GT Reading Test 34 Section 2 - Tips for business presentation & Job in journalism

GT Reading Test 34 Section 2 - Tips for business presentation & Job in journalism

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Written by IELTS Mentor

Read the passage below and answer Questions 15-22.

Tips for giving an effective business presentation

Preparation:
Get someone else to evaluate your performance and highlight your best skills. For example, go through your presentation in front of a colleague or relative. Think about who your audience is and what you want them to get out of the presentation. Think about content and style.

Go into the presentation room and try out any moves you may have to make, e.g. getting up from your chair and moving to the podium. Errors in the first 20 seconds can be very disorientating.

Familiarise yourself with the electronic equipment before the presentation and also have a backup plan in mind, should there be an unexpected problem like a power cut.

Dealing with presentation nervousness:
A certain amount of nervousness is vital for a good presentation. The added adrenaline will keep your faculties sharp and give your presentation skills extra force. This can, however, result in tension in the upper chest. Concentrate on your breathing. Slow it right down and this will relax you. Strangely, having something to pick up and put down tends to help you do this.

It may seem an odd idea, but we seem to fee! calmer when we engage in what’s referred to as a displacement activity, like clicking a pen or fiddling with jewellery. A limited amount of this will not be too obvious and can make you feel more secure at the start.

Interacting with your audience:
Think of your presentation as a conversation with your audience. They may not actually say anything, but make them feel consulted, questioned, challenged, then they will stay awake and attentive.

Engage with your present audience, not the one you have prepared for. Keep looking for reactions to your ideas and respond to them. If your audience doesn’t appear to be following you, find another way to get your ideas across. If you don’t interact, you might as well send a video recording of your presentation instead!

Structuring effective presentations:
Effective presentations are full of examples. These help your listeners to see more clearly what you mean. It’s quicker and more colourful. Stick to the point using three or four main ideas. For any subsidiary information that you cannot present in 20 minutes, try another medium, such as handouts.

End as if your presentation has gone well. Do this even if you feel you’ve presented badly. And anyway a good finish will get you some applause – and you deserve it!

Questions 15-22

Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 15-22 on your answer sheet.

15. Practising your presentation on a ………………….. or a family member is helpful.
16. Be prepared for a problem such as a ………………….. .
17. One way to overcome pre-presentation nerves is to make your ………………….. less rapid.
18. It is acceptable to do something called a ………………….. at the start of the presentation to reassure you.
19. Your presentation should be like a ………………….. with the people who have come to hear you.
20. Check constantly for ………………….. to the points you are making.
21. Make sure you use plenty of ………………….. to communicate your message effectively.
22. To keep the presentation short, use things like ………………….. to provide extra details.

Read the text below and answer Questions 23-27. 

How to get a job in journalism

You can get a good qualification in journalism, but what employers actually want is practical, rather than theoretical, knowledge. There’s no substitute for creating real stories that have to be handed in by strict deadlines. So write for your school magazine, then maybe try your hand at editing. Once you’ve done that for a while, start requesting internships in newspapers in the area. These are generally short-term and unpaid, but they’re definitely worthwhile, since, instead of providing you with money, they’ll teach you the skills that every twenty-first-century journalist has to have, like laying out articles, creating web pages, taking good digital pictures and so on.

Most reporters keep a copy of every story they’ve had published, from secondary school onwards. They’re called cuttings, and you need them to get a job — indeed a few impressive ones can be the deciding factor in whether you’re appointed or not. So start creating a portfolio now that will show off your developing talent.

It seems obvious – research is an important part of an effective job hunt. But it’s surprising how many would-be journalists do little or none. If you’re thorough, it can help you decide whether the job you’re thinking about applying for is right for you. And nothing impresses an editor more than an applicant who knows a lot about the paper.

There are two more elements to an application – your covering letter and curriculum vitae. However, your CV is the thing that will attract an editor’s attention first, so get it right. The key words are brevity, (no more than one page) accuracy (absolutely no spelling or typing errors) and clarity (it should be easy to follow).

In journalism, good writing skills are essential, so it’s critical that the style of your letter is appropriate. And, make sure it conveys your love of journalism and your eagerness to do the work.

Questions 23-27

Complete the flowchart below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 23-27 on your answer sheet.

Getting a job in journalism

Gain relevant experience, e.g. writing articles to meet specific deadlines.
                   ⇩
Apply for temporary 23 ………………. with local papers and acquire the extra 24 ………………. you’ll need.
                   ⇩
Build up a set of 25 ………………. in a portfolio, displaying how your writing ability has progressed over time.
                   ⇩
Take time to do detailed 26 ………………. first, before applying for a post with a paper.
                   ⇩
Once you decide to apply, make sure your CV is short, makes sense and is without  27  ………………. of any kind.
                   ⇩
Write your covering letter, paying particular attention to the style.

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