Cambridge IELTS 14 Academic Reading Test 2: answers explained

Explanation for each answer

Passage 1 · Q1–13 Alexander Henderson (1831-1913)

1. Question 1

   True / False / Not Given

   Question

   Henderson rarely visited the area around Press estate when he was younger.

   Answer

   FALSE

   Location

   Passage 1, paragraph 1

   Sentence in the passage

   The family often stayed at Press Castle, the large mansion on the northern edge of the property, and Alexander spent much of his childhood in the area, playing on the beach near Eyemouth or fishing in the streams nearby.

   Explanation

   The statement says Henderson rarely visited the Press estate area when he was younger. The passage contradicts this. The last sentence of the first paragraph says 'Alexander spent much of his childhood in the area'. The first sentence of the second paragraph adds, 'Even after he went to school... Henderson returned to Press at weekends'. This clearly shows he visited the area frequently, not rarely. Therefore, the statement is false.

2. Question 2

   True / False / Not Given

   Question

   Henderson pursued a business career because it was what his family wanted.

   Answer

   TRUE

   Location

   Passage 1, paragraph 2

   Sentence in the passage

   Although he never liked the prospect of a business career, he stayed with it to please his family.

   Explanation

   The statement claims Henderson pursued a business career because his family wanted him to. The third sentence of the second paragraph states, 'Although he never liked the prospect of a business career, he stayed with it to please his family.' This directly supports the statement, confirming that his reason for continuing with a business career was to satisfy his family.

3. Question 3

   True / False / Not Given

   Question

   Henderson and Notman were surprised by the results of their 1865 experiment.

   Answer

   NOT GIVEN

   Location

   Passage 1, paragraph 3

   Sentence in the passage

   The two men made a photographic excursion to Niagara Falls in 1860 and they cooperated on experiments with magnesium flares as a source of artificial light in 1865.

   Explanation

   The statement asks if Henderson and Notman were surprised by the results of their 1865 experiment. The passage mentions their experiment in the third sentence of the third paragraph: 'they cooperated on experiments with magnesium flares as a source of artificial light in 1865'. However, the passage describes the experiment itself but provides no information about the results or how Henderson and Notman reacted to them. Therefore, the statement is not given in the passage.

4. Question 4

   True / False / Not Given

   Question

   There were many similarities between Henderson’s early landscapes and those of Notman.

   Answer

   FALSE

   Location

   Passage 1, paragraph 4

   Sentence in the passage

   In spite of their friendship, their styles of photography were quite different.

   Explanation

   The statement suggests there were many similarities between the early landscapes of Henderson and Notman. The passage explicitly states the opposite. The first sentence of the fourth paragraph says, 'In spite of their friendship, their styles of photography were quite different.' The second sentence elaborates, describing Notman's landscapes as having 'bold realism' while Henderson's early work produced 'romantic images, showing the strong influence of the British landscape tradition'. The passage highlights the differences, not similarities, making the statement false.

5. Question 5

   True / False / Not Given

   Question

   The studio that Henderson opened in 1866 was close to his home.

   Answer

   NOT GIVEN

   Location

   Passage 1, paragraph 5

   Sentence in the passage

   In 1866, he gave up his business to open a photographic studio, advertising himself as a portrait and landscape photographer.

   Explanation

   The statement asks if the studio Henderson opened in 1866 was close to his home. The first sentence of the fifth paragraph states, 'In 1866, he gave up his business to open a photographic studio'. The passage mentions that he opened a studio and what type of photographer he was, but it provides no information about the location of this studio relative to his home. Therefore, this information is not given in the passage.

6. Question 6

   True / False / Not Given

   Question

   Henderson gave up portraiture so that he could focus on taking photographs of scenery.

   Answer

   TRUE

   Location

   Passage 1, paragraph 5

   Sentence in the passage

   From about 1870 he dropped portraiture to specialize in landscape photography and other views.

   Explanation

   The statement says Henderson stopped doing portrait photography to focus on scenery. The second sentence of the fifth paragraph states, 'From about 1870 he dropped portraiture to specialize in landscape photography and other views.' 'Dropped portraiture' means he gave it up, and 'specialize in landscape photography and other views' indicates focusing on scenery. This sentence directly confirms the reason for him giving up portraiture.

