Vocabulary

Which words go in these blanks:

1 I am responsible ____ checking the inventory.

2 I liaise ____ the regional manager.

3 I report ____ Mr Greene.

4 Sarah deals ____ the urgent enquiries.

5 I need to prepare ____ tomorrow’s meeting.

6 Jack usually ____ the minutes of our meetings.

7 Frank is in charge ____ our new recruits.

8 I rely ____ my PA to schedule my appointments.

9 Ahmad takes care ____ any maintenance issues.

10 Rose comes up ____ artwork for our website.

Listening

What does each person do?




1 Which person needs to keep up-to-date?

2 Which person sometimes needs to write reports?

3 Which person requires mathematical skills?

4 Which person leads a team?

5 Which person approves applications?


1 Which verb tense is used throughout the job descriptions and why?

2 In the third job description, what does the word ‘fussy’ mean?

 

Accuracy

See if you can correct the common errors in the following sentences:

1 In my opinion, I think cats make better pets than dogs.

2 I’m think that we should choose the red one.

3 You should to apologise to him about it.

4 According George, UFOs really do exist.

5 I’m not think it’s a good idea to postpone the meeting.

6 I’m agree that we need to hire more staff.

7 In my opinion that an expensive sports car is a waste of money.

8 I think that give some of the profits to charity is a great idea!

 

Vocabulary

See if you know the following words that could be used to describe products or services:

1 The word rugged might be used to describe _______.

2 The word user-friendly might be used to describe _______.

3The word sleek might be used to describe _______.

4 The word trendy might be used to describe _______.

5 The word nutritious might be used to describe _______.

6 The word authentic might be used to describe _______.

7 The word eco-friendly might be used to describe _______.

8 The word efficient might be used to describe _______.

9 The word portable might be used to describe _______.

10 The word personalised might be used to describe _______.

11 The word low-carb might be used to describe _______.

12 The word refreshing might be used to describe _______.

13 The word informative might be used to describe _______.

14 The word thrilling might be used to describe _______.

15 The word innovative might be used to describe _______.

16 The word secure might be used to describe _______.

17 The word luxurious might be used to describe _______.

18 The word lighthearted might be used to describe _______.

19 The word tender might be used to describe _______.

20 The word crisp might be used to describe _______.

 

Culture Quiz

1 In which South American country do people speak Portuguese?

2 How many states are there in the United States of America?

3 Name one country, apart from Germany, where people speak German.

4 Which country produces Samsung products?

5 Name three of the Persian Gulf States.

6 What currency is used in Russia?

7 How do you say ‘Goodbye’ in Japanese?

8 What is the capital of Egypt

9 Name a country in Africa that begins with Z

10 In which country is Timbuktu?

Listening

First Listening

1 Budget airlines vary the prices for seats on a flight.

2 The price which is advertised is the final price the customer pays.

3 Budget airlines often only have one type of aircraft.

4 Budget airlines often have lengthy stopovers.

5 Employees working for budget airlines need to be versatile.


Second listening

1 Does the program paint a positive or negative picture of budget airlines?

2 What are some of the extra charges that you may face when using a budget airline?

3 What are some ways that budget airlines cut costs?


Grammar Task

Add the -ed ending where necessary in these sentences:

1. The movie we saw finished at 3:00.
2. I have always wanted to travel to Japan.
3. The journey was really fascinating.
4. Wong is interested in photography.
5. How do they manage to keep their prices so low and still make a profit?
6. Passengers are inspected as they pass through the scanner.
7. When asked to leave the plane, Jill flew into a rage.
8. I renewed my passport before I bought the plane tickets.
9. She is crying because she is scared.
10. If you feel confused, you can check it on the Internet.
11. Did you buy the car that you looked at the other day?
12. She had insisted that I carry her bags.
13. By the end of the summer, I will have lived here for two years.
14. They never ask permission before they leave early.
15. Pilots only need to be trained for one plane.
16. Priority will be awarded to those projects that are expected to bring in the most revenue.

