Short Shrift Reading Answers

Sep 18, 2024

Short Shrift Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Short Shrift Reading Answers has a total of 14 IELTS questions in total. In 27-32, you have to choose the correct phrase and complete the sentences,33-40 the questions, there are questions where you have to fill in the blanks with correct answers.

Candidates should read the IELTS Reading passage thoroughly to recognize synonyms, identify keywords, and answer the questions below. IELTS Reading practice papers feature topics such as Short Shrift Reading Answers. Candidates can use IELTS reading practice questions and answers to enhance their performance in the reading section.

READING PASSAGE - 3

SHORT SHRIFT

The benefits of employing part-time staff are well known, but little has been done to improve the quality of, or access to part-time work. The long awaited consultation document on part-time work had the potential to tackle the long hours culture, underpin the government's family friendly stance and encourage flexibility in the labour market, but the reality is disappointing. Opting for a light touch, the regulations fail to improve the quality of part-time work or to aid the development of part-time work on a voluntary basis.

More than six million people (a quarter of the workforce) work part-time, including nearly one million men. Two categories - wholesale, retail and motor trade, and health and social work account for 45 percent of part-time jobs, with many more in the hospitality industry. The increase in part-time work has been a major feature of employment trends in the past decade, but most jobs remain low-paid and low in status. Many employers already acknowledge the key role that part-time work plays in employment strategies. Tesco, for example Is on record as describing its part-time workforce - which makes up 65% of the total as the 'lifeblood' of the organisation. Labour supplies can be tailored to trading peaks and demand for ever longer trading hours.

Furthermore, specialist jobs do not always require full-time cover, particularly in smaller organisations. Christine Pointer, a chief executive with a local authority who works with limited budgets, finds it better to employ a more senior professional on a part-time basis, rather than a less qualified person full-time. Part-time work at senior levels also helps to retain key staff who might otherwise leave the organisation. Unfortunately, not all employers recognise these potential benefits. In the health service for example, where few such opportunities exist, many doctors leave despite the high cost to the state of training them. And the insurance sector has lower levels of part-time working than any other area of financial services.

Sadly the widespread view that part-time work is primarily attractive to women with caring responsibilities is reinforced both by legislature and organizational culture. The growing trend for men to seek a better work/home balance is being ignored. Women have managed to negotiate limited access to part-time work at senior levels on the back of equal opportunities legislation. But the assumption remains that there is something odd about men who want to work part-time - they lack ambition and commitment to their employer. Disabled employees represent a large proportion of the workforce that could benefit from part-time work. The labour force identifies over two million economically active people with a long term health problem or disability. It also shows that nearly fifteen million people of working age judge themselves to be covered by the Disabilities Discriminations Act's definition of disability. This includes almost one

million who are not working but would like to. For many of them, part-time work is the simplest 'reasonable adjustment' that an employer can make.

On access to training for part-timers, the consultation document again disappoints. While placing an obligation on employers not to exclude

part-timers in principle, there is no legal requirement to structure training to accommodate them. New technologies can and do provide flexible access to training - making this omission inexcusable. Ironically the government is on record as saying that competitiveness depends on the UK making the best use of the talents of as many people as possible and that the larger the number of people to which business can look, the better. However, little is done to encourage the development of these talents in the workforce. Similarly nothing has been done to alter the perception of part-time work is a 'woman's issue'. A recent press release states 'the new measures will simplify the legal position for part-timers - 80% of whom are women who will no longer have to go down the indirect route of claiming discrimination under the sex discrimination act'. Wonderful! But occupational segregation is still maintained by gender. Anna Allen People management February 2000.

Questions 27-32

Choose one phrase from the box to complete each of the following key points.

Write the appropriate letters A-L.

NB - There are more phrases than key points so you will not use all of them.

You may use any of the headings more than once.

LIST OF PHRASES

Many of them are voluntary.
Most of them are poorly paid.
They don't have to provide training at appropriate times.
If they want to work part-time.
If they can't work part time.
Would like to work
Part-time senior professionals.
Wouldn't be able to work full-time.
Less qualified full-time employees.
People would prefer to work full-time.
Part-time female employees.
They don't have to offer training to part-timers.

Although there are many more part-time jobs,

Answer:B. Most of them are poorly paid.

Supporting statement:The increase in part-time work has been a major feature of employment trends in the past decade, but most jobs remain low-paid and low in status.

Keywords:part-time work,low-paid

Keyword Location:2nd paragraph,3rd line

Explanation:The increase in part-time work has been a major feature of employment trends in the past decade, but most jobs remain low-paid and low in status.

Often smaller organisations prefer to hire,

Answer:G. Part-time senior professionals.

Supporting statement:Furthermore, specialist jobs do not always require full-time cover, particularly in smaller organisations. Christine Pointer, a chief executive with a local authority who works with limited budgets, finds it better to employ a more senior professional on a part-time basis, rather than a less qualified person full-time

Keywords:smaller organization,senior professional

Keyword Location:3rd paragraph, 1st line

Explanation:Furthermore, specialist jobs do not always require full-time cover, particularly in smaller organisations. Christine Pointer, a chief executive with a local authority who works with limited budgets, finds it better to employ a more senior professional on a part-time basis, rather than a less qualified person full-time.

Senior staff might leave the organisation,

Answer:E. If they can't work part time.

