Questions 15

READING PASSAGE 2

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 15-27, which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.

Section 1 (Questions 15 - 20)

Organizing Your Desk

Follow these easy steps to a clutter-free desk:

A. The best way to begin is with a clean slate. Q15Remove everything from the top of the desk—office supplies, documents, computer, printer—everything. [Crack IELTS with Rob] Then move on to the drawers. Take out everything, then wipe down all surfaces with a damp cloth. Now all is clean and you are ready to start anew.

B. Next, Q16take all those supplies and materials and sort through them. Group similar items together. For example, you might have a pile for small supplies such as paper clips and rubber bands, one for filing materials such as folders and labels, one for paperwork pertaining to current projects and another for paperwork to be filed, and so on. Group the items in a way that makes sense to you and the way you work.

C. Now, Q17create an appropriate place for each group of items. A few items can be kept on the desktop, such as a pencil holder or a mail tray, but try to keep the desktop as clear as possible. [Crack IELTS with Rob] Office supply stores sell a variety of trays, boxes, and other con trainers that are handy for storing everything from paper clips to large documents. They will help you keep both the drawers and the desktop organized.

D. Now you have completed the most important steps. Everything on your desk is organized. How will you keep it that way? Q18The best way is to follow a routine. After you have finished using the paper clips or the scissors, put them back in their place. As soon as mail arrives on your desk, attend to it instead of letting it pile up. By developing regular practices like these, you will find it much easier to keep your desk organized.

E. Even when you have become accustomed to the routine of putting everything back in its place after use, you may still find that over time the organization starts to break down. Q19This is why it is a good idea to develop a schedule. [Crack IELTS with Rob] If you spend a short while reorganizing your desk at the end of every week or every month, you can keep the clutter from becoming overwhelming.

F. It is Q20worth the small amount of time and effort it takes to keep your desk organized. Why? Psychologists tell us that an organized workspace leads to more efficient and productive work.

Section 2 (Questions 21 - 27)

Telecommuting

Telecommuting, defined as working from home at least part of the time, is an increasingly common way to work. It has many benefits for employees. The fact that a telecommuter does not have to spend time each day traveling1to and from work is one obvious advantage. [Crack IELTS with Rob] Q21Working from home can mean significant savings in time and money that was formerly spent on daily travel. The telecommuter no longer has to spend part of his or her salary just to get to work in order to earn that salary. Q23Not having to deal with traffic, bus schedules, or other logistics of travel also saves the telecommuter a good deal of unnecessary stress. As a result, Q24the telecom muter can approach work with more energy and more positive feelings. Q22There can also be a similar positive effect on the telecommuter’s personal life, as there will be more energy and time left to devote to family.

Telecommuting is not for everyone. It works best for people who are able to man age their own time and work independently. Q25Unfortunately, even the most inde pendent worker can start to feel isolated over time. [Crack IELTS with Rob] This can be managed, however, by creating a schedule that balances work hours spent at home with work hours spent at the office. Many telecommuters, for example, go into the office periodically in order to attend staff meetings or work with colleagues. Another issue many telecommuters face is the distractions of home life. Q26It can be hard to concentrate on work when family members are demanding attention. Therefore, it is important for telecommuters to establish a work plan that is satisfactory to all members of the family. Q27In addition, some telecommuters find that spending their workday at home results in higher costs for electricity and heating. They may also have new expenses, such as paying for an Internet connection, that they did not have before.