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IELTS LISTENING Matching the person to the job IELTS LISTENING listening practice test has 10 questions belong to the summary completion.
TUTOR: Good morning. So, we’ve looked at various aspects of Q21staff selection this term and uh I think by now you should be beginning to see how much more there is to it than just putting applicants through a short interview or asking the ‘right’ questions. So I think you should be ready for today’s tutorial on ‘matching the person to the job’.
We’re going to talk today about the importance of choosing that all-round ‘right’ person.
MURIEL: Right. So we have to put ourselves into the role of the manager or supervisor?
TUTOR: Yes. And then we’re going to imagine how different applicants would fit into the team or group they have to work with we’ll look at some examples later.
MURIEL: It’s just theoretical at the moment…
TUTOR: Yes. The point is, you can select someone even a friend who has all the right qualifications degrees certificates, whatever. You can also check that they have a lot of experience that they’ve done the sort of tasks that you want them to do in your office already, in a similar environment. But if they start work and you realize that they just Q22don’t get along with everybody else that say they’ve got sharply contrasting views on how something will work well, with the best will in the world, you may be backing a loser.
MURIEL: Wouldn’t it be just a question of company training, though?
TUTOR: Not always. Particularly in a team situation, and I think it’s important to think in terms of that type of working environment. People have to have faith in Q23each other’s ability to carry out the task their boss has set them. They have to trust that everyone will do their part of the job, and you can’t necessarily train people for this.
MURIEL: But it’s like trying to find out what someone’s personality is like in a job interview I mean you just can’t do that. Even if you try, you won’t find out what they’re really like until they actually start work.
TUTOR: Well, in most interviews you usually Q24ask candidates questions about their hobbies and what they like doing in their spare time that sort of thing so employers are already involved in the practice of well doing part of the task.
MURIEL: But it doesn’t tell you anything. It doesn’t tell you if they’re easy-going or hate smokers or whatever.
TUTOR: Well, arguably it does give you a bit of information about an applicant’s character, but also more and more employers around the world are making use of what are called ‘personality questionnaires’ to help them select new staff and…
MURIEL: What’s it called?
TUTOR: A Personality Questionnaire. They have to be filled out by the candidates sometime during the Q25selection procedure, often just before an interview. The idea is actually quite old. Apparently they were used by Q26the ancient Chinese for picking out clerks and civil servants, and then later they were used by the Q27military to put people in appropriate areas of work. They’ve gained a lot of ground since then and there are about 80,000 different tests available now and Q28almost two-thirds of the large employers use them.
MURIEL: Which makes you think that there must be something in them.
TUTOR: That’s right. They ask the sort of questions that you might expect, like do you like working under pressure or are you good at keeping deadlines.
MURIEL: And what if people can see through them and just write what they think the employer wants to see?
TUTOR: Well that’s always a possibility.
MURIEL: I mean, it’s human nature to lie, isn’t it?
TUTOR: Well, that’s the point. Apparently it isn’t. These tests are compiled by Q29experts and they believe that the answers can provide a few simple indicators as to roughly the type of person that you are that people will generally be truthful in that situation.
MURIEL: And then you can go some way towards finding out whether someone say, forward-looking a go-ahead type of person or resistant to change.
TUTOR: Yes. And there are all kinds of other methods…
IELTS LISTENING Helpline Details listening practice test has 10 questions belong to the informal meeting.
Hello, everybody and welcome to this informal meeting about the University Helpline. The Helpline was set up 10 years ago by the Students Union and it aims to provide new students to the university with a service that they can use if they need information about practical areas of student life that they’re unfamiliar with.
Let me give you some examples of the type of help we can offer. We can provide information on financial matters; for example, you may feel that your grant is insufficient to see you through college life or you may have some queries regarding the Q11tuition fees you’re paying if you’re an overseas student. In both cases, the Helpline would be able to go through things with you and see what the outcome might be.
