The Flexible Workday
About this practice test
Practice B1 English reading with a workplace schedule trial covering policy choices, employee needs, evidence, and the final decision.
What you’ll practice
Finding detail
Locate specific information and evidence.
Interpreting ideas
Connect main points and inferences.
Evaluating arguments
Assess claims, evidence, and limitations.
What to expect:
5 questions with explanations to review after submission.
Study the questions and tasks
Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.
- Practice level
- B1. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.
- Question formats
- Single choice
How to approach this practice
Read the passage for its main idea, then return to the relevant sentence or paragraph for each question. Base answers on the passage.
The Flexible Workday
Northstar Design tested a flexible work schedule for three months. Employees could begin between seven and ten in the morning, but everyone had to be available online from ten until three. Managers first worried that clients would receive slower replies. In practice, the customer support team kept its usual response time because at least one person was online throughout the day. A staff survey showed that many employees used the early start to avoid traffic, while others preferred a later start after taking children to school. The office was quieter in the morning, but project deadlines did not change. Northstar decided to keep the schedule and add one shared office day each week.
-
Question 1 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What does the passage mainly describe?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- A flexible schedule trial and its results
- A new customer complaint procedure
- A plan to move the company abroad
- A change to the company product line
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- A flexible schedule trial and its results
The passage reports the results of a flexible schedule trial and the company decision.
Northstar decided to keep the schedule and add one shared office day each week.
-
Question 2 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
During which hours did everyone have to be online?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- 10:00 to 15:00
- 7:00 to 10:00
- 15:00 to 18:00
- 8:00 to 20:00
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- 10:00 to 15:00
All employees had to be available from ten until three.
Employees could begin between seven and ten in the morning, but everyone had to be available online from ten until three.
-
Question 3 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Why did customer response times remain unchanged?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Someone was online throughout the day.
- Clients stopped asking questions.
- The company hired a second support team.
- Managers answered every message themselves.
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Someone was online throughout the day.
At least one support team member was online throughout the day.
In practice, the customer support team kept its usual response time because at least one person was online throughout the day.
-
Question 4 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Why did some employees prefer an early start?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- To avoid traffic
- To attend evening classes
- To work in a different country
- To meet clients at night
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- To avoid traffic
Many used the early start to avoid traffic.
A staff survey showed that many employees used the early start to avoid traffic, while others preferred a later start after taking children to school.
-
Question 5 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What did Northstar decide to do?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Keep the schedule and add a shared office day
- End flexible work immediately
- Require everyone to start at seven
- Close the office every Friday
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Keep the schedule and add a shared office day
The company kept the schedule and added one shared office day each week.
Northstar decided to keep the schedule and add one shared office day each week.
What to review next
Find the words that support each answer. For a mistake, compare the question with the evidence and identify the detail or inference you missed.
A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.
Before you practise: a worked example
Look for evidence in the text. Separate what the writer says from what you already know about the topic.
The library normally closes at six, but on Fridays it stays open until eight. When does it close on Friday?
The answer is eight. But introduces an exception to the normal closing time, so the first time mentioned is not the answer.
This teaching example is separate from the scored questions. After your test, compare any mistakes with the explanation and revisit the topic before trying again.