Partner Not Enemies Reading Answers

May 13, 2024

Partner not enemies Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Partner not enemies Reading Answers have a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the questions you have to tell whether the statements are true of false or choose the correct options.

Candidates should read the IELTS Reading passage thoroughly to recognize synonyms, identify keywords, and answer the questions below. IELTS Reading practice papers, which feature topics such as Partner not enemies Reading Answers. Candidates can use IELTS reading practice questions and answers to enhance their performance in the reading section.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Partner not Enemies

Under the feudal system of the middle Ages, everybody knew their place, even if they occasionally overstepped the mark. The peasant owed allegiance to the squire, the squire to the nobleman and the nobleman to the king. By contrast, since industrial capitalism has been around, the relationship between companies and the state has been volatile. The 19th century was an era of laissez-faire, but in the 20th century two world wars required strong state control of the economy and in the social democracies that prevailed after 1945 the private sector played a diminished part, particularly in Europe. When economies were liberalized after 1980, the state retreated again and nationalized industries were returned to the private sector.
Now three factors are at work that could change the relationship yet again. The first is the financial crisis of 2007-08, which undermined the argument that free markets, left alone, would regulate themselves. It has been followed by a long period of austerity that has made voters angry and boosted support for populist parties on both left and right. Companies make obvious targets for such popular anger.
The second factor is the growth of the internet, which has made it much easier for both companies and the state to gather large amounts of information about individuals. The state is tempted to take advantage of this corporate knowledge, argely for policing and anti-terrorism reasons, but also feels the need to regulate how companies store and use personal data.
The third is the continuing impact of globalization. This gives multinational firms more freedom to move around the world, but it also means that Western companies face competition from many emerging- market titans with state backing. If rich-world governments hobble their own companies too much, they may hand marker dominance to the champions of the emerging world. That is no way to create jobs.
There is a fine line between creating an environment in which companies can flourish, and cosseting businesses so much that they become uncompetitive. The problem in developed countries has not, in recent years, been governments' unwillingness to help; it has been a lack of strategic vision. There has been too much micromanagement to encourage particular industries and particular behavior.
All governments and companies are at the mercy of these long-term trends. In the developed world, businesses are competing against companies from emerging economies that may be directly state-owned or at least have a lot of government support. Economic growth is faster in emerging markets, so that is where multinationals increasingly want to be; if rich-country governments over-regulate their domestic markets, they will get a progressively lower share of multinational investment. Investors in the rich world are more likely to prosper if big companies can take advantage of opportunities in developing countries; as the populations of rich nation's age, their pension funds need to accumulate claims on emerging markets.
Leaders on both sides should realize that an antagonistic relationship is in nobody's interest. Governments lose out if businesses find it hard to operate in their country, and businesses suffer if governments are not able to prevent political or financial turmoil. Governments need to focus on the big picture - in essence, provide a stable tax regime and an education system that produces well-qualified knowledge workers - rather than try to micromanage businesses through excessive regulation. Companies must understand that if they push tax avoidance too far they will alienate customers and undermine the societies in which they operate. At a time when the rich world is struggling to generate growth, governments and companies alike should acknowledge the fact that they are partners not enemies.

Section 2

Solution and Explanation

Questions 15-21

Which paragraph of the given passage contains the following information?

Choose the correct letter A-G.

A hierarchy is talked about.

Answer: A
Supporting statement:“......Under the feudal system of the middle Ages, everybody knew their place, even if they occasionally overstepped the mark..........”
Keywords: occasionally, overstepped
Keyword Location: para A, line 1
Explanation: The para talks about the feudal system of the Middle Ages, where there was a clear hierarchy in society. It was just like, with peasants owing allegiance to the squire, the squire to the nobleman, and the nobleman to the king.

Government is not willing to lend a hand to the countries.

Answer: E
Supporting statement:“......The problem in developed countries has not, in recent years, been governments' unwillingness to help; it has been a lack of strategic vision.........”
Keywords: countries, unwillingness
Keyword Location: para E, line 2
Explanation: This para mentions the problem of a lack of strategic vision in developed countries, rather than governments' unwillingness to help.

Voters are fuming due to long period of severity.

Answer: B
Supporting statement:“......It has been followed by a long period of austerity that has made voters angry and boosted support for populist parties on both left and right. .........”
Keywords: angry, boosted
Keyword Location: para B, line 3
Explanation: The para mentions the financial crisis of 2007-08 and the subsequent long period of austerity, which has made voters angry and boosted support for populist parties on both left and right.

Investors in prosperous companies are more likely to flourish.

