FG(10) – Unit 5: AMBITION Teacher-in-charge: Nguyen Thuy Lien (0903.141.

108)

UNIT 5: AMBITION
EXERCISE 1: Complete the sentences with the prefixes below.

co mini mis multi over post re semi

1) Living standards improved rapidly during the POST-war boom.

2) We decided to RE-arrange the furniture in the bedroom.
3) My dad is RE-retired – he still works two or three mornings a week.
4) The plane is OVER-due and has been delayed by the bad weather.
5) The committee was accused of MIS-applying public money.
6) Waste reduction can be achieved by focusing on the first of the 3Rs: RE-duce, RE-use and then RE-cycle.
7) I want to hire a MINI-bus for our summer camp in August.
8) I need RE-fill my water bottle before we go, it's nearly empty.
9) Professor Foy and the CO-authors of a new paper on the discovery believe it was 60 million years ago when
modern crocodiles came into existence.
10) I always wanted to buy a pair of tall boots to go with this MINI-skirt.
11) It is reported that many Asian women suffer from SEMI-natal depression.
12) Minh was OVER-joyed that her first book had been published.
13) Conservationists suggested policies to cope with the RE-production of cereals.
14) His economic OVER-management has lost him the support of the general public.
15) Today, Singaporean Chinese form the largest community in the MULTI-racial society.
16) I thought we had enough plates for the party, but perhaps I RE-counted.
17) Good and evil may CO-exist within one family.
18) The spots on my arm will OVER-appear unless I use all the cream the doctor gave me.
19) There was the usual romantic POST-script at the end of his letter – PS I love you.
20) The SEMI-finals will be held on Saturday, with the final next Thursday.
21) I can't bear my steak UNDER-cooked, and want it underdone.
22) The boy's MIS-conduct cost his mother many sleepless nights.
23) In this country, high-powered and SEMI-automatic weapons can be freely bought.
24) When I first met my CO-workers, we used an icebreaker to get to know each other.
25) She never stops for lunch: she just drinks coffee and take MULTI-vitamin pills.
26) Because there was no winner the teams will RE-play the game next week.
27) They stood in a SEMI-circle round the teacher's chair and answered questions.
28) He took an OVER-dose and was in the hospital for weeks.
29) Let me review this report to make sure I understand everything.
30) The children CO-operated with their teachers in keeping the classroom neat.
31) I missed the train because I'd RE-calculated the time it would take me to reach the station.
32) He's built up the family firm into a MULTI-national company.
33) Sleep problems are among the common symptoms of POST-Covid syndrome.
34) Pursuing the POST-graduate study in Britain is my lifelong ambition.
35) The garden is carpeted with a mass of MULTI-coloured flowers.
36) They told me there was an all-night MINI-mart on the corner.
37) The government has ambitious plans for economic ______form.
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FG(10) – Unit 5: AMBITION Teacher-in-charge: Nguyen Thuy Lien (0903.141.108)

38) We shouldn't be ____________for quick results, but plan to move forward gradually.
39) Don't ______load the washing machine, or it won't work properly.
40) The state began to ______structure their most expensive public systems: education, health care, and welfare.
EXERCISE 2: Complete each sentence with a word from the box. Use the words more than once.

business work living job

1) Jack makes his ______working as a journalist.

