Are You Being Bullied? Reading Answers

Oct 9, 2025

Are You Being Bullied? Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Are You Being Bullied? Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total such as Look at the following list of names and questions 1 to 5. Match each statement with the appropriate name, A-D. Choose the correct heading for each paragraph A-E. Write the correct number, i-ix. DO the following statements agree with the views of the writer in boxes 12-14 of your answer sheet? Write yes, no, or not given.

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Topic:

ARE YOU BEING BULLIED?

How many of us have gone through or are still going through the torment of everyday workplace bullying? Having failed in our attempts of putting an end to it, we have stopped fighting against it, accepting it as a part of the harsh realities of life, and find solace in the famous saying "What

cannot be cured, must be endured". But what is also a matter of grave concern is that is this torture, which seems to have neither a cure nor an end, adversely affecting our productivity at work? IS it adding to our level of stress and inhibiting our performance?

Workplace bullying leads to increased job stress, decreased job commitment, and higher levels of anxiety. Research reveals that about 45 percent of individuals targeted by bullies at work suffer from cardiovascular problems, impairment of immune system, debilitating anxiety and even post-traumatic stress disorder. According to Poonam Shree, a Psychologist, "Several cases of workplace bullying are reported, and our attempt is to enable the victims to effect changes in their own personality systems, their own public dealings, and interpersonal behavior so that they respond in a healthy way to such disturbing stimuli". "At times, people simply report being extremely disgusted with work and are oblivious of being subjected to bullying at work. It is only on deeper probing that facts begin to surface which reveal that they have been victimized by a bully at work", she adds.

According to workplace bullying expert Valerie Cade, "workplace bullying is the repeated, deliberate, disrespectful behavior by one or more people towards another for their own gratification, which in turn harms the target". Often held to be a psychological malady, bullying is an obsessive-compulsive behavior, which stems from a deep sense of insecurity, inferiority and inadequacy. Snubbing and spurning others helps such people to overcome negative feelings, and so bullies are always on the lookout for an easy prey. A bully can be anybody- your boss, your superior, or even your colleague.

A person who is bullied often finds himself/herself belittled, criticized, humiliated, and ridiculed without any provocation or apparent reason. He/she may also be the target of offensive language, snide personal remarks, or unwanted physical behavior. At times, the target may find that the goals and deadlines set for him/her are quite unrealistic and unachievable, not realizing that it is just another tactic adopted by a bully to subjugate him/her. Regularly threatening employees with the sack, finding faults with them, and taking credit for their efforts is also a form of bullying. "My boss would frequently threaten me with dire consequences despite the fact that I worked with utmost honesty and dedication. I would be scolded at the slightest provocation but never praised for the feats I accomplished. This created a lot of mental pressure that reflected in my performance. “It was then that I realized that I was being treated unjustly, that I was a victim of workplace bullying. Therefore, I decided to quit the job”, says Shreya, a marketing executive.

A. Lack of self-confidence exhibited by the way you talk, walk, and carry yourself makes you an easy target for a bully. Your inability to present your point of view with confidence, in other words, a lack of assertiveness, adds to your vulnerability.

B. Lack of faith in yourself, evident by your tendency to doubt your actions and decisions, reassures a bully of your timidity and weakness.

C. Individuals with a strong sense of integrity, honesty, humility, and values also tend to be preyed upon by bullies because the presence of such persons reminds bullies of the hollowness and inadequacy of their own character.

D. It is often said, "If you are successful, you will win some true enemies and some false friends". Bullies are the true enemies that workplace success brings along. Since bullies are constantly battling with their own feelings of inferiority and inadequacy, they are highly jealous of high-performing, successful employees. If you are one of those blue-eyed employees, receiving praise and recognition for your work, chances are that a bully is looking for opportunities to snub you, especially if you are an unsuspecting, honest, and dedicated employee. However, that does not mean that you stop being good at work. It only means that you become more alert and smarter.

E. Your tendency of not mixing up with the people at work convinces a bully that his misdemeanours will not be reported to anybody around and that his reputation will remain unscarred. This encourages him to choose you as the obvious target.

F. A new entrant, especially if he or she happens to be younger than the other employees, is usually the target of workplace bullies.

Questions 1-5

Look at the following list of names and questions 1 to 5. Match each statement with the appropriate name, A-D. Write the correct letter, A-D.

A. Valerie Cade

B. Poonam Shree

C. Shreya

D. Writer of the passage

1. Tries to empower the victims to face bullying boldly.

Answer: B

Supporting statement: According to Poonam Shree, a Psychologist, "Several cases of workplace bullying are reported, and our attempt is to enable the victims to effect changes in their own personality systems, their own public dealings, and interpersonal behavior so that they respond in a healthy way to such disturbing stimuli".

Keywords: Poonam Shree, enable the victims, effect changes,

Keyword Location: Para 2, Lines 4-6

Explanation: The statement describes Poonam Shree's approach of empowering victims to change their internal and external responses to deal with the bullying stimulus.

2. At times, people fail to understand that they are being bullied at work.

Answer: B

Supporting statement: "At times, people simply report being extremely disgusted with work and are oblivious of being subjected to bullying at work. It is only on deeper probing that facts begin to surface which reveal that they have been victimized by a bully at work", she adds.

Keywords: subjected to bullying, deeper probing

Keyword Location: Para 2, Lines 8-9

Explanation: Poonam Shree explains that victims are sometimes unaware they are being bullied, only reporting a general disgust with work, until a deeper investigation reveals the facts.

3. Believes bullying is a consistent and intentional behavior of some people for their own satisfaction, which harms the victims.

