CAMBRIDGE IELTS 1
PRACTICE TEST 4
READING
READING PASSAGE 2
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions
14-27 which are based on Reading Passage 2 below
Why
some women cross
the finish line ahead of men
R E C R U I T M E N T
The course is tougher but women are staying the distance, reports Andrew Crisp. |
|
A
|
Women who
apply for jobs in middle or senior management have a higher success rate than
men, according to an employment survey. But of course far fewer of them apply
for these positions. The study, by recruitment consultants NB Selection,
shows that while one in six men who appear on interview shortlists get jobs,
the figure rises to one in four for women.
|
B
|
The study
concentrated on applications for management positions in the $45,000 to
$110,000 salary range and found that women are more successful than men in both
the private and public sectors Dr Elisabeth Marx from London-based NB Selection
described the findings as encouraging for women, in that they send a positive
message to them to apply for interesting management positions. But she added,
“We should not lose sight of the fact that significantly fewer women apply
for senior positions in comparison with men.”
|
C
|
Reasons for
higher success rates among women are difficult to isolate. One explanation
suggested is that if a woman candidate manages to get on a shortlist, then she
has probably already proved herself to be an exceptional candidate. Dr Marx
said that when women apply for positions they tend to be better qualified than
their male counterparts but are more selective and conservative in their job
search. Women tend to research thoroughly before applying for positions or attending
interviews. Men, on the other hand, seem to rely on their ability to sell
themselves and to convince employers that any shortcomings they have will not
prevent them from doing a good job.
|
D
|
Managerial
and executive progress made by women is confirmed by the annual survey of
boards of directors carried out by Korn/Ferry/Carre/ Orban International.
This year the survey shows a doubling of the number of women serving as
non-executive directors compared with the previous year. However, progress
remains painfully slow and there were still only 18 posts filled by women out
of a total of 354 nonexecutive positions surveyed. Hilary Sears, a partner
with Korn/Ferry, said, “Women have raised the level of grades we are employed
in but we have still not broken through barriers to the top.”
|
E
|
In Europe a
recent feature of corporate life in the recession has been the delayering of
management structures. Sears said that this has halted progress for women in
as much as de-layering has taken place either where women are working or in
layers they aspire to. Sears also noted a positive trend from the recession,
which has been the growing number of women who have started up on their own.
|
F
|
In business
as a whole, there are a number of factors encouraging the prospect of greater
equality in the workforce. Demographic trends suggest that the number of
women going into employment is steadily increasing. In addition a far greater
number of women are now passing through higher education, making them better
qualified to move into management positions.
|
G
|
Organisations
such as the European Women’s Management Development Network provide a range
of opportunities for women to enhance their skills and contacts. Through a
series of both pan-European and national workshops and conferences the
barriers to women in employment are being broken down. However, Ariane
Berthoin Antal, director of the International Institute for Organisational
Change of Archamps in France, said that there is only anecdotal evidence of
changes in recruitment patterns. And she said, “It”s still so hard for women
to even get on to shortlists -there are so many hurdles and barriers.’ Antal
agreed that there have been some positive signs but said “Until there is a
belief among employers, until they value the difference, nothing will change.”
|
Questions 14-19
Reading Passage 2 has 7 paragraphs
(A-G). State which paragraph discusses each of the points below. Write
the appropriate letter (A-G) in boxes 14-19 on your answer sheet.
Example
Answer
The salary
range studied in the NB Selection survey. x
|
14
|
The
drawbacks of current company restructuring patterns.
|
15
|
Associations
that provide support for professional women.
|
16
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The success
rate of female job applicants for management positions.
|
17
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Male and
female approaches to job applications.
|
18
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Reasons why
more women are being employed in the business sector.
|
10
|
The
improvement in female numbers on company management structures.
|
Questions
20-23
The author makes reference to three
consultants in the Reading Passage. Which of the list of points below do these
consultants make? In boxes 20-23 write
m
|
if the point is made by Dr Marx
|
S
|
if the point is made by Hilary
Sears
|
A
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if the point is made by Ariane
Berthoin Antal
|
20
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Selection procedures do not favour
women.
|
21
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The number of female-run businesses is
increasing.
|
22
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Male applicants exceed female
applicants for top posts.
|
23
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Women hold higher positions now than
they used to.
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Questions 24-27
Using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS answer the following questions. Write
your
answers in boxes 24-27 on your answer sheet.
24
|
What change has there been in the
number of women in top management positions detailed in the annual survey?
|
25
|
What aspect of company structuring has
disadvantaged women?
|
26
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What information tells us that more
women are working nowadays?
|
27
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Which group of people should change
their attitude to recruitment?
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ANSWER KEY
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