The Murgatroyde Corporation Employee Manual Chapter 8: Professional Development Requirements & Hampford College Work–Study Program - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Barrons IELTS Practice Exams General Training Reading Test 4 · Part 2 · Questions 15–27
Reading Passage
Read the text below and answer Questions 15–20.
The Murgatroyde Corporation Employee Manual Chapter 8: Professional Development Requirements
All employees of the Murgatroyde Corporation are required to attend fifteen hours of professional development workshops or classes in each calendar year. While there are many opportunities provided by the company, professional development hours can also be earned externally at local training centers, colleges, and other locations.
Listings of upcoming professional development opportunities offered by the company are posted on the company website and updated frequently. Employees can register for these workshops online. Before signing up for a particular workshop, employees should check with their supervisors to make sure they can be excused from their duties on the date of the workshop.
Employees who wish to receive professional development credit for attending workshops or courses offered elsewhere should provide their supervisor with materials describing the opportunity. The supervisor will determine whether the workshop or course is pertinent to the employee’s work. After obtaining the supervisor’s approval, the employee can apply to the Human Resources Office for tuition reimbursement if tuition is to be paid.
Employees attending any workshop offered by the company will receive a certificate of attendance. The number of professional development hours earned will be reported to the Human Resources Office by the workshop organizer. In order to receive professional development credit for a course or workshop offered outside the company, the employee must have the workshop organizer complete a company Proof of Attendance form, and the employee must then submit the form to the Human Resources Office within one month of the end date of the course. Timely submission of this form is required in order for credit to be granted. There will be no exceptions.
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Read the text below and answer Questions 21–27.
Hampford College Work–Study Program
Certain students at Hampford College may be eligible for the college Work–Study Program. To determine eligibility and to apply for the program, read the information below.
* The Hampford College Work–Study Program is open to all full-time Hampford College students, regardless of the particular study program in which they are enrolled. The program is not open to part-time students. Information on financial support programs for part-time students is available in the Counseling Center.
* Before applying for a work–study position, the student must demonstrate financial need. To do this, complete the Statement of Financial Need Form, available in the Counseling Center.
* To apply for a work–study position, submit a letter of interest to the Work–Study Program Office, describing your skills and interests. You may also, but are not required to, submit a résumé describing any previous jobs you may have held. Students both with and without an employment history are eligible for the program.
* Once you have been approved for the program, look at the help-wanted ads posted on the Counseling Center website. All of the jobs are located at the college. You may apply for any job that you are interested in. Please note that job placement is subject to job availability. While we make every effort to place all Work–Study Program students in a job, there are no guarantees.
* All work–study students must be students in good standing at the college; that is, they must receive passing grades in all their courses in order to continue in the program the following semester.
* Work–study positions are generally for one year. Students wishing to continue in the program after one year must resubmit their applications.
Questions
Questions 15–20 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text for each answer.
- Employees can choose from professional development workshops and classes offered 15 or at local training centers or colleges.
- Employees can find out which workshops will be offered by looking at 16.
- It is the responsibility of 17 to decide whether a workshop is relevant.
- Employees who need help paying for a class or workshop can ask the Human Resources Office for 18.
- The workshop presenter will let the Human Resources Office know how many 19 the employee should be credited with.
- Professional development credit will be granted for workshops taken outside of the company if a special form is filled out by 20.
Questions 21–27 True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text about the Hampford College Work–Study Program?