7. Question 7

   True / False / Not Given

   Question

   When Henderson began work for the Intercolonial Railway, the Montreal to Halifax line had been finished.

   Answer

   FALSE

   Location

   Passage 1, paragraph 7

   Sentence in the passage

   That same year, while in the lower St Lawrence River region, he took some photographs of the construction of the Intercolonial Railway.

   Explanation

   Henderson's first railway photographs, in 1872, came while the Intercolonial line was still being built. The commission to record the nearly finished Montreal to Halifax route only followed in 1875. So the line was not complete when he started, which contradicts the statement and makes it FALSE.

8. Question 8

   True / False / Not Given

   Question

   Henderson’s last work as a photographer was with the Canadian Pacific Railway.

   Answer

   TRUE

   Location

   Passage 1, paragraph 8

   Sentence in the passage

   In 1892 Henderson accepted a full-time position with the CPR as manager of a photographic department which he was to set up and administer.

   Explanation

   The statement says Henderson's final photography work was with the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). The first sentence of the eighth paragraph states that in 1892, Henderson 'accepted a full-time position with the CPR'. The last sentence of the same paragraph says, 'He continued in this post until 1897, when he retired completely from photography.' This indicates that his position with the CPR was the one he held until he retired completely from photography, meaning it was his last work.

9. Question 9

   Note completion

   Question

   was born in Scotland in 1831 – father was a ______

   Answer

   merchant

   Location

   Passage 1, paragraph 1

   Sentence in the passage

   Alexander Henderson was born in Scotland in 1831 and was the son of a successful merchant.

   Explanation

   The note says Henderson's father was a __________. The first sentence of the first paragraph states, 'Alexander Henderson was born in Scotland in 1831 and was the son of a successful merchant.' This directly provides the information needed to fill the blank. The word 'merchant' fits grammatically and meets the 'ONE WORD ONLY' limit.

10. Question 10

    Note completion

    Question

    people bought Henderson’s photos because photography took up considerable time and the ______ was heavy

    Answer

    equipment

    Location

    Passage 1, paragraph 5

    Sentence in the passage

    There was little competing hobby or amateur photography before the late 1880s because of the time-consuming techniques involved and the weight of equipment.

    Explanation

    The note lists reasons people bought Henderson's photos, including that photography took a long time and the __________ was heavy. The fifth sentence of the fifth paragraph explains why there was little amateur photography: 'because of the time-consuming techniques involved and the weight of equipment.' This provides the missing word 'equipment' that was heavy and contributed to people buying professional photos like Henderson's. 'Equipment' is one word and fits the blank.

11. Question 11

    Note completion

    Question

    the photographs Henderson sold were ______ or souvenirs

    Answer

    gifts

    Location

    Passage 1, paragraph 5

    Sentence in the passage

    People wanted to buy photographs as souvenirs of a trip or as gifts, and catering to this market, Henderson had stock photographs on display at his studio for mounting, framing, or inclusion in albums.

    Explanation

    The note says the photographs Henderson sold were __________ or souvenirs. The last sentence of the fifth paragraph states, 'People wanted to buy photographs as souvenirs of a trip or as gifts...'. This sentence lists the two main purposes for buying photographs: as souvenirs or as gifts. The word 'gifts' fits the blank and adheres to the 'ONE WORD ONLY' rule.

12. Question 12

    Note completion

    Question

    took many trips along eastern rivers in a ______

    Answer

    canoe

    Location

    Passage 1, paragraph 7

    Sentence in the passage

    He was especially fond of the wilderness and often travelled by canoe on the Blanche, du Lièvre, and other noted eastern rivers.

    Explanation

    The note mentions Henderson took trips along eastern rivers in a __________. The second sentence of the seventh paragraph says, 'He was especially fond of the wilderness and often travelled by canoe on the Blanche, du Lièvre, and other noted eastern rivers.' This sentence specifies the mode of transport used for travelling on eastern rivers. The word 'canoe' fits the blank and meets the 'ONE WORD ONLY' limit.

