Professionals Podcasts – Achievement

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/professionals-podcasts/achievement

Introduction
Professionals Podcasts from LearnEnglish help you to improve your English for your career in the
workplace, and cover a large number of business and work themes. They are suitable for learners at
intermediate to advanced level.

This support pack contains the following materials:

• a comprehension task
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• a vocabulary task
• a grammar task
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• the article
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Task 1: Comprehension
Write down the order in which these events in James' career took place.
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Chronological
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Sentence
order
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a. James became vice-president of the company.

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b. James negotiated the successful takeover of a rival

company.
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c. The company had lots of difficulties and some

workers were made redundant.
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d. Plans for a merger fell through.

or
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© The British Council, 2011 Page 1 of 4

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
 Professionals Podcasts – Achievement
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/professionals-podcasts/achievement

Task 2: Vocabulary
Decide on the meaning of these common business-related words/expressions.

1. To work up the career ladder means:

a. to do well in a job resulting in getting promoted up many levels.
b. to change jobs often, in different companies, but staying in the same position.
c. to work very hard and stay in the same job.
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2. A setback is:
a. to get a lower-paid job.
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b. to change jobs.
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c. a change from better to worse.

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3. A merger is:
a. when a company separates into two companies.
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b. when a company is the only one of its kind.

c. when two companies join together.
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hc

4. Redundancy occurs:
a. when a worker gets promoted.
b. when a company doesn’t have work to it has to pay workers to leave.
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c. when a worker works badly so he is told to leave.

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5. A key player is:

a. a significant person.
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b. the person responsible for the company finances.

c. a person whose job is to take care of the company offices .
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6. Negotiation is:
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a. when you discuss to find a suitable price or conditions.

b. when you sell to another person.
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c. when you have to present the company finances at the yearly meeting.
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7. A turning point occurs:

a. at the point at which significant change happens.
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b. at the place where two people meet.

c. at the point where two rival companies get together.
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8. Perks are:
a. the profit a company makes.
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b. the losses a company makes.

c. the extra advantages that workers get with their jobs.
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9. To fall through is:

a. to be inadequate.
b. to fail.
c. when something has no effect.

© The British Council, 2011 Page 2 of 4

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
 Professionals Podcasts – Achievement
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/professionals-podcasts/achievement

Task 3: Grammar
Complete the following text with suitable prepositions.

He started ___ 1 an administration officer in 1972 ____2 our accounts department and
worked his way _____3 the career ladder over the years, finally becoming vice-
president____4 the company, and managing over three hundred employees. As most
____5 you who have been working here long enough will know, it has been a long
struggle to become one of the European market leaders____6 our field, and you may
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remember ___7 1982 when we had a huge setback, with the plans ____8 a merger
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_____9 our top rival company falling ______10. Because of that, we had to make some
workers redundant. However, James was lucky enough to keep his job. Yes, those really
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were the worst few years. However, we managed to get ______11 these difficult
times_____12 working hard and James was a key player in the struggle to get us back
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______13 the path to becoming one of the largest computer manufacturing companies
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______14 Europe.
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Transcript
Thank you all for coming today. As you are all aware, we are here to celebrate 35 years of continuous
service by our friend and colleague James Dawson. He started as an administration officer in 1972 in
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our accounts department, and worked his way up the career ladder over the years, finally becoming
vice-president in 1989 of the company, and managing over three hundred employees. As most of you
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who have been working here long enough will know, it has been a long struggle to become one of the
European market leaders in our field, and you may remember in 1982 when we had a huge setback,
with the plans for a merger with our top rival company falling through. Because of that, we had to
il.

make some workers redundant. However, James was lucky enough to keep his job. Yes, those really
or

were the worst few years. However, we managed to get through these difficult times by working hard
and James was a key player in the struggle to get us back on the path to becoming one of the largest
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computer manufacturing companies in Europe. One of James’s biggest strengths has been his
immaculate timekeeping and organisational skills – in fact I have never known him to be without his
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diary! His negotiation skills and determination led to a tactful action plan to become one of the leading
companies in Europe. I will never forget that day in 1987 when we had the final negotiations for the
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takeover of our rival company. James and his superb presenting and negotiating skills was one of the
key factors to our success. The turning point in our company came with the successful takeover and,
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despite all the obstacles we have faced, the hard work and dedication of all our workers has made our
company the success it is today. And I have to say that James, as one of our managers, has always
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acknowledged the work and contribution made by others. James, you rewarded your best employees
with some of the best perks any company has given! Today we want to acknowledge the hard work
and significant contributions which you have made. So thank you, James, for your loyalty to the
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company and your hard work.

h

© The British Council, 2011 Page 3 of 4

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
 Professionals Podcasts – Achievement
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/professionals-podcasts/achievement

14. in
13. on
12. by
11. through
10. through
9. with
8. for
7. in
6. in
5. of
4. of
3. up
2. in
1. as
Task 3

9. b
8. c
7. a
6. a
5. a
4. b
3. c
2. c
1. a
Task 2

d. 1
c. 2
b. 3
a. 4
Task 1
Answers
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hc
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© The British Council, 2011 Page 4 of 4

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.