The IELTS test has four sections: Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking. The Reading section includes passages followed by questions that assess your ability to understand ideas, locate information, and identify specific details.
A Workaholic Economy is one such IELTS Reading passage from Cambridge IELTS 1, Academic Reading Test 3, Passage 3. It focuses on changing working hours, workplace productivity, and the reasons employees continue to work longer hours. The passage is divided into nine sections, from A to I.
For your reference, here is the A Workaholic Economy IELTS Reading answer key from the original IELTS test:
Question Numbers
A Workaholic Economy Reading Answers
1
NO
2
NOT GIVEN
3
YES
4
NO
5
YES
6
NOT GIVEN
7
C
8
A
9–12
B, D, F, G*
* Answers 9–12 can be written in any order.
These are the answers provided for the original IELTS test. In the sections below, you can attempt the A Workaholic Economy IELTS Reading practice test and check your responses with the answer key and explanations provided on this page.
A Workaholic Economy IELTS Reading Passage for Practice
A Workaholic Economy is an IELTS Reading passage about changing working hours, workplace productivity, and the reasons employees continue to spend long hours at work. It also looks at employer practices, part-time work, and the difficulty of choosing more leisure time.
One useful approach is to notice the names, dates, reasons, and examples as you read. These details can help you locate information when you move to the questions.
We have created this IELTS Reading practice test for you. Read the passage carefully and try to answer the questions that follow:
A Workaholic Economy IELTS Reading Passage
A. Changes in Working Hours
During the early years of the Industrial Revolution, higher productivity gradually led to shorter working hours. Employees who had once worked 12 hours a day, six days a week eventually moved to 10-hour days and later to an eight-hour, five-day working week.
Only a generation ago, social planners were concerned about how people would spend the extra free time created by these changes. In United States, however, there was little need for such concern because the expected increase in leisure did not develop as anticipated.
B. Productivity and the Loss of Leisure
Since 1945, the amount of output produced during each hour of work has more than doubled. Despite this increase in productivity, leisure has largely become associated with people who are unemployed or working fewer hours. Full-time employees spend roughly as much time at work as they did at the end of the Second World War.
Working hours have actually risen noticeably since 1970, possibly because real wages have remained largely unchanged since then. The growing number of books offering advice on time management and coping with stress also reflects the pressures associated with long working hours.
C. Why Employers Use Overtime
There are several reasons why employees have not gained more leisure time. Economist Juliet B. Schor of Harvard University explains that, since 1979, companies have often responded to better business conditions by asking existing employees to work overtime instead of hiring additional workers.
The current economic recovery has therefore been described as “jobless” because increased production has become largely separated from employment growth. Some companies have even reduced their workforce while their profits have increased. Labour economist Ronald G. Ehrenberg argues that work could be distributed among more people instead.
D. The Structure of Pay and Benefits
A number of factors encourage employers to use fewer workers for longer hours. One important factor is the way salaries and benefits are organised. In some cases, it is financially more practical to ask 40 existing employees to work one extra hour each than to hire another person for a 40-hour working week.
Professional and managerial employees provide a clear example. Once an employee is paid a salary, the cost to the company remains the same whether that person works 35 hours or 70 hours in a week. Although excessive work may eventually reduce efficiency or cause employees to leave, the employer has a clear short-term financial incentive to use existing staff for longer hours.
E. Benefits for Hourly Workers
Hourly employees may also receive benefits such as pension contributions and medical insurance that are not linked to the number of hours they work. This gives employers another reason to make greater use of their existing employees rather than hire additional workers.
As a result, the way salaries and benefits are structured can encourage companies to increase the working hours of people who are already employed.
F. Why Employees Work Longer
Employees also have reasons for choosing longer working hours instead of more leisure. Schor argues that people who reduce their working hours may face a significant disadvantage in their careers because employers can view shorter hours as a negative sign about their commitment to the company.
Lotte Bailyn of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology adds that many corporate managers find it difficult to measure an employee’s actual contribution to a company. They therefore use the number of hours worked as an indication of output. Employees understand this and may change their behaviour by spending more time at work.
G. Benefits of Part-Time Work
Bailyn argues that the traditional image of a good employee as someone whose life belongs to the company does not match all the available evidence. Quantitative and qualitative studies show that part-time employees can be more productive because they make better use of their working time and are less likely to become exhausted in stressful jobs.
She also argues that companies can benefit from having more employees working fewer hours. A larger workforce provides additional people who can cover unexpected situations, such as when a crisis keeps someone away from the workplace.
