Table of Contents
BEST IELTS General Reading Test 230
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST 230 – PASSAGE – 2
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST – 230
READING PASSAGE – 2
The Benefits of a Staff Canteen
In Britain, staff canteens are generally only found at large companies with more than 100 people on site. Around two thirds of companies of this size or larger provide meal facilities for their staff, particularly in places like large factories away from urban centres. Workplace canteens have traditionally served very basic food with limited choice and in recent years, many canteens have been supplied by outside caterers as a cheaper option. Companies that neglect the quality of the food in their canteens are not only doing their staff a disservice, but they are missing a major opportunity to boost staff morale, improve their health and offer employees a relatively inexpensive perk of the job.
Companies that already have a canteen know the benefits of keeping staff on the grounds at lunchtime – it enables them to keep to their work times and boosts efficiency. It also stops staff from eating at their desks, which can be annoying for others and can damage office equipment. Many of the larger tech companies such as Apple and Google have gone even further than just providing a lunchtime canteen and staff have access to meals all day.
IELTS General Reading Test
This has the effect of staff working longer hours, arriving earlier because they can have breakfast, then lunch, and they are even able to have something to eat in the evening while still at work. These companies also promote healthy eating by providing meals such as salads, fruit, vegetarian and vegan options and international dishes. They have found that providing quality, healthy food options noticeably reduces sick days and generally makes staff more productive.
A canteen also needs to have comfortable, calming surroundings. More modern canteens have a coffee bar, Wi-Fi and comfortable seating. This all adds to making employees happier at work and more loyal to the company. So if your company does not have a canteen, or has one that serves less than healthy food, perhaps it is time to rethink the situation. A small investment can improve productivity, efficiency, morale and the general health of staff.
IELTS General Reading Test
Questions 15-21
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Why have a staff canteen?
The food in staff canteens in the UK is often (15)…….. and of low quality. It is a mistake to underestimate the benefits of serving food of a high standard in staff canteens as it can be an economical way to improve the health and (16)…….. of staff. The presence of a canteen improves (17)…….. keeps staff to work times and stops them eating at their (18)……..
Some big tech companies provide three (19)…….. a day to their staff, which results in them working longer hours. The food they provide is high quality and healthy which has the effect of decreasing (20)…….. days and boosting productivity. The surroundings of the canteen are also important for creating more content and (21)…….. employees. Establishing or improving a workplace canteen has enormous benefits.
IELTS General Reading Test
Read the text below and answer Questions 22 – 27.
HOW TO APPROACH THE INSTALLATION OF NEW SOFTWARE
The introduction of new software at work and the transfer of data that goes with it can be very stressful for staff, particularly for older employees that may have been using the same programs for many years. People are naturally resistant to change and companies may find that there is an initial backlash to the introduction of new software, no matter how much staff are told that it is going to make their lives easier.
How can the transition be more comfortably made?
The best way to reduce resistance, is to involve staff at the time the decision is being made to change the software. Invite members of staff who use it to join a discussion group about the pros and cons of the current software. It gives employees the feeling that they have some measure of control or say in the process. Not necessarily a final decision, but at least having some input of comments and ideas.
IELTS General Reading Test
In any case, it only makes sense to ask the actual users of the software their opinions. The discussion group should write some type of report about what improvements could be made to the current software. This has two different functions. Firstly, it puts staff on notice that change is coming, and secondly, it makes employees feel they are part of the process. The more advance notice there is of the change, the better.
Employees need time to prepare themselves mentally for a change, so they need to know well before the date and various key points in the timetable of the rollout. They need to have a clear expectations of what it will entail and not feel as if change has been suddenly forced upon them.
Once the decision has been made, hold an open meeting to talk about why this change is happening. Employees feel powerless if they are left in the dark, so informing them why something is being done is vital. It is even better if they, or at least a representative of their department, have been involved in the early decision-making process. Then of course, extensive training on how to use the new software should be made available to all users.
IELTS General Reading Test
Questions 22-27
Choose ONE WORD from the text for each answer.
New Software Rollout
How to avoid stress and resistance
Create a software discussion group.
Invite staff who use the (22)…….. software to join the group.
• Gives employees a (23)…….. in the process
↓
Discussion group should produce a (24)…….. on changes/developments required.
• informs staff that change is coming
• makes staff feel part of the process
↓
Produce a timetable of the rollout.
• gives employees coherent (25)…….. of what is going to happen
• makes staff feel prepared for change
↓
Have an open meeting with all staff.
• employees need to know (26)…….. changes are being made
↓
Make (27)…….. available to all employees using the software.
IELTS General Reading Test
ANSWERS ARE BELOW
IELTS General Reading Test
ANSWERS
15. BASIC
16. MORALE
17. EFFICIENCY
18. DESKS
19. MEALS
20. SICK
21. LOYAL
22. CURRENT
23. SAY
24. REPORT
25. EXPECTATIONS
26. WHY
27. TRAINING