Grammar exercises
■ Ex. 1. Alex Vandervoort has many things to attend to. He has been very busy recently. He was busy last week, he is busy now and he is going to be very busy next week.
On Monday he is going to see Herald Austin about advertising proofs. Alex is not satisfied with the results. He is going to veto Keycharge credit-card advertising prepared by the Austin Agency.
On Tuesday
to attend the reconvened meeting of the board
not to reach any agreement
On Wednesday
to visit his wife Celia in the Remedial Centre
to be mentally unstable for four years
to be unhappy about it
On Thursday
to get down to a report
to prepare a report on improving the bank's performance
On Friday
to discuss counterfeit credit cards with Nolan Wainwright again
to solve the problem yet
ACTIVITY
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Using the model above, say what you think Roscoe Heyward, Nolan Wainwright, Edwina d'Orsey are going to do next week.
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Using the model above, say what you are going to do next week. Write six or eight sentences.
■ Ex. 2. There is a programme about the future of banking services on television tonight. Professor John Savage is saying what banking will be like in some five years' time. Look at the Professor's notes and write down what he says.
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reassessment of strategic objectives
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developing and adopting new forms of competition
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shifting emphasis from intermediary to service functions
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recruiting and retaining customers through quality service
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focusing not on accounts and balances but on customers' preferences
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increase of responsiveness to customer needs
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introduction of new services (such as, life insurance and investment)
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provision of automated services
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improving communication between customer and vendor
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use of new information technologies
ACTIVITY
Write a few sentences saying what you think banking will be like in future.
■ Ex. 3. Look at the two pictures below. In picture I you can see Juanita Nunez, in picture 2 you can see Miles Eastin. Where are they? What are they doing? Try to say what will happen to them afterwards. In each case give your reasons. Do it one after another.
1. 2.
ACTIVITY
Write 6—8 sentences saying what life will be like in 30 years' time.
■ Ex. 4. Roscoe Heyward and Alex Vandervoort are the two candidates for the FMA Presidency. They have different views on the future of FMA. Say what they are going, to do and what the results will be. For facts and vocabulary consult Units VI and VII.
ACTIVITY
Imagine that you are in charge of fma. Discuss with the rest of the class what changes you would like to make. Make definite decisions, write them down and say what the results will be.
SECTION С
Participating in a meeting
Getting the chair's attention
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may I come in here? |
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Mister (Madani) Chairman, |
may I have the floor for a moment? |
