First Impressions Count - IELTS Reading Sample with Explanation

Dec 10, 2021

The IELTS Reading section consists of three passages and 40 questions in total. Candidates will get one hour to solve all the questions. This IELTS reading sample - First Impressions Count is an IELTS General Training topic. Most IELTS general reading topics are based on general interest passages that candidates will encounter every day. This passage contains two types of questions:

Matching Headings
Yes/No/Not Given

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

First Impressions Count IELTS Reading Sample

Traditionally uniforms were – and for some industries still are – manufactured to protect the worker. When they were first designed, it is also likely that all uniforms made symbolic sense – those for the military, for example, were originally intended to impress and even terrify the enemy; other uniforms denoted a hierarchy – chefs wore white because they worked with flour, but the main chef wore a black hat to show he supervised.
The last 30 years, however, have seen an increasing emphasis on their role in projecting the image of an organization and in uniting the workplace into a homogeneous unit – particularly in customer facing industries and especially in financial services and retailing. From uniforms and workwear has emerged ‘corporate clothing’. “The people you employ are your ambassadors.”, says Peter Griffin, managing director of a major retailer in the UK. “What they say, how they look, and how they behave is terribly important”. The result is a new way of looking at corporate workwear. From being a simple means of identifying who is a member of staff, the uniform is emerging as a new channel of marketing communication.
Truly effective marketing through visual cues such as uniforms is a subtle art, however. Wittingly or unwittingly, how we look sends all sorts of powerful subliminal messages to other people. Dark colours give an aura of authority while lighter pastel shades suggest approachability. Certain dress styles create a sense of openness to new ideas. Neatness can suggest efficiency but, if it is overdone, it can spill over and indicate an obsession with power. “If the company is selling quality, then it must have quality uniforms. If it is selling style, its uniforms must be stylish. If it wants to appear innovative, everybody can’t look exactly the same. Subliminally we see all these things.” says Lynn Elvy, a director of image consultants House of Colour.
But translating corporate philosophies into the right mix of colour, style, degree of branding and uniformity can be a fraught process. And it is not always successful. According to company clothing magazines, there are thousands of companies supplying the workwear and corporate clothing market. Of these, 22 account for 85% of total sales – $380 million in 1994.
A successful uniform needs to balance two key sets of needs. On the one hand, no uniform will work if the staff feels uncomfortable and ugly. Giving the wearers a choice has become a key element in the way corporate clothing is introduced and managed. On the other, it is pointless if the look doesn’t express the business’s marketing strategy. The greatest challenge in this respect is time. When it comes to human perceptions, first impressions count. Customers will size up the way staff look in just a few seconds and that few seconds will colour their attitudes from then on. Those few seconds can be so important that big companies are prepared to invest years, and millions of pounds, getting them right.
In addition, some uniform companies also offer rental services. “ There will be an increasing specialization in the marketplace” predicts Dr. Blyth. Customer Services manager of a large UK bank. The past two or three years have seen consolidation, increasingly, the big suppliers are becoming ‘managing agents’, which means they offer a total service to put together the whole complex operation of a company’ corporate clothing package – which includes reliable sourcing, managing the inventory, budget control and distribution to either central locations or to each staff member individually. Huge investments have been made in new systems, information technology and amassing quality assurance accreditations.
Corporate clothing does have potential for further growth. Some banks have yet to introduce a full corporate look; police forces are researching a completely new look for the 21st century. And many employees now welcome a company wardrobe. A recent survey of staff found that 90 percent welcomed having clothing which reflected the corporate identity.

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Section 2

Solution and Explanation
Question 27 to 32

We have to write an appropriate letter from A to G which supports the question statement:

Example

The number of companies supplying the corporate clothing market

different types of purchasing agreements.
the original purposes of uniforms
the popularity rating of staff uniforms
involving employees in the selection of a uniform
the changing significance of company uniforms
perceptions of different types of dress

Answer 27: Different types of purchasing agreements: F

Supporting Statement: The past two or three years have seen consolidation. Increasingly, the big suppliers are becoming ‘managing agents’, which means they offer a total service to put together the whole complex operation of a company’s corporate clothing package - which includes reliable sourcing, managing the inventory, budget control and distribution to either central locations or to each staff member individually.

Keyword: managing agents

Keyword Location: Paragraph F, 3rd line

Explanation: Big suppliers are increasingly becoming 'managing agents,' which means they provide a comprehensive service to put together the entire complex operation of a company's corporate clothing package, which includes dependable sourcing, inventory management, budget control, and distribution to either central locations or to each individual employee sanctioning different types of purchasing agreements.

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Answer 28: The original purpose of uniforms: A

Supporting Statement: Traditionally uniforms were — and for some industries still are — manufactured to protect the worker.

Keyword: Traditionally uniforms

Keyword Location: Paragraph A

Explanation: Historically, uniforms were designed to safeguard workers. It's also likely that all uniforms had symbolic meaning when they were first designed - military uniforms, for example, were designed to impress and even terrify the enemy; other uniforms denoted a hierarchy

Answer 29: The popularity rating of staff uniforms: G

Supporting Statement: A recent survey of staff found that 90 percent welcomed having clothing which reflected the corporate identity.