13. Question 13

    Note completion

    Question

    worked for CPR in 1885 and photographed the ______ and the railway at Rogers Pass

    Answer

    mountains

    Location

    Passage 1, paragraph 7

    Sentence in the passage

    In 1885 he went west along the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) as far as Rogers Pass in British Columbia, where he took photographs of the mountains and the progress of construction.

    Explanation

    The note states that in 1885, Henderson worked for the CPR and photographed the __________ and the railway at Rogers Pass. The last sentence of the seventh paragraph states, 'In 1885 he went west along the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) as far as Rogers Pass in British Columbia, where he took photographs of the mountains and the progress of construction.' This sentence lists what he photographed at Rogers Pass: 'the mountains and the progress of construction'. The word 'mountains' fits the blank before 'and the railway' (which is implied by 'progress of construction') and meets the 'ONE WORD ONLY' rule.

Passage 2 · Q14–26 Back to the future of skyscraper design

1. Question 14

   Matching information

   Question

   why some people avoided hospitals in the 19th century

   Answer

   F

   Location

   Paragraph F

   Sentence in the passage

   The prosperous steered clear of hospitals.

   Explanation

   The question asks for the reason people avoided hospitals in the 19th century. The correct answer is Section F. According to the passage's structure (defined by `sectionrange`), Section F comprises the sixth paragraph of the passage. This paragraph discusses the fear of 'miasmas' (toxic air) and how it was believed to spread disease, including 'hospital fever'. The fourth sentence of this paragraph states, 'The prosperous steered clear of hospitals.' This sentence, in the context of the preceding discussion about feared diseases and 'hospital fever', explains why some people (the prosperous) avoided hospitals during that time.

2. Question 15

   Matching information

   Question

   a suggestion that the popularity of tall buildings is linked to prestige

   Answer

   C

   Location

   Paragraph C

   Sentence in the passage

   Short regards glass, steel and air-conditioned skyscrapers as symbols of status, rather than practical ways of meeting our requirements.

   Explanation

   The question asks for a suggestion that the popularity of tall buildings (skyscrapers) is linked to prestige. The correct answer is Section C. According to the passage's structure (defined by `sectionrange`), Section C comprises the third paragraph of the passage. The fourth sentence of this paragraph states: 'Short regards glass, steel and air-conditioned skyscrapers as symbols of status, rather than practical ways of meeting our requirements.' The phrase 'symbols of status' directly suggests that these tall buildings are popular because they are associated with prestige.

3. Question 16

   Matching information

   Question

   a comparison between the circulation of air in a 19th-century building and modern standards

   Answer

   E

   Location

   Paragraph E

   Sentence in the passage

   ‘We discovered that 19th-century hospital wards could generate up to 24 air changes an hour – that’s similar to the performance of a modern-day, computer-controlled operating theatre.

   Explanation

   The question asks for a comparison between the air circulation in a 19th-century building and modern standards. The correct answer is Section E. According to the passage's structure (defined by `sectionrange`), Section E comprises the fifth paragraph of the passage. The first sentence of this paragraph explicitly makes this comparison: 'We discovered that 19th-century hospital wards could generate up to 24 air changes an hour - that's similar to the performance of a modern-day, computer-controlled operating theatre.' This directly compares the ventilation rate of old buildings to that of a modern operating theatre.

4. Question 17

   Matching information

   Question

   how Short tested the circulation of air in a 19th-century building

   Answer

   D

   Location

   Paragraph D

   Sentence in the passage

   ‘We spent three years digitally modelling Billings’ final designs,’ says Short.

   Explanation

   Only section D describes an actual test: a three-year digital model of Billings' hospital designs, with coughing TB patients and pathogens added to the airflow. Section E also mentions air changes in old wards, but it reports the result, not the testing method, so D is the match.

5. Question 18

   Matching information

   Question

   an implication that advertising led to the large increase in the use of air conditioning

   Answer

   B

   Location

   Paragraph B

   Sentence in the passage

   Instead, he shows it is entirely possible to accommodate natural ventilation and cooling in large buildings by looking into the past, before the widespread introduction of air conditioning systems, which were ‘relentlessly and aggressively marketed’ by their inventors.

