d) carry on as if the situation was normal?
5.Your division boss has asked you and your team to take on an extra project. Youre already working flat out on the current project. Do you
a) explain the situation and ask for another solution?
b) accept the extra work because youre afraid of saying «no»?
c) accept the extra work because youre ambitious and it could eventually mean promotion?
d) tell your boss he must be joking your people are under enough pressure as it is?
6.Your team is doing extremely well youre exceeding all your targets and easily meeting all your deadlines. You divisional boss recently called you in to congratulate you. Do you..
a) take all the kudos after all youre the leader?
b) pass on the praise to your team and suggest they be paid a bonus?
c) ask your boss to set even higher targets?
d) hold a team party to celebrate?
7) An important customer has complained that one of your staff was very rude to him. Do you
a) confront her during a team meeting and then reprimand her in front of her peers?
b) fire her on the spot?
c) ask her for her version of events and take it from there?
d) stand by your subordinate and tell the customer he was wrong?
8.Youve noticed that two of your team are getting more than friendly. You imagine that theres an office romance under way. Do you..
a) turn a blind eye?
b) get involved in the office gossip to find out whats happening?
c) tell them to put an end to it?
d) keep an eye on the situation in case it has an effect on team efficiency?
9.Your division manager has told you that your teams performance is not up to scratch. Do you
a) blame the team?
b) blade outside circumstances which are beyond your control?
c) take the blame yourself?
d) tell her its her fault for not giving you the necessary resources?
10.One of your staff tells you he doesnt find his job sufficiently challenging. Do you
a) offer him more responsibility and empowerment in his current job?
b) promote him to a position of greater responsibility?
c) tell him its time he was moving on?
d) tell him he should be happy hes got a job at all?
As soon as you have finished doing the test, you can check the answers with explanations in the keys
Vocabulary exercises
1. Put a missing word in a gap
1. Behave like a mature man and dont outside circumstances
2. I cant stand visiting such offices because of their tape
3. Guess what! He me with a dismissal!
4. We need to consolidate our efforts in this cut-throat .
5. We regret to tell you that your work is not to scratch
6. I suggested sharing responsibilities on this project to . deadlines
7. If I were you I wouldnt all the kudos for this teamwork
8. No sooner had they received a meagre pay rise than their was increased drastically
9. He is said to have been . redundant during the lockdown
10. lets admit that you are a weak in our team
11. Were I you, I would never turn a eye to such rude manners.
12. During that endless lockdown quite a few workers were laid.
13. You are always wandering off the whenever I want to talk to you about our budget.
14. The regime became too and was overthrown by a military coup.
15. You should . tasks among members of the group.
2. Choose the correct option
1. She persuaded us to .. things by the book
a) make b) get c) do d) perform
2. I refused to participate in this cut-.competition
a) neck b) throat c) stomach d) tongue
3. Do you have any right to threaten us dismissal?
a) by b) of c) for d) with
4. Only with your help have I been able to do it . to scratch
a) up to b) up c) till d) with
5. I cant stand my boss . outside circumstances
a) accusing b) reprimanding c) blaming d) killing
6. You can be if you fail to match the requirements
a) made redundant b) fired c) promoted d) motivated
7. We have been doing our best and worst to deadlines
a) fail b) say hello to c) meet d) reject
8. He is supposed to be made redundant being a . link in our team
a) fine b) big c) strong d) weak
9. If I were you I wouldnt persuade the subordinates to workload
a) rise b) lift c) enlarge d) increase
10. He is looking forward to . and turning over a new leaf
a) being sacked b) resigning c) employing d) being terminated
11. His contract was last month.
a) ruined b) terminated c) laid off d) postponed
12. He refused to a blind eye to these words
a) ruined b) take c) turn d) get
13.He . the situation carefully before acting.
a) thought b) took c) accounted d) appraised
14.Democracy is supposed to protect the people against the rise of .. rulers.
a) autocratic b) loyal c) top d) majestic
15. I cant stand my boss wandering . the point being asked for a pay rise
a) from b) to c) off d) of
3. Rephrase the sentences using the new vocabulary
1. All of us were told to do exactly what the rules of the company dictated us to
2. We admit it was an unfair and tough competition
3. Congrats! Finally our project has been considered to be of acceptable standard
4. I do hate all this paperwork and unnecessary rules
5. Dont say that somebody or something was responsible for this mess
6. Recently he has decided to give up his job and set up own company producing teddy bears.
7. I cant help feeling proud receiving praise and admiration.
8. 20 employees are said to have been dismissed due to their fault.
9. Try to do the project on time if you want to avoid being reprimanded.
10. He denied raising the amount of work for his subordinates every single month.
11.Under no circumstances should you ignore such an arrogant attitude.
12. They fired some blue-collar workers who didnt do anything by the book.
13. The new head of our department asked all of us to examine each others performance to judge the quality of the work done.
14. He is beating about the bush again! He has been chit chatting for ages.
15. Its time we made this conflict stop.
4. Answer the questions
1. When was the last time you were reprimanded?
2. Do you believe that in the future we will get rid of all red tape in offices?
3. Do you try to do things by the book at your work?
4. Is it typical of you to blame outside circumstances?
5. how would you describe your attitude to your peers at work?
6. Have you ever had to fire anybody?
7. What do you usually say when you take kudos?
8. What are you planning to do when you resign?
9. What do you usually do when you cant meet deadlines?
10. If you had a weak link in your team, would you try to encourage them and support them or would you get rid of them.
11. Have you ever been dismissed?
12. Does it irritate you when your partner wanders off the point during a talk with you?
13. Is it easy for you to turn a blind eye to evil gossip about you?
14. What are the advantages of an autocratic style of management?
15. Do you usually tell the truth while appraising your colleagues?
Free answers
5.Translate the sentences
1 Нигде раньше он не сталкивался с такой волокитой и бюрократией, как в этом министерстве
2 Перестань винить во всем обстоятельства- пора бы научиться признавать ошибки
3 Только сильнейший выживет в условиях жесткой конкуренции
4 Если вы хотите преуспеть, делайте все строго по правилам
5 Он слышал, как босс угрожал уволить любого, кто не будет работать в эти выходные
6. Говорят, что его уволили из-за того, что он отказался делать прививку
7. Наша компания не пережила этот период и мы вынуждены сократить половину персонала
8. Не может быть, что он оказался слабым звеном в твоей команде
9. Если бы я был на твоем месте, я бы не принимал похвалу один, а разделил бы славу с командой
10. Я против того, чтобы экономить на качестве, стараясь успеть в срок
11. Терпеть не могу, когда ты уходишь от темы каждый раз, когда я начинаю разговор о свадьбе
12. Говорят, в прошлый локдаун уволили всех пенсионеров
13. Не может быть, что он проигнорировал твое замечание насчет повышения