Assign this 18-minute reading module to evaluate B2 scanning and inference skills. Review student answers using the standardized evidence keys provided under each question.

Skim paragraphs A to D first to grasp the key statistics and hedging language. Next, answer the 10 IELTS-style questions below in order without using external dictionary help.

READING PASSAGE

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says that the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is the main law on safety at work in Great Britain. Its provisional figures say that 126 workers were killed in work-related accidents in 2025/26. Falls from a height caused 31 of these deaths, more than any other kind of accident. Moving vehicles came next, with 24 deaths.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States says that falls are the leading cause of death in construction. In 2024 there were 389 fatal falls to a lower level out of 1,034 construction deaths, using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. OSHA's advice has three parts: plan the job, provide the right equipment and train every worker to use it safely.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 5,070 fatal work injuries in the United States in 2024. Across all jobs, fatal falls, slips and trips fell by 4.6 percent, from 885 in 2023 to 844 in 2024.

Analysis & Writer's Perspective

These facts seem to show that falls are a main danger at work in both countries, and I think OSHA's three words suggest that simple steps matter. The two countries count deaths in different ways, and the HSE figures are provisional, so the numbers cannot be compared directly, and the facts here do not show why the number of falls went down.

Questions 1–3

Do the following statements agree with the views/claims of the writer in the reading passage?

YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer | NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer | NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

1. Falls from a height were responsible for more workplace deaths in Great Britain in 2025/26 than any other type of accident.

2. The fatality numbers from Great Britain and the United States can be directly compared to evaluate workplace safety performance.

3. Providing safe equipment increases operational costs for construction companies in the United States.

Questions 4–5

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.

4. What does the writer conclude about OSHA's three-part advice?

5. According to paragraph B, the figure of 389 represents the number of:

Questions 6–7

Which paragraph contains the following information? Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.

6. A percentage decrease in fatal falls, slips, and trips across all jobs.

7. An explanation of why fatality figures from the two nations should not be directly compared.

Questions 8–10

Complete the summary below. Choose NO MORE THAN SEVEN WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.

8. In Great Britain, the primary legislation governing safety in the workplace is the ____ passed in 1974.

9. To reduce construction hazards, OSHA recommends that employers first ____ before providing equipment and training.

10. Comparisons between national statistics are difficult because data from the HSE is currently described as ____.