   Explanation

   Section B hints that air conditioning spread because of sales tactics. It says the systems were 'relentlessly and aggressively marketed' by their inventors, with the past being a time before they were widely introduced. No other section links advertising to growth in air conditioning use.

6. Question 19

   Summary completion

   Question

   Professor Alan Short examined the work of John Shaw Billings, who influenced the architectural ______ of hospitals to ensure they had good ventilation.

   Answer

   design(s)

   Location

   Paragraph D

   Sentence in the passage

   Short’s book highlights a developing and sophisticated art and science of ventilating buildings through the 19th and earlier-20th centuries, including the design of ingeniously ventilated hospitals.

   Explanation

   The question states that John Shaw Billings influenced the architectural __________ of hospitals. The passage, in Section D (paragraph 4), mentions Billings and his influence: 'Short's book highlights a developing and sophisticated art and science of ventilating buildings through the 19th and earlier-20th centuries, including the design of ingeniously ventilated hospitals. Of particular interest were those built to the designs of John Shaw Billings...'. The sentence mentions Billings' 'designs' in relation to ingeniously ventilated hospitals. The word 'designs' fits grammatically after 'architectural' and refers to the plans or style of building, influencing good ventilation as mentioned. It is ONE WORD ONLY.

7. Question 20

   Summary completion

   Question

   He calculated that ______ in the air coming from patients suffering form … would not have harmed other patients.

   Answer

   pathogens

   Location

   Paragraph D

   Sentence in the passage

   ‘We put pathogens* in the airstreams, modelled for someone with tuberculosis (TB) coughing in the wards and we found the ventilation systems in the room would have kept other patients safe from harm.

   Explanation

   The summary describes what was added to the modelled airflow from a coughing TB patient. The passage says Short put pathogens in the airstreams, then found the ventilation kept other patients safe. Pathogens is one word and fits the gap; the asterisk beside it in the passage signals a glossed term.

8. Question 21

   Summary completion

   Question

   He calculated that … in the air coming from patients suffering form ______ would not have harmed other patients.

   Answer

   tuberculosis

   Location

   Paragraph D

   Sentence in the passage

   ‘We put pathogens* in the airstreams, modelled for someone with tuberculosis (TB) coughing in the wards and we found the ventilation systems in the room would have kept other patients safe from harm.

   Explanation

   The question asks what disease the patients were suffering from. The same sentence in Section D (paragraph 4) that discusses pathogens also mentions: 'modelled for someone with tuberculosis (TB) coughing in the wards'. This indicates the patients were suffering from 'tuberculosis'. It is ONE WORD ONLY (or two, but the prompt allows only one word here as it's the best fit). The passage parenthetically provides '(TB)', indicating 'tuberculosis' is the full name. The blank requires a type of illness.

9. Question 22

   Summary completion

   Question

   He also found that the air in ______ In hospitals could change as often as in a modern operating theatre.

   Answer

   wards

   Location

   Paragraph E

   Sentence in the passage

   ‘We discovered that 19th-century hospital wards could generate up to 24 air changes an hour – that’s similar to the performance of a modern-day, computer-controlled operating theatre.

   Explanation

   The question states that air in __________ in hospitals could change as often as in a modern operating theatre. Section E (paragraph 5) begins with the sentence: 'We discovered that 19th-century hospital wards could generate up to 24 air changes an hour - that's similar to the performance of a modern-day, computer-controlled operating theatre.' This sentence directly compares the air change rate in '19th-century hospital wards' to a 'modern-day... operating theatre'. 'Wards' is the part of the hospital where the air change rate was comparable. It fits grammatically and is ONE WORD ONLY.

10. Question 23

    Summary completion

    Question

    He suggests that energy use could be reduced by locating more patients in ______ areas.

    Answer

    communal

    Location

    Paragraph E

    Sentence in the passage

    Communal wards appropriate for certain patients – older people with dementia, for example – would work just as well in today’s hospitals, at a fraction of the energy cost.’

