Table of Contents
BEST IELTS General Reading Test 212
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST 212 – PASSAGE – 2
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST – 212
READING PASSAGE – 2
Making a presentation without props
When you make a business presentation using PowerPoint or a flip chart, the audience’s attention will mostly be on the slides or chart. When you give a talk without props, the only visual you have is yourself. Obviously, the content is a key part of the presentation, and you will work on that until it is word perfect. However, a successful delivery is also governed by your body language.
Body language (gesture, stance and facial expression) is a key element in generating interest and building credibility. It helps you connect with your listeners and helps them focus on your message. Use body language with purpose to accentuate key points of your talk and to project authenticity and enthusiasm.
Use eye contact to quickly establish a close bond, by focusing on one person at a time rather than sweeping the audience as a whole. Hand gestures should either be open and neutral (relaxed at your sides) or defined and strong to intensify what you say. Interestingly, research has shown that gesture is intrinsically linked to speech and that by incorporating appropriate gestures we can express ourselves more powerfully verbally. Effective gestures come from the shoulders rather than wrists or elbows and have a twofold advantage: not only do they project further across the audience but they also release tension in the presenter’s upper body.
Your stance is an open book: the audience can read whether you are confident and comfortable or anxious and afraid. Balance your weight evenly with feet slightly apart and pointing straight ahead. Stillness projects calmness, whereas constant movement or swaying about is an annoying distraction. You can occasionally move around in the space available to you as long as you do so confidently and purposefully, to highlight a change in topic for instance. Lean slightly towards the audience when asking a question or offering a revelation.
Facial expressions are vital to effective communication. Unfortunately, public speaking can cause a face to freeze, but the audience relies on facial expressions to amplify the meaning of what you say. Voice, too, is a flexible tool that can be used to great advantage. Before your presentation, practise relaxing the voice and finding a lower, more authoritative pitch. Avoid rising intonation at the ends of sentences as it lacks authority – rather it sounds as if you are unsure or seeking approval – not at all the impression you want to give. Breathe deeply and enunciate clearly.
IELTS General Reading Test
Questions 15-21
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer.
15. A successful presentation without props depends on both …………. and delivery.
16. Body language must have clear objectives – to highlight …………. of the discussion and show that you are keen and sincere.
17. Look at individuals to create a …………. .
18. Match …………. to spoken language.
19. Movement of the …………. is more easily seen and it makes the speaker more relaxed.
20. Standing still shows …………. although some movement is acceptable at appropriate times.
21. Use facial expressions to reinforce meaning and lower the pitch of your voice in order to sound …………. .
IELTS General Reading Test
Read the text below and answer questions 22-27.
Job Specification: Public Relations Manager
Job Description
To develop and manage public relations programmes to create and support a positive corporate public image.
Duties and Tasks
• Identify principal clients and stakeholders and determine the most effective means of transmitting promotional information to them.
• Write press releases; make information available for media kits; develop and keep company internet and intranet pages up to date.
• Write speeches for company executives and set up interviews for them with the media.
• Coordinate special events including sponsorships and promotion of new products with a view to gaining media and public attention.
Activities
• Obtain relevant information from various sources.
• Create and sustain collaborative work relationships and constructive liaisons with clients and others outside the company.
• Communicate with clients, the public and government agencies as required. Communications may take the form of face-to-face interactions, telephone conversations, emails, letters, instant messages or memos.
• Analyse information and explore creative solutions to problems.
• Use computer systems to enter data and process information.
IELTS General Reading Test
Skills and Abilities
• Public speaking – clarity of articulation and expression is important
• Active listening – pay attention, understand the sequence of an argument, ask sensible questions at appropriate times, refrain from interrupting
• Written communication – correct and unambiguous written statements suited to the target audience
• Reading comprehension – ability to understand all work-related documents
• Critical thinking – use logical and rational methods to weigh up the pros and cons of any given proposal • Originality of ideas – ability to come up with a number of novel, extraordinary or ingenious approaches to solving problems
• Decision-making – use good judgement to make well-considered decisions before taking action
• Negotiation – use effective mediation skills, reconcile differences
Knowledge and experience or education
• University degree in a relevant field (preferably post-graduate)
• Proficiency in the English language and a foreign (non-English) language
• Media – dissemination techniques for written, spoken, visual media
• Administration, clerical systems and office procedures
IELTS General Reading Test
Questions 22-27
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text for each answer.
Job description:
To promote a favourable (22)…………… of the company Duties/tasks include:
Duties/tasks include:
• deciding on the best way to communicate (23)…………… to interested parties
• writing speeches and statements for the media
• managing (24)…………… to raise the profile of the company
Activities include:
• gathering information
• maintaining positive relationships
• interacting with others in person, in writing or by way of (25)……………
• computing
Skills/ abilities include:
• clear oral and written communication
• understanding others
• identifying strengths and weaknesses of (26)……………
• thinking of many new ways of handling difficult situations
• resolving disputes through (27)…………… skills
IELTS General Reading Test
ANSWERS ARE BELOW
IELTS General Reading Test
ANSWERS
15. CONTENT
16. KEY POINTS
17. CLOSE BOND
18. GESTURE / (HAND/APPROPRIATE/EFFECTIVE) GESTURES
19. SHOULDERS
20. CALMNESS
21. (MORE) AUTHORITIES
22. PUBLIC IMAGE
23. PROMOTIONAL INFORMATION
24. SPECIAL EVENTS
25. TELEPHONE (CONVERSATIONS)
26. ANY (GIVEN) PROPOSAL
27. (EFFECTIVE) MEDITATION
IELTS General Reading Test