Grammar Task 1:

Which word or words best fit each sentence?

1 I’m not happy with your attitude. You’d _______ shape up or you’ll be looking for another job.

2 I think what you _______ do is to ask Alex to help you with this project.

3 All new employees _______ undergo a training program.

4 What are you doing here? You’re _______ be at the meeting.

5 Did you leave the lights on in the meeting room? You _______ go back in and turn them off.

6 The boss is in a foul mood. You _______ not disturb him at the moment.

7 We’re _______ take our lunch break at twelve, but sometimes I take it at one.

8 We _______ try to have the meeting on Tuesday morning.

9 You _______ meet your sales targets to be eligible for the monthly bonus.

10 You’d _______ keep your receipts if you want to claim for them.

Grammar Task 2:

These sentences are structurally incorrect. Can you correct them?

1 We supposed to ask for leave one week in advance.

2 You should to get someone to cover for you when you’re away.

3 Sean have better not be rude to the customers again.

4 The employees must to clock in as soon as they arrive.

5 You are suppose to keep your mobile phone on silent mode during the meeting.

6 You should getting one of the interns to help you with the photocopying.

7 It’s getting late. I better go or I’ll get into trouble.

8 The managers must have write a report every month.

1 __________ the summer, market activity is slow.

2 He hasn't released an album __________.

3 __________________ the phone rang, she knew it would be bad news.

4 We will reconvene the meeting _____ three days.

5 We will reconvene the meeting three days _________.

6 ______ the past, disease was a massive problem.

7 I haven't seen Bob from Accounting _________.

8 It's been ages ________ we played football together.

9 We __________ spend enough time helping our kids with their homework.

10 I was totally exhausted ______ the time I got home.

11 The doctor will be with you _________.

12 The doctor will be with you ________.

13 We need to get the photocopier fixed _______________.

14 The research paper is due _________.

15 Sherry came to visit us ________.

16 ___________, he is ranked number one in the world.

17 ____________, please. I need take this call.

18 We reached the station at five-fifteen ___________.

Task 2:

Correct the mistakes:

1 A phone is a necessity these days that can access the Internet.

2 They serve chicken which it is cooked in curry sauce.

3 I like cars who can go really fast.

4 The stew which I ate it gave me an upset tum.

5 I’ve misplaced the document that was working on.

 

Sentence Stress Task:

In each of the following sentences, mark the words which are stressed

(Other answers may be possible)

1 The sky is rather grey today.
2 A good dish takes time to cook.
3 He sailed forth in a great ship.
4 He’s a diligent worker, but sometimes stubborn.
5 A good boss cares about all of his employees.
6 Deadlines will be missed and clients may get upset.
7 I like people who mind their own business.
8 We need to get the photocopier fixed as soon as possible.
9 Try to speak at the right pace.
10 Many of us have problems with productivity.

 

Listening

Task:

Suggested answers

The Big Picture

1 The speaker began by asking a series of questions. Why do you think she did this?

2 The talk is divided into five parts. How are these five parts structured?

3 “My first tip is this...”
This is a useful sentence starter or ‘signpost’. What other sentence starters did you hear?

4 “Make a list of must-do items.”
This sentence is written as an imperative - a direct command. Why does the speaker do this?

5 How does the speaker end the talk and why does she choose this method?

Grammar Task:

Change these sentences into passive voice:

1 I must finish this project before May.

2 You should take minutes at every meeting.

3 We could replace the logo with something more modern.

4 You can eat these biscuits.

5 We must report this to the authorities.

6 You should check these figures one more time.

7 Someone could easily steal these paintings.

8 People can edit the webpage.

9 You can cook the product in the microwave or in the oven.

10 We should arrange a meeting between the two parties.

Grammar Task 1

(Alternative answers may be possible)

1 Have you ever _________ organic food?

2 Have you ever _________ your own vegetables?

3 Have you ever _________ an electric car?

4 Have you ever _________ money to a charity that helps the environment?

5 Have you ever _________ a bus to work?

6 Have you ever _________ a bicycle to work?

7 Have you ever _________ your own bag to the supermarket?

8 Have you ever _________ to use less electricity per month?

9 Have you ever _________ second-hand clothes?

10 Have you ever _________ about ways that you can help the environment?

 

Listening

Task 1

Based on the listening, are the following statements TRUE or FALSE?