    Explanation

    Short says single rooms do not suit everyone, and that wards shared by several patients, such as for older people with dementia, would work as well today while costing far less energy. The missing word is therefore communal, which describes those shared wards.

11. Question 24

    Summary completion

    Question

    A major reason for improving ventilation in 19th-century hospitals was the demand from the ______ for protection against bad air, known as … These were blamed for the spread of disease for hundreds of years, including epidemics of … in London and Paris in the middle of the 19th century.

    Answer

    public

    Location

    Paragraph F

    Sentence in the passage

    Much of the ingenuity present in 19th-century hospital and building design was driven by a panicked public clamouring for buildings that could protect against what was thought to be the lethal threat of miasmas – toxic air that spread disease.

    Explanation

    The question asks who demanded protection against bad air in 19th-century hospitals. Section F (paragraph 6) begins by stating: 'Much of the ingenuity present in 19th-century hospital and building design was driven by a panicked public clamouring for buildings that could protect against what was thought to be the lethal threat of miasmas'. This sentence clearly states that the driving force was a 'panicked public clamouring for buildings' that protected against 'miasmas' (bad air). 'Public' is the group demanding protection. It fits grammatically after 'the' and is ONE WORD ONLY.

12. Question 25

    Summary completion

    Question

    A major reason for improving ventilation in 19th-century hospitals was the demand from the … for protection against bad air, known as ______ These were blamed for the spread of disease for hundreds of years, including epidemics of … in London and Paris in the middle of the 19th century.

    Answer

    miasmas

    Location

    Paragraph F

    Sentence in the passage

    Much of the ingenuity present in 19th-century hospital and building design was driven by a panicked public clamouring for buildings that could protect against what was thought to be the lethal threat of miasmas – toxic air that spread disease.

    Explanation

    The question states that the bad air people sought protection against was known as __________. The sentence in Section F (paragraph 6) that introduces the public demand also identifies the bad air: 'what was thought to be the lethal threat of miasmas - toxic air that spread disease.' It explicitly defines 'miasmas' as 'toxic air that spread disease'. This fits the description of 'bad air'. It is ONE WORD ONLY.

13. Question 26

    Summary completion

    Question

    A major reason for improving ventilation in 19th-century hospitals was the demand from the … for protection against bad air, known as … These were blamed for the spread of disease for hundreds of years, including epidemics of ______ in London and Paris in the middle of the 19th century.

    Answer

    cholera

    Location

    Paragraph F

    Sentence in the passage

    Miasmas were feared as the principal agents of disease and epidemics for centuries, and were used to explain the spread of infection from the Middle Ages right through to the cholera outbreaks in London and Paris during the 1850s.

    Explanation

    The question asks for the name of the epidemics in London and Paris in the middle of the 19th century that were blamed on miasmas. The sentence following the introduction of miasmas in Section F (paragraph 6) states: 'Miasmas were feared as the principal agents of disease and epidemics for centuries, and were used to explain the spread of infection from the Middle Ages right through to the cholera outbreaks in London and Paris during the 1850s.' This sentence directly links miasmas to the 'cholera outbreaks in London and Paris during the 1850s'. The 1850s is the 'middle of the 19th century'. 'Cholera' is the name of the epidemic. It is ONE WORD ONLY.

Passage 3 · Q27–40 Why companies should welcome disorder

1. Question 27

   Matching headings

   Question

   Section A

   Answer

   vi

   Location

   Paragraph A

   Sentence in the passage

   Whether it is of our lives – all those inboxes and calendars – or how companies are structured, a multi-billion dollar industry helps to meet this need.

   Explanation

   Section A discusses the widespread emphasis on organisation. The first paragraph mentions the 'need' for organisation in our lives and companies (second sentence of first paragraph). The second paragraph elaborates on the numerous strategies and tells us 'that we ought to organize our company, our home life, our week, our day and seven our sleep' to be 'more productive' (second sentence of second paragraph). The third sentence states that 'countless seminars and workshops take place around the world to tell a paying public that they ought to structure their lives in order to achieve this'. This clearly describes what people are increasingly expected to do, matching heading vi.

