1. An employer cannot fire a woman because she’s pregnant:
Sometimes, employers try to disguise the discrimination behind good intentions. They explain they’re worried about safety, for example. In other cases, the discrimination is more blatant. Either way, it’s illegal.
Take this example from a wings restaurant chain in the Houston-area. The company had a written policy to lay off female workers after the third month of their pregnancies. A federal investigation showed the company laid off eight pregnant employees. A manager told investigators that keeping pregnant employees at work any longer would “be irresponsible with respect to her child’s safety.”
But companies cannot fire employees for this reason. Exceptions are rare, even when a job entails being exposed to toxic chemicals or lifting heavy objects. Courts have ruled that decisions about the safety of the woman and fetus are up to the employee and her doctor, not her boss.
2. A company cannot refuse to hire a woman because she’s pregnant — or because she may become pregnant in the future:
Peggy Mastroianni, Legal Counsel in the EEOC, said this is very common, especially with workers applying for low wage jobs.
This problem occurs even at companies that rely on pregnant women as their customers.
A Philadelphia-based franchise of clothes retailer Motherhood Maternity paid $375,000 to settle a pregnancy discrimination and retaliation suit in 2007 after the company allegedly refused to hire three qualified female applicants because they were pregnant.
It’s also illegal to not hire a woman because she may become pregnant in the future.
“There is still a stigma against hiring younger women for some jobs, where an employer wants to know somebody is going to be on a job for years without interruption,” said Vicki Shabo, vice president at the National Partnership for Women & Families.
3. New mothers have the right to pump breast milk at work in a safe place. A company cannot fire or discriminate against a woman because she’s lactating:
You can thank Obamacare for this protection.
The Affordable Care Act requires employers to provide reasonable breaks to new mothers to pump breast milk for up to one year after a child’s birth. Employers are also required to provide a safe and private place other than a bathroom, to do so.
But there is an exception for small companies. If a company with fewer than 50 employees can prove that offering breaks or a private space would cause “undue hardship” to the company, it may not have to offer this accommodation to their employees.
4. In some cases, pregnancy-related conditions may entitle women to special accommodations:
A normal pregnancy without complications is not considered a disability under federal law, and it does not entitle a worker to special treatment.
That said, women who have complications or temporary impairments related to their pregnancy must be treated the same as other workers with medical impairments.
If a company has a policy in place that, for example, offers a light-duty assignment for a few months to a worker who injured his back, the company is also expected to provide “reasonable accommodations” to a pregnant woman who requires light-duty due to her pregnancy.
Other examples of reasonable accommodations may include letting a worker sit on a stool rather than stand during her shift, changing her work schedule if she has severe morning sickness, or allowing her to keep a water bottle at her workstation.
The worker usually needs to provide a doctor’s note, establishing there’s a medical condition that may temporarily limit her work capabilities. In the case of a pregnancy, common impairments include severe morning sickness, back pain, high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and complications that require bed rest.
There are some exceptions, but again, to avoid providing an accommodation, an employer has to prove that doing so would cause “undue hardship” to the company.
5. An employer cannot force you to take time off or change jobs if you’re still able to do your job:
Sometimes an employer thinks they’re acting in the best interest of the employee — or protecting itself from liabilities — when it decides to reassign a pregnant woman or new parent to a less strenuous job.
Employers cannot base employment decisions on assumptions about pregnant women’s capabilities and health concerns.
For example, a boss cannot prevent a pregnant worker from travelling on business trips, because he’s concerned about her health. A company cannot deny a pregnant woman a promotion, assuming once she returns to work after childbirth, she will be less committed to her job. Employers also cannot reassign workers to less desirable jobs, even temporarily, due to concerns about a pregnancy.
Questions 15-20
Complete the sentences below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Write your answer in boxes 15-20 on your answer sheet.
15. An employer cannot ………………………….. a pregnant worker from the company.
16. It is against the law not to hire a woman because she may become ………………………….. in the future.
17. A new mother is able to pump breast ……………………………. in a safe place.
18. The worker must provide a ……………………….. note if they have complications that impact their daily work activities.
19. An employer cannot give a pregnant woman a less …………………….. job.
20. A company cannot withold a ……………………………… just beacuse the employee is pregnant.
Questions 21-27
Answer the questions below.
Choose ONE OR TWO WORDS ONLY AND/OR A NUMBER from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 21-27 on your answer sheet.