Another area we can help with is what we generally term the ‘Q12domestic area‘ things such as childcare and the availability of nursery provision, for example, come under this. Then there’s ‘academic’ issues that may arise while you’re in the early stages of your course that you may not know what to do about. You may wish to know more about Q13essay deadlines, for example, or how to use the library there are all kinds of questions you will find yourself asking and not knowing where to get quick answers from. The helpline would be able to provide these. The last example I’ve given here is simply termed ‘social’ and yes, there is a lot of Q14social life here! But you may have a particular interest you wish to pursue or you may wish to participate in Q15outings or trips if you don’t know many people at the moment.
Let me give you some details so that you know where to go and who to see if you want to pay us a visit. Generally you’ll see our Helpline officer Jackie Q16Kouachi that’s K-O-U-A-C-H-I. Jackie is a full-time employee of the Student Union and she works in the Student Welfare office that’s the office that deals with all matters related to student welfare and it’s located at 13 Marshall Road.
I have some maps here for those of you who haven’t been there yet. If you wish to ring the office the number is 326 99 40. That’s Q173269940. The office is open between 9.30 and 6 o’clock on weekdays and from Q1810 to 4 on Saturdays and there’ll be somebody there usually Jackie or myself between those times. If you want to make Q19an appointment you can phone or call at the office in person. Please note that it may not be possible for anyone to see you straight away particularly if it’s a busy time lunchtime for example and you may have to go on the Q20waiting list and then come back later.
IELTS LISTENING Programme of Activities for First Day listening practice test has 10 questions belong to the Campus Facilities.
RECEPTIONIST: Sorry to keep you waiting. Well, firstly, let me give you this booklet. It tells you a bit more about the school, the courses and the social activities we offer. Now, on the first page, there’s an outline of this morning’s activities. There, you see? The program starts at 10 o’clock.
Try not to be late as it’s a very full day.
At 10 o’clock, all the new students will gather in Q1the Main Hall to meet the principal and the rest of the staff. In fact, you spend most of the morning in the Main Hall.
RECEPTIONIST: I’ll show you in a minute. Just let me quickly run through this morning’s events first and then I’ll explain how to get there.
STUDENT: Yes, okay.
RECEPTIONIST: Right. Where were we? Yes, so, the Principal’s talk will last about 15 minutes and then Q2the Director of Studies will talk to you for half an hour about the courses and the different requirements for each. After that, Q3the Student Advisor will tell you about the various services and activities we offer to students. Any questions?
STUDENT: So, all of this is in the Main Hall?
RECEPTIONIST: That’s right. And then you’ll go next door to Classroom five at Q4eleven o’clock.
STUDENT: What happens there?
RECEPTIONIST: You’ll have a test.
STUDENT: Test? I don’t like the sound of that. What sort of test?
RECEPTIONIST: Oh, it’s nothing to worry about. It’s just a Q5placement test to help us find your level of English so that we can put you in the right class. It won’t last long.
STUDENT: But how do I find the Main Hall?
RECEPTIONIST: Right; if you look on the back of the booklet I gave you, you’ll see a map of the school. Let me show you. Look: you came in through the Main Entrance, here, and now we’re here at Reception. Now, to get to the Main Hall, you walk on to the end of this corridor in front of you and then you turn left. Walk along past the Language Laboratory and then pass the Q6Library, which is next to the Language Lab, on the same side, and facing you is the Q7Main Hall, at the end of the corridor. You can’t miss it.
STUDENT: So, it’s next to the Library, in fact.
RECEPTIONIST: Yes, that’s right.
STUDENT: I should be able to find that. And do you have a Q8Computer Laboratory?
RECEPTIONIST: Yes, we do.
STUDENT: Could you tell me where that is?
RECEPTIONIST: Certainly, yes. You go down to the end of this corridor again but, this time, don’t turn left; turn right, away from the Main Hall. The Computer Lab is immediately on your right. Okay?
STUDENT: And where’s the staff room, in case I need to find the teacher at some stage?
RECEPTIONIST: TheQ9staff room is near the main entrance, on the left over there, just opposite the Reception desk. In a day or two, I’m sure you’ll find your way around very easily.
