Ex. 2. Introductory Questions.

1.How can you know if someone is working hard?

2.How can you tell if someone is hardly working?

According to a recent survey, employees in many companies today work longer hours than employees did in 1979. They also take shorter vacations than employees in 1979 took. It seems that Americans are working harder today than ever before. Or are they? A management consultant, Bill Meyer, decided to find out. For three days, he observed an investment banker hard at work. Meyer wrote down everything the banker did during his long workday -– the banker worked 80 hours a week. At the end of the three-day period, Meyer reviewed the banker’s activities with him. What did they find out? They discovered that the man spent 80% of his time doing busy work. For example, he attended unnecessary meetings, made redundant telephone calls, and spent time packing and unpacking his two big briefcases.

Apparently, many people believe that the more time a person spends at work, the more she or he accomplishes. However, the connection between time and productivity is not always positive. In fact, many studies indicate that after a certain point, anyone’s productivity and creativity begin to decrease. Furthermore, it isn’t always easy for individuals to realize that their performance is falling off.

Part of the problem is understandable. When employers evaluate employees, they often consider the amount of time on the job in addition to job performance. Employees know this. Consequently, they work longer hours and take less vacation time than they did nine years ago. Although many working people can do their job effectively during a regular 40-hour workweek, they feel they have to spend more time on the job after normal working hours so that the people who can promote them see them.

A group of headhunters (people who search out executive personnel for companies) were asked their opinion about a situation. They had a choice of two candidates for an executive position with an important company. The candidates had comparable qualifications for the job. For example, they were both reliable. One could do the job well in a 40-hour workweek. The other would do the same job in an 80-hour week just as well. According to a headhunting expert, the 80-hour-a-week candidate would get the job. The time this candidate spends on the job may encourage other employees to spend more time at work, too. Employers believe that if the employees stay at work later, they may actually do more work.

People don’t work long hours only for more money. In such fields as advertising, show business, and journalism, the glamour and publicity are worth more than any monetary benefit. On the other hand, many employees are not willing to spend so much extra, unproductive time at the office. Once they finish their work satisfactory, they want to relax and enjoy themselves. For these people, the solution is to find a company that encourages people to do both.

Ex. 3. True/False Statements.Read the passage once. Read the following statements. Check whether they are true (T) or false (F). If a statement is false, rewrite the statement so that it is true. Then go back to the passage and find the line that supports your answer.

Ex. 4. Comprehension Questions.Read each question carefully and answer them.

1.How do work hours and vacation time today compare with work hours and vacation time in 1979?

2.a. What did the management consultant want to find out?

b. Who did he observe?

c. What were the results?

3.Why do employees work longer hours and take less vacation time than they did in the past?

4.a. The headhunters were asked about a situation. Describe it.

b. What was the headhunters’ opinion of the situation?

5.Why do employers prefer employees who stay later at work?

6.In addition to more money, why do some people work long hours? Give examples.

7.Are all employees willing to spend long hours at work? Why or why not?

Ex.5. Vocabulary in Context. Read the sentences below. Complete each blank space with the correct word or phrase from the list above. Use each word or phrase only once.

1.John’s boss is going to ______ him from his position as Assistant Manager to a new position as Manager.

2.This book about computers is very ____________. It was published only two months ago.

3.The ________ for the position of accountant include a college degree and three years of related experience.

4.Paul asked, “What are you going to do on your day off when you don’t have to work?” I told him he was ___________________. Of course I don’t have to work on my day off!

5.Kathy applied to the university, but she was not accepted. ________ her high school grades were too low.

6.Many people are attracted to a career in music, acting, or modeling because these jobs have an atmosphere of ___________________.

7.The governor plans to be a _______________ in the next presidential election.

8.Tom had a problem: He never had enough time for everything he wanted to do. His ______ was to get up earlier and go to bed later every day.

9.In order to ______ a car’s performance, one must consider several factors such as gas mileage and braking ability.

10.The students in this school are required to ________ every class in order to pass the course and get a degree.

Ex.6. Word Forms.In English, there are several ways that adjectives change to nouns. Some adjectives change to nouns by adding the suffix –ity, for example, intense (adj.), intensity (n.). There are many ways that verbs change to adjectives. Some verbs become adjectives by adding the suffix –able, for example, depend (v.), dependable (adj.).

Complete each sentence with the correct form of the words on the left. Use the correct tense of the verb in either the affirmative or the negative form. Use the singular or plural form of the noun.

Date: 2016-01-14; view: 995