Schor reports that positive experiences with reduced working hours have started to change the belief that more working hours always produce better results. Larger companies, in particular, appear more willing to experiment with flexible working arrangements.
H. The Difficulty of Choosing Leisure
Schor argues that changes to the financial and cultural structures of employment may not be enough for workers to successfully exchange higher productivity and income for more leisure. She believes that US market for goods has developed around the assumption that households will have two full-time earners.
For example, car manufacturers no longer produce as many inexpensive models, while housing developers have moved away from building the small bungalows that were once common among first-time home buyers.
I. A Market Designed for Long Working Hours
Even ordinary household products are now designed with advanced technology and higher incomes in mind. Schor describes this situation as almost the opposite of the idea of “appropriate technology”, which was developed around the needs of developing countries.
In United States, goods are increasingly suited to people with high incomes and long working hours. This makes it harder for workers to simply choose more leisure, even when improvements in productivity could make shorter working hours possible.
Once you have read the passage, move on to the questions and use the details you have identified to find the correct answers.
Preparing for yourIELTStest? Improve your preparation with practical guidance through upGrad’sfree IELTS courseand practise at your own pace.
A Workaholic Economy Reading Questions
In the questions below, you will look at different ideas from A Workaholic Economy, including working hours, employer practices, and the reasons people continue to work longer.
You will work through Yes, No, Not Given, Multiple Choice, and Selecting from a List questions based on the information in the passage.
Read each question carefully and use the details in the passage to find the answer.
Questions 1–6: Yes, No, Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer in the reading passage?
In boxes 1–6, write:
YES if the statement agrees with the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks
1. Employees today are working fewer hours than they did in the past.
2. Social planners were asked to provide information about employment figures in United States.
3. Real wages have remained largely unchanged since the 1970s.
4. The economic recovery resulted in an increase in employment.
5. Research cited by Bailyn suggests that part-time employees can be more productive.
6. More leisure time would benefit households with two full-time earners.
Questions 7–8: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
7. Why does Bailyn believe companies can benefit from having more employees working fewer hours?
A. Extra employees can easily be removed when they are no longer needed. B. Companies are more likely to face problems when they have too few workers. C. Additional employees can cover situations when other workers are unavailable. D. A larger workforce creates a more positive image of the company.
8. Why does Schor believe that choosing more leisure may be difficult for workers in US?
A. The goods and housing available in the market are designed around higher incomes. B. Employers offer higher incomes in exchange for longer working hours. C. Future economic growth depends mainly on advances in technology. D. Workers do not want to return to the simpler lifestyle of the post-war period.
Questions 9–12: Selecting from a List
The writer mentions several factors that encourage employees to work longer hours.
Which FOUR of the following factors are mentioned?
Write the correct letters, A–H, in boxes 9–12.
A. Books are available to help employees manage stress. B. Employers ask existing employees to work additional hours. C. Higher production has become separated from employment growth. D. Employee benefits are not linked to the number of hours worked. E. Overworked employees take longer to complete their work. F. Working shorter hours can be viewed as a sign of lower commitment. G. Managers use the number of hours worked as an indication of output. H. Employees value their careers more than their family life.
Once you have completed the questions, check your responses below to understand why each answer is correct and where the information appears in the passage.
A Workaholic Economy Reading Answers with Explanation
Once you have attempted the questions, use the A Workaholic Economy Reading Answers with location below to check your responses and understand how each answer is supported by the passage.
The explanations also highlight key details that can help you recognise paraphrased information and avoid confusing similar ideas.
Answers 1–6: Yes, No, Not Given
Answer 1: NO
Explanation: Paragraph B states that working hours have actually increased noticeably since 1970. This contradicts the statement that employees today are working fewer hours than they did in the past.
You might initially look at Paragraph A, which explains that working hours became shorter during the Industrial Revolution. However, the question refers to employees today, so the information in Paragraph B is more relevant.
Answer location: Paragraph B – Productivity and the Loss of Leisure
Answer 2: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: Paragraph A explains that social planners were concerned about how people would spend the extra free time created by shorter working hours. However, it does not say that they were asked to provide information about employment figures in United States.
The mention of social planners and United States may make the statement seem supported, but the passage gives no information about them providing employment figures. Therefore, the answer is NOT GIVEN.
Answer location: Paragraph A – Changes in Working Hours
Answer 3: YES
Explanation: Paragraph B states that real wages have remained largely unchanged since 1970. This directly supports the statement that real wages have remained largely unchanged since the 1970s.
