You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 15-27, which are based on Reading Passages below.
Write answers to questions in boxes 15-27 on your answer sheet.
GT Reading Sample – “Formal dress code for company employees” & “JLP Retail: Staff Benefits”
Read the text below and answer Questions 15-21.
FORMAL DRESS CODE FOR COMPANY EMPLOYEES
At TransitEuropean, the company’s objective in establishing a formal dress code is to enable our employees to project the professional image that is in keeping with the needs of our clients and customers who seek our guidance, input, and professional services. Because our industry requires the appearance of trusted business professionals and we serve clients at our site on a daily basis, a more formal dress code is necessary for our employees.
Formal Dress Code Guidelines
In a formal business environment, the standard of dressing for men and women is a suit. Alternatively, a jacket may be worn with appropriate accessories. Torn, dirty, or frayed clothing is unacceptable. Clothing should be pressed and never wrinkled. No dress code can cover all contingencies so employees must exert a certain amount of judgement in their choice of clothing to wear to work. If you experience uncertainty, please ask your supervisor for advice.
Shoes and Footwear
Conservative walking shoes, dress shoes, loafers, boots, flats, dress heels, and backless shoes are acceptable for work. Not wearing stockings or socks is inappropriate. Tennis shoes and any shoe with an open toe are not acceptable in the office.
Accessories and Jewellery
The wearing of ties, scarves, belts, and jewellery is encouraged, provided they are tasteful. Items which are flashy should be avoided.
Makeup, Perfume, and Cologne
A professional appearance is encouraged and excessive makeup is unprofessional. Remember that some employees may have allergic reactions to the chemicals in perfumes and makeup, so wear these substances in moderation.
Hats and Head Covering
Hats are not appropriate in the office. Head covers that are required for reasons of faith or to honour cultural tradition are permitted.
Dress Down Days
Certain days can be declared dress down days, generally Fridays. On these days, business casual clothing is allowed. Clothing that has our company logo is strongly encouraged. Sports team, university, and fashion brand names on clothing are generally acceptable. However, you may wish to keep a jacket in your office in case a client unexpectedly appears.
Violation of Dress Code
If clothing fails to meet these standards, as determined by the employee’s supervisor, the employee will be asked not to wear the inappropriate item to work again. If the problem persists, the employee will receive a verbal warning and may be sent home to change clothes.
Questions 15-21
Complete the notes below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 15-21 on your answer sheet.
NOTES ON COMPANY DRESS CODE
Aim of formal dress code: to present a 15 ………………. to clients.
Acceptable types of formal clothing: jacket or suit.
State of clothes: they must be 16 ………………. and in good condition.
Footwear: tennis shoes and open toe shoes are not allowed.
Accessories: ties, scarves, belts and jewellery may be worn
– these must be 17 ………………. and not brightly coloured.
Make up: avoid wearing too much make up and perfume.
– these sometimes cause 18 ……………….
Hats: hats should not be worn
– head covers in line with religious reasons or 19 ………………. are allowed.
Dressing down: casual clothing is allowed on some Fridays
– clothing with the 20 ………………. on it is recommended.
Breaking the dress code: if advice is repeatedly ignored, a 21 ………………. is given.
Read the text below and answer Questions 22-27.
JLP RETAIL: STAFF BENEFITS
Whatever your role, your pay range will be extremely competitive and reviewed in the light of your progress. In addition to your salary, you will enjoy an array of excellent benefits from the moment you join the company.
Paid holiday
The holiday entitlement is four weeks per year, rising to five weeks after three years (or in the case of IT graduate trainees, after promotion to programmer or trainee analyst). There are further long-service increases for most staff after ten or fifteen years. Managers, including graduate trainees, receive five weeks’ holiday from the outset.
Pension scheme
We offer a non-contributory final salary pension scheme, payable from the age of 60, to most staff who have completed the qualifying period of five years.
Life assurance
Our life assurance scheme pays a sum equivalent to three times your annual salary to your nominated beneficiary.
Discounts
After three months’ service, all staff are entitled to a 12% discount on most purchases from the company’s stores. This rises to 25% after one year’s service.
Subsidised dining room
In most sites, we provide a dining room where you can enjoy excellent food at very reasonable prices.
Holiday and leisure facilities
The business owns a number of residential clubs which offer subsidised holiday accommodation for staff with at least three years’ service.
Sports clubs
We support an extensive range of sports activities including football, netball, golf, skiing, sailing, squash, riding and gliding.
Ticket subsidies
Ticket subsidies of 50% of the cost of plays or concerts are available. Staff may also take advantage of corporate membership to bodies such as the Science Museum.
Education subsidies
We give generous financial support to staff who wish to acquire leisure skills or continue their education, e.g. through the Open University or evening classes.
Extended leave
Staff who complete 25 years’ service can enjoy paid sabbatical leave of up to six months.
Health services
We have an occupational health service staffed by full-time doctors and health advisers.
Financial help, benefits and discounted deals
In cases of particular hardship, we will help staff with a loan. We have also negotiated a range of benefits for staff such as discounted private healthcare and a car purchase scheme, along with a number of one-off deals with hotels and amusement parks.
Questions 22-27
Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 22-27 on your answer sheet.
22. Pay increases depend on the ………………. that each member of staff makes.
23. Employees must work a minimum of ………………. to be eligible for a pension.
24. Staff may take a holiday at one of the ………………. provided by the company.
25. The company pay half the seat price for ………………. and plays.
26. The company gives financial assistance for both educational courses and ………………. as part of staff development.
27. Employees may be entitled to a ………………. if they find themselves in difficult circumstances.
Answer:
15. professional image
16. pressed
17. tasteful
18. allergic reactions
19. cultural tradition
20. company logo
21. verbal warning
22. progress
23. five years
24. (residential) clubs
25. concerts
26. leisure skills
27. loan