The Genuine Article Reading Answers

Jul 22, 2025

The Genuine Article Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. The Genuine Article Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the question set, you have to choose which paragraph contains the given statement. In the next question set, you have to complete the statement in no more than three words. In the last question set given, you have to state whether the statement is true, false or not given with the information given in the text

The IELTS Reading section is an essential part of the test that evaluates a candidate's comprehension and analysis of various passage types. You will work through a number of IELTS reading practice problems in this section that resemble actual test situations. These questions are designed to help you improve your ability to recognise essential concepts, extract particular facts, and make inferences. Practising these IELTS reading problems can help you get comfortable with the structure and increase your confidence for the exam, regardless of whether you are studying for the Academic or General Training module.

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Section 1

THE GENUINE ARTICLE

A.Many business books assume that potential leaders are a blank canvas onto which must be hurled a particular set of habits and characteristics in order to form the perfect chief executive of the future. Others assume that to become a better boss executives need do no more than ape other corporate high-flyers or draw inspiration from leaders in other walks of life. In this vein, for example, there is the Jack Welch model and the Richard Branson model.

B.Military commanders are a favourite military metaphors still abound in the corporate world and Napoleon and Alexander feature frequently. Alexander's record on globalisation, however, is the more appealing in the current business climate. Failure to make it in Moscow and being offshored on St Helena are not to be found on the CVS of potential business leaders of today.

C.Rob Goffee and Gareth Jones, two British academics, eschew the notion that effective bosses can be constructed piecemeal. Their implicit message is that bosses are born, or at least made before they delve into books on management. Rather than suggesting that high-quality leaders can be constructed from what they dismiss as an “amalgam of traits”, they stress that there are” universal leadership characteristics”. The talent that the pair thinks most vital is “authenticity”.

D.After 25 years spent observing well-regarded chief executives and good managers further down the ladder, the authors conclude that those who are true to characteristics they already possess make the best bosses. Their message to the aspiring high-flyer is “be yourself”, have a lot of self-knowledge and be comfortable with who you are. Identikit executives hiding behind the latest management fad, ambitious role players, time-servers and office politicians may manage to creep to the top. However, Messrs Jones and Goffee insist that those they seek to lead will soon find them out. Authenticity cannot be faked, they say, and a little eccentricity won't hurt either. The authors approvingly cite Mr Branson's casual style and endearing difference from the norm that his followers appreciate.

E.Displaying other differences, foibles or even shortcomings, they say, adds to the authenticity, and they give examples of the kinds of differences that bosses should exude. When CEO of Unilever, Niall FitzGerald gave free vent to his Irishness; Franz Humer's passion was on display for all to see at Roche; and the BBC revelled in Greg Dyke's “blokeishness”. The authors do concede that there are techniques which can improve leadership. Some characteristics work better than others, so play these up. However, they warn against phoney sincerity, and (perhaps surprisingly) they advocate displays of weakness. Mr Dyke had a notoriously bad temper; Alain Levy of PolyGram could be blunt and emotional. Appear human and your leadership will seem more attractive.

F.The authors go on to make some fairly obvious points that the truly authentic and self-aware could probably work out for themselves: be conscious of how well you read situations (and try to get better); conform (but not too much); get close to your underlings (but not too close); and communicate authentically too. Are you better at e-mail or face-to-face? They cite Mr Welch's use of experiences from his boyhood in his communiqués as a way of conveying authenticity. They suggest trying a little humour, which is surely not a good idea if you are not authentically funny.

G.It is a shame that the British authors offer many more examples from Europe than they do from America. The reader is left wondering whether revealing eccentricities in a land where conformity is more highly prized (and weaknesses where capitalism is reddest in tooth and claw) would meet with less success. Wal-Mart, Microsoft and other hugely successful American companies have been led by rather unexceptional people with little sense of humour.

H.Readers looking for detailed and specific advice on being a good manager may feel that the authors' message is a little too vague. Managers who are unpleasant by nature may also want to try another approach. That said, “be yourself” is doubtless good advice for anyone yearning to lead hundreds and thousands of employees. Or indeed anyone merely wishing to lead a happy life.

Questions 1-4

The text has 8 paragraphs (A-H). Which paragraph contains each of the following pieces of information?

1. People who try to be good managers simply by following the latest book's advice will be

seen as they really are by those they manage.

Answer: D

Supporting statement: “Identikit executives hiding behind the latest management fad…. However, Messrs Jones and Goffee insist that those they seek to lead will soon find them out.”

Keywords: management, executives

Keyword Location: Para D, Lines 4-5

Explanation: The text highlights that inauthentic managers will be recognised by their employees.

2. A brief comparison of overall European and American business styles.

Answer: G

Supporting statement: “The British authors offer many more examples from Europe... Wal-Mart, Microsoft... unexceptional people with little sense of humour.”

Keywords: British authors, Europe

Keyword Location: Para G, Line 1

Explanation: Paragraph G of the passage compares European eccentricity versus American conformity.