2. Question 28

   Matching headings

   Question

   Section B

   Answer

   i

   Location

   Paragraph B

   Sentence in the passage

   Work-related stress has increased.

   Explanation

   Section B presents negative outcomes associated with the focus on organisation. The second sentence states, 'Work-related stress has increased'. The third sentence adds that 'A large proportion of workers from all demographics claim to be dissatisfied with the way their work is structured and the way they are managed'. These points are direct complaints or negative impacts resulting from the emphasis on organisation, aligning with heading i.

3. Question 29

   Matching headings

   Question

   Section C

   Answer

   iii

   Location

   Paragraph C

   Sentence in the passage

   Frederick Taylor was one of the forefathers of scientific management.

   Explanation

   Section C introduces Frederick Taylor as one of the 'forefathers of scientific management' (second sentence) and mentions that he was 'Writing in the first half of the 20th century' (third sentence). It states that 'he designed a number of principles to improve the efficiency of the work process, which have since become widespread in modern companies' (third sentence). These principles are early recommendations for business activities that are still influential today, directly matching heading iii.

4. Question 30

   Matching headings

   Question

   Section D

   Answer

   ii

   Location

   Paragraph D

   Sentence in the passage

   Here it’s the assumption that order is a necessary condition for productivity.

   Explanation

   Section D says the real problem is not the methods but the basic assumptions people hold, namely that order is needed for productivity and disorder must be harmful. The heading about beliefs that are in fact incorrect fits this. Heading i is wrong because the section is not about complaints.

5. Question 31

   Matching headings

   Question

   Section E

   Answer

   ix

   Location

   Paragraph E

   Sentence in the passage

   Order does increase productivity to a certain extent, but eventually the usefulness of the process of organisation, and the benefit it yields, reduce until the point where any further increase in order reduces productivity.

   Explanation

   Here the writer reports studies showing order has diminishing returns: it helps up to a point, then further order lowers productivity. That matches heading ix, evidence that an approach can bring more drawbacks than benefits. Heading viii is tempting but belongs to the final warning about both approaches.

6. Question 32

   Matching headings

   Question

   Section F

   Answer

   vii

   Location

   Paragraph F

   Sentence in the passage

   In fact, research shows that, when innovating, the best approach is to create an environment devoid of structure and hierarchy and enable everyone involved to engage as one organic group.

   Explanation

   Section F discusses the best approach for 'innovating' (first sentence). It suggests creating an environment 'devoid of structure and hierarchy' (first sentence). The second sentence explicitly states that 'These environments can lead to new solutions that, under conventionally structured environments ... would never be reached'. This means that by adopting this unstructured approach, it is possible to achieve 'outcomes that are currently impossible' (heading vii) within traditional, structured environments.

7. Question 33

   Matching headings

   Question

   Section G

   Answer

   iv

   Location

   Paragraph G

   Sentence in the passage

   In recent times companies have slowly started to embrace this disorganisation.

   Explanation

   Everything in section G is about firms that went ahead and tried disorganisation: Oticon dropped job titles under its 'spaghetti' structure, General Electric's chairman proposed a 'boundaryless' organisation, and Google and other tech companies adopted flexible structures. That is a list of organisations putting a new approach into practice. Heading v looks close, but Oticon's results were 'highly successful', so nobody is described as suffering from the change.

8. Question 34

   Matching headings

   Question

   Section H

   Answer

   viii

   Location

   Paragraph H

   Sentence in the passage

   A word of warning to others thinking of jumping on this bandwagon: the evidence so far suggests disorder, much like order, also seems to have diminishing utility, and can also have detrimental effects on performance if overused.

   Explanation

   Section H sounds a warning that disorder, just like order, stops paying off beyond a point and can damage performance when overused, so the writer says neither should be worshipped over the other. This matches the idea that neither approach guarantees continuous improvement. Heading ix is the trap: it singles out one approach as worse, whereas H treats order and disorder alike and only cautions against excess.

9. Question 35

   Sentence completion

   Question

   Numerous training sessions are aimed at people who feel they are not ______ enough.

   Answer

   productive

   Location

   Paragraph A

   Sentence in the passage

   We are told that we ought to organize our company, our home life, our week, our day and seven our sleep, all as a means to becoming more productive.