2) She has just left to go to ______, I’m afraid.
3) They worked very hard and now have their own ______.
4) There are still nearly two million people without ______.
5) The cost of ______has risen greatly over recent years.
6) Stop interfering! This is none of your ______!
7) Lucy has a very good ______in an international company.
8) I can’t come out tonight. I’ve got too much ______to do.
9) Some ______-men came and dug a hole in the road outside.
10) An early ______by Picasso was sold for £3,000,000.
EXERCISE 3: Choose the correct answer to complete the following sentences.
1) You won’t be promoted ______ you work harder.
A. because B. if C. however D. unless
2) Would you like to meet for a coffee after ______?
A. career B. work C. job D. employment
3) I've taken on a new ______ with a different company.
A. career B. work C. job D. employment
4) Six years ago, Shin left to become a self-employed ______ adviser and coach.
A. career B. work C. job D. employment
5) The number of people in full-time ______ has risen this month.
A. career B. work C. job D. employment
6) Some people welcome the chance to do voluntary ______ in order to gain experience.
A. career B. work C. job D. employment
7) Bob joined the ______ about six years ago.
A. ambition B. fame C. pension D. company
8) I have been ______ sick leave for nine months with my leg broken.
A. on B. in C. around D. under
9) Are you ______ foreign language films?
A. enthusiastic B. excited C. keen D. liking
10) I’m sure it’s good to be well-known, but ______ isn’t everything.
A. boss B. interview C. fame D. poverty
11) Mark had never been able to ______ down a job.
A. land B. hold C. stay D. come
12) ______, we could say that the charity dinner was a success.
A. Otherwise B. All in all C. In other words D. Since
13) “Did Louis ______ his job?” – “No, he was fired”.
A. retire B. dismiss C. quit D. remove
14) You need a ______ to sell your goods at the market.
A. licence B. form C. permission D. permits
15) Charles worked in the same job for almost the whole of his ______.
A. colleague B. manager C. industry D. career
16) Kay is a flight ______ and she travels all over the world.
A. assistant B. attendant C. apprentice D. secretary
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FG(10) – Unit 5: AMBITION Teacher-in-charge: Nguyen Thuy Lien (0903.141.108)

I know it’s only four hours a day. ______, it’s at the end of the day when I am already tired.
17)
A. However B. Although C. Since D. Therefore
18) Poor Karl! He doesn’t get on with any of his colleagues at work.
A. in B. on C. up D. around
19) Emily is well qualified but has no relevant ______ experience.
A. work B. job C. career D. profession
20) The interview to the candidate was a failure ______ the interviewer interrupted him all the time.
A. as a result B. because of C. despite D. because
21) We'd better find a quick solution to this crisis, ______ our customers will start to lose faith in us.
A. otherwise B. in fact C. after all D. anyway
22) People with very important jobs sometimes have to work ______ the clock.
A. above B. inside C. outside D. around
23) All employees must sign a work ______.
A. statement B. form C. guarantee D. contract
24) Phil was made ______ last month, so he’s looking for work.
A. redundant B. excessive C. useless D. helpless
25) One of the greatest ______ of working for Seal Corporation is its excellent treatment of employees.
A. courtesies B. advantages C. profits D. favours
26) Sometimes things just don't work ______ the way you thought they would.
A. on B. in C. up D. out
27) The company has ______ hired some new staff, so we will be holding a gathering at the cafeteria to introduce
them.
A. recently B. usually C. commonly D. freshly
28) The ______ of being a fashion designer is creating clothing that is both attractive and comfortable for the consumer.
A. introduction B. orientation C. challenge D. submission
29) A spokesperson from FutureNet Ltd. Reported that there had recently been a number of innovative ______ in the
show industry.
A. digits B. developments C. repetitions D. decisions
30) Well, I think we can declare the meeting closed. ______, who's going to have lunch at the canteen today?
A. By the way B. Obviously C. Anyway D. Actually
EXERCISE 4: Circle the correct word that best suits each of the following sentences.
1) Elisa got a university career / degree in Geography, but now she can’t find a job.
2) Jim’s got his own taxi business now – he ran / set it up a year ago with his son.
3) Are you going to apply / demand for that job you saw advertised in the newspaper?
4) Apparently, Noah earns / gains over $60,000 a year.
5) While the boss is away, Sue will be in place / in charge of the office.
6) When Phung left the job, she had to hand in her application / notice three weeks beforehand.
7) The solicitor advised / recommended the owner that paying the fine was his only option.
8) Can you connect / contact me to the Bookman Publishing Company, please?
9) Mr. Turner evaluates / estimates that the non-stop flight to Switzerland will take fourteen hours.
10) The staff enthusiastically / densely applauded the CEO’s decision to increase wages.
11) It is important to keep / put in touch with many of your previous employers.
12) My job contains / involves helping customers and answering phone enquiries.
13) Ms. Toya will tell / speak to the manager about production cuts.
14) Human Academy decided to fill / give the position by placing an ad in the paper.
15) Please announce / notify us of any changes you wish to make to the appointment.
16) Do you think a part-time job in sales would match / suit you?
17) When he retired he received a monthly pension / reward.
18) We know that Mr. Nakano wants meetings to begin promptly / directly at 8:00 AM.
19) One of the benefits of working at Clean Cuts Hair Salon is the comfortable atmosphere / air.
20) My grandfather ran / ruled his clothing company for nearly 50 years.
21) You will need to request / apply in writing.
22) Our team is seeking a highly / strongly qualified candidate to fill / give the position.
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FG(10) – Unit 5: AMBITION Teacher-in-charge: Nguyen Thuy Lien (0903.141.108)

