Exercise 52 Comparing and contrasting: complete the conversation between a man and a woman buying some DVDs with the missing phrases from the box. There is one extra phrase.
much better, less serious, very different,
worse than, same as, very similar
M: So, what do you fancy this morning?
W: Nothing violent. I don’t want you to get any more of those films with endless fight scenes and awful acting.
M: How about this one?
W: But that’s by the same director.
M: Yes, but it’s ___ from his others.
W: Well, the front looks ___ with all those people fighting. How about a nice romantic comedy? I haven’t seen this one before.
M: We must be able to find something ___ than that. It’ll be just lots of kissing in fields. What’s this?
W: It’s that TV series about global warming. It’s beautifully filmed, but I’d rather watch something ___ this evening.
M: This looks good. It’s set on a spaceship and slowly everyone disappears.
W: I suppose we could do a lot ___ that. I do like the actress in it.
DVDs discussed: Love in the country; Live to fight another day; The mystery of satellite 6077; Our dying planet. Match the names with the dialogue.
Exercise 53 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the present perfect or past simple.
1. I / watch an interesting programme last night. 2. You / ever / visit Thailand? 3. I / never / eat a meal as bad as this! 4. You / discuss the trade fair in yesterday’s meeting? 5. We / not / see each other since the conference last November. 6. I / work for the same boss since 1995. 7. I / work for Everytalk Consulting from 1996 to 2002.
Exercise 54 In each sentence, replace the words in bold with a phrasal verb. Write the verb next to the sentence.
check in stop over pull over get in take off check out
1. You need to go to the airline desk two hours before the plane leaves. check in 2. What time do you have to go to the hotel reception and pay? ____ 3. What time does the plane arrive? ____ 4. When does the plane leave? ___ 5. We’ll probably stay in Singapore for a day in between our two flights. ___ 6. I’m lost. Park the car at the side of the road and we can look at the map. ___
ENJOY YOURSELF
Test
Are you an optimal performer? Work through this questionnaire. If you haven’t had any work experience, do this test as a simulation exercise (imagine an office situation with the established hierarchy).
1. In the decision making process, you prefer
a. to delegate authority
b. to take decisions for yourself
2. When choosing subordinates/co-workers you make it so that
a. surround yourself with competent people
b. outsmart people at work
3. In your work strategy, you
a. are covered with work from head to feet
b. set goals and stick to them
4. Your communication with people at work is
a. nothing to be proud of
b. businesslike and efficient
5. Your work habits make you
a. labour at your desk from dawn to dusk
b. do overtime only when it’s reasonable
6. When you are working on a project, you focus on the
a. quality of work
b. volume
7. Do you know the emotional effect you have on the others? Do you make them
a. tense b. relaxed c. enthusiastic d. subdued e. open f. guarded
8. If your colleagues or subordinates seem unduly angry or more tense than the situation requires, do you
a. ask them about the emotional display to make them release their feelings
b. join in with a grim smile
c. tell them to pull themselves together
9. In interacting with people, do you
a. tune to the emotional waves fluctuating around you
b. manipulate to make the most effective emotional impact
c. regulate the ways you express yourself to produce the effect you need
d. always work within your personality regardless of the atmosphere around you
10. Misunderstanding often creates all sorts of problems. To avoid wrong interpretations, do you
a. keep your message direct and to the point
b. choose your tone and words
c. concentrate mainly on clear articulate speech
d. check if you are understood by asking question to make sure
e. write detailed memos
11. After work you need to relax. You know this
a. and you do it regularly
b. but never do it because you press yourself to go on
12. You have difficulty sleeping at night even though you’re very tired
a. yes b. no
13. Your personal life is in poor state due to your long working hours
a. yes b. no
14. Family and health risks are part of the price you have to pay for success
a. true b. false