   Explanation

   Seminars and workshops tell people to structure their lives, and the writer says we are urged to organise everything as a way of becoming more productive. So the people targeted are those who feel they are not productive enough. The word fits the gap and appears in the passage as a single word.

10. Question 36

    Sentence completion

    Question

    Being organised appeals to people who regard themselves as ______

    Answer

    perfectionists

    Location

    Paragraph A

    Sentence in the passage

    This rhetoric has also crept into the thinking of business leaders and entrepreneurs, much to the delight of self-proclaimed perfectionists with the need to get everything right.

    Explanation

    The note asks who being organised appeals to. The first sentence of the third paragraph states, 'This rhetoric has also crept into the thinking of business leaders and entrepreneurs, much to the delight of self-proclaimed perfectionists with the need to get everything right'. The 'rhetoric' refers to the emphasis on organisation. The passage says this appeals 'much to the delight of self-proclaimed perfectionists'. Thus, being organised appeals to people who regard themselves as perfectionists. The blank requires a noun, and 'perfectionists' fits. It is one word, meeting the limit.

11. Question 37

    Sentence completion

    Question

    Many people feel ______ with aspects of their work.

    Answer

    dissatisfied

    Location

    Paragraph B

    Sentence in the passage

    A large proportion of workers from all demographics claim to be dissatisfied with the way their work is structured and the way they are managed.

    Explanation

    The note asks how many people feel about their work. The third sentence of Section B (fourth paragraph) states, 'A large proportion of workers from all demographics claim to be dissatisfied with the way their work is structured and the way they are managed'. 'A large proportion' is equivalent to 'Many people'. The passage states they feel 'dissatisfied'. The blank requires an adjective, and 'dissatisfied' fits. It is one word, meeting the limit.

12. Question 38

    True / False / Not Given

    Question

    Both businesses and people aim at order without really considering its value.

    Answer

    TRUE

    Location

    Paragraph D

    Sentence in the passage

    The result is that businesses and people spend time and money organising themselves for the sake of organising, rather than actually looking at the end goal and usefulness of such an effort.

    Explanation

    The statement claims that businesses and people focus on achieving order without considering its value. The final sentence of Section D (seventh paragraph) states, 'The result is that businesses and people spend time and money organising themselves for the sake of organising, rather than actually looking at the end goal and usefulness of such an effort.' 'Organising themselves for the sake of organising' means aiming at order for the sake of order itself, which is equivalent to not considering its real 'value', 'end goal', or 'usefulness'. This directly supports the statement, making it TRUE.

13. Question 39

    True / False / Not Given

    Question

    Innovation is most successful if the people involved have distinct roles.

    Answer

    FALSE

    Location

    Paragraph F

    Sentence in the passage

    In fact, research shows that, when innovating, the best approach is to create an environment devoid of structure and hierarchy and enable everyone involved to engage as one organic group.

    Explanation

    The statement suggests that distinct roles lead to successful innovation. Section F (ninth paragraph), however, states the opposite: 'In fact, research shows that, when innovating, the best approach is to create an environment devoid of structure and hierarchy and enable everyone involved to engage as one organic group' (first sentence). Being 'devoid of structure and hierarchy' implies the absence of distinct, fixed roles. Engaging 'as one organic group' also suggests a lack of rigid, separate roles. The passage indicates this lack of distinct roles is the *best* approach for innovation, directly contradicting the idea that distinct roles lead to the *most* successful innovation. Therefore, the statement is FALSE.

14. Question 40

    True / False / Not Given

    Question

    Google was inspired to adopt flexibility by the success of General Electric.

    Answer

    NOT GIVEN

    Location

    Paragraph G

    Sentence in the passage

    Google and a number of other tech companies have embraced (at least in part) these kinds of flexible structures, facilitated by technology and strong company values which glue people together.

    Explanation

    The passage says Google and other tech firms adopted flexible structures, helped by technology and strong company values. It never says Google copied General Electric or was inspired by its success; the two companies are only mentioned side by side. The reason for Google's choice is missing, so NOT GIVEN.