Answer: A

Supporting statement: According to workplace bullying expert Valerie Cade, "workplace bullying is the repeated, deliberate, disrespectful behavior by one or more people towards another for their own gratification, which in turn harms the target".

Keywords: Valerie Cade, repeated, deliberate, disrespectful behavior

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 1-2

Explanation: This statement is a direct quote defining workplace bullying, attributed to Valerie Cade.

4. People with good personal qualities are targeted by bullies.

Answer: D

Supporting statement: Individuals with a strong sense of integrity, honesty, humility, and values also tend to be preyed upon by bullies because the presence of such persons reminds bullies of the hollowness and inadequacy of their own character.

Keywords: strong sense of integrity, honesty, humility

Keyword Location: Para C, Line 1

Explanation: This statement is found in text, which is a subsection written by the primary author (the Writer of the passage), providing general reasons why certain people are targeted. It explicitly identifies individuals possessing good personal qualities (integrity, honesty, humility, and values) as targets for the reason that their positive traits highlight the bully's own insecurities.

5. Gave up job realizing that she was being bullied.

Answer: C

Supporting statement: “It was then that I realized that I was being treated unjustly, that I was a victim of workplace bullying. Therefore, I decided to quit the job”, says Shreya, a marketing executive.

Keywords: decided, quit the job, Shreya.

Keyword Location: Para 4, Line 11

Explanation: This is a direct quote from Shreya, who confirms the statement. She explicitly states that after recognizing the unjust treatment as workplace bullying, she "decided to quit the job."

Questions 6-11

Choose the correct heading for each paragraph A-E. Write the correct number, i-ix.

6. Paragraph A

Answer: V

Supporting statement: Your inability to present your point of view with confidence, in other words, a lack of assertiveness, adds to your vulnerability.

Keywords: inability to present, point of view with confidence, lack of assertiveness

Keyword Location: Para A, Lines 2-3

Explanation: The paragraph directly states that an inability to confidently express oneself (lack of assertiveness) makes one an easy target.

7. Paragraph B

Answer: I

Supporting statement: Your tendency to doubt your actions and decisions, reassures a bully of your timidity and weakness.

Keywords: tendency, actions and decisions, timidity and weakness

Keyword Location: Para B, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The focus is specifically on a lack of self-belief that results in questioning one's own choices.

8. Paragraph C

Answer: IV

Supporting statement: Individuals with a strong sense of integrity, honesty, humility, and values also tend to be preyed upon...

Keywords: sense of integrity, honesty, humility

Keyword Location: Para C, Line 1

Explanation: The paragraph lists several positive character traits, which collectively fall under the heading of "good personal qualities

9. paragraph D

Answer: VIII

Supporting statement: they are highly jealous of high-performing, successful employees. If you are one of those blue-eyed employees, receiving praise and recognition for your work

Keywords: high-performing, successful employees, praise and recognition

Keyword Location: Para D, Lines 5-6

Explanation: In Para D, the central theme is that success and high performance attract the envy of insecure bullies.

10. Paragraph E

Answer: II

Supporting statement: Your tendency of not mixing up with the people at work convinces a bully that his misdemeanours will not be reported

Keywords: tendency, misdemeanours

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 1-2

Explanation: In Para E, it is given that the target's behavior of isolating themselves or "not mixing up" (being unsociable or self-centred) is what makes them an easy target, as the bully expects no one will report the offence.

11. Paragraph F

Answer: VII

Supporting statement: A new entrant, especially if he or she happens to be younger than the other employees, is usually the target

Keywords: entrant, employees

Keyword Location: Para F, Line 1

Explanation: In the text, a new entrant is, by definition, unfamiliar with the environment, people, and rules, making them a vulnerable target.

i. doubt about your own decisions

ii, being self-centred at work

iii. Lack of faith in others

iv. good personal qualities

v. inability to present your views with confidence

vi. being mediocre in work

vii. being less familiar with the workplace

viii. being better than others in work

ix. physical appearance

Questions 12-14

Reading Passage I? DO the following statements agree with the views of the writer in boxes 12-14 of your answer sheet, write

YES - if the statement agrees with the views of the writer

NO - if the statement contradicts the views of the writer

NOT GIVEN - if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

12. Many people tend to accept bullying as a part of life, as they find it difficult to fight against

bullying.

Answer: YES

Supporting statement: Having failed in our attempts of putting an end to it, we have stopped fighting against it, accepting it as a part of the harsh realities of life, and find solace in the famous saying “What cannot be cured, must be endured”.

Keywords: attempts, stopped fighting, harsh realities of life

Keyword Location: Para 1, Lines 2-3

Explanation: The writer clearly states that people stop fighting against bullying and accept it as a reality of life because they have "failed in our attempts" to end it, which supports the idea that they find it difficult to fight and thus endure it.

13. Bullies often feel that they are superior to others.

Answer: NO

Supporting statement: Often held to be a psychological malady, bullying is an obsessive-compulsive behavior, which stems from a deep sense of insecurity, inferiority and inadequacy.

Keywords: deep sense of insecurity, inferiority, inadequacy

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 4-5

Explanation: The writer views bullying as stemming from a "deep sense of inferiority and inadequacy" on the part of the bully. This directly contradicts the idea that bullies feel they are superior to others.

14. Females are more vulnerable to bullying than men.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: The passage discusses workplace bullying in general terms, using "individuals," "people," "he/she," and "Shreya, a marketing executive" as examples. It does not provide any statistics, comparisons, or direct opinions on whether one gender is more susceptible to being bullied than the other.

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