21. Who decides if the workplace is safe for a pregnant employee?
22. What is very common, when pregnant women are applying for low earning roles?
23. What can new mothers do in the workplace in a safe place?
24. What can a pregnant worker keep at her workstation?
25. What does the worker have to provide if they have a medical condition related to pregnancy?
26. What do some new mothers have the chance of losing after returning to work?
27. What do some employers want to stop pregnant workers from doing?
For help to answer these questions with practice please read the posts below >>
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The name nuthatch is derived from nut hacker, reflecting the bird’s method of opening up nuts by jamming them into a crevice then hammering at them. Old country names include mud dabbler and mud stopper, both of which note the bird’s curious habit of plastering mud around the entrance hole to its nest.
B
Unlike the treecreeper, which only moves up the trunk of a tree, nuthatches will move both up and down. Once a bird restricted largely to south-eastern England, the 20th century witnessed a spread to the north, with breeding in Scotland first confirmed in 1989. Studies have shown that large gardens with oak trees provide the optimum habitat for this species. One of the reasons for the expansion seems to be the nuthatch’s increasing use of bird feeders and bird tables.
C
As anyone who has nuthatches visiting their feeders will know, they are bold and aggressive, able to stand their ground when larger birds such as starlings attempt to intimidate them. They will take food from the bird table to store elsewhere: this can lead to sunflowers sprouting in expected places. Pairs are strongly territorial throughout the year. The fact that food is stored within the territory strengthens the need to defend it.
D
Though they will readily adopt nest boxes, they cannot resist plastering mud around the entrance hole, even if the latter is already the right size. The most favoured natural site for a nuthatch is the old nest hole of a great spotted woodpecker. Nuthatches are one of the nosiest woodland birds in the early spring but are relatively silent when breeding.
E
There are 24 different species of nuthatches in the world: our bird has much the widest distribution, as it breeds continually from Portugal to Korea and Japan. The nuthatch has never been recorded in Ireland. Most nuthatches are highly sedentary, seldom moving far from where they hatched. The average distance travelled by a ringed adult nuthatch is less than a kilometre.
F
No British-ringed individuals have ever been recovered abroad, while similarly no birds ringed on the Continent have been found here. Individuals breeding in Sweden and Norway have distinctive white underparts, unlike the peachy buff of our birds. Remarkably, a red-breasted nuthatch from North America spent nearly seven months at Holkham in Norfolk from October 1989 to May 1990.
G
Perhaps surprisingly, the nuthatch has received little in the way of study in Britain, and most of our knowledge comes from work carried out in Sweden and Belgium. Numbers are known to fluctuate quite widely from year to year, probably reflecting the availability of seed during the winter.
Questions 35 – 37
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 35-37 on your answer sheet.
As people who regularly see nuthatches will know, they are very confident and can be quite (35)……………………………., so that they are able to defend themselves when larger birds come and try to scare them. They will take food from bird tables and feeders to store, this can lead to many flowers including (36)………………………………….. growing in many places. They often travel two together, and are tied to their dwelling place, because their food is housed here, they (37)………………………… their territory.
Questions 38-40
Complete the notes below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 38-40 on your answer sheet.
Nuthatch Birds
The name nuthatch comes from nut hacker, which reflects the bird’s method of opening up nuts by jamming them into a crevice then (38)………………………….. at them.
Old country names include mud dabbler and mud stopper, both of which note the bird’s curious habit of plastering mud around the entrance hole to its nest.
Unlike the (39)……………………………., which only moves up the trunk of a tree, nuthatches will move both up and down.
Studies have shown that large gardens with oak trees provide the best (40)…………………………. for this species.
If you need help to answer these questions with extra practice please read the posts below >>
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Essential strategies and practice techniques for this IELTS Reading question type. Learn how to manage time and improve accuracy.
Originally published May 2018. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
Practice the reading test section below or purchase an easy to print out PDF, which includes all 3 test sections for Reading Test 4 here.
There is also an IELTS General Training Practice Test PDF download that includes all 4 practice tests.
With each test, you get the following >
PDF for each section of the reading test.
PDF explaining the reading test band scores.
PDF example of a reading test answer sheet.
READING SECTION 2 – QUESTIONS 15-29
You are advised to spend 20 minutes on Questions 15-29.
Questions 15-21:
Look at the article ‘Reasons Why You Should Join a Student Organization ‘. Why should you join an organization?
Write the appropriate letter A-G in boxes 15-21 on your answer sheet. You may use each letter more than once.
15. You would like to make connections that could help you to find a job. 16. You want to learn how to communicate with others. 17. You would like an opportunity to learn your strengths. 18. You would like to practice your skills, without risks. 19. You want to meet other people from all over the world. 20. You are interested in using the information you have learned in lessons. 21. You want to meet some people and work together.