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q15 | by the company | While there are many opportunities provided by the company, professional development hours can also be earned externally at local training centers, colleges, and other locations | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that workers can earn their training hours through programs given by their own company or from outside places like colleges and training centers. Answer Explanation: The answer means given or organized by the business where the employees work. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'by the company' because the text explains that training opportunities are given 'by the company' or can be taken outside at colleges and training centers. In this context, 'offered' matches the word 'provided' in the text. |
| Q16 | the company website | Listings of upcoming professional development opportunities offered by the company are posted on the company website and updated frequently | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that lists of future training classes provided by the business are put on its website and changed often. Answer Explanation: The answer means the official website owned and run by the business. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is correct because the text explains that information about future learning opportunities (workshops) created by the business can be found on 'the company website'. Therefore, workers can check this site to see what classes or workshops will be available. |
| Q17 | the supervisor | The supervisor will determine whether the workshop or course is pertinent to the employee’s work | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the worker's manager will decide if a training course is relevant to what the worker does in their job. Answer Explanation: The answer means the manager or boss of the worker. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'the supervisor' because the text explains that this person decides ('will determine') if an outside workshop or course is related ('pertinent') to the work of the employee. |
| Q18 | tuition reimbursement | After obtaining the supervisor’s approval, the employee can apply to the Human Resources Office for tuition reimbursement if tuition is to be paid | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that an employee can ask the Human Resources Office for tuition reimbursement to cover the cost if a class requires payment. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to money paid back to an employee to help cover the cost of a course or class. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'tuition reimbursement' because the text explains that after receiving approval from their supervisor, an employee can ask the Human Resources Office for tuition reimbursement if they need help paying for a class. |
| Q19 | professional development hours | The number of professional development hours earned will be reported to the Human Resources Office by the workshop organizer | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the organizer of the workshop will share the total training hours the worker earned directly with the Human Resources Office. Answer Explanation: The answer means the amount of time a worker spends learning skills to improve at their job. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "professional development hours" because the text states that the person leading the class ("workshop organizer") will tell ("report") the Human Resources Office the exact amount of time ("number of professional development hours") the employee completed ("earned"). |
| Q20 | the workshop organizer / the workshop organiser | In order to receive professional development credit for a course or workshop offered outside the company, the employee must have the workshop organizer complete a company Proof of Attendance form, and the employee must then submit the form to the Human Resources Office within one month of the end date of the course | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that to earn credit for an outside class or workshop, the person who leads the workshop must complete an official attendance form for the employee. Answer Explanation: The answer means the person who prepares and leads the training session. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'the workshop organizer' because the text states that to get credit for training taken outside the business, the employee must get a specific paper (the Proof of Attendance form) filled out (completed) by 'the workshop organizer'. |
| Q21 | FALSE | The Hampford College Work–Study Program is open to all full-time Hampford College students, regardless of the particular study program in which they are enrolled. The program is not open to part-time students | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that only students who attend full-time can join the Work–Study Program, and part-time students cannot participate. Answer Explanation: The answer FALSE means that the statement is incorrect according to the passage. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the text clearly states that the program is only for full-time students and is not open to part-time students. Therefore, it is not available to every student at the college. |
| Q22 | TRUE | Before applying for a work–study position, the student must demonstrate financial need | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that a student has to show proof that they need money help before they can apply for a work–study job. Answer Explanation: The answer TRUE means that the statement agrees with the information in the reading text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the text clearly states that students must show they have financial need before applying for a position. In this context, 'demonstrate' means to prove, and 'financial need' means requiring monetary support. |
| Q23 | NOT GIVEN | You may apply for any job that you are interested in | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that students can apply for any job they find interesting, but it does not state whether or not the job has to be related to their study program. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the text does not mention whether students must choose a job related to what they are studying. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because the passage does not say if a student's job must be connected to their study program. The text says students can apply for any job they like, but it never gives information about whether the job needs to relate to their major or subject of study. |
| Q24 | FALSE | Students both with and without an employment history are eligible for the program | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that students can join the program whether they have worked in the past or have never had a job before. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the statement is incorrect because having past work experience is not necessary to join the Work–Study Program. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the text clearly says that students can join the program even if they have no past job experience. The phrase 'without an employment history' means having no previous work experience, which shows that past work is not required. |
| Q25 | FALSE | While we make every effort to place all Work–Study Program students in a job, there are no guarantees | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the college tries its best to find a job for each student in the program, but it cannot promise or guarantee that everyone will get a job. Answer Explanation: The answer is FALSE because the statement says everyone in the program will be given a job, but the text says getting a job is not promised to every student. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is FALSE because the text mentions that finding work for every student in the Work–Study Program is not promised. Even though the college tries hard to place every student, it states that "there are no guarantees," meaning some students might not receive a job. |
| Q26 | TRUE | All work–study students must be students in good standing at the college; that is, they must receive passing grades in all their courses in order to continue in the program the following semester | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that students must pass all of their classes to be allowed to stay in the work-study program for the next term. Answer Explanation: The answer TRUE means that the statement agrees with the information given in the text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the text states that students must get passing grades in all of their classes to keep participating in the program for the next semester. This means that if students receive failing grades, they will not be allowed to stay in the program. |
| Q27 | TRUE | Work–study positions are generally for one year. Students wishing to continue in the program after one year must resubmit their applications | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that work–study jobs last for one year, so students who want to stay in the program after one year must submit their applications again. Answer Explanation: The answer means that students who are in the work–study program must apply again every year if they want to stay in it. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is TRUE because the text clearly states that work–study jobs usually last one year, and students who want to stay in the program after that time must resubmit (send in again) their applications. This confirms that students must apply every year. |