Assignment 2 (to p.22-41)

1. Edit your character sketches of G.Winthrop, A. Falcon, G.Cagle and W.Rutherford. Add new information and new topic words.

2. Get ready to answer the questions in class, make a list of topic vocabulary for each question and use it in your speech:

1. Enumerate all the strange details accompanying Falcon’s getting a job with NASO and try to explain them.

2. What are the powers of the US Federal Reserve System Chairman? Discuss pros and cons of the US Fed chairman’s independence.

3. Describe the FOMC structure and functions.

4. Characterise Carter Filipelli as a person and a CEO. Why is Filipelli so loyal to President Buford J.Warren?

5. What are the reasons for Carter Filipelli and Wendell Smith’s mutual hostility? What does it mean for an American to be part of the Yankee Es­tablishment? What does the author mean by calling Wendell Smith a walking WASP billboard?

6. Why did Buford J.Warren prove to be an atypical president?

7. Why is the President concerned about Bob Whitman, his Republican rival?

8. What points were discussed by Rutherford and Turner Prescott? What light does this dialogue throw upon the events described in Unit 1?

9. Explain how the following characters are related to Andrew Falcon: Genny Cagle, Reid Bernstein, Glen Malley, a pretty dancer in the club (Alexis)

3. Write a company profile for NASO and get ready for its brief oral presentation in class

Name _______________________________________________

Central Headquarters Address ___________________________

Business activities ____________________________________

Business reputation ___________________________________

Established in ________________________________________

Executive Officers ____________________________________

Assets ______________________________________________

Capital _____________________________________________

4. Get ready for a quiz on topic vocabulary to Unit 1 (revise tasks 7-10).

5. Translate into Russian and explain the meaning of the following expressions with the word market: stock market, bond market, securities market, commodities market, to crater the market.

6. Look these words up in the dictionary; get ready to explain their meaning in class; write out the sentences they are used in and translate them into Russian in writing:

1. (p.28) induce v

2. (p.28) recession n (business) , recess n, v

3. (p.28) tenet n

4. (p.31) insolvent adj

5. (p.40) transaction n

6. (p.40) (financial) commitment n

7. Distinguish between two opposite meanings of the words below; translate the sentences into Russian:

a) two opposite meanings of the word arguable (arguably) (p.28)

- That their decision was the best one is arguable.

- He was the Fed chairman, arguably one of the most powerful people in the world.

b) adverbs overly (p.4) and overtly (p.31)

- As a rule, Winthrop didn’t become overly friendly with others at the firm.

- But Smith didn’t overtly express his hatred.

c) adjectives reactive – proactive (p.33)

- It would be better to be reactive today rather than proactive.

8. Revise the abbreviations. Give the complete expression each abbreviation stands for: NASO(p.22), BOM (p. 23), SVP (p. 24), FOMC (p.27-28), GDP (p.34)

9. Find in the text English equivalents for the following words and word combinations. Recollect the context in which they are used.

1. (p.27) окончательный, бесповоротный

2. (p.27) обязанный к-л

3. (p.27) изолировать, обособлять

4. (p. 28) предотвращать

5. (p.28) принуждение

6. (p.31) щеголять, афишировать

7. (p.32) смягчиться, стать менее суровым, смилостивиться

8. (p.34) отвечать на выпад метко и находчиво, парировать

9. (p.40) представлять интерес и пользу для к-л

10. Translate into Russian, paying special attention to the italicized words:

1. The power of the chairman of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America was absolute and irrevocable. Once appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, he was beholden to no one, once confirmed, were insulated from the electorate. His term lasted only four years, and he could be replaced at the end of it by another Presidential appointee, but that didn’t happen often. Any President who dared consider the idea of replacing a sitting Fed chairman against his will risked the wrath of the “I” bankers, who would crater the stock and bond markets. The Street placed grave importance on an independent Fed chairman, and every President was painfully aware of this.

2. Filipelli set monetary policy for the United States by controlling interest rates and bringing to bear the Fed’s vast cash reserves. He could raise rates to head off inflation, thereby inducing a recession, caus­ing pain and suffering; or he could lower rates, spur­ring economic growth and putting billions into the collective pockets of the country.

11. Write a comparative character sketch of either Carter Filipelli and Wendell Smith or Buford J.Warren and Bob Whitman.

12. Discussion points:

1. What Russian governmental body performs the same functions as the US Federal Reserve System? What are similarities and differences in these bodies’ powers?

2. What is monetary policy?

3. What qualities of top managers do you think are essential, useful, not useful and dangerous?

LISTENING:

You will hear five extracts from a job interview. Decide which of the questions below are answered in each extract. Be careful – three of the questions are not answered!

Extract 1: __________

Extract 2: __________

Extract 3: __________

Extract 4: __________

Extract 5: __________

1. What is your current job?

2. What are your long-term career goals?

3. What part of the job do you least enjoy?

4. What are the most important reward you expect from your career?

5. Why do you think you would be good at this job?

6. What would you say has been your greatest achievements so far?

7. What have you done that shows initiative?

8. What do you think of working as part of a group?

Listen again and complete the following notes that the interviewer took

Studied __________ at university.

Previous experience: worked for ________ Productions. Learnt various aspects of the _______________________________ process.

Current position: __________________________________ at Nomad Productions. Has worked for ____ years. Sometimes does the job of the _______________________________.

Dislikes checking ______________________. Prefers co-ordinating a ________ and resolving _________________.