STUDENT: Oh, one last thing. Is there a Q10student common room?
RECEPTIONIST: Oh yes, I forgot to mention that. It’s this area here, very close to where we are now, to the right of the Reception desk as you come in the main entrance. There’s tea and coffee facilities there.
IELTS listening People with back painlistening practice test has 10 questions belongs to the Medical Advice.
ANNOUNCER: Today’s Health Counsel is presented by Paula Clayburg, who is the chief Counsellor at Liverpool’s famous pain clinic – The Wilton Clinic. Paula…
PAULA CLAYBURG: Do you know what Prince Charles, Seve Ballesteros and Elizabeth Taylor have in common? They all suffer from chronic back pain. In fact, bad backs are one of the most common health problems today, affecting people in all walks of life. The most recent available figures show that about a Q31quarter of a million people are incapacitated with back pain every day.
And many sufferers don’t know the cause or the solution to their problem. The majority of our patients at the clinic tend to be women. They are especially vulnerable because of pregnancy but also because of Q32osteoporosis, which I personally believe to be the major cause of problems for women. I have many women patients who say they have completely given up exercise because the pain makes them so miserable. But of course, that starts up a vicious circle. Bed rest, giving up exercise and pain killers are traditional responses to back pain but, although there are many excellent drugs on the market, at our clinic we are beginning to realise the unique benefits of Q33relaxation therapy. Other specialists in the field make a strong case for certain types of exercise, but in our experience, they are easily mishandled and can lead to more harm than good.
Now, let’s look at some of the reasons why back pain is developing into such a unique menace. In general, the body is pretty good at self-repair. A strain or a blow to a limb, though painful at the time, generally resolves itself. But the body’s Q34response to back injury can be very counterproductive. When pain strikes, we attempt to keep the back as immobile as possible, which makes the muscles tense up. Research shows that they often go into spasm, which causes further twisting of the spine. A vicious circle is underway. The second mistake we often make when stricken with extreme back pain is to go to bed and stay there. Although at the clinic we recognise that a short rest in bed can be helpful… Q35up to two days… any longer makes our back muscles become weaker and unable to hold up our spine. The pain, therefore, becomes worse.
Another problem is being overweight. Anyone a stone or more overweight who already has back pain is not doing himself any favours: though it won’t actually set it off in the first place, the weight will increase the strain and Q36make things worse. The British diet could be partially to blame for the increase in back pain: over the last ten years, the average weight of men has risen by 11 lbs and of women by 9 lbs. So much for the causes and aggravations of pain. But what can we do to help?
There are many ways in which simple day-to-day care can make all the difference. The first point to watch of course is ‘weight’. If you are overweight, a diet will make all the difference. Also, studies have shown that just one hour sitting in a slouched position can strain ligaments in the back which can take months to heal. At the clinic, we have come to the conclusion that the major cause of the problem is not with the design of chairs, as some have suggested, but in the way we sit in them. It can be useful to get special orthopaedic chairs, but remember the most important improvement should be in our posture.
Another enemy of your back is, of course, your beds. If your bed doesn’t give enough support, back muscles and ligaments work all night trying to correct spinal alignment, so you wake up with a tired aching back. Try out an Q37orthopaedic mattress or a spring slatted bed. Research shows that both can be beneficial for certain types of back pain.
Another hazard for your back are the shock waves which travel up your spine when you walk, known as heel strike. A real find for our patients has been the Q38shock-absorbing shoe insert. A cheap but very effective solution. And you might be better off Q39avoiding shoes with heels higher than 1 and 1/2 inches. Though absolutely flat shoes can be a solution for some, others find their posture suffers. Finally a word about the state-of-the-art relief – the TENS machine -a small battery-powered gadget which delivers subliminal electrical pulses to the skin. Our experience indicates that your money is Q40better spent on the more old-fashioned remedies.
Another problem is being overweight. Anyone a stone or more overweight who already has back pain is not doing himself any favours: though it won’t actually set it off in the first place, the weight will increase the strain and