Keyword: 90 percent welcomed having clothing

Keyword Location: Paragraph G

Explanation: Corporate clothes have a lot of room for expansion. Some institutions have yet to adopt a full corporate identity, while police departments are developing an entirely new image for the twenty-first century. Many employees now appreciate having a business wardrobe. According to a recent study of employees, 90% of them said they liked having apparel that matched the company's identity.

Answer 30: Involving employees in the selection of a uniform

Supporting Statement: On the one hand, no uniform will work if staff feel uncomfortable or ugly. Giving the wearers a choice has become a key element in the way corporate clothing is introduced and managed.

Keyword: corporate clothing

Keyword Location: Paragraph E

Explanation: A successful uniform must strike a balance between two distinct sets of requirements. On the one hand, no uniform will work if employees are uneasy or unattractive. Giving employees a choice has become a critical component of how corporate apparel is introduced and handled. Customers form opinions about employees based on how they appear in just a few seconds, and those few seconds will shape their attitudes for the rest of their lives.

Answer 31: The changing significance of company uniforms

Supporting Statement: From uniforms and workwear has emerged ‘corporate clothing’. "The people you employ are your ambassadors," says Peter Griffin, managing director of a major retailer in the UK.

Keyword: ambassadors, corporate clothing

Keyword Location: Paragraph B

Explanation: In the last 30 years, there has been a growing emphasis on their function in presenting an organization's image and integrating the workforce into a cohesive one — notably in "customer-facing" industries, such as financial services and retailing. The term "corporate clothing" was coined from the terms "uniforms" and "workwear." The uniform has evolved from a simple means of identifying who is a member of staff to a new channel of commercial communication.

Answer 32: Perceptions of different types of dress

Supporting Statement: Truly effective marketing through visual cues such as uniforms is a subtle art, however. Wittingly or unwittingly, how we look sends all sorts of powerful subliminal messages to other people.

Keyword: Wittingly, powerful subliminal messages

Keyword Location: Paragraph C

Explanation: Effective marketing using visual clues like uniforms is a delicate art. Whether we intend it or not, our appearance communicates tremendous subconscious messages to others. Dark colours exude power, whilst softer pastel hues imply approachability. Certain clothing styles convey conservatism, while others convey receptivity to new ideas. Neatness might signify efficiency, but it can also show a fixation with power if it is overdone. If a corporation sells high-quality products, it must also have high-quality uniforms. Its uniforms must be trendy if it is selling style. Everyone can't look the same if they want to be creative.

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Question 33 to 40
We have to find out if the statement agrees with the writer of the passage or not?
YES: if the statement agrees with the writer’s views
NO: if the statement contradicts the writer’s views
NOT GIVEN: if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

Uniforms were more carefully made in the past than they are today

Answer: Not Given

Uniforms make employees feel part of a team

Answer: Yes

Supporting Statement: The last 30 years, however, have seen an increasing emphasis on their role in projecting the image of an organisation and in uniting the workforce into a homogeneous unit — particularly in ‘customer facing" industries, and especially in financial services and retailing.

Keyword: customer facing

Keyword Location: Paragraph B

Explanation: Historically, uniforms were designed to protect workers, and in some cases, they still are in some industries. However, in the last 30 years, there has been a growing emphasis on their function in presenting an organization's image and integrating the workforce into a cohesive one — notably in "customer-facing" industries, such as financial services and retailing. The uniform has evolved from a simple means of identifying who is a member of staff to a new channel of commercial communication.

Using uniforms as a marketing tools requires great care

Answer: Yes

Keyword: Wittingly or unwittingly

Keyword Location: Paragraph C

Explanation: Dark colours exude power, whilst softer pastel hues imply approachability. Certain clothing styles convey conservatism, while others convey receptivity to new ideas. Neatness might signify efficiency, but it can also show a fixation with power if it is overdone. "If a company sells high-quality products, it must also sell high-quality uniforms." Its uniforms must be trendy if it is selling style. Everyone can't look the same if they want to be creative.

Being too smart could have a negative impact on customers

Answer: Yes

Supporting Statement: But translating corporate philosophies into the right mix of colour, style, degree of branding and uniformity can be a fraught process. And it is not always successful. According to Company Clothing magazine, there are 1000 companies supplying the workwear and corporate clothing market. Of these, 22 account for 85% of total sales - £380 million in 1994.

Keyword: translating corporate philosophies

Keyword Location: Paragraph D

Explanation: First impressions matter when it comes to human perceptions. Customers form opinions about employees based on how they appear in just a few seconds, and those few seconds will shape their attitudes for the rest of their lives. Those few seconds can be so crucial that major corporations are willing to spend years and millions of pounds to get them right.

Most businesses that supply company clothing are successful

Answer: No

Supporting Statement: And it is not always successful. According to Company Clothing magazine, there are 1000 companies supplying the workwear and corporate clothing market. Of these, 22 account for 85% of total sales - £380 million in 1994.

Keyword: not always successful

Keyword Location: Paragraph D

Explanation: The supporting statement proves that not all the companies are successful.