1 The speaker is introducing a scheme for renting motorcycles.

2 He claims that his product is fun.

3 ____ One of the selling points is safety.

4 GreenCycles are available in more than one colour.

5 The speaker claims that GreenCycle is a unique service.

The Big Picture:

1 How did the speaker structure his pitch?

Looking at context

(Alternative answers may be possible)

1 Secondly, I’d like to talk about how globalisation has impacted the local IT sector.

2 Recommendations will be given on how to improve the current system.

3 At only 9.99 per month, it’s a steal!

4 I’m quite an ambitious person and I think you can see that by the promotions I received at my current company.

5 Let’s say we confirm a larger order; would that allow you to bring the price down?

6 This is the Finance Department. You’ll need to submit your claims here.

7 If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to call me at 011-2783 7234.

8 Want me to get you something while I’m out?

9 We plan to have it on the market by mid-November.

10 In other developments, the Finance Minister continues to refuse to resign

11 The next item on the agenda is the upcoming telecommunications conference.

12 I’ve been a loyal customer for many years now. However, recently, ...

1 This is a difficult task.

2 This is a challenging task.

3 There is an aroma in the air.

4 There is a stench in the air.

5 Sara is outgoing.

6 Sara is loud.

7 Jerry is a really unique person.

8 Jerry is a really bizarre person.

9 This hotel looks pretty cheap.

10 The budget airlines can be really cost-effective.

 

Emphatic words

(Alternative answers are possible)

1 Mary is a nice girl.

2 What a good book!

3 It’s an old temple.

4 He said loudly, “Help me!”

5 This is an interesting programme.

6 The event was a success.

7 I’m hungry.

8 Our new office building is very big.

9 This little chip can hold 80 terabytes of data.

10 It’s surprising that your CEO can speak five languages fluently.

Correct the errors in these sentences:

1 Pete ought be more polite when dealing with customers.
.
2 You would better make sure you ask for a receipt.

3 You really must not to tease David like that.

4 You should to change your money to Euros before we leave the city.

5 Why not you surprise your secretary by taking her out to lunch?

6 I'm advise you to make a police report about this.

7 I recommend you to have surgery to remove the cyst.

8 Try soak the beans in water overnight. That should soften them.

9 What we should do to post the information on our site.

10 If I were you, I will invest my bonus in the stock market.

1 _____ The writer of the first letter works in a busy office.

2 _____ Many people have issues with noisy coworkers.

3 _____ It is good to approach a problem head-on.

4 _____The writer of the second letter was unsuccessful at school.

5 _____ You need different skills to get ahead at school and at work.

6 _____ The writer of the third letter seems lazy.

Idioms

Examine the following idioms. What do you think each one means? Try to guess from the context:

1 You can get a coffee there after midnight. In fact, it’s open 24/7.

2 We’ve done all we can for now. Let’s call it a day.

3 The new Samsung phone has generated a lot of buzz; everyone’s talking about it.

4 I don’t think I can help you right now. I’ve got a lot on my plate at the moment.

5 This is a team effort, so everybody is expected to pull their weight.

6 If you think anyone would pay $1000 for this, then you need a reality check!

7 Since we dropped the price, sales have gone through the roof.

8 If the boss sees this mistake, he’s liable to blow his top.

9 The company doesn’t seem to care if it has a bad reputation as long as the bottom line is solid.

10 If you’re going to join our project team, we need to know what you can bring to the table.

11 Verbal confirmation is not enough. We need to get it in black and white.

12 It’s costly to invest in a new stadium, but, in the long run, it’ll be worth it for the club.

Error Correction Task

Which of the following sentences are correct? Cross out the ones that are not:

1 In order for get a new laptop, you need to contact the Purchasing Department.

2 Attending meetings is a major part of my job.

3 Checking these records, I noticed several accounting errors.

4 Researching new technology and coming up with new products.

5 Looking after new clients, I work in the Customer Service Department

6 Hiring good new recruits is a time-consuming process.

7 Marketing new products, that’s what I do.

8 To get to the top of the corporate ladder is never an easy task.

Listening

1 ______ You’ll have more job security working for a large company.

2 ______ Smaller companies have more cash flow problems.

3 ______ Cats are friendly and loyal.

4 ______ Cats are better than dogs for children.

5 ______ A tablet can do anything that a laptop can do.

6 ______ A laptop is a better work device than a tablet.

7 ______ Working from home can be lonely.

8 ______ People who telecommute are more motivated.

9 ______ Most people prefer Japanese food to Italian food.

10 _____ The Colosseum is a place in Italy.

Sentence connectors - error correction

1 The CEO’s office is much more bigger than mine!
The CEO’s office is much bigger than mine!

2 I didn’t expect the presentation to be good nevertheless it was quite informative.
I didn’t expect the presentation to be good; nevertheless, it was quite informative.

3 Neither England or Scotland has the death penalty.
Neither England nor Scotland has the death penalty.

4 It’s not humid here as it is near the coast.
It’s not as humid here as it is near the coast.

5 My car doesn’t have a GPS receiver and my wife doesn’t either.
My car doesn’t have a GPS receiver and my wife’s doesn’t either.

6 Compare to the original, the sequel was pretty poor.
Compared to the original, the sequel was pretty poor.

7 I don’t work long hours, as oppose to Lina, who sometimes works all night.
I don’t work long hours, as opposed to Lina, who sometimes works all night.

8 Our products are built to last. On contrast, our competitors use cheaper materials and produce shoddy goods.
Our products are built to last. In contrast, our competitors use cheaper materials and produce shoddy goods.

9 Both of my partners don’t eat meat.
Neither of my partners eat meat.

10 I’m not keen to sell this piece. In the other hand, if the offer is generous enough, I will certainly think about it.
I’m not keen to sell this piece. On the other hand, if the offer is generous enough, I will certainly think about it.

1 isn’t it
2 aren’t we?
3 wasn’t it?
4 doesn’t he?
5 is he?
6 isn’t it?
7 are they?
8 would you?
9 doesn’t she?
10 doesn’t it?
11 isn’t it?
12 did he?

 

Task 1

Scenario 1
Steve is passive

Scenario 2
Jenny is passive-aggressive

Scenario 3
Brenda is aggressive

Scenario 4
Martin is assertive

Scenario 5
Rosia is passive-aggressive

Scenario 6
Sven’s is passive

Scenario 7
Ahmed is assertive

Scenario 8
Norman is aggressive

Listening Activity

tens of thousands: Number of people dying due to fake meds
10%: Percentage of medicine which is fake (worldwide)
25%: Percentage of medicine which is fake (developing countries)
30 billion dollars: Revenue yearly from Fake meds
50-90%: Percentage of medicine which is fake (some African nations)
250: Number of pharmacies in Mauritania
10%: Percentage of pharmacists in Mauritania that are licensed
3 million: Population of Mauritania

Which country is featured in the report?
Mauritania

What are the top three medicines that are counterfeited?
Medicines for AIDS, Malaria and TB (tuberculosis)

What causes this problem to be particularly bad in the country mentioned?
There are many unlicensed pharmacists

Counterfeit drugs can cause immunity to the real medicine. How?
They may contain a small amount of the real medicine

