Reading Comprehension - Articles 16-20

Reading Comprehension 16

The information technology (IT) industry has a very high turnover in personnel. Each year, many companies can expect between 15 and 20 % of employees involved with IT to move to other organisations. In some cases, this figure may be as high as 50%. This high turnover rate is very costly to companies, as it takes time and resources to train new employees in the operating procedures and systems of the organisation.

The shortage of well qualified IT staff is the main reason for the high turnover. In order to attract good staff, organisations now offer high salaries to experienced IT professionals. This encourages people to move jobs frequently in search of higher salaries and new learning opportunities. In order to retain staff, organisations are now realising the value of matching the interests and motivations of potential employees with those of the wider organisation. By doing this, they are more likely to recruit individuals with a genuine interest in the organisation who are less likely to leave sooner than expected for reasons such as seeking higher salaries.

1. There is now a surplus of people with IT skills looking for work
2. Higher salaries can encourage IT professionals to move to other organisations
3. Some organisations now examine the motivations of prospective IT employees
4. The IT industry has the highest turnover of personnel in any industry

Reading Comprehension 17

When visiting a safari park visitors are reminded of the importance of keeping their car windows closed. Many accidents have occurred through winding down their car windows to take photographs. Baboons have then gained access to the car interior with disastrous results. In some cases, the visitors actually step out of the car and take a closer at the wild animals, resulting in serious injury. Signs warning of these and other dangers are sited every five hundred yards across the park. Safari park advisors are at a loss to know what other measures to take to warn the public of the dangers of wild animals.

1. Visitors sometimes get out of their car to look more closely at the animals.
2. Accidents have occurred when visitors wind down their windows to take photographs.
3. “Danger” signs are placed every fifty yards around the park.
4. The general public should be banned from safari park

Reading Comprehension 18

The induction course had a target of sixty hours, to be run for one hour per day for twelve weeks. The lesson time of one hour was considered to be the best length. It was thought that learning proficiency would fall sharply if lessons were longer and took place less frequently. At the end of the twelve weeks it was hoped that the trainees would have obtained the course objective of building confidence to cope with more complicated situations at work.

1. The course lasted twelve weeks
2. A lesson time of two hours was considered to be the best length.
3. A target of ninety hours was set for the course.
4. These courses are beneficial to the entire population.

Reading Comprehension 19

Mr Lewis considered the changes he had witnessed through his years in his village. Where there had once been a carpenter, a blacksmith, horse breakers and farm labourers, there were now solicitors, a dentist, schoolteachers, and a retired bank manager. Whereas before he enjoyed a “chat’ with his neighbours, he increasingly found that his main enjoyment in life now came from sitting beside the fireplace reading Graham Greene novels. He lamented the change and could see little advantage in it.

1. Mr Lewis welcomed the changes in his village.
2. Mr Lewis now enjoys Graham Greene novels.
3. A solicitor is a useful addition to any village.

Reading Comprehension 20

In Japan, companies generally expect their employees to put in long hours of overtime. But it is difficult for women, who also have household chores to do and children to take care of, to work at the same pace as men, who are not burdened with such responsibilities. Many women inevitably opt for part-time jobs, which enable them to combine work and domestic duties. At present, 23% of all female salaried workers are part-timers and the ratio has been on the rise in recent years.Part-time work places women at a disadvantage. The wages of part-time workers are considerably lower than those of full-time employees, and part-time work tends to involve menial labour. Moreover, because salary and promotion in Japanese companies are often based on seniority, it is extremely difficult for women either re-entering the labour force or switching from part-time to full-time work to climb the ladder.

1. Japanese men do not share household chores and childcare with their wives.
2. A quarter of all part-time workers in Japan are female.
3. Part-time workers hold a low status in Japanese companies.
4. Women in Japan are unwilling to work overtime.