Name: ___________________________________

Date: ____________________________________

Test • Unit 17
: Direct Speech and Indirect Speech
Human Motivation
Part I
A Write C (correct) or I (incorrect) for each sentence.
C 1. Gianna said that she would work more efficiently in an organized office.
2. The speaker told that human motivation was a complicated subject.
3. The manager admitted that employee motivation had been down since the pay cuts.
4. The research assistant asked me, What motivates you at work?
5. “I don’t feel motivated,” said Dominic. “I think they’re going to cancel the project.”
6. The businessman said, “profits increase when employees are well motivated.”
7. Many of them said that creativity was important in their jobs.

B Circle the correct word or phrase.

1. The professor said / told his students that internal motivation was very important.
2. “Do we really understand human motivation,” / motivation?” asked the sociologist.
3. The managers admitted / reminded the staff about the annual celebration.
4. Mr. Bishop told me that he had read / reads a new book on motivation the week before.
5. The sales director asked / said, “There will be a prize for the best sales figures.”
6. Jeff ’s boss explained / told him that he had to report his lack of enthusiasm.
7. The company assured its employees that “conditions would improve.” / conditions would improve.

Part II
1. Direct Speech
Use the words to write complete sentences with direct speech. Use correct punctuation.
1. the CEO said, / employees lose motivation / if managers do not listen to their opinions
The CEO said, “Employees lose motivation if managers do not listen
to their opinions.”
2. the interview candidate said, / external rewards don’t motivate me as much as job satisfaction

Grammar and Beyond ETM 3 © Cambridge University Press 2019 Photocopiable Test • Unit 17 1
 3. Dr. Martens asked, / how important are clear goals

4. my boss asked, / what motivates you to work harder

5. the researcher said, / worker motivation is a complex subject

6. the professor said, / autonomy at work can be a powerful motivating factor

7. the interviewer asked, / do you produce your best work when you are part of a team

2. Indirect Speech
Circle the correct word or phrase.
1. “I am bored with my job.”
Moussa said that he was / has been / had been bored with his job.
2. “I have lost my motivation to play.”
The tennis star said that she lost / has lost / had lost her motivation to play.
3. “The design team worked very hard on last year’s summer catalog.”
The manager said that the design team works / has worked / had worked very hard on last
year’s summer catalog.
4. “I will listen to the staff.”
The director said that she will listen / would listen / would have listened to the staff.
5. “The swim team is spending a lot of time on basic fitness.”
The coach explained that the swim team spent / was spending / had spent a lot of time on basic
fitness.
6. “The company can improve motivation by giving staff more responsibility.”
The CEO stated that the company can improve / could improve / could have
improved motivation by giving staff more responsibility.
7. “I enjoy exchanging ideas with my co-workers.”
Marta said that she enjoyed / was enjoying / had enjoyed exchanging ideas with her co-
workers.

3. Other Reporting Verbs

Circle the correct word.
1. Clare assured / said them that she enjoyed her job.
2. The student told / admitted that it was difficult for him to motivate himself.
3. The e-mail announced / reminded us that the lecture had been canceled.
Grammar and Beyond ETM 3 © Cambridge University Press 2019 Photocopiable Test • Unit 17 2
 4. The hockey coach informed / admitted that he could not motivate his players.
5. Joel’s teacher admitted / reminded him that setting goals was important.
6. The boss stated / informed several employees that they would be dismissed if they did
not put more effort into their work.
7. The psychology professor remarked / reminded that people have many different ways
of motivating themselves.

Part III
Rewrite each statement first as direct speech, then as indirect speech with a tense shift. Use correct punctuation.
the company is planning some activities to build team spirit
1. The boss said, “The company is planning some team-building activities.”
2. The boss said that the company was planning some team-building activities.

good workers can always find ways to motivate themselves

3. Anabelle said,
4. Anabelle explained that

a personal motivation course will benefit everyone on the staff

5. the director said.
6. The director said that

job satisfaction comes partly from receiving the appreciation of others

7. The psychology professor said,
8. The psychology professor stated that

some companies do not pay enough attention to worker motivation

9. said the author.
10. The author remarked that

the sales team has already reached its targets for the year
11. Ms. Bancroft said,
12. Ms. Bancroft informed the CEO that

Grammar and Beyond ETM 3 © Cambridge University Press 2019 Photocopiable Test • Unit 17 3
Part IV

Writing

You read a lot about motivation in this unit. Which of the ideas did you find interesting? Write
about them using direct and indirect speech. (If you can’t remember names, you can use “One
person/man/woman. . .”.)

Grammar and Beyond ETM 3 © Cambridge University Press 2019 Photocopiable Test • Unit 17 4
Grammar and Beyond ETM 3 © Cambridge University Press 2019 Photocopiable Test • Unit 17 5