What solutions are suggested?
Regulations

Vocabulary Activity

1 My jaw is _______. It’s the size a melon!
swollen

2 I need to replace the ________ on my hand.
bandages

3 You can’t store these chemicals here. It’s a fire _______.
hazard

4 Is your back stiff from sitting at the computer all day? You need a good _______.
stretch

5 If your flu is _______, then you’d better stay home. We wouldn’t want the whole office to catch it.
contagious

6 Have you ever tried any kind of alternative therapy, such as _______?
acupuncture

7 I had to provide a _______ sample for my medical check-up.
urine

8 I shouldn’t drink coffee; I have high blood _______.
pressure

9 One of the workers has _______ his hand on the machinery.
injured

10 You look so stressed out! Why not join me for my _______ class after work.
Pilates

11 This pantry is filthy! I’m sure it’s _______.
unhygienic

12 My tooth ______! I’d better see a dentist.
hurts

Warm-Up Activity

Snippet 1
e The second speaker used sarcasm

Snippet 2
h The second speaker made a pun

Snippet 3
c The second speaker seemed to be no-nonsense

Snippet 4
d The second speaker was very indirect

Snippet 5
a The first speaker was speaking to a subordinate

Snippet 6
g The first speaker was speaking to a client   

Snippet 7
f The first speaker was speaking to a superior   

Snippet 8
b The second speaker was paraphrasing   

Question Forms Drill

1 Do
2 Have
3 Did
4 Is
5 Are
6 Is
7 Is
8 Have
9 Would/Could/Can/Will
10 Would
11 Were
12 Has

Task

Sample answers:

1 Where is Ms Stevens?
Do you know where Ms Stevens is?

2 What time is it?
Do you know what time it is?

3 Is there an ATM machine near here?
Do you know if there is an ATM machine near here?

4 Do you like Vietnamese cuisine?
May I ask if you like Vietnamese cuisine?

5 Do you think this offer is generous?
May I know if you think this offer is generous?

6 How do you make apple tarts?
May I know how you make these apple tarts?

7 What do you think of the new smartphone?
May I ask what you think of the new smartphone?

8 Where did you buy that jacket?
May I ask where you bought that jacket?

9 When is the business news on tv?
Do you know when the business news is on tv?

10 What is the best website to find exchange rates?
Do you know what the best website is to find exchange rates?

Listening

Sentences to be crossed out:

2 Stress will cause all kinds of health problems.
3 But what cause the people to turn to crime?
4 People from broken families are more like to become criminals.
7 The people who engage in office politics consume the company’s times and resource for their own gains.
9 Keeping a pet can have a great positive in fact on your life.
10 Pets have a calming effect on us and they keep us feeling lonely.

Task 2

Suggested answers:

1 What are some of the effects of stress?
High blood pressure, headaches, stomach upsets, chest pains.

2 What are some of the causes of crime?
Poverty, unemployment, family background

3 Why do call centers have a high rate of turnover?
Low pay, long hours, irregular hours, routine and monotonous work, dealing with irate callers.

4 What are the effects of office politics?
Low productivity, weak morale, poor work ethics, effects on business strategy

5 What are the effects of owning a pet?
It calms us, keeps us from being lonely and is a great companion, teaches responsibility

Task

Try these questions on the topic of causes and effects:

1 Drinking alcohol _________ liver problems.
B| causes

2 Some liver problems ___________ alcohol.
C| are caused by

3 A high birth rate _________ overpopulation.
A| leads to

4 ________ the rain, the open-air concert was postponed.
B| Due to

5 The project was delayed ___________ a late delivery of goods.
C| because of

6 _________ it was too costly to order from overseas, we developed our own.
A| Since

7 ________ it was too costly to order from overseas, we developed our own.
B| As

8 The vaccine was ineffective. _________, many died.
B| As a result

9 ___________ of the war, the dictator was imprisoned.
C| As a result

10 He lost his job. ____________, he could not cover his rent.
A| Consequently