The wording is slightly different, but “since 1970” and “since the 1970s” refer to the same period in this context.
Answer location: Paragraph B – Productivity and the Loss of Leisure
Answer 4: NO
Explanation: Paragraph C describes the economic recovery as “jobless” because increased production became largely separated from employment growth. It also explains that some companies reduced their workforce while their profits increased.
The statement says that the recovery resulted in an increase in employment, while the passage says that production increased without corresponding employment growth. This makes the statement contradictory.
Answer location: Paragraph C – Why Employers Use Overtime
Answer 5: YES
Explanation: Paragraph G states that quantitative and qualitative studies show that part-time employees can be more productive. It explains that they make better use of their working time and are less likely to become exhausted in stressful jobs.
The question uses “research cited by Bailyn”, while the passage refers to “quantitative and qualitative studies”. These refer to the research supporting the same idea, so the answer is YES.
Answer location: Paragraph G – Benefits of Part-Time Work
Answer 6: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: Paragraph H states that US market for goods has developed around the assumption that households will have two full-time earners. It then gives examples involving cars and housing.
You might think this means the passage is saying that more leisure would benefit these households. However, it does not make that claim. It only explains how the market has developed around two full-time earners, so the answer is NOT GIVEN.
Answer location: Paragraph H – The Difficulty of Choosing Leisure
Answers 7–8: Multiple Choice
Answer 7: C. Additional employees can cover situations when other workers are unavailable.
Explanation: Paragraph G explains that companies can benefit from having more employees working fewer hours because a larger workforce provides additional people who can cover unexpected situations. It gives the example of a crisis keeping someone away from the workplace.
This directly matches option C, which refers to additional employees covering situations when other workers are unavailable.
Answer location: Paragraph G – Benefits of Part-Time Work
Answer 8: A. The goods and housing available in the market are increasingly designed around higher incomes and long working hours.
Explanation: Paragraph H explains that US market has developed around households with two full-time earners. It gives examples involving cars and housing. Paragraph I then adds that goods are increasingly suited to people with high incomes and long working hours.
You need to connect these two paragraphs to understand why choosing more leisure can be difficult. The passage suggests that the market itself is structured around higher incomes and longer working hours, which matches option A.
Answer location: Paragraphs H and I – The Difficulty of Choosing Leisure and A Market Designed for Long Working Hours
Answers 9–12: Selecting from a List
Answer 9: B. Employers ask existing employees to work additional hours.
Explanation: Paragraph C explains that companies have often responded to better business conditions by asking existing employees to work overtime instead of hiring additional workers. This directly matches option B.
Option C may also catch your attention because the paragraph says that increased production has become separated from employment growth. However, this describes the result of the employment pattern rather than the factor that encourages longer working hours.
Answer location: Paragraph C – Why Employers Use Overtime
Answer 10: D. Employee benefits are not linked to the number of hours worked.
Explanation: Paragraph E explains that hourly employees may receive benefits such as pension contributions and medical insurance that are not linked to the number of hours they work. This gives employers another reason to make greater use of their existing employees.
The important connection is between benefits not being linked to working hours and the employer's decision to increase the hours of existing employees rather than hire additional workers. This makes D the correct answer.
Answer location: Paragraph E – Benefits for Hourly Workers
Answer 11: F. Working shorter hours can be viewed as a sign of lower commitment.
Explanation: Paragraph F states that employees who reduce their working hours may face a career disadvantage because employers can view shorter hours as a negative sign about their commitment to the company.
The passage does not say that these employees are actually less committed. It explains that employers may interpret shorter working hours in this way, which is the idea expressed in option F.
Answer location: Paragraph F – Why Employees Work Longer
Answer 12: G. Managers use the number of hours worked as an indication of output.
Explanation: Paragraph F explains that many corporate managers find it difficult to measure an employee's actual contribution to a company. They therefore use the number of hours worked as an indication of output, and employees respond by spending more time at work.
The key point is that the passage describes hours worked as a measure used by managers, not as proof that employees actually produce more when they work longer. This matches option G.
Answer location: Paragraph F – Why Employees Work Longer
How to Approach A Workaholic Economy IELTS Reading Questions?
A Workaholic Economy includes questions on the writer’s views, specific ideas, and factors related to working hours. Some answers can be easy to spot, while others require you to distinguish between information that is directly stated and details that are only related to the question.
A good approach is to identify what the question is asking first and then look for the relevant idea in the passage rather than searching for exact words.
