Workplace Harassment Reading Answers

May 20, 2025

Workplace Harassment Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Workplace Harassment Reading Answers has a total of 9 IELTS questions in total. In questions (13-16), you have to fill the blanks with the correct option in no more than one word from the given text. In questions (17–21), you have to fill the blanks with the correct option in no more than two words from the given 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 some 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 WORKPLACE HARASSMENT

If you believe that you are being subjected to undue pressure from a colleague or manager, there are clear guidelines you can follow to find a resolution.

How do I know if I am being harassed? The person causing the issue...

- is being verbally hostile — making unfair comments or criticising you or your work unduly

or in an excessively public manner.

- is withholding resources without clear explanation ('resources' can refer to information,

training or equipment so you can't complete your job properly).

- encourages co-workers to contribute to the harassment.

What should I do if I feel I am being harassed?

- Keep records: Every time you feel you are being harassed, make a note of it - where, when,

who was responsible, potential witnesses etc. This is invaluable evidence in a harassment

case if you decide to take action.

- Talk to your manager: Assuming this is not the person concerned, you should report the

situation to your manager. Remember that you are entitled to confidentiality and in the

majority of cases the issue can be resolved without compromising this. If the problem is

with your manager, you can approach senior management in writing with the issue.

- Avoid directly responding to the harassment: As soon as you retaliate against the person

harassing you, the company is unable to successfully support your case. If you feel that

the situation has become intolerable and you cannot work with the person concerned, you

need to discuss the matter immediately with your manager.

- Don't feel that you would better off if you left: The company prides itself on providing a

welcoming, positive atmosphere for staff. If someone is acting in a manner which means

this is not possible, we need to know!

Remember that if you quit, the person concerned will more than likely repeat the behaviour

with the next member of staff, but with additional confidence in having been successful in

intimidating other staff.

Questions 13–16

Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD for each answer.

Feelings of unfair (13)……. from workmates or superiors may come from being the victim of workplace harassment.

Answer: PRESSURE

Supporting statement: undue pressure from a colleague or manager,

Keywords: pressure, manager

Keyword Location: Para opening line, Line 1

Explanation: According to the text, if a person undergoes workplace harassment, they could feel pressured by their supervisors and coworkers.

This is characterised by having your work or yourself overly criticised in (14)…………,

Answer: PUBLIC

Supporting statement: making unfair comments or criticising you or your work unduly

or in an excessively public manner.

Keywords: criticising, excessively

Keyword Location: Para 1, Lines 1-2

Explanation: According to the guidelines mentioned in the work in the text, it is clear that an employee may be subjected to workplace harassment if their work or they themselves are being criticised by their superiors or co-workers publicly in front of everyone.

or by being prevented from the completion of your job through lack of access to proper (15)…………

Answer: RESOURCES

Supporting statement: is withholding resources without clear explanation ('resources' can refer to information, training or equipment so you can't complete your job properly).

Keywords: resources, information

Keyword Location: Para 1, Line 3

Explanation: One of the ways an employee might be getting harassed is if they are not allowed access to the required resources, which refer to information, training or equipment required to complete their job properly.

You may also find that (16)…………. support (and are motivated by) the perpetrator in actions against you.

Answer: CO-WORKERS

Supporting statement: encourages co-workers to contribute to the harassment.

Keywords: co-workers, harassment

Keyword Location: Para1, Line 5

Explanation: According to the text, the perpetrator might encourage other people, usually co-workers, to take part in the harassment against the person they are harassing.

Questions 17–21

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.

- Keep notes/records as (17)............. of harassment

Answer: EVIDENCE

Supporting statement: Every time you feel you are being harassed, make a note of it

Keywords: invaluable, evidence

Keyword Location: Para 2, Line 1

Explanation: The text states that make a note of everything that occurs whenever you feel harassed, including the location, time, perpetrator, any eyewitnesses, etc. In case you choose to pursue action in a harassment case as all of these are vital evidence which can help you.

- Talk to the manager unless this is the person involved (if so, approach (18)..............

Answer: SENIOR MANAGEMENT

Supporting statement: you can approach senior management in writing with the issue.

Keywords: senior management, issue

Keyword Location: Para 3, Line 4

Explanation: According to the text, approach senior management in case you are being harassed by your manager.

- Don't (19)........... -approach management immediately.

Answer: RETALIATE

Supporting statement: As soon as you retaliate against the person harassing you, the company is unable to successfully support your case.

Keywords: retaliate, support

Keyword Location: Para 4, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The text mentions that it is best not to retaliate against the person who is harassing you because, as soon as you do that, you make it impossible for the company to support your case, as you have already confronted the person involved.

- Don't (20)............ your position. This does not help you or the company, and gives the perpetrator more (21)...........

Answer: QUIT

Supporting statement: Remember that if you quit, the person concerned will more

Keywords: quit, concerned

Keyword Location: Para 5, Line 4

Explanation: According to the text, you should never quit in case of workplace harassment, as it makes the perpetrators bolder.

Answer: CONFIDENCE

Supporting statement: but with additional confidence in having been successful in intimidating other staff.

Keywords: confidence, staff

Keyword Location: Para 5, Lines 5-6

Explanation: According to the text, the person harassing anyone in work workplace might gain more confidence if the person they were harassing quit, and they might harass someone else as they think they have successfully harassed someone before.

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