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Exercise 5. Give English equivalents.

Срочно требуется, быть признанным, вакансия, обязанности, руководство, ежедневная работа, соответствовать чему-либо, кандидат, изготовление и установка, знание языка желательно, страхование от несчастных случаев, облегчить переезд, безвозмездная помощь при переезде, иждивенец, заполнить анкету, семейное положение.

Exercise 6. Insert prepositions.

File 3

Glossary

Make sure that you know these words. Find their Russian equivalents.

to discourage – to take away courage, confidence, hope

jump ahead – having an advantage over others by being in advance of them covering memo (letter) – a letter containing an explanation or additional information

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venture – a business, or a business deal, in which there is some degree of risk which is accepted in the expectation of making a profit: to start a new venture – to open a new business. Syn. enterprise, project. Joint venture – a partnership, usually temporary, or sometimes becoming permanent, formed by two or more persons or companies cooperating in some special business activity in which there is some risk of loss but a reasonable hope for profit.

tough – strong and able to deal with difficult situations or pain

to act beyond one’s authority – to do smth without a formal permission

delegate responsibility – to give a part of all one’s power or rights for a certain time to adjourn – to put off until a later date or to another place

handle the job – to deal with, to manage, to cope with the job know how – special knowledge (skills) of doing smth

to meet resistance – to get a refusal to accept some proposals to infringe a patent – to use a patented idea without permission infringement – going against the law

to take (legal) actions against smb – take a matter for consideration by a court to modify – to make changes in the form of smth

Claude Santos has applied for the vacancy created by Red Monro’s accident. She is well qualified for the job and has extensive experience. She is currently working for Noroil as Project Director on the Kon-Tiki field. But her application is late.

Θ The closing date for applications was the end of September. By that date Samex had heard of no serious candidates on the grapevine, and had received no applications for the vacancy from the headhunter they employed. The headhunter reports that Samex’s reputation as a ‘tough employer’ is discouraging possible candidates. Personnel Officer, Diane Cook, decides to add the late applicant to the short-list. She checks flight details, then calls Claude Santos.

Read the text

Santos: Hello?

Cook: Can I speak to Claude Santos, please?

Santos: This is Claude Santos speaking.

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Cook: Hello, this is Diane Cook, I’m calling from Sydney.

Santos: Oh yes, hello!

Cook: I’m sorry to call so late, but I wanted to catch you before you went to bed. Santos: That’s OK. I was finishing some reports. What time is it Sydney? Cook: It’s 10 am. We’re 10 hours ahead of you.

Santos: So, you’re already busy with tomorrow.

Cook: (Laughs) Yeah, in Australia we’re always a jump ahead.

Santos: So, what can I do for you?

Cook: I’m calling to say that we’ve just received your application form and we’d like you to come to an interview.

Θ Now listen to this part of the conversation on the recording.

Exercise 1. Answer these questions.

1.What time is it in Sydney?

2.What time is it in Bergen?

3.What is the time difference?

4.What date is the interview?

5.What time is the interview?

6.Is there a flight that arrives in time?

ΘDiane Cook faxes Claude Santos’ application documents to the Rio office. The time difference between Sydney and Rio means that they arrive at 9 p.m. on the 14th of October. She decides not to mention in the covering memo that the applicant is a woman. The following day, the Appointments Board see Gary Westwood at 9 a.m., and George Ansell immediately after lunch. The last interview is scheduled for 5.30 p.m. Claude Santos arrives with 15 minutes to spare.

Read the dialogue

Brownlow: Yes, can I help you?

Santos: I’m Claude Santos.

Brownlow: Oh? I’m sorry. Er, come in.

Santos: Thank you.

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Brownlow: Let me introduce everyone. I’m Dick Brownlow. I’m Managing Director of

Samex Offshore Engineering, and Chairman of today’s Board. Santos: How do you do, Mr. Brownlow?

Brownlow: Pleased to meet you. (they shake hands) And this is Roberto Carvalho, who is here on behalf of Petrobras, our partner in the Leme venture ...

Santos: How do you do?

Carvalho: (They shake hands) Nice to meet you.

Jarman: Roberto is here to make sure we appoint someone he can work with!

Brownlow: And that’s Les Jarman, our Exploration and Production Director. Les has overall responsibility for all our project developments.

Santos: I’m pleased to meet you, Mr. Jarman. Jarman: The pleasure is all mine, Claude. Brownlow: Please, take a seat.

Santos: Thank you.

Brownlow: I was a little confused when you came in. I wasn’t expecting um..er...

Santos: A woman?