Joining a student organization presents many opportunities to learn more about yourself, your goals, and your strengths. You can learn from how other students handle certain situations and test your current knowledge. You can also find out what you’re good at, whether that’s multitasking, staying organized, generating ideas, or serving others. This self-awareness will be beneficial for your future career.
B. You’ll develop soft skills.
Soft skills are essential “people skills” — they’re the skills that allow us to effectively interact with others, like communication, attitude, and work ethic. Participating in a student organization not only teaches you these skills but also helps you broaden and improve those you already have. You’ll learn the best way to communicate with both individuals and large groups, and you’ll gain emotional intelligence as you develop new relationships.
C. You’ll learn how to work with a team.
Knowing how to work well with a team is an essential skill for any career. Being in a student organization teaches you how to do this by putting you in situations where you are required to take advice from others, as well as give your own.
D. You’ll get networking opportunities.
Another great benefit of student organizations (and graduate programs as a whole) is that you get the opportunity to network. Meeting new students, making connections, and building relationships will all help down the line when you’re looking for a job. Because you’re all part of the same organization, you know the people you’re meeting have at least a few of the same interests as you, so their connections will be valuable. Corbett said:
“Many of our organizations are professionally-focused and host several events with alumni or panel discussions with local professionals. These events are excellent opportunities for the student leaders, and can often lead to a potential internship or employment opportunities in the future!”
E. You’ll gain practical experience in a safe environment.
Participating in a club or an organization based around your particular area of study will give you practical experience within that field. And what’s great about student clubs is that while you learn to use skills like project management, event planning, and fundraising, you get to test them out in a safe environment where making mistakes are OK. Everyone is there to support you, so there’s no fear in messing up or being wrong.
F. You’ll be able to use the skills you’ve learned in class.
“As business students, you are able to apply classroom experience in your student organizations, and also develop leadership and life skills that help you become more effective in classroom team projects.”
Corbett also mentioned that being part of an organization allows you to put all of those things you’ve been learning in class to the test in real-world situations. You’ll get to learn what works and what doesn’t, and you’ll be able to take that knowledge back to the classroom, and then, of course, along with you in a future career.
G. You’ll learn how to engage with diverse groups of people.
Chances are, the organization you choose to participate in will include a diverse group of people — you’ll be faced with the same situation in the working world! Learning how different people respond and react to certain situations will help you develop your skills in presenting and implementing ideas. Corbett said student organizations can also provide you with the opportunity to learn about different cultural backgrounds.
Questions 22-29:
Read the article on International Students House and look at the statements below. In boxes 22-29 on your answer sheet write:
T if the statement is true F if the statement is false NG if the information is not given in the passage
22. The club has long-term dormitory accommodation. 23. Membership must be renewed monthly. 24. The club provides subsidised restaurant meals. 25. The club is open to non-members on Tuesday evenings. 26. STA Travel help finance the Students Adviser. 27. The services of the Students Adviser are free to all club members. 28. You must make an appointment to see the Students Adviser. 29. There will be a surcharge for accommodation over the Christmas period.
International Students House
International Students House is a unique club and accommodation centre for British and overseas students in London. It is located in the heart of London’s West End and is close to all public transport facilities
ACCOMMODATION » comfortable accommodation for up to 450 people in single, twin, 3/4 bedded and multi-bedded rooms » 44 self-contained flats for married students and families. » long and short stays welcomed.
MEMBERSHIP Club membership is open to all full-time students, professional trainees, student nurses and au pairs. Membership costs are kept to an absolute minimum to enable the widest possible access. You can join for as little as one month and for up to one year at a time. Membership entitles you to use the various facilities of the House. It has:
* restaurants * student bars and coffee shop * study rooms * clubs and societies * aerobics and fitness training * discos, dance, jazz and cinema * travel and excursions and much more!
The best way to check out all we have on offer is to drop in any Tuesday evening between 7.15 pm and 8.30 pm for Open House in the Club Room. This is an opportunity for you to meet the staff and other club members, enjoy a free cup of coffee and find out all about what’s going on. You can take advantage of special membership offers. (Useful tip: bring along 3 passport size photographs if you wish to take out membership.)
ADVICE SERVICE Thanks to the support of STA Travel and in association with LCOS (the London Conference on Overseas Students) International Students House now provides the service of an International Students Adviser. This new welfare service is open to all students at London’s bona-fide academic institutions. It aims to provide welfare support to help students overcome any personal or practical difficulties they may be experiencing whilst studying in Britain. One of the key features of the Advice Service is that the Adviser can be seen during the evenings until about 8 pm, Monday to Thursday.
CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR Unable to get home for Christmas? How about joining in the fun at International Students House! Check out our special programme of activity taking place over the Christmas period. Even come and stay – the House will be offering reduced accommodation rates for students wishing to spend a few days in London over Christmas. We’ll also have an exciting New Year’s Eve party so come and join us and ring in the new year in the spirit of internationalism.
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Answers >
Questions 15-21
15. D 16. B 17. A 18. E 19. G 20. F 21. C
Questions 21-29
22. T 23. F 24. NG 25. T 26. T 27. NG 28. NG 29. NG
Essential strategies and practice techniques for this IELTS Reading question type. Learn how to manage time and improve accuracy.
Originally published May 2018. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
Practice the reading test section below or purchase an easy to print out PDF, which includes all 3 test sections for Reading Test 4 here.
There is also an IELTS General Training Practice Test PDF download that includes all 4 practice tests.
With each test, you get the following >
PDF for each section of the reading test.
PDF explaining the reading test band scores.
PDF example of a reading test answer sheet.
READING SECTION 3 – QUESTIONS 30-41
Recycling Glass
A – Recycling Glass
Most glass bottles and jars produced in the United States now contain at least 27% recycled glass – which also saves on energy to produce glass made from new materials. Some glass cannot be made into other products, or doing so is not economically feasible. If your local recycler doesn’t participate in glass recycling, it’s due to the market for that glass being very small or non-existent. However, if glass recycling is available, it’s important to keep in mind as you recycle that even small amounts of some materials mixed in can contaminate entire loads. Find out more about the types of glass and how they are recycled below.
B – Clear Glass
About 61% of glass containers produced in this country are clear. Clear glass is made of a combination of silica (sand), soda ash, and limestone. Marketing professionals often prefer clear glass containers because they make the product inside visible. However, the clear glass may cause some products to degrade because of light exposure. That’s why about 39% of the glass produced is coloured. Clear glass is sometimes used for beverages. More often, it’s used to package solids or thick liquids, such as pasta sauce, that may not be sensitive to light.
C – Brown Glass
About 31% of glass containers produced in this country are brown in colour. To produce brown glass, the manufacturer adds nickel, sulfur and carbon to molten glass. The “brown” in the glass cannot be removed. Thus, brown bottles can be used only to make other brown bottles. Brown glass protects the container’s contents from direct sunlight, thus preserving freshness and flavour. It is the most common colour used for beer bottles.
D – Green Glass
About 7% of glass containers produced in this country are green in colour. To produce green glass, the manufacturer adds iron, chromium or copper to molten glass. Green glass comes in a variety of shades. The “green” cannot be removed. Thus, green bottles can be used only to make other green bottles. Green glass helps keep sunlight and temperature from affecting the contents, which explains why it is often used in the manufacture of wine bottles.
E – More About Recycling Glass
The glass is taken to a manufacturing or recycling plant where it is broken up into smaller pieces known as “cullet.” The cullet is crushed, sorted, cleaned, and prepared to be mixed with other raw materials. When the glass is produced from virgin materials, it requires high temperatures to melt and combine all the ingredients. Since cullet melts at a lower temperature, the more of it you add to a batch of raw materials, the less energy needed to melt it.
Ceramics such as coffee cups and plates present a problem in the glass-making process because they can weaken the glass. Even a small amount of ceramics can contaminate a whole batch of glass and cost the glassmaker millions of dollars.
F – What Not To Recycle
Not all glass can be recycled. The following items should not be placed in your recycling bin:
Any glass contaminated with stones, dirt, and food waste
Ceramics, such as dishware, ovenware, and decorative items.
Heat-resistant glass, such as Pyrex.
Mixed colours of broken glass.
Mirror or window glass.
Metal or plastic caps and lids.
Crystal.
Light bulbs: Find out how to recycle here.
Cathode-ray tubes (CRTs) found in some televisions and computer monitors. Find out how to recycle here.
Questions 30-36
Complete the summary below of the first two paragraphs of the Reading Passage.
Choose ONE OR TWO WORDS from the Reading Passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 30-36 on your answer sheet.
not all (30)………………… can be used again and made into other objects. This must be, separated and cleaned before recycling and if any of the different types of glass are mixed, they can (31) …………………….. large amounts of the product. Transparent glass is often used by many (32)……………………… as they are pleasing to look at and easy to use when trying to sell products to customers. This type of glass is made from three different materials combined, including; (33)……………., (34)………………….. and (35)…………………….. Using see-through containers for some items may cause them to deteriorate, so more often (36) ……………………… glass is used.
Questions 37-41
Look at paragraphs C, D, E and F and, using the information in the passage, complete the flow chart below.
Write your answers in boxes 37-41 on your answer sheet. Use ONE OR TWO WORDS for each answer.
