Changes to the Soviet Union's working week
Read Changes to the Soviet Union's working week and check the IELTS Reading answers. The Soviet Union's first Five Year Plan was intended to turn the weak and undeveloped country into a powerful, modern, industrial nation. Following its introduction in 1928, production of coal, iron and steel incre…
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The Soviet Union's first Five Year Plan was intended to turn the weak and undeveloped country into a powerful, modern, industrial nation. Following its introduction in 1928, production of coal, iron and steel increased at a fantastic rate, and new industrial cities sprang up. Everyone's life was affected, as collectivised farming drove millions from the land to swell the industrial proletariat. Private enterprise disappeared in city and country, leaving the state supreme under the leadership of Stalin. Unlimited enthusiasm was the mood of the day, with the Communists believing that iron will and hard-working manpower alone would bring about a new world.
Answers with explanations
- 27. ix
Paragraph 1 outlines the grand ambitions of the Five Year Plan to transform the country into a modern nation, characterized by 'unlimited enthusiasm' and a belief in creating a 'new world'. This perfectly aligns with Heading ix: 'Optimism about transforming the country'.
- 28. vii
Paragraph 2 details how Soviet leaders were fascinated by and emulated American models, specifically referencing Taylor and Ford. This demonstrates borrowing ideas from other countries, matching Heading vii: 'Inspiration from abroad'.
- 29. i
Paragraph 4 introduces Larin's proposal to eliminate the Sunday rest day and implement a continuous working schedule to keep factories running every day. Stalin's approval of this plan makes Heading i, 'A decision for factories to operate seven days a week', the correct choice.
- 30. vi
Paragraph 5 explains the complex logistics behind implementing the new schedule. It details the staggered shifts, the five-day cycles, and the colour-coded groups. This thorough description justifies Heading vi: 'How the continuous working week was organised'.
- 31. xi
Paragraph 6 weighs the heavily promoted benefits (more rest, higher production, better living standards) against the main drawback (disruptions to family life). Presenting both sides matches Heading xi: 'Pros and cons of the continuous working week'.
- 32. iv
Paragraph 7 describes how the plan was 'implemented haphazardly' and that many factories falsely claimed to follow it, leading to a mix of different schedules across the country. This strongly supports Heading iv: 'Not consistently introduced everywhere'.
- 33. x
Paragraph 8 highlights that the system failed to deliver the promised results ('far from having the vaunted effect on production'). Poorly maintained machines and a loss of worker responsibility are key reasons for this failure, matching Heading x: 'The failure of factories to achieve expected improvements'.
- 34. ii
Paragraph 9 describes the collapse of the continuous working week and the subsequent six-day week, both of which were ultimately **abandoned in 1940**. This perfectly aligns with Heading ii: 'The end of two short-lived schemes'.
- 35. C
The question asks what aspect of American business was admired. The text states that leaders admired Taylor's 'time and motion studies' that found ways to **streamline effort** and maximize output. This equates to methods of increasing productivity. Option C is the correct answer.
- 36. B
The passage explains the goal of the continuous week was to eliminate 'wasted' days so that **machines could operate to their full capacity every day of the week**. This means keeping machinery in continuous use, which directly supports Option B.
- 37. A
The text lists several areas where the government promised improvements (employment, standard of living, less crowded leisure). However, it explicitly states 'The only objection concerned the family', acknowledging that family schedules would be harmed. Therefore, **family life** was unlikely to improve, making Option A correct.
- 38. Taylor
The question asks for the name of the management expert whose theories inspired the Soviet drive for efficiency. The text directly identifies **Taylor** as the American expert whose ideas on streamlining effort intrigued Lenin. Thus, the correct answer is 'Taylor'.
- 39. Larin
The text explicitly names the economist who came up with the idea of abolishing the Sunday rest day and instituting a continuous working week as **Larin**. This makes 'Larin' the clear answer.
- 40. ["colour-coding","colour coding","color-coding","color coding"]
The question asks what system was used on calendars to identify different groups of workers. The passage explains that workers were assigned a colour on the calendar, explicitly referring to this system as a **colour-coding** device. 'Colour-coding' is the exact answer needed.