How to approach Reading Test Part Three •In this part of the Reading Test you read a longer text and answer six questions. •First read the questions. Try to get an idea of what the text will be about. Then read the text quickly for general understanding. •Then read the text and questions more carefully, choosing the best answer to each question. Do not choose an answer just because you can see the same words in the text. •Read the article below about communication and the questions on the opposite page. •For each question 13 - 18, mark one letter (A, B, C or D) on your Answer Sheet for the answer you choose. How well do you communicate? In today's fast-paced work environment, communication can come low down on your list of priorities. If you can't remember the last time you spoke to some of your friends, how do you find time to brief thousands of employees on a regular basis? That said, internal communication plays an integral part in any healthy business strategy. If done well it ensures that staff are kept abreast of the visions and values of the company they work for if done badly it can lead to speculation and rumour. Jenny Davenport, a director of the change management and communications consultancy, People in Business, says ongoing dialogue with staff is a necessity. 'You must educate employees to understand your business if you want them to perform,' she says. 'Unless you do, people will not trust you when times are bad.' Communication is also about discussion rather than rhetoric. Flat communication devices- email, intranets, employee publications - have a part to play but must be mixed with more interactive methods involving face-to- face contact to encourage response. Remember that individuals are different and like to receive information in different ways,' adds Davenport. 'As well as written communication via intranets or traditional employee magazines, team managers must talk to staff about how what they de affects the business. Twice a year, ensure employees come face to face with senior management- a conference is ideal.' Khalid Aziz, chairman of communications consultancy The Aziz Corporatior), feels that company-wide conferences are an ideal way to interact with large numbers of staff. 'It is important to organise and plan correctly,' he says. 'Have a clear aim before you start and be careful not to pack too much in - facts that can be communicated via email, for example, are a waste of conference space. Ask for response but don't ask for questions - it always sounds like a threat,' he adds. 'Get people to raise their hands if they agree with a certain statement about the company and then ask one person to elaborate.' The intranet plays a big part in the communications strategy at One 2 One, says Nell Lovell, the company's director of communications. 'Our intranet touches everybody,' he says. 'We have set up cybercafes for staff who don't have PC access.' One 2 One's intranet carries news and general information and is supported by a monthly magazine mailed to homes, a weekly email update on matters of fact and webchats which staff are invited to join. Getting feedback from employees is the key to hi- fi company Richer Sounds' communications policy. 'Like other businesses, we run a suggestions scheme. The difference with ours is the way it works,' says John Clayton, training and recruitment director. 'Our chairman Julian Richer reads every suggestion and we answer them all. Each proposal is rewarded with up to f25 cash - we find this is more motivational than a big prize to one employee once a year.' What point is made in the first paragraph?