We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.
The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest.
If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.
Essential strategies and practice techniques for this IELTS Reading question type. Learn how to manage time and improve accuracy.
Originally published May 2018. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
Practice the reading test section below or purchase an easy to print out PDF, which includes all 3 test sections for Reading Test 4 here.
There is also an IELTS General Training Practice Test PDF download that includes all 4 practice tests.
With each test, you get the following >
PDF for each section of the reading test.
PDF explaining the reading test band scores.
PDF example of a reading test answer sheet.
READING SECTION 2 – QUESTIONS 15-27
Read the text below and answer Questions 15-20.
The Benefits of Having A Business Mentor
Introduction: If you’re starting your own business, you probably need a mentor. This is a business person who volunteers to give their time to help somebody else with their work – particularly somebody who is new to the business. They have a wealth of experience they are willing to share, perhaps from setting up and running their own company. The mentor’s role is to support, develop, stimulate and challenge. However, business mentors won’t solve your problems for you or tell you what to do: they will talk things over with you, rather than acting as consultants. Many people while setting up their first business have found that a mentor can have a very positive effect on its success.
Why business mentoring is important: If you have a gap in your knowledge or experience, then mentoring could work very well for you. For example, you may have a great concept for a business but need a bit of assistance to turn it into a successful venture.
A mentor can provide you with a number of benefits, such as:
• guidance on developing and improving your business • help with decisions – particularly difficult ones • ideas for new products or services, or for working practices that will improve your efficiency • tips for your business that are gained from practical experience • access to a network of contacts with other business people
A business mentor can also help you to:
• develop key business skills • improve your problem-solving abilities • build confidence • work on your personal development
Face-to-face business mentoring: If you decide that face-to-face business mentoring is right for you, mentor and mentee should decide in advance on the nature of the relationship.
You will need to agree on the degree of involvement that suits you both. Some mentors and mentees work extremely closely, keeping in touch with each other most weeks or even most days. In the majority of cases, however, a mentor will provide help with every few weeks or months. In either case, they might meet, speak on the phone, or exchange emails.
You should also agree on a level of structure to suit you both. Mentoring can be a very formal process with regular meetings which follow a specific agenda and work towards a specific set of goals. It can also be quite a casual arrangement, where the mentee calls on the mentor as and when problems or questions arise.
Questions 15-20
Complete the sentences below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Write your answer in boxes 15-20 on your answer sheet.
A mentor 15……………………….. to help a new business person.
Mentors have a different role from 16…………………………
A mentor can:
• help you turn your idea into a successful business • assist when you need to make 17………………………… • suggest how your business can increase it’s 18………………………… • introduce you to a business network • help you to develop your skills, abilities and provide you with more 19…………………………
To be agreed:
• how much 20……………………….. the mentor should have
• how much structure the mentoring process should have.
Read the text below and answer Questions 21-27.
A Planning Process For Middle Sized Projects
Any business project – such as reducing energy costs, or improving efficiency – needs to be planned, and time spent planning will save far more time later on.
The typical stages of this planning process are explained below.
Your first task is to spot what needs to be done. Examine your firm’s current position, perhaps making a formal analysis of its strengths and weaknesses. Then think about how you might improve that position: what opportunities are there for achieving this?
The next step is to decide precisely what the aim of your plan is. This is best expressed in a simple single sentence, to ensure that it is clear and sharp in your mind. Doing this helps you to avoid wasting effort on irrelevant side issues.
Next, you should work out how to do it. It is tempting just to grasp the first idea that comes to mind, but it is better to consider a wide range of options: this way, you may come up with less obvious but better solutions.
Once you have explored the options available to you, the selection of which option to use is the next step. If you have the time and resources, you might decide to evaluate all options, carrying out some planning, such as cost, for each. Normally you will not have this luxury.
You already have a broad idea of what your project will consist of. Now is the time to work out the full details, identifying the most efficient and effective method of carrying it out, including answering the questions of ‘who’, ‘what’ and ‘when’.
The next stage is to review your plan and decide whether it will work satisfactorily. This evaluation enables you to change to another option that might be more successful or to accept that no plan is needed.
Once you have finished your plan and decided that it will work satisfactorily, it is time for implementation. Your plan will cover how this is to be done.
Once you have achieved a plan, you can close the project. At this point, it is often worth assessing the project to see whether there are any lessons that you can learn.
Questions 21-27
Choose ONE OR TWO WORDS ONLY AND/OR A NUMBER from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 21-27 on your answer sheet.
Complete the flow-chart below.
Suggested stages in a planning process >
For help to answer these questions with practice please read the posts below >>
We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.
The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest.
If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.
