lesson 6

verb
combinations
 a) to try very hard to think of sth or remember
1. to rack one's brain something
2. to run rings round sb: b) to do or say sth that makes somebody feel that they
3. to wear thin: cannot achieve what they were hoping for.
4. to broach the subject:
5. to dash somebody's c)(i) an excuse or explanation that is beginning to get
thin has been used so often that you are beginning not
hopes: to believe it
d) to start talking about sth which the person you are
talking to might find embarrassing, offensive or
annoying
e)to be much better than sb and beat them very easily
(generally used for sport)

He racked his brains, trying to remember the caller's name.

You think City will beat United? Are you mad? United will run rings round City.
He was late again; it was the same old excuse and it waswearing thin. He'd been waiting for hours and his
patience was wearing thin.
He decided to broach the subject of promotion.
Their rejection of his manuscript dashed his hopes of becoming a best-selling novelist.
listening
What makes an employee a high achiever?

what managers need to do in order to keep successful employees working at the company.
Conversation Questions
1. What are the five best qualities for a manager to have? Why?
2. Who was the best manager you have ever had? What qualities did this person have? Tell about some
of the good things this person did while he or she was your manager.
3. Do you think very young managers make good managers? What positive qualities do very young
managers have? What positive qualities do they lack? Have you ever worked for a very young
manager? How was the experience?

4. What are some specific things that good managers do? What are some specific things that good
managers avoid doing?
5. What are the five worst qualities for a manager to have? What are some negative things that can
happen if a manager has these qualities?

6. Has anyone you know ever worked for a really bad manager? What bad characteristics did this
person have? Tell your group about something that this person did which shows why he or she was a
bad manager.
7. What are some specific things that bad managers do?
8. Why do you think bad managers are given management positions?