Table of Contents
BEST IELTS General Reading Test 27
GENERAL READING TEST 27 – PASSAGE – 2
GENERAL READING TEST 27
READING PASSAGE – 2
Questions 15-21
Complete the notes below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer
Write your answers in boxes 15-21 on your answer sheet.
Greening Ltd.- Notes for Agency Workers
– The notes are for all agency workers (not workers who are (15)………………..…).
– Agency workers’ contracts are not with Greening Ltd. Their agency will also clarify any work details with Greening Ltd.
– The working day is 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (1 hour for lunch).
– New agency workers must go to the (16) ……………….…… to get their assignments from Mr. Buckley.
– Departmental managers will inform agency workers about their duties and (17) ………………..……
*(20) …………………. Can be attached with pay by all agency workers.
*The (21) ………………. is available for consultations if required.
Greening Ltd. – Notes for agency Workers
Welcome to Greening Ltd. These notes are meant to help any agency workers who are assigned to us. We hope that you enjoy your time with us and that it is profitable for both you and the company. These notes do not cover people who are self- employed. Self- employed workers should ask their contact point with Greening Ltd. For their terms and conditions of any employment with us.
Agency workers will not have contracts with Greening Ltd. When you’re offered a job with Greening Ltd., the agency must tell you your start date, how long the work is likely to last, the type of work, about any expenses you may have to pay, the location, your hours, about any health and safety risks and about any experience, training or qualifications needed for the role. Some of these conditions may change after you have worked at Greening Ltd. For longer than 12 weeks (see below).
The working day at Greening Ltd. Begins at 8 a.m. On their first day, all agency workers should report by 8 a.m. to Mr. Buckley, who is to be found in the personnel department. Mr. Buckley will tell you which department you are assigned to. When you get to your department, your department manager will tell you about your duties. The working day finishes at 5 p.m. All agency workers are allowed an hour for their lunch break and they are also entitled to morning and afternoon breaks. Your department manager will tell you the break times in your department.
All agency workers have certain rights according to law and the Greening Employee Charter.
From day one of their employment, any agency worker will be entitled to:
– The same rights to facilities such as staff canteens, childcare and transport as a comparable employee of the hirer.
– Be informed about any job vacancies.
After a 12- week qualifying period, any agency worker will be entitled to the same basic conditions of employment as if they had been directly employed by Greening Ltd. This includes:
– Pay- including any fee, bonus, commission, or holiday pay relating to the assignment. (It does not include redundancy pay, contractual sick pay, and maternity, paternity or adoption pay).
– Working time rights- for example, including any annual leave above what is required by law.
Your 12 weeks will start again if you get a new job at a different workplace, have a break of more than 6 weeks between jobs at Greening Ltd., or stay at Greening Ltd. But take a new role that’s substantively different. This kind of role is one that’s completely new, different work. It could be a combination of different skills, pay rate, location, or working hours, or it could require new training.
All agency workers, regardless of how long they have been with Greening Ltd. Will also be entitled to paid time off to go to ante-natal appointments during their working hours.
All agency workers are welcome to talk with the trade union representative (Mrs. White in the post room on the floor) with regard to their rights and obligations.
Questions 22-27
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 22-27 on your answer sheet.
Starting a business – The Advantages of Renting Premises
The advantages of renting premises for a new business start with (22) ……………,
Meaning you are not stuck with a property. The duration of the (23) ……………. Can also be negotiated to suit your requirements (length etc.).
Renting involves fewer initial costs, with only a (24)………………. Fluctuations and only changes in the rent will raise your monthly costs. Drops in property value will usually not affect you. Your only building responsibilities will probably be internal maintenance, although there will probably be a service charge levied. Both landlords and tenants of business premises have health and safety responsibilities for the staff in terms of property’s facilities and environment.
A (26) ……………. Must be carried out and act upon. An EPC will be issued by the landlord and you can use it to improve the property’s energy performance. Who pays for what ought to be in the (27) …………… finally, renting conditions can be negotiated with the landlord.
Starting a Business – The Advantages of Renting Premises
When you’re starting out in a business, one of the initial decisions you will have to make is whether to buy or rent the premises in which you wish to conduct your business.
Buying business premises is a big commitment and it’s important to consider carefully whether renting is a better option. Renting can firstly provide more flexibility for your business as it grows. You are not locked into property ownership and you can usually agree with your landlord the length of the lease that you require, or have a break clause included. This will let you end your occupation (usually on a specific date) if, for instance, you want to relocate.
Financially, renting can make good business sense. Upfront charges for leasing premises are often relatively low, though you will have to provide a refundable deposit. But generally, renting ties up less to interest rate rises, although your rent may rise periodically as a result of rent reviews. Always check to see how rent is reviewed before you sign the lease.
There is also less potential for unexpected financial shocks – unless you wish to sell the remaining term on your lease to someone else, falls in property value will not affect you. Also, you will have no concerns about Capital Gains Tax, unless you decide to sell your lease for a premium.
You may have less responsibility for the building if you rent rather than buy, although this will depend on the terms of your lease. You may have to look after maintenance inside the building, but external maintenance is more likely to be the responsibility of the landlord, particularly in multi- occupancy premises; you may, have to pay a service charge.
If you are a tenant in commercial property and employ staff, you must ensure the workplace meets a number of requirements under health and safety rules. These include ensuring the workplace temperature is appropriate, providing sufficient space, ventilation and lighting, providing suitable sanitation and washing facilities, providing drinking water, maintaining equipment and keeping the premises clean and free of waste. You must perform a risk assessment in the workplace and take steps to remove any hazards and potential risks. Your landlord will also have health and safety duties regarding the premises that you are renting and you should ensure that these responsibilities are being met.
If you rent commercial premises, the landlord must issue you with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). The EPC provides information on energy efficiency using A-G ratings. It also includes recommendations for improvement. Acting on the recommendations can help you cut energy consumption, save money on bills and help reduce carbon emissions. The advantage to a renter is that the landlord should pay for all or at least a part of any improvements that you feel will improve the energy performance of the building. These responsibilities though should be laid out in your rental contract
Whatever a landlord has put into a draft contract, the important thing is renting can also give you space for negotiation. You or your agent can negotiate any aspect of the lease, either at the start or, if you want to renew it, after the lease ends. The landlord will be keen to rent his/her property, as it will not bring him/her any income unoccupied, so don’t be afraid to ask (or even insist) on things.
Remember , you can always walk away and find a property of landlord that will give you what you want.
Answer key
15 self-employed
16 personnel department
17 break times
18 (job) vacancies
19 (substantially) different
20 Ante-natal appointments
21 (trade) union (representative)
22 flexibility
23 lease
24 (refundable) deposit
25 interest (rate)
26 risk assessment
27 (rental) contract