Brownlow : Yeah, that’s right. Claude sounds like a fella.

Santos: (Laughs) In French, Claude can be a man’s name or a woman’s name. My full name is Marie-Claude, but it’s so old fashioned it makes people laugh. Claude at least sounds tough.

Brownlow: And are you tough? Santos: I can be ...

Carvalho: And your family name is Santos. Santos: Yes, my husband is Brazilian.

Brownlow: So, you’re French married to a Brazilian.

Santos: I’m half French. My mother is French, but I grew up in Norway. My father is

Norwegian.

Brownlow: So, you’re Norwegian with a French first name, and a Brazilian surname. Santos: And I’m hoping to get a job with an Australian company.

Brownlow: Well, er ... that could be a problem, Claude ...

Θ Now listen to this part the conversation on the recording.

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Answer the questions:

1.Why hasn’t Diane Cook in her covering memo mentioned that the applicant is a woman?

2.What is meant by “She arrives with 15 minutes to spare”?

3.Was Mr. Brownlow surprised to see Claude Santos?

4.What have you learned about her family history?

Exercise 2. Read the first part of the interview. Answer these questions.

1)Why was Brownlow confused when Claude Santos entered the room?

a)He recognized her.

b)He didn’t expect a woman.

c)She was early for the interview.

2)Why did Claude Santos shorten her name?

a)It sounds too French.

b)It sounds like a man’s name.

c)It sounds like a stronger name.

3)Claude Santos is

a)half Brazilian

b)half Australian

c)half French

ΘListen to the second half of the interview.

Exercise 3. Dick Brownlow says there “could be a problem”. He goes on to say what the problem is. Listen to the recording and choose the correct answers.

1) The problem is that ...

a)Claude Santos’s application form arrived too late.

b)Someone has already been appointed.

c)Samex cannot consider a woman for the position.

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2)Has Dick Brownlow read Claude Santos’s application form?

a)Not in detail.

b)Yes.

c)No

Exercise 4. Roberto Carvalho wants the new Project Director to be “someone he can work with”.

Samex need someone on whom they can depend.

Samex need someone they can depend on.

a)They need someone to whom they can delegate responsibility.

…………………………………………………………………………

b)They need someone with whom they can discuss problems.

………………………………………………………………………….

c)They need some one to whom they can leave on-site decisions.

…………………………………………………………………………..

d)Most of all, they need someone in whom they can have confidence.

……………………………………………………………………………

Θ The meeting of the Appointments Board adjourns for ten minutes while the Board members read Claude Santos’ application form. The interview then continues.

Brownlow: We’ve read your application form now and I have to admit that, on paper, you look good, very good.

Santos: Thank you.

Brownlow: But the fact remains that we’ve never employed a woman in a position like this. How can we be sure that you will be able to handle this job?

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Santos: You have my record. I believe it speaks for itself.

Brownlow: But the Leme Field is 380 kilometres offshore. It’s tough out there!

Santos: With all due respect, the North Sea is the toughest oil province in the world. And I have been working in the North Sea for 10 years.

Jarman: Can I come in here? Brownlow: Yes, Les, go ahead.

Jarman: I see you’re currently working on the Kon-Tiki Field.

Santos: Yes, as Project Director.

Jarman: Is the Kon-Tiki platform a floater?

Santos: No, as you probably know, Kon-Tiki is a massive field in comparatively shallow water. So, Noroil are using a fixed structure.

Jarman: So what experience do you have of floating platforms?

Santos: As I put in my application form, I spent a year at the Norwegian Oil Research Institute studying platform construction. Most of the work was done on semisubmersibles.

Jarman: I noticed that you didn’t finish your thesis. Why was that?

Santos: Proto Oil made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. They were developing their

DCF at the time, and hiring me gave them access to all the latest know-how.

Jarman: You mean that Proto Oil’s designs were based on your work?

Santos: Not entirely, but I was a member of the team. I spent two years working on the design of their DCF, which incidentally was patented eight months before you built your first models.

Jarman: Did you work on their patent application? Santos: Yes, I did.

Jarman: I see. ... and why did you leave Proto Oil?

Santos Because I wanted to transfer to the construction side and I met resistance. They said it wasn’t woman’s work.

Brownlow: I agree with that. I may be sexist, but I can’t understand why an attractive woman like you wants to build oil fields.

Santos: Maybe it’s because women are tougher than you think.

Brownlow: Well I’m sorry, but I still can’t think of one good reason for employing a woman in this position.

Santos: In that case Mr. Brownlow, let me give you one ...