Answer: F
Supporting statement:“...... Investors in the rich world are more likely to prosper if big companies can take advantage of opportunities in developing countries; as the populations of rich nations age, their .........”
Keywords: rich, companies
Keyword Location: para F, line 6
Explanation: This para talks about investors in the rich world being more likely to succeed if big companies can take advantage of opportunities in developing countries.

It's effortless to get information about individuals.

Answer: C
Supporting statement:“......The state is tempted to take advantage of this corporate knowledge,.........”
Keywords: tempted, knowledge
Keyword Location: para C, line 2
Explanation: The para mentions the growth of the internet, which has made it easier for both companies and the state to gather large amounts of information about individuals.

More budding companies, more antagonism.

Answer: D
Supporting statement:“.......This gives multinational firms more freedom to move around the world, but it also means that Western companies face ........”
Keywords: Western, companies
Keyword Location: para D, line 2
Explanation: This para mentions the impact of globalization, which gives multinational firms more freedom to move around the world but also increases competition from emerging-market titans with state backing.

Government should focus on an unwavering tax regime and an education system.

Answer: G
Supporting statement:“.......Governments need to focus on the big picture - in essence, provide a stable tax regime and an education system that produces well-qualified knowledge workers - rather than ........”
Keywords: stable, knowledge
Keyword Location: para G, line 3
Explanation: The para talks about the need for governments to focus on providing a stable tax regime and an education system. So that it that produces well-qualified knowledge workers, rather than excessive regulation of businesses.

Questions 22-25

Choose the correct letter A, B, C, OR D.

The state is lured to take advantage of corporate knowledge for

Intensifying business globally
Improving financial system of the state
Policing and anti-terrorism
Generating extra employment prospects

Answer: C
Supporting statement:“......The state is tempted to take advantage of this corporate knowledge, argely for policing and anti-terrorism reasons, but also feels the need to regulate how .........”
Keywords: policing, reasons
Keyword Location: para C, line 3
Explanation: The state is tempted to take advantage of corporate knowledge, largely for policing and anti-terrorism reasons.

More liberty to move around the globe is the impact of

Use of internet in day to day time
enhanced technology
Sophisticated communication system
Globalization

Answer: D
Supporting statement:“....... The third is the continuing impact of globalization. This gives multinational firms more freedom to move around the world,........”
Keywords: firms, freedom
Keyword Location: para D, line 1
Explanation: The continuing impact of globalization is discussed in this paragraph.

Companies are incapable to flourish in developed countries due to

Shortage of strategic vision
Government is not supporting
High level of contest
Less encouragement to a particular industry

Answer: A
Supporting statement:“.......There has been too much micromanagement to encourage particular industries and particular behavior.........”
Keywords: particular, behavior
Keyword Location: para E, line 4
Explanation: The para discusses the problem of a lack of strategic vision in developed countries, which has hindered the ability of companies to flourish.

According to the passage economic growth is more rapid in

Domestic markets
Emerging markets
Developed countries
International markets

Answer: B
Supporting statement:“......Economic growth is faster in emerging markets, so that is where multinationals increasingly want to be;.........”
Keywords: multinationals, increasingly
Keyword Location: para F, line 4
Explanation: This para talks about how economic growth is faster in emerging markets.

Business be ill with, if governments

Don't lend a hand to corporate business
Is incapable to prevent political or financial chaos
Is powerless to handle import and export trading
Is unable to trace tax evasions

Answer: B
Supporting statement:“.......Governments lose out if businesses find it hard to operate in their country, and businesses suffer if governments are not able to prevent political or financial turmoil. .......”
Keywords: businesses, turmoil
Keyword Location: para G, line 2
Explanation: The para discusses how both governments and businesses suffer if governments are not able to prevent political or financial turmoil.

Questions 27-28

Match each statement with the correct letter A-D.

Technology
Leaders
Companies
Government

Hostile relationship is not in anybody's interest, this should be realized by ....

Answer: B
Supporting statement:“...... Leaders on both sides should realize that an antagonistic relationship is in nobody's interest.........”
Keywords: relationship, interest
Keyword Location: para G, line 1
Explanation: The statement about realizing that an antagonistic relationship is not in anybody's interest should be understood by leaders on both sides.

They are partners not enemies, this must be acknowledged by business companies and

Answer: D
Supporting statement:“......At a time when the rich world is struggling to generate growth, governments and companies alike should acknowledge the fact that they are partners, not enemies..........”
Keywords: companies, enemies
Keyword Location: para G, line 8
Explanation: The statement about acknowledging that they are partners, not enemies, should be understood by governments.

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