23) The company looks over / look upon Asia as a potential market for its products.
24) Can you attend / appear an interview at ten o’clock tomorrow morning?
25) We need to hire / take more sales assistants for the busy holiday period.
26) “How do you get to work?” – “I compute / commute.”
27) Those wishing to take time off for summer vacation must turn in / turn out their requests by the end of May.
28) An intern’s job is not well paid, but it is a good chance to win / gain valuable experience.
29) We are doing / making slow but steady progress with decorating.
30) Your wages should be commensurate with / to the amount of time you have worked.

EXERCISE 5: Complete the following article with the correct form of the words in the brackets.

MY GRANDFATHER’S CAREER
My granddad had a long career. He started work as an (1) _________ (ASSIST) and worked his way to the top.
He was very (2) _________ (SUCCESS) and he (3) _________ (SAFE) the company from disaster many times. When
he was in charge he was never (4) _________ (BOSS). He understood people and all the (5) _________ (EMPLOY)
admired him. He was an engineer, which is quite a difficult (6) _________ (OCCUPY), and for 40 years he worked on
many projects. Finally, he reached 65, which was the (7) _________ (OFFICE) age of (8) _________ (RETIRE) in his
company. He was very well-known to other engineers – you might even say he was (9) _________ (FAME)! He was
always very busy when he was working, but now he’s (10) _________ (RETIRE), he’s got a lot more time to spend with
his grandchildren.

EXERCISE 6: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the words in the brackets.
1) Robert seems not to have any _________ for life. (ENTHUSE)
2) The _________ has concluded that they were making a false claim. (INVESTIGATE)
3) Danny could be very jealous and _________ about me. (POSSESS)
4) His writings are full of _________ and useless information. (REPEAT)
5) A spreadsheet can provide a _________ method of record keeping. (WORK)
6) My job is somewhere between a secretary and a personal _________. (ASSIST)
7) School officials say they welcome parental _________. (INVOLVE)
8) Please complete the enclosed _________ form and return it in the envelope attached. (APPLY)
9) A good _________ will enthuse about his stock and tempt you to try new foods. (RETAIL)
10) The fountains of Rome are famous for their _________ beauty. (ARCHITECT)
11) Patty decided to divorce her faithless and _________ husband. (RELIABILITY)
12) This book contains short sentences, simple words, and _________ phrases, and is thus suitable for elementary
learners. (REPEAT)
13) Vietnamese government has announced an _________ programme to modernise the railway network. (AMBITION)
14) Where appropriate, _________ staff should be asked to participate in the campaign. (PARAMEDIC)
15) Don’t worry! Our tour _________ will arrange transport and plan your itinerary. (OPERATE)
16) While girls lack confidence, boys often _________ their abilities. (ESTIMATE)
17) The research findings will provide practical _________ for teachers. (ASSIST)
18) The government's new scheme is designed to help the _________. (JOB)
19) Friendship is an essential ingredient in the making of a healthful and _________ life. (REWARD)
20) _________ are important but practical experience is always an advantage. (QUALIFY)
21) The _________ of the prizes had their names printed in the paper. (RECEIVE)
22) The speech will be published in its entirety in tomorrow's paper. (ENTIRE)
23) All _________ for the job should have a basic background in computer skills. (APPLICATION)
24) _________ in the parent tends to lead to that in the child. (FLEXIBLE)
25) More people are taking out insurance against the high cost of _________ care. (DENTIST)
26) The part of a telephone you speak into and listen at is called a _________. (RECEIVE)
27) We believed that changes in design will ensure the quality and _________ of the scanner. (RELY)
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FG(10) – Unit 5: AMBITION Teacher-in-charge: Nguyen Thuy Lien (0903.141.108)

