New Staff: Workplace Health and Safety: Reading Answers & Explanations
IELTS Reading practice test · 9 questionsGeneral Trainingeasy
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About this passage
The passage opens: “This guidance is provided to every new member of staff during their first week. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference.”
- Passage length: about 362 words
- Questions: 9
- Question types: True / False / Not Given, Short Answer
“New Staff: Workplace Health and Safety” is an original IELTS-style practice passage written by IELTS-Bank. It is not taken from an official IELTS or Cambridge test, so these answers only apply to our version.
Answer key at a glance
New Staff: Workplace Health and Safety answers with explanations
Questions 1–6: True / False / Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the text? Write TRUE if the statement agrees, FALSE if it contradicts, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information.
- 1
You should assume that a hazard you notice has already been reported by someone else.
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Answer: FALSE
Why: This sentence directly contradicts the statement, so the answer is FALSE.
Evidence · Paragraph 4 “…you must report it to your supervisor as soon as possible. Do not assume that someone else has already done so.”
- 2
Staff are permitted to repair electrical equipment themselves if they are careful.
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Answer: FALSE
Why: This sentence directly contradicts the statement, so the answer is FALSE.
Evidence · Paragraph 4 “Never attempt to repair electrical equipment yourself; instead, remove it from use and label it clearly.”
- 3
You should collect your belongings before leaving the building during a fire alarm.
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Answer: FALSE
Why: This sentence directly contradicts the statement, so the answer is FALSE.
Evidence · Paragraph 6 “Do not stop to collect personal belongings, and do not use the lifts.”
- 4
A fire drill takes place twice a year.
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Answer: TRUE
Why: This sentence confirms the statement, so the answer is TRUE.
Evidence · Paragraph 6 “A fire drill is held twice a year”
- 5
The company provides trolleys in every department.
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Answer: NOT GIVEN
Why: The statement claims that the company provides trolleys in every department, but the passage never confirms or denies this, only suggesting using a trolley if possible when lifting heavy objects.
- 6
Even minor accidents must be recorded in the accident book.
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Answer: TRUE
Why: This sentence confirms the statement, so the answer is TRUE.
Evidence · Paragraph 10 “All accidents, however minor, must be recorded in the accident book kept at the main reception.”
Questions 7–9: Short Answer
Answer the questions below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text for each answer.
- 7
What should you place near a small spill after cleaning it up, if necessary?(max 3 words)
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Answer: a warning sign (also accepted: warning sign / a sign / sign)
Why: The answer “a warning sign” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 3-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 4 “…should be cleaned up straight away, and a warning sign placed if necessary.”
- 8
When lifting a heavy object, which part of your body should you bend?(max 3 words)
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Answer: your knees (also accepted: knees / the knees)
Why: The answer “your knees” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 3-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 8 “…bend your knees rather than your back and keep the object close to your body.”
- 9
Where are the names of trained first-aiders displayed?(max 3 words)
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Answer: the notice board (also accepted: notice board / on the notice board / the staff room)
Why: The answer “the notice board” is taken from this sentence — copy the word(s) exactly as they appear. It fits the 3-word limit.
Evidence · Paragraph 10 “The names of trained first-aiders are displayed on the notice board in the staff room”
Estimated band score for this test
Your raw score out of 9 scaled to the 40-question IELTS Reading (General Training) conversion table. This is the same estimate the practice page shows after you submit. A single passage is a small sample, so treat it as a guide.
| Correct answers | Estimated band |
|---|---|
| 9 / 9 | 9.0 |
| 8 / 9 | 7.5 |
| 7 / 9 | 6.0 |
| 6 / 9 | 5.5 |
| 5 / 9 | 4.5 |
| 4 / 9 | 4.0 |
| 3 / 9 | 3.5 |
| 2 / 9 | 3.0 |
| 1 / 9 | 2.0 |
| 0 / 9 | 0.0 |
Full-test score? Use the IELTS band calculator.
Tips for the question types in this test
True / False / Not Given
- Read the statement first and underline the key idea, especially any qualifiers like "all", "only", "never", "always", "more than" or dates and numbers.
- Because the questions follow the order of the passage, scan for the paragraph that deals with the same topic rather than re-reading everything.
Common trap: Confusing "False" with "Not Given": choose False only when the passage actively contradicts the statement; if the passage is silent, it is Not Given.
Full True / False / Not Given strategyShort Answer
- Read the instructions and note the exact word limit; going over it means zero marks even if the meaning is right.
- Turn each question into a set of keywords and predict what kind of answer it needs (a person, a date, a place, a noun).
Common trap: Exceeding the word limit (writing four words when only three are allowed).
Full Short Answer strategyPractise “New Staff: Workplace Health and Safety” under exam conditions
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