Here are a few practical ways to approach A Workaholic Economy Reading Answers:
Identify the Writer’s View for Yes, No, Not Given
For Questions 1–6, find the relevant part of the passage and compare its meaning with the statement.
YES: the passage supports the statement.
NO: the passage gives the opposite information.
NOT GIVEN: the passage does not provide enough information to decide.
Be careful with related details. For example, the passage mentions households with two full-time earners, but it does not say that they would benefit from more leisure.
Follow the Main Idea for Multiple Choice Questions
Questions 7–8 focus on specific ideas from Bailyn and Schor. Find the relevant person first, then read enough of the paragraph to understand the complete point.
For Question 8, for example, Schor’s argument continues across Paragraphs H and I. Do not choose an option just because it contains words that appear in the passage.
Match the Factors with the Passage
For Questions 9–12, look for the reasons or factors that encourage longer working hours.
Paragraphs C, E, and F contain the main answers. Paragraph B also mentions books about time management and stress, but these are not presented as reasons for employees working longer hours.
Look for Paraphrased Information
The questions may use different wording from the passage.
For example:
work additional hours → work overtime
lower commitment → a negative sign about commitment
increase in employment → employment growth
Focus on the meaning rather than searching for the exact words.
Check the Exact Meaning Before Answering
Before finalising an answer, check whether the passage supports the whole idea in the question.
Pay attention to words such as today, increase, fewer, since 1970, and benefit. Small changes in meaning can turn a YES into a NO or NOT GIVEN, so read the complete statement before deciding.
Need more IELTS Reading practice? Try these answer guides to practise different passage topics and question types:
Working through A Workaholic Economy requires more than finding matching words in the passage. Pay attention to the writer’s views, follow ideas across paragraphs, and check whether the information supports, contradicts, or simply does not confirm the question.
As you practise A Workaholic Economy Reading Answers, reviewing the reasoning behind each answer can help you recognise paraphrased information and handle similar IELTS Reading questions with greater confidence.
A Workaholic Economy discusses changes in working hours, workplace productivity, and the reasons people continue to work for longer periods. It also examines employer practices, part-time work, and why choosing more leisure can be difficult.
2. How many questions are there in A Workaholic Economy?
There are 12 questions in the A Workaholic Economy practice set. Questions 1–6 are Yes, No, Not Given; Questions 7–8 are Multiple Choice; and Questions 9–12 require selecting answers from a list.
3. Which question types are included in A Workaholic Economy?
The passage includes Yes, No, Not Given, Multiple Choice, and Selecting from a List questions. Each type requires a different approach, so read the instructions carefully before searching for information in the passage.
4. Where can I find A Workaholic Economy IELTS Reading Answers with explanations?
You can find the A Workaholic Economy IELTS Reading Answers with explanations in the answer section. Each response includes its location in the passage and explains how the information supports the selected answer.
5. Which paragraphs are important for the A Workaholic Economy questions?
Different questions refer to different parts of the passage. Paragraphs C, E, and F are particularly useful for questions about longer working hours, while Paragraphs H and I explain why choosing more leisure can be difficult.
6. What is the main difficulty in answering A Workaholic Economy Reading Answers?
One common difficulty is distinguishing between information that directly answers a question and details that are simply related. The passage contains several connected ideas, so checking the exact meaning of each statement is important.
7. How should I approach the Yes, No, Not Given questions in A Workaholic Economy?
Start by identifying the main claim in each statement and then locate the relevant information in the passage. Choose YES when it agrees, NO when it contradicts the writer, and NOT GIVEN when the information is absent.
8. Why is Schor’s argument important in A Workaholic Economy?
Schor’s views help explain why increased productivity has not necessarily resulted in more leisure. She discusses employer practices, working hours, and the US market, including how goods and housing are designed around higher incomes and longer working hours.
9. What should I remember while solving the Selecting from a List questions?
Focus on the exact wording of the question before choosing your answers. The passage contains several details about working hours, but you need to select the factors that actually encourage longer working hours rather than related information.
10. Can practising A Workaholic Economy Reading Answers improve IELTS Reading skills?
Yes. Reviewing the answers and explanations can help you recognise paraphrases, distinguish between YES, NO, and NOT GIVEN, and identify supporting details more efficiently. These skills can also be applied to other IELTS Reading passages.
upGrad Abroad Editorial Team |4974 articles published
We are a dedicated team of study-abroad experts, ensuring intensive research and comprehensive information in each of our blogs. With every piece written, we aim at simplifying the overseas education ...
Refer Your Friend & Earn upto ₹15000
Help your friend upgrade to a Global Career and earn rewards together.