28) Perhaps our team were all over _________ about the Momo Project. (ENTHUSE)
29) Her French _________ gives her certain advantages over other students in her class. (BRING)
30) Those who have the _________ to do simple things perfectly can acquire the skill to do difficult things easily.
(PATIENT)
31) A meeting was held with the _________ and planners to finalize plans for the new shopping mall. (ARCHITECT)
32) I forgot the keys inside the car so I had to call the _________. (LOCK)
33) The _________ of the evaluation process we went through was impressive. (THOROUGH)
34) Without relevant background, I found the course academically _________. (CHALLENGE)
35) The best way of finding a _________ is through personal recommendation. (SOLICIT)
36) If you are a head _________ at a medium-sized hotel, you have to instruct new trainees. (RECEPTION)
37) These _________ will communicate to the other market participants the market information. (ENTREPRENEURIAL)
38) The gossip about her later proved to be _________ false. (ENTIRE)
39) He was supposed to be a serious _________, but the crowd laughed him off the stage. (PERFORM)
40) Do you want anything from the _________ apart from a paper? (NEWS)

EXERCISE 7: Read the following job announcement and answer the questions

CORPORATE TRAINER WANTED

San Francisco-based Logistos Advisors, Inc., is seeking an energetic person with strong public-speaking
skills to serve as a temporary replacement for an employee who is away on leave. Logistos delivers training classes
on Internet security to large international retail companies worldwide. The successful applicant will be responsible
for assisting with training sessions throughout Latin America. Although the sessions are delivered in English,
proficiency in Spanish is necessary for the job. At least one year of experience as a corporate trainer in any field is
highly desirable.
The work assignment is for six months, the first two weeks to be spent at the Logistos headquarters for
initial training. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and résumé to hr@logistosadvisors.com by
October 1.

1) What is NOT a stated requirement for the job?

A. Experience working at a retail company.
B. Ability to speak more than one language.
C. Willingness to travel internationally.
D. Public speaking skills.
2) The underlined word “energetic” in the first line is closest in meaning to
A. dynamic B. young C. honest D. helpful
3) How long will the job last?
A. Two weeks B. One month C. Six months D. One year
4) What is suggested about Logistos Advisors, Inc?
A. The company will be relocated to San Francisco next month.
B. An employee is absent from duty at the moment.
C. Its headquarter was located in Latin America.
D. Spanish and English are official language at the company.

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FG(10) – Unit 5: AMBITION Teacher-in-charge: Nguyen Thuy Lien (0903.141.108)

EXERCISE 8: Read the below article and complete the following tasks.

YOU’VE GOT THE JOB!

Jack Hill is a recruiter. It’s his job to find the right candidate for a position. Here’s what Jack has to say about his
job.

[A] The recruiting company I work for has built a good reputation and I’m happy to say that I’ve contributed to
that. There are four full-time staff – a receptionist, the manager and two recruiters, and four part-time made up of
an accountant, a secretary and two more recruiters. It doesn’t sound like much of a workforce, but we’re very
efficient and don’t need more than that to keep our clients happy. Fewer staff also means we work more closely as
a team, but the relationship isn’t just professional; I also socialise with my colleagues outside of work. I used to
work from home as a freelance recruiter and although I enjoyed the freedom it gave me, I didn’t have a steady
income or any co-workers to bounce ideas off or have a nice chat with. As I’m quite a sociable person, really enjoy
the human interaction that an office environment provides.

[B] I work on behalf of my clients. They’re mainly banks and energy companies; they tell me the vacancy they
need to be filled and I searched for talented staff to do the work. Some of the positions are filled quickly, while
others require months of work to find just the right person. I have a register of candidates that I can contact to
ask about their interest and availability, or I look for new people. Although I work for the client who has hired me,
I talk to candidates all day, and understand how important it is for them to find work. That’s why the best part of
my job is when I can make a call to a candidate, offering them a position. Nothing would be better than making
that same call all day long. Unfortunately, I also have to be the bearer of bad news when I tell job seekers, ‘You
don’t have the right qualifications’, ‘You lack experience’ or ‘Sorry, they chose another candidate’. Those
conversations are tough.

