Why Some Women Cross the Finish Line Ahead of Men: reading answers and analysis
Women applying for management jobs succeed more often than men (one in four shortlisted, against one in six), probably because the few who apply are better qualified and prepare more thoroughly. The number of women non-executive directors has doubled, but is still tiny. Delayering has hurt women's progress, while demographics, education and networks help, and employers must value the difference.
Questions 14-27 · 14 marks · 3 question blocks
Where the answers sit
The paragraph matching (14-19) uses six of the seven paragraphs, one each. The consultant matching (20-23) covers B, D, E and G. The short answers (24-27) run from D to G.
Questions 14-19
A gives the success rates, and C compares how men and women apply. D shows women directors doubling, and E covers delayering holding women back. F gives the reasons more women are working (demographics, education), and G the support networks.
| Question | Answer | Also accepted |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | E | — |
| 15 | G | — |
| 16 | A | — |
| 17 | C | — |
| 18 | F | — |
| 19 | D | — |
Questions 20-23
Sears makes two points: more women starting their own businesses, and women in higher grades than before. Marx notes that far fewer women than men apply for senior posts. Antal says there are still many hurdles to getting shortlisted, so selection doesn't favour women.
| Question | Answer | Also accepted |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | C | — |
| 21 | B | — |
| 22 | A | — |
| 23 | B | — |
Questions 24-27
Women non-executive directors doubled, delayering disadvantaged women, demographic trends show more women working, and employers must change their attitude. Both spellings of delayering are accepted.
| Question | Answer | Also accepted |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | doubled | it has doubled / double / doubling / a doubling |
| 25 | de-layering | delayering |
| 26 | demographic trends | — |
| 27 | employers | — |
The questions most people get wrong
C (Antal). 'It's still so hard for women to even get on to shortlists'. Marx's success rates don't show the procedures favour women, only that the few who apply do well.
B (Sears). 'Women have raised the level of grades we are employed in', meaning higher positions, though the barriers at the top remain.
D. The directors survey shows women's numbers doubling, which is the improvement. F explains why more women are in the workforce generally.
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Cambridge IELTS 1, Test 4, Reading Passage 2. The passage name belongs to Cambridge University Press. No passage text or question wording is reproduced on this page. The answers are published for self-marking, and the analysis is our own.