Reading — Workplace Texts
⏱ ~3-min readAceMark Guide
What this topic is really about
The statement that a cleaner washes everyone's dishes each morning contradicts the notice, which says individuals must wash their own items and the dishwasher is run by the last person to leave.. The notice says people should wash their own items and that the dishwasher is run by the last person to leave, so a cleaner doing the dishes each morning directly conflicts with this.
The passage does not provide information about employees' finishing times.. The passage describes flexible start times and fixed core hours but says nothing about when employees may finish.
See the mechanism
The staff handbook states that staff should agree break times with their supervisor in advance to ensure the department remains covered. A diagram for this topic isn't available yet — the worked example below walks the same reasoning step by step.
An exam-style question, fully explained
Read this section of a staff handbook: "Employees are entitled to a 30-minute unpaid break for shifts longer than six hours. Breaks must be taken away from the work area. Staff should agree break times with their supervisor in advance to ensure the department remains covered." Who decides exactly when an employee takes their break?
- Identify what the question tests: Read this section of a staff handbook: "Employees are entitled to a 30-minute unpaid break for shifts longer than six hours..
- The handbook says staff should agree break times with their supervisor in advance so the department stays covered.
- This means the timing is decided jointly, not by the employee alone or by HR.
- Why it matters: The staff handbook states that staff should agree break times with their supervisor in advance to ensure the department remains covered. This implies a joint decision-making process between the employee and their supervisor. The employee cannot unilaterally decide their break time, and the human resources department is not involved in this decision.
Traps the examiner sets
- Some people may think that the employee can decide their break time alone or that the human resources department is responsible for deciding break times. However, the handbook clearly states that the decision should be made in agreement with the supervisor.
- Some people may think that the claim will be automatically approved or that the employee will be fined, but neither of these options is mentioned in the email.
- Some people may think experience is required because it is mentioned as desirable, but 'desirable' means it is preferred, not necessary.
- Some may think staff should be allowed to collect their belongings for sentimental or financial reasons, but the memo is clear about the priority of evacuation.
- Test‑takers often assume that because the notice does not mention a cleaner, the statement is simply unmentioned, overlooking that the described cleaning routine opposes the notice’s instructions.
Test your recall
Answer each from memory — you'll see instantly whether you're right and why.
Run a focused 10-question mini-mock on Reading — Workplace Texts and see it stick.
Practice more of this topic →