[C] The most valuable skill that successful recruiters should possess is communication. Good communicators listen
more than they speak. When they speak, they frequently ask questions. I pride myself on being a good
communicator; I really listen to people and ask a lot of questions in order to get a clear picture of who they are.
Knowing what makes them tick, what their hobbies are, having a conversation rather than just discussing
qualifications and experience helps me to help them. This is essential when I am trying to match a client and a
candidate: Who is this candidate? What kind of person is he or she? Will they be good fit for the client’s company?
What value can they bring to it? Are they likely to work well with their colleagues? Can they handle pressure?
Effective communicators are also able to put themselves in other people’s shoes. Without that ability, you can’t
understand the needs of others.

[D] Feedback is an aspect of recruiting that can’t be emphasised enough. This really separates the professionals
from the amateurs. Experienced recruiters always get feedback from a company after an interview they have
arranged. What was their impression of the candidate? What did they see as the candidate strengths and
weaknesses? What do they believe the candidate needs to improve on? Questions like these are critical. There is
no point in continuing to send job applicants to the client company if I don’t know why the ones who have already
been interviewed were unsuccessful. Without this feedback, I have no way of knowing where my efforts are
failing. Consider the candidates too – they need to know what went wrong so they can fix it. Who knows? Perhaps
next time, their interview will go well and I will make the call to say, ‘Congratulations! You got the job!’.

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FG(10) – Unit 5: AMBITION Teacher-in-charge: Nguyen Thuy Lien (0903.141.108)

I – Find the word in the article that mean the same as the words below.
1) Another word for “candidate”. (para D)
2) The fact of being free to work. (para B)
3) Money earn from a job. (para A)
4) A word for all the staff members. (para A)
5) A person without much skill in what they do. (para D)
6) Information that tells you if something is liked. (para D)
II – Read the article again and answer the following questions
1) What does the author agree about the company he is working for?
A. The company does not promise him stable income.
B. His teammates are friendly but the teamwork is not efficient.
C. His company has achieved a degree of fame so far.
D. The company does not encourage its employees to socialise after work.
2) Which of the following entity is likely to be a client of Jack?
A. a retail company B. a travel agent
C. a local law firm D. an international bank
3) Jack finds his current job interesting because
A. he can communicate with his candidate.
B. he can work with people of different nationalities
C. he can make use of his foreign language.
D. he can contribute to the job creation policy of the government.
4) In paragraph B, what does Jack mean when he says “I also have to be the bearer of bad news” ?
A. He means he should not tell bad news to his candidates.
B. He means his job involve letting candidate know things that may upset them.
C. He means he does not want the candidate to turn down his offer.
D. He means his client does not want the candidate to cancel the interview.
5) The underlined word “tough” in para [B] is closest in meaning to
A. hard B. unlucky C. avoidable D. regular
6) Jack prides himself as a good communicator because
A. he is good at raising questions to his candidates.
B. he can speak many foreign languages
C. he knows how to persuade his client.
D. he knows how to persuade his client candidate.
7) According to the article, Jack does not ask his candidates about their
A. their personality B. their value
C. their pressure resistance D. their family history
8) The underlined phrase “put themselves in other people’s shoes” in para [C] can be best replaced by
A. persuade other people B. help other people in difficult situations
C. understand other people D. have good manner in front of other people
9) Knowing feedback is important to candidates because
A. it provides candidates with future job opportunities.
B. it helps to strengthen the connection between the candidate and the company.
C. they can work on their weak points in the future.
D. the same company may let them retake the interview the following day.
10) It can be suggested from the article that
A. Jack works for a company on weekdays and works as a freelance on weekends.
B. Professional recruiters do not usually need the feedback from their clients.
C. There were full-time and part-time staff at Jack’s company.
D. It may take a long time for a position to be filled with a suitable applicant.
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FG(10) – Unit 5: AMBITION Teacher-in-charge: Nguyen Thuy Lien (0903.141.108)

EXERCISE 9: Decide which answer best fits each space.