Supporting statement:Part-time work at senior levels also helps to retain key staff who might otherwise leave the organisation.

Keywords:part-time,senior levels,leave

Keyword Location:3rd paragraph,last line

Explanation:Part-time work at senior levels also helps to retain key staff who might otherwise leave the organisation.

Senior staff might leave the organization, If they can't work part time.

Men are thought to lack ambition,

Answer:D. If they want to work part-time

Supporting statement:But the assumption remains that there is something odd about men who want to work part-time - they lack ambition and commitment to their employer.

Keywords:men,part-time, lack ambition

Keyword Location:4th paragraph,3rd line

Explanation:But the assumption remains that there is something odd about men who want to work part-time - they lack ambition and commitment to their employer.Men are thought to lack ambition,If they want to work part-time

Nearly one million disabled people

Answer:F. Would like to work

Supporting statement:Disabled employees represent a large proportion of the workforce that could benefit from part-time work.

Keywords:disabled, workforce, benefit

Keyword Location:4th paragraph, 4th line

Explanation:Disabled employees represent a large proportion of the workforce that could benefit from part-time work. Nearly one million disabled people would like to work.

Although employers are required not to discriminate against part-timers,

Answer:C. They don't have to provide training at appropriate times.

Supporting statement:On access to training for part-timers, the consultation document again disappoints. While placing an obligation on employers not to exclude part-timers in principle, there is no legal requirement to structure training to accommodate them

Keywords:training, obligation

Keyword Location:5th paragraph, 1st line

Explanation:On access to training for part-timers, the consultation document again disappoints. While placing an obligation on employers not to exclude

part-timers in principle, there is no legal requirement to structure training to accommodate them.Although employers are required not to discriminate against part-timers,they don't have to provide training at appropriate times.

Questions 33-40

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS.

Part-time employees can adapt to 33........ better than full time staff.

Answer:trading peaks /demand

Supporting statement:Labour supplies can be tailored to trading peaks and demand for ever longer trading hours.

Keywords:labor, trading peaks

Keyword Location:2nd paragraph,past line

Explanation:Labour supplies can be tailored to trading peaks and demand for ever longer trading hours. Thus the correct answer is trading peaks.

Many organisations assume that part-time work is only attractive to 34...

Answer:women

Supporting statement:Sadly the widespread view that part-time work is primarily attractive to women with caring responsibilities is reinforced both by legislature and organizational culture.

Keywords:women, legislature

Keyword Location:4th paragraph,1st line

Explanation:Sadly the widespread view that part-time work is primarily attractive to women with caring responsibilities is reinforced both by legislature and organizational culture.

Part-time work is available for women at senior levels because of 35.............

Answer:equal opportunities legislation

Supporting statement:Women have managed to negotiate limited access to part-time work at senior levels on the back of equal opportunities legislation.

Keywords:women, negotiate,senior levels,equal opportunities legislation

Keyword Location:4th paragraph,3rd line

Explanation:Women have managed to negotiate limited access to part-time work at senior levels on the back of equal opportunities legislation. Thus the correct answer is equal opportunities legislation.

Men who want to work part-time are considered to 36…….

Answer:be odd/lack ambition/lack commitment

Supporting statement:But the assumption remains that there is something odd about men who want to work part-time - they lack ambition and commitment to their employer.

Keywords:lack ambition, part-time

Keyword Location:4th paragraph, 3rd line

Employers could help 37... allowing them to work part-time. to find work by

Answer:disabled people/employees

Supporting statement:Disabled employees represent a large proportion of the workforce that could benefit from part-time work.For many of them, part-time work is the simplest 'reasonable adjustment' that an employer can make.

Keywords:disabled employees,part-time, adjustment

Keyword Location:4th paragraph,last line

Explanation:Disabled employees represent a large proportion of the workforce that could benefit from part-time work.For many of them, part-time work is the simplest 'reasonable adjustment' that an employer can make. Thus the correct answer is disabled people/employees.

New technology has made access to training 38…….

Answer:flexible

Supporting statement:New technologies can and do provide flexible access to training - making this omission inexcusable.

Keywords:flexible,new technologies

Keyword Location:5th paragraph,3rd line

Explanation:New technologies can and do provide flexible access to training - making this omission inexcusable. Thus the correct answer is flexible.

Despite statements to the contrary, part-time work is still seen as a 39…..

Answer: women's issues

Supporting statement:However, little is done to encourage the development of these talents in the workforce. Similarly nothing has been done to alter the perception of part-time work is a 'woman's issue'

Keywords: perception, women's issue

Keyword Location:5th paragraph,5th line

Explanation:However, little is done to encourage the development of these talents in the workforce. Similarly nothing has been done to alter the perception that part-time work is a 'woman's issue'. Thus the correct answer is women's issue.

The new legislation is designed to make 40............. of part-timers clearer.

Answer:the legal position

Supporting statement:A recent press release states 'the new measures will simplify the legal position for part-timers - 80% of whom are women who will no longer have to go down the indirect route of claiming discrimination under the sex discrimination act'.

Keywords:legal position, discrimination

Keyword Location:5th paragraph,6th line

Explanation:A recent press release states 'the new measures will simplify the legal position for part-timers - 80% of whom are women who will no longer have to go down the indirect route of claiming discrimination under the sex discrimination act'. Thus the correct answer is the legal position.

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