GT Reading Mock Test 41: Section 1 | Section 2 | Section 3 |
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 15-27, which are based on Reading Passage below.
Write answers to questions in boxes 15-27 on your answer sheet.
Read the text below and answer Questions 15-21.
A commercial cleaning service took on a new contract to clean an office complex. Before sending cleaning staff to the offices, the manager of the cleaning service carried out a risk assessment using guidance provided by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
To identify the hazards, the cleaning service manager visited the office complex and walked through the areas where cleaning staff would be working, noting things that might pose potential risks. Following this, he consulted the health and safety representatives of the cleaning service about these risks, taking into account the needs of any particular staff members, such as whether they were pregnant or aged under 18.
In order to gather further information, he then had a meeting with the client company during which a number of issues were discussed. These included the client company’s own standard of housekeeping, such as the immediate clearing up of spills and keeping walkways clear, as well as the action to be taken if a fire broke out. He also established what facilities and equipment would be available to the cleaners, including the amount of storage space available, as well as the availability of sinks and taps, etc. and agreed on a method of reporting near-miss accidents and risks discovered by cleaners (e.g. damaged floor tiles).
Following the meeting, the manager created a risk assessment document. He wrote down who could be harmed by each risk or hazard identified and in what way, and he then described what controls, if any, were in existence to manage these hazards. The manager then compared these to the good practice guidance set out on the HSE’s website and identified any areas where improvement was needed.
The manager discussed the findings with the cleaning staff, making sure they understood the risks of the job and how these risks would be monitored. One cleaner, whose first language was not English, had difficulty understanding this, so the manager arranged for translation to be done by a bilingual cleaner from another team. Finally, to ensure that all the cleaning staff had access to a copy of the risk assessment, the manager pinned a copy in the cupboard where cleaning equipment was kept.
Questions 15-21
Complete the flow-chart below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 15-21 on your answer sheet.
He visited the offices to be cleaned and noted potential risks.
↓
He talked to health and safety 15 …………………. about the risks.
↓
At a meeting, he talked to the client company about
• the policy of the company regarding 16 …………………. (e.g. clear walkways)
• procedures to be followed in case of a 17 ………………….
• facilities available to cleaners (e.g. space available for 18 ………………….)
• a way of 19 …………………. risks and hazards.
↓
He created a risk assessment document identifying existing controls of risks and hazards.
↓
He compared these to information that the HSE provided on its 20 ………………….
↓
He displayed a copy of the risk assessment inside a 21 …………………. available to all cleaning staff.
Read the text below and answer Questions 22-27.
Businesses are always looking for new ways to increase efficiency and profits. For example, organisations often reduce costs by conducting virtual job interviews. The video or Skype interview benefits both interviewer and interviewee, especially when an applicant would otherwise need to travel far. Despite the convenience though, it poses unique challenges.
How a virtual interview is the same
The typical interview process usually entails multiple steps. First, there is screening, lasting about thirty minutes. Its purpose is to ensure candidates have the basic requirements. In the second interview, they’re assessed for their technical skills and on whether they would fit the organisation.
Virtual interviews follow the same steps so you’ll need to focus on the same core topics. Identify what the critical topics are based on the job description and prepare to talk about them. If you can, gather inside information so you can impress interviewers with your knowledge.
How a virtual interview is different
Normally you travel somewhere for an interview. One advantage of that is that you aren’t responsible for the place, whereas in a virtual interview you must ensure you have an appropriate location and appropriate equipment.
Modern technology is great when it works, but a pain when it doesn’t. So, it’s wise to check you can operate your webcam, especially if you don’t use it often. Test the headset too and find out how intelligible your voice sounds. It’s also wise to establish what software the interviewer is going to work with and give it a trial run.
Probably the biggest problem in a virtual interview is what the camera can see. You want the interviewer to see you as a professional. Having a messy or cluttered room behind you won’t help you achieve this image – a clear white background is usually a safe bet.
The most important part of your preparation is to run through everything first as best you can. Have a friend conduct a rehearsal with you before the big day. This will help you know how to behave in front of the camera.
All things considered, though, virtual interviews should be treated like any other type of interview. Being at home requires as much preparation as a traditional interview. If you follow the steps mentioned above, you have every chance of getting the job you want. Good luck!
Questions 22-27
Complete the sentences below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 22-27 on your answer sheet.
22. Some companies prefer to interview job applicants digitally because of lower …………………. .
23. As with the standard recruitment process, virtual recruitment opens with …………………. .
24. Applicants should read any details about the advertised post carefully and pick out important …………………. which they can discuss if necessary.
25. It is a good idea for applicants to check if they can be clearly understood when they use a …………………. .
26. Applicants may not be familiar with the …………………. that the person conducting the interview will use, so they should try it out.
27. It is very useful to go through a …………………. of the interview, with someone playing the part of the interviewer.
GT Reading Mock Test 41: Section 1 | Section 2 | Section 3 |
Risk assessment for general office cleaning & Preparing for a virtual job interview: Reading Answers
This post was last modified on 17th November 2022 3:17 pm