An enterprise education programme in Hong Kong
Read An enterprise education programme in Hong Kong and check the IELTS Reading answers. The Teen Entrepreneurs Competition (TEC) is an enterprise education programme developed by the Business Studies Division at the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIED) - the major training body for school teac…
Passage preview
The Teen Entrepreneurs Competition (TEC) is an enterprise education programme developed by the Business Studies Division at the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIED) - the major training body for school teachers in Hong Kong. It has the following key objectives: to enable secondary school business students to integrate their conceptual learning with real business practices; to promote a collaborative approach to enterprise education; and to build up formal links between HKIEd, schools and entrepreneurs.
Vocabulary from this passage
11 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- adjudicate verb
To make a formal judgement or decision about a problem or a competition
An adjudicating panel of experts was responsible for assessing the teams' business proposals.
- authentic adjective
Of undisputed origin; genuine; representing a real-world context rather than a simulation
Students applied their knowledge to authentic business situations created by the competitive environment.
- collaborative approach noun
A method of working together with others to achieve a shared goal or outcome
The competition was designed to promote a collaborative approach to enterprise education among schools.
- disseminate verb
To spread or disperse information, knowledge, or ideas widely throughout a group
The executive committee met regularly with instructors to disseminate vital information to the participants.
- entrepreneurship noun
The activity of setting up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks
Training sessions covered the core concepts of entrepreneurship and practical skills for business start-ups.
- examination-orientated adjective
Describing a culture or system that prioritizes performance on tests over practical learning
The dominant examination-orientated culture often prevents teachers from exploring more practical educational experiences.
- feasible adjective
Possible to do easily or conveniently; likely to be achieved or put into effect
The competition provided a feasible means of filling the gap in current educational provision.
- integrate verb
To combine one thing with another so that they become a whole; to coordinate
The programme enables students to integrate their conceptual learning with practical business experiences.
- logistical support noun
The organization and implementation of a complex operation involving many people and facilities
The institute provided logistical support by offering a venue and a point of contact.
- stakeholder noun
A person or group that has an interest or concern in an organization
The positive evaluation outcomes came from participants as well as other community stakeholders.
- sustainable adjective
Able to be maintained at a certain rate or level over a long period
The assessment clarified how sustainable the education programme would be in the long term.
Answers with explanations
- 27. F
The summary mentions teachers receiving [blank] from staff. The text says pre-service teachers 'are **advised** by tutors'. Among the options, **guidance** (F) is a direct synonym for 'advice' or being 'advised'. This noun fits the sentence structure perfectly. Answer: F.
- 28. J
The summary mentions the [blank] of the programme. The text lists 'key **objectives**' which include giving students opportunities for real business tasks. **Aims** (J) is the most appropriate synonym for 'objectives' in the provided list. The plural form matches the context. Answer: J.
- 29. K
The summary describes a connection between different groups. The text explicitly states an aim was to 'develop a **network**' involving business and education fields. The option **network** (K) matches the text's terminology exactly and describes this multi-party connection. Answer: K.
- 30. D
The blank requires a location or event instructors attend. The text says they attend 'training sessions'. Looking at the options, **workshops** (D) is the most suitable synonym for training sessions in an educational context. It fits the 'go to [blank]' structure. Answer: D.
- 31. H
The blank requires what they are taught. The text states they cover 'concepts of entrepreneurship'. In the provided options, **theories** (H) is the best match for 'concepts'. It describes the conceptual/academic side of the training mentioned. Answer: H.
- 32. B
The summary mentions a 'new business [blank]'. The text describes brainstorming an 'innovative business start-up'. Among the choices, **venture** (B) is a professional term for a business start-up or project. This fits the requirement for a singular noun. Answer: B.
- 33. NO
The statement claims **few** participants were satisfied. However, the text says **most** participants ranked themselves as **satisfactory**. This is a direct contradiction of the quantifier ('few' vs 'most'). Therefore, the statement is incorrect according to the writer's report. Answer: NO.
- 34. YES
The statement says a participant was **tempted to withdraw**. The passage includes a quote from a participant who 'even **thought about giving up**' due to criticism. 'Giving up' is synonymous with withdrawing from a competition, confirming the writer's claim. Answer: YES.
- 35. NOT GIVEN
The text mentions that school teachers had positive views and thought the competition was a 'good platform'. However, there is no mention of teachers believing some students were **better suited** than others. This specific comparison of student suitability is absent. Answer: NOT GIVEN.
- 36. YES
The statement claims teachers thought **sustained interest** (zero drop-out rate) confirmed their **positive opinion**. The text explicitly states that 'the zero drop-out rate **strongly supported their views**' about the 'promising future' of the programme. This alignment confirms the claim. Answer: YES.
- 37. A
The writer notes that participants were able to **apply entrepreneurial knowledge** (theory) to **authentic business situations** (practice). This matches option A. Other options regarding a lack of sustainability or inconsistent evaluations are contradicted or not mentioned in this paragraph. Answer: A.
- 38. C
The text explains that the **ever-changing challenges** required participants to **work closely** with others and 'deal with events as they occurred'. This implies the nature of the task forced cooperation. The passage does not say the research was inconclusive or that people failed to develop skills. Answer: C.
- 39. D
The text states entrepreneurs were **sponsors** who made the programme **financially viable**. This directly supports the idea that they helped with costs (making it 'workable' financially). Options about professional advice or venues are not the primary point of this section regarding entrepreneurs. Answer: D.
- 40. D
The text describes HKIEd (the institute) as providing a 'credible **point of contact** between the schools and the committee'. This defines its role as a **link** or intermediary between the different contributors to the programme. Other options regarding voting or reputation are not mentioned in this context. Answer: D.