CHOOSING A JOB
One of the most difficult decisions is choosing what to do for a (1) _______. For example, do you want to follow a
definite (2) _______, and (3) _______ a low (4) _______ at the beginning, but have good (5) _______ in a
company that trains its (6) _______? Or are you more interested in taking any kind of work, because you need
a/an (7) _______? You may have to (8) _______ the fact that a good (9) _______ can be difficult to find. In that
case, why not take a (10) _______ one? You will gain some useful (11) _______. Remember that even if you have
the right (12) _______, you may have to (13) _______ lots of application forms before you are asked to (14)
_______ an interview. But don’t worry if you don’t know what you want to (15) _______ exactly. You’ll enjoy
finding out!

1) A. salary B. living C. employee D. work

2) A. company B. training C. business D. career
3) A. earn B. gain C. win D. take
4) A. money B. profit C. cheque D. salary
5) A. hopes B. prospects C. futures D. promotion
6) A. employers B. crew C. staff D. persons
7) A. money B. cash C. account D. income
8) A. face up to B. go over C. come up with D. call off
9) A. work B. labour C. job D. seat
10) A. temporary B. overtime C. profitable D. short
11) A. experiences B. experienced C. experience D. experiencing
12) A. qualifications B. exams C. letters D. degrees
13) A. fall through B. get on C. turn down D. fill in
14) A. be B. attend C. make D. advertise
15) A. work B. job C. do D. employ

EXERCISE 10: Complete each second sentence using the word given, so that it has a similar meaning to the
first sentence. Write between two and five words in each gap.
1) After I graduate, I'd like to become a feline veterinarian. (AMBITION)
→ It __________________ a feline veterinarian after I graduate.
2) The accused refused to answer questions without his solicitor. (INSISTED)
→ The accused __________________ present before answering any questions.
3) He is one of the people who runs the youth club. (INVOLVED)
→ He is __________________ the youth club.
4) Do you regret leaving your job now? (YOU)
→ Do you wish __________________ your job now?
5) Anna got the job even though she didn't have much experience in public relations. (SPITE)
→ Anna got the job __________________ of experience in public relations.
6) I don't understand the maths homework the teacher gave us. (FIGURE)
→ I can't __________________ do the maths homework the teacher gave us.
7) Providing that this message reaches you promptly, you should be able to get here on time. (LONG)
→ As __________________the message soon, you should be able to arrive on time.
8) I was told that booking in advance wasn't necessary. (WORRY)
→ I was told that I __________________about booking in advance.
9) At the end of the presentation Allen showed some slides. (FINISHED)
→ Allen __________________some slides.
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FG(10) – Unit 5: AMBITION Teacher-in-charge: Nguyen Thuy Lien (0903.141.108)

10) Could you try a little harder to listen to what I'm saying? (EFFORT)
→ Can you __________________listen to what I’m saying?
11) My sister was involved in her school spelling competition. (PART)
→ My sister __________________her school spelling competition.
12) It is certainly a good example of Van Gogh's work. (DOUBT)
→There's __________________ it is a good example of Van Gogh’s work.
13) I always hated pasta when I was a child but now I cook it regularly. (USED)
→ I __________________pasta when I was a child but now I cook it regularly.
14) We paid some people to make the estimate for us last year. (HAD)
→ We __________________made last year.
15) You can try open the safe with that key, but it won’t work. (POINT)
→ There’s __________________the safe with that key.
16) Anne will manage to look after the children while she is away. (SUCCEED)
→ Anne will __________________after the children while she is away.
17) I suggest doing more research before you start writing the article. (BETTER)
→ You __________________more research before you start writing the article.
18) My boss always criticises his staff. (TENDENCY)
→ My boss __________________criticise his staff.
19) Chloe finds it hard to do write the application letter on her own.
→ Chloe __________________ the application letter on her own.
20) Denise will certainly be late because she didn't leave home until 7 o'clock. (BOUND)
→ Denise is __________________late because she didn't leave home until 7 o'clock.