EPISODE 97
LEVEL B2

 

READING COMPREHENSION 

 

ADVERTISING AT WORK

Out of work accountant was seen advertising his services on a placard outside a busy London station last week. This unusual tactic  is reminiscent of scenes from Now York’s Wall Street during the great depression of the 1930s. Daniel Bell decided to try his drastic approach after months of looking for a job using more traditional methods. He said he had sent out hundreds of CVs and applied to over 70 different jobs but only had five interviews, none of which were successful. Now he says he has nothing to lose and hopes to impress prospective employers with his initiative. He plans to stand outside the station with his sign during the rush hour and giving out business cards for as long as it takes to get a job. After just two days he had received three invitations to attend interviews so the plan seems to be working. He admits, however, that his presentation has received mixed feelings (=If you have mixed feelings about something, you feel both pleased and not pleased about it at the same time) . Most people seemed embarrassed and try to look the other way, while others clearly think he is being ridiculous and more than one person openly pointed and laughed at him. 

Despite the long hours and fierce (= strong and powerful) competition for work, advertising is still seen by many as an exciting and glamorous career. The tasks involved can vary enormously too, ranging from placing adverts in newspapers to working on high-profile campaigns for new products. But it’s not just about being creative. Advertising agencies are also on the lookout for analysts and planners to ensure (= make something sure and certain) a product is accurately marketed to the target audience. To succeed in such a notoriously (= famous foe sth bad) competitive business, you need determination, a creative streak (= a thing which is easy to notice) and a spot of luck. But how should you sell yourself to an employer? 

 

More contexts for the new words: 

 

EXERCISE 1 

Complete each gap with one word.

  1. The company is …………………….. for paying its bills late.
  2. That song is so ……………………..… of my adolescence
  3. The airline is taking steps to ………………………. safety on its aircraft

 

ENGLISH IN USE  

Certain verbs have both static and dynamic meanings: 

  I think she’s beautiful. (=opinion)                                 I’m thinking about my holiday(=> active process)

 

Match each underlined verb with the correct meaning a), b), or c).

1. I think this is a good book. a) = This is my opinion.
2. I’m thinking of you. b) = You are in my head now.

 

3. I see what you mean. a) = consulting /visiting /meeting
4. She saw the whole panorama in front of her. b) = > with her eyes
5. I’m seeing my doctor about my flu on Friday. c) = I understand

 

6. He has three cars. a) = eating
7. She’s having fun. b) = owns
8. He’s having lunch now. c) = enjoying herself

 

9. The room smells of old perfume. a) = has the smell of
10. She is smelling the cheese. b) => with his nose

 

11. The soup tastes bad. a) = has a (bad) taste
12. My grandma is tasting the soup. b) = is trying

 

13. He is selfish. (a) behaviour – temporary situation
14. Hes being selfish. (b) character – permanent state

 

EXERCISE 2

Complete these sentences:

1

  • I (see) ___________________ my teacher tomorrow. I’ll ask about the exam then.
  • Now I (see) __________________ why her English is so good – her father is Irish.

2

  • What (you /think) ___________________ of modern art?
  • What (you /think) ____________________about? You look worried.

3

  • '(You/have) _______________________ a good time?’ 'Yes, this is a great party.’
  • (You/ have) _______________________ a brother?
  • So what (you /have) ________________________ for breakfast? Have you made up your mind?

4

  • You (be) ___________________ so stupid. You’ve never said a single smart thing!
  • You (be) ___________________ silly – stop it, that’s crazy!

5

  • Why (you /smell) _____________________ the meat? Is it bad?
  • Her hair always (smell) _________________ wonderful. 

6

  • Tim (weigh) _________________ himself. Someone told him he should go on a diet.
  • He (weigh) __________________ 92 kilos.

7

  • You (look) _________________  good in this dress. It really suits you.
  • She (look) _________________ in all the cupboards, trying to find some candy.

8

  • ’ What (you /taste) ____________________ ?’ 'The wine.’
  • I must congratulate you on your cooking. The dinner (taste) __________________ wonderful.

 

IDIOM CLOSE-UP

 

KEEP YOUR EAR TO THE GROUND = make sure you find out about recent developments in a particular situation

 

PHRASAL VERBS CLOSE-UP

 

  1. When you FALL BEHIND WITH something, you fail to do something or pay something at the time that you should.

He was ill, and fell behind with his schoolwork.
They started to fall behind with the rent.

  1. When you SQUEEZE IN something, you manage to see somebody or do something when you are very busy and do not have much time available.

Do you think you could squeeze in lunch with me sometime?

 

NEWS

Can’t Beat the Location

“If you’re longing for something outside the normal 9-5, working at home is a great option. You can choose when and where you work. That can mean working from a home office, a local coffee shop or even the beach. Gorgeous weather outside? Take a conference call outside in the sunshine. If you have a laptop and cell phone, your options are endless. If you’re more of a social animal, part-time co-working might also be a great environment for you. So you’ve got kids and you want to be there for them and spend more time with them? No problem. Working at home affords you that opportunity. You can make a living around your life, and as your life changes, so does the flow of how you work. Little children grow up in a few years, and as they do you can adjust accordingly. When you move, taking your home business with you is pretty simple. Put it in a box, and move it with everything else. Sickness is an issue if you are working in an outside office. The swine flu pandemic did not do anything to assuage this. Working from home allows you to take time to take care of yourself year-round. “

 


GLOSSARY 

long for = dream about

– endless = plentiful

– adjust = to change sth to make it suitable

– assuage = to make unpleasant feelings less strong

 

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>>Answers

KEY TO EXERCISES  

Ex.1

  1. The company is …..notorious….. for paying its bills late.
  2. That song is so ……reminiscent…… of my adolescence
  3. The airline is taking steps to ……ensure….. safety on its aircraft

 

Ex.2

1

  • I (see) ________am seeing___________ my teacher tomorrow. I’ll ask about the exam then.
  • Now I (see) ______see____________ why her English is so good – her father is Irish.

2

  • What (you /think) _______do you think____________ of modern art?
  • What (you /think) _____are you thinking_________about? You look worried.

3

  • '(You/have) _______are you having________________ a good time?’ 'Yes, this is a great party.’
  • (You/ have) ______do you have_________________ a brother?
  • So what (you /have) _______are you having_________________ for breakfast? Have you made up your mind?

4

  • You (be) _______are ____________ so stupid. You’ve never said a single smart thing!
  • You (be) ______re being_____________ silly – stop it, that’s crazy!

5

  • Why (you /smell) ___are you smelling__________________ the meat? Is it bad?
  • Her hair always (smell) ____smells_____________ wonderful. 

6

  • Tim (weigh) _______is weighing__________ himself. Someone told him he should go on a diet.
  • He (weigh) _____weighs_____________ 92 kilos.

7

  • You (look) _____look____________  good in this dress. It really suits you.
  • She (look) ____is looking_____________ in all the cupboards, trying to find some candy.

8

  • ’ What (you /taste) _______are you tasting_____________ ?’ 'The wine.’
  • I must congratulate you on your cooking. The dinner (taste) _______tastes___________ wonderful.

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