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BEST IELTS Academic Reading Test 486
IELTS ACADEMIC READING TEST 486 – PASSAGE – 1
IELTS ACADEMIC READING TEST – 486
READING PASSAGE – 1
Are you being bullied?
How many of us have gone through or are still going through the torment of everyday workplace bullying? Having failed in our attempts of putting an end to it, we have stopped fighting against it, accepting it as a part of the harsh realities of life and find solace in the famous saying “What cannot be cured, must be endured”.
But what is also a matter of grave concern is that is this torture, which seems to have neither a cure nor an end, adversely affecting our productivity at work? Is it adding to our level of stress and inhibiting our performance?
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Workplace bullying leads to increased job stress, decreased job commitment and higher levels of anxiety. Research reveals that about 45 percent of individuals targeted by bullies at work suffer from cardiovascular problems, impairment of immune system, debilitating anxiety and even post-traumatic stress disorder.
According to Poonam Shree, a Psychologist, “Several cases of workplace bullying are reported and our attempt is to enable the victims to effect changes in their own personality systems, their own public dealings and inter-personal behavior so that they respond in a healthy way to such disturbing stimuli”.
“At times, people simply report being extremely disgusted with work and are oblivious of being subjected to bullying at work. It is only on deeper probing that facts begin to surface which reveal that they have been victimized by a bully at work”, she adds.
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According to workplace bullying expert Valerie Cade, “workplace bullying is the repeated, deliberate, disrespectful behavior by one or more people towards another for their own gratification, which in turn harms the target”.
Often held to be a psychological malady, bullying is an obsessive- compulsive behavior, which stems from a deep sense of insecurity, inferiority) and inadequacy Snubbing and spurning others helps such people to overcome negative feelings, and so bullies are always on the lookout for an easy prey. A bully can be anybody- your boss, your superior or even your colleague.
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A person who is bullied often finds himself/herself belittled, criticized, humiliated, and ridiculed without any provocation or apparent reason. He/she may also be the target of offensive language, snide personal remarks or unwanted physical behavior. At times, the target may find that the goals and deadlines set for him/her are quite unrealistic and unachievable, not realizing that it is just another tactic adopted by a bully to subjugate him/her. Regularly threatening employees with the sack, finding faults with them and taking credit for their efforts is also a form of bullying.
“My boss would frequently threaten me with dire consequences despite the fact that I worked with utmost honesty and dedication. I would be scolded at the slightest provocation but never praised for the feats I accomplished. This created a lot of mental pressure that reflected in my performance. It was then that I realized that I was being treated unjustly, that I was a victim of workplace bullying. Therefore, I decided to quit the job”, says Shreya, a marketing executive.)
A. Lack of self-confidence exhibited by the way you talk, walk and carry yourself makes you an easy target for a bully. Your inability to present your point of view with confidence, in other words a lack of assertiveness, adds to your vulnerability.
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B. Lack of faith in yourself evident by your tendency to doubt your actions and decisions, reassures a bully of your timidity and weakness.
C. Individuals with a strong sense of integrity, honesty, humility and values also tend to be preyed upon by bullies because the presence of such persons reminds bullies of the hollowness and inadequacy of their own character.
D. It is often said “If you are successful, you will win some true enemies and some false friends”. Bullies are the true enemies that workplace success brings along. Since bullies are constantly battling with their own feelings of inferiority and inadequacy, they are highly jealous of high performing, successful employees. If you are one of those blue-eyed employees, receiving praise and recognition for your work, chances are that a bully is looking for opportunities to snub you, especially if you are an unsuspecting, honest and dedicated employee. However, that does not mean that you stop being good at work. It only means that you become more alert and smarter.
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E. Your tendency of not mixing up with the people at work convinces a bully that his misdemeanors will not be reported to anybody around and that his reputation will remain unscarred. This encourages him to choose you as the obvious target.
F. A new entrant, especially if he or she happens to be younger than the other employees, is usually the target of workplace bullies.
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Questions 1-5
Look at the following list of names and questions 1 to 5.
Match each statement with the appropriate name, A-D.
A. Valerie Cade
B. Poonam Shree
C. Shreya
D. Writer of the passage
1. Tries to empower the victims to face bullying boldly.
2. At times people fail to understand that they are being bullied at work.
3. Believes bullying is consistent and intentional behavior of some people for their own satisfaction which harms the victims.
4. People with good personal qualities are targeted by bullies.
5. Gave up job realizing that she was being bullied.
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Questions 6-11
Reading passage 1 has six marked paragraphs, A-F.
Choose the correct heading for each paragraph A-F from the list of headings given below.
Write the correct number, i-ix.
6. Paragraph A
7. Paragraph B
8. Paragraph C
9. Paragraph D
10. Paragraph E
11. Paragraph F
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i. doubt about your own decisions
ii. being self centered at work
iii. lack of faith in others
iv. good personal qualities
v. inability to present your views with confidence
vi. being mediocre in work
vii. being less familiar with the work place
viii. being better than others in work
ix. physical appearance
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Questions 12-14
Reading Passage 1? Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in
In boxes 12-14 of your answer sheet, write
YES – if the statement agrees with the views of the writer
NO – if the statement contradicts the views of the writer
NOT GIVEN – if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
12. Many people tend to accept bullying as a part of life as they find it difficult to fight against bullying.
13. Bullies often feel that they are superior to others.
14. Females are more vulnerable to bullying than men.
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IELTS Academic Reading Test
ANSWERS
1. B
2. B
3. A
4. D
5. C
6. V
7. I
8. IV
9. VIII
10. II
11. VII
12. YES
13. NO
14. NOT GIVEN
IELTS Academic Reading Test