Ex. 3. Read the story about Samantha Bailey's job interview.
MY TRUE STORY
VOCABULARY
I spent ages
to fill in application form
to stutter ;
to stammer ;
Smoke billowed in
.
took deep breaths
It was stuck .
to gulp
to bleed
to bandage
landing
fire engines
to rescue -
to figure out
to giggle
stitches ,
oxygen
electric fault
Samantha Bailey, 22, from Maythorne Close, Bamsley, South Yorkshire knew that her job interview would be difficult but didnt think so difficult. This is her true story
What I really wanted was to work in retail fashion. But, with no experience, it was difficult.
I chosethe advertisement for a fashion assistant at Etam in the job centre. I spent ages filling in the application form and asked my boy-friend, Don, check it for mistakes. I crossed my fingers as I posted it.
The manageress, Gina Farrell, rang. They wanted to interview me. It was fate. I'd just bought a new black trouser suit. Early the next Saturday, Gina led me up to her first-floor office. I hoped she couldn't feel my hand trembling as she shook it.She introduced me to her supervisor, Alison Attersley. Then it started. Why do you want a job? What skills do you have? Usual questions. ButI stuttered and stammered..
We'll let you know, Gina smiled, standing up. There must have been dozens of applicants.
Gina opened the door to show me out. Smoke billowed in. The corridor to the stairs was thick with it. There was no way through. She slammed the door.
There's a window in the corridor, Alison said.
We all took deep breaths, then opened the door again. Gina stood on a chair and pushed the window. It was stuck. My eyes were watering. We began to cough.
Smash! Gina's hand went through the glass. We gulpedfresh air. Gina's arm was bleeding, so I bandagedit with a tissue from my handbag.
Help! yelled Alison. We're stuck.
Someone yelled back help was coming. So was more smoke.
We need to stop it getting in, I said.
It was coming across the landing, from the staff room. Then there was the sound of sirens - fire engines.
We can be rescued by a fireman, I suggested.
I was surprised how calm I was. I'd been more nervous about the interview than I was about being stuck in a burning building. I started singing. Silly I have a terrible voice.
Gina and Alison laughed, somewhat nervously. If the fireman didn't hurry up, we could die. Die! I sang louder. We'd been there at least half an hour when a fireman appeared at the window.
We tried to figure out how the fire had started. We wanted to know more about what was happening outside.
'Well, we do know one thing,' Gina said, 'and that's that the job's yours.'
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I giggled, in spite of everything. This wasn't exactly how I'd imagined getting my dream job. An ambulance took us to hospital. Gina needed stitches in her arm. And we all were given oxygen to help us breathe.
The fire brigade thought the fire was started by an electrical fault in the fridge.
When the shop was reopened, a week later, I was there as a sales adviser.
That was three months ago, now. And I love it - no two days are the same. But thankfully, none are quite as dramatic as the day of my interview.
And now say why she got this position though there were a lot of other applicants.
________________________________________________________________________
WORD STUDY
Ex. 4. Find the synonyms in the text to the following words and phrases.
1. a person with a positive attitude ____________________________
2. clever ___________________________________________________
3. ready to compete________________________________________
4. devoted_________________________________________________
5. to see ___________________________________________________
6. to spend a lot of time _____________________________________
7. a difficult situation ________________________________________
8. to realize ________________________________________________
9. electrical defect __________________________________________