3 Ideas that conventional book suggest to those who wish to be business leaders.

Answer: A

Supporting statement: “Many business books assume... ape other corporate high-flyers...”

Keywords: business, books

Keyword Location: Para A, Line 1

Explanation: Paragraph A of the passage discusses how traditional books propose mimicking successful leaders.

4. How childhood experiences can help business leaders.

Answer: F

Supporting statement: They cite Mr Welch's use of experiences from his boyhood in his communiqués as a way of conveying authenticity.

Keywords: Mr Welch's, experiences

Keyword Location: Para F, Lines 4-5

Explanation: Paragraph F of the passage refers to using personal memories to convey authenticity.

Questions 5-8

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS.

5. Goffey and Jones do not believe business leaders are created by putting personal

qualities on a……………….

Answer: BLANK CANVAS

Supporting statement: “Many business books assume that potential leaders are a blank canvas onto which must be hurled a particular set of habits and characteristics...”

Keywords: potential leaders, blank canvas

Keyword Location: Para A, Lines 1-2

Explanation: This metaphor blank canvas, is used to describe how traditional business books see future leaders: as people with no traits of their own, ready to be shaped by external methods or role models. However, Goffee and Jones reject this idea. They argue that effective leaders are not built by layering on external qualities, but rather by understanding and staying true to their natural characteristics.

6. The surprising thing that Goffey and Jones recommend is occasionally showing…………….

Answer: WEAKNESS

Supporting statement: “However, they warn against phoney sincerity, and (perhaps surprisingly) they advocate displays of weakness.”

Keywords: sincerity, weakness

Keyword Location: Para E, Lines 6-7

Explanation: Goffee and Jones emphasise authenticity as the core quality of effective leadership. In this context, they suggest that even showing one’s flaws or vulnerabilities can make a leader appear more genuine and relatable. This is surprising because traditional leadership advice often stresses strength, confidence, and control. But according to the authors, revealing small weaknesses helps a leader appear more human and builds trust with their team.

7. Really………….. people probably don't need to read Goffey and Jones' book to discover many of their ideas about what makes a good business leader.

Answer: AUTHENTIC AND SELF-AWARE

Supporting statement: “The authors go on to make some fairly obvious points that the truly authentic and self-aware could probably work out for themselves...”

Keywords: authors, authentic and self-aware

Keyword Location: Para F, Lines 1-2

Explanation: In this line, the authors acknowledge that many of their leadership insights, such as being genuine, understanding oneself, and behaving naturally, are not new revelations for people who are already authentic and self-aware.

8. The article suggests that authenticity is good advice for people who want ……………as well as for potential business leaders.

Answer: A HAPPY LIFE

Supporting statement: “‘Be yourself” is doubtless good advice for anyone yearning to lead hundreds and thousands of employees. Or indeed anyone merely wishing to lead a happy life.”

Keywords: Be yourself, hundreds and thousands

Keyword Location: Para H, Lines 3-4

Explanation: The passage states that by broadening the message of authenticity, it's not just useful for becoming a better leader but also for living a more fulfilling and happy personal life. Being true to oneself benefits everyone, not just CEOs.

Questions 9-13

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text? Write:

TRUE — if the information in the text agrees with the statement.

FALSE — if the information in the text contradicts the statement.

NOT GIVEN — if there is no information on this.

9. Alexander is currently more fashionable as a model for business leaders than Napoleon.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “Military commanders are a favourite... Napoleon and Alexander feature frequently. Alexander’s record on globalisation, however, is the more appealing in the current business climate.”

Keywords: commanders, Alexander’s

Keyword Location: Para B, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The text clearly states that Alexander's approach, especially his “record on globalisation,” is more aligned with modern business trends, making him more fashionable than Napoleon.

10. Goffee and Jones believe that business leaders should act naturally.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “Their message to the aspiring high-flyer is “be yourself”, have a lot of self-knowledge and be comfortable with who you are.”

Keywords: high-flyer, self-knowledge

Keyword Location: Para D, Lines 3-4

Explanation: Goffee and Jones emphasise authenticity, encouraging leaders to behave according to their true personalities rather than copying others.

11. A good business leader should be very friendly with the people working under him/her.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “Get close to your underlings (but not too close)...”

Keywords: underlings

Keyword Location: Para F, Line 3

Explanation: The authors warn against being overly friendly or intimate with subordinates. There should be some professional distance, so the statement contradicts the text.

12. The writer thinks that using humour is not always a good idea.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “They suggest trying a little humour, which is surely not a good idea if you are not authentically funny.”

Keywords: humour, authentically

Keyword Location: Para F, Line 6

Explanation: The writer of the passage adds a cautionary note stating that humour can backfire if it's forced or unnatural, suggesting that it's not always appropriate.

13. The examples given in the article prove that business leaders in Europe and in America need different characteristics.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “The reader is left wondering whether... would meet with less success.”

Keywords: reader, wondering

Keyword Location: Para G, Line 2

Explanation: The Passage raises whether the same traits work in both places, but does not provide proof. So, it doesn’t prove different traits are needed—it only speculates.

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