / Maternity leave | women who have completed 12 months of continuous service can access a total of 9 Weeks' maternity leave that can be taken either as 9 weeks at full pay or as 18 weeks at half pay | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that women who work for a year can take maternity leave. They can choose to take 9 weeks of full pay or 18 weeks of half pay. This means they have a choice between two different times for leave. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Maternity leave'. This means time off from work that a woman can take when she has a baby. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Maternity leave' because the passage says that women can take either 9 weeks at full pay or 18 weeks at half pay after having completed a year of work. This shows that there are two options for how long the leave can be. |
| Q18 | 5 years | After 5 years of continuous service, employees are entitled to 6.5 weeks Long Service Leave (LSL) | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that when someone has worked for 5 years without stopping, they get extra time off work, called Long Service Leave. Answer Explanation: The answer is five years. This means that an employee must work for five years to get more holiday time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 5 years because the passage states that after 5 years of continuous service, employees are entitled to 6.5 weeks Long Service Leave, which is additional holiday time. |
| Q19 | Pension / Pensions | We provide the services of advisors specialising in pensions | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that they have advisors who are experts in pensions, which means they help people understand and plan for their money when they retire. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'pension' or 'pensions'. This means the program talks about money that people receive when they stop working. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'pension' or 'pensions' because the passage mentions that the Financial Advice Program provides 'advisors specialising in pensions'. This shows that the focus of the program is on pensions for staff. |
| Q20 | psychologists / registered psychologists | The EAP provides registered psychologists for employees wishing to discuss work or non-work matters confidentially | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that a program called EAP has special experts called registered psychologists. These experts can talk with workers about their jobs or private lives in a way that is kept secret. Answer Explanation: The answer is the specific name of the professionals that employees can go to see if they need to talk about their problems. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is correct because the text mentions 'registered psychologists' are available for workers who want to discuss 'work matters' (meaning their job) 'confidentially' (meaning in private). In this context, the keyword 'confidential' is a synonym for talking in private, and 'work matters' refers to their job. |
| Q21 | contract / written contract | There is a written contract to be signed by the apprentice and the employer, which acknowledges their joint commitment to the training process | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that there is a paper agreement that both the apprentice and the boss must sign. This shows that they both agree to work together while learning. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'contract', which means a formal agreement that you sign. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'contract' because the passage says that there is a written contract that the apprentice and the employer sign before training starts, showing their agreement to work together during the training. |
| Q22 | qualifications / courses | This could be a high school diploma or the equivalent. However, some employers will ask for specific high school courses, prior experience, or occupationally related courses | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that to join an apprenticeship, you first need to meet the employer's basic requirements. These requirements might be a high school diploma or something similar. But some employers might also ask for certain high school classes, past work experience, or other classes related to the job. It also mentions that if you have worked in that job before or taken related classes, your employer might give you credit for it towards your apprenticeship. Answer Explanation: The answer 'qualifications' means the skills, education, or experience you need to have for a job. The answer 'courses' refers to classes or school subjects you have taken. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer to the first blank is 'qualifications'. The passage states, 'First of all you must meet the employer’s minimum qualifications.' This directly tells us what applicants need to have. For the second blank, the correct answer is 'courses'. The passage explains that an employer might give an apprentice credit 'for previous working experience in the occupation, or for prior coursework related to the occupation'. 'Coursework' means taking classes or 'courses', which fits the sentence 'You may be given credit for work experience or if you have done relevant courses'. |
| Q23 | Outline / term | Training for each apprenticeable occupation is conducted according to a training outline that has been standardized for the occupation. | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that each job has a set plan for training called an outline. It also says that how long you need to learn the job skills is based on this outline and your ability. Answer Explanation: The answer 'Outline' and 'Term' means a plan and a period of time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Outline' for the standardized training plan and 'Term' for the length of time it takes to learn the skills. This information is in the passage where it talks about the training outline being standardized for each occupation and how the length of time is based on that training term. |
| Q24 | coursework / prior coursework | Your employer may choose to award you this for previous working experience in the occupation, or for prior coursework related to the occupation | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that your boss can give you credit for work you did before or for classes you took that relate to the trade. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'coursework'. This means the classes or subjects you studied before. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'prior coursework' because the passage mentions that employers may give credit if you have taken classes that relate to the job you are applying for. 'Prior coursework' means classes you completed earlier that are important for the apprenticeship. |
| Q25 | workforce / employer's workforce | As an apprentice, you are part of the employer's workforce | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that when you are an apprentice, you work with the other employees of the employer, meaning you are part of their team. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'workforce'. This means the group of people who work for a company. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'workforce' because the passage explains that as an apprentice, you are part of the employer's workforce, meaning you work with the people who are already employed there. |
| Q26 | Journey workers | A registered apprentice works under the guidance of more experienced craft workers called journey workers | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that a registered apprentice learns from more experienced workers, who are known as journey workers. This means the apprentice gets support and knowledge from these skilled workers. Answer Explanation: The answer 'journey workers' refers to these experienced craft workers who help train the apprentices. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'journey workers' because they are specifically mentioned in the passage as the experienced workers who guide and supervise registered apprentices during their training. |
| Q27 | Location | The location and times of these are set up by the local education agent in consultation with the employer | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says how and where the classes will happen. It mentions that the place and times are arranged by the education agent and the employer. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Location'. This means where something happens. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Location' because the passage says that the location and times of classes are set up by the local education agent with the employer. This shows that 'Location' is the right word to fill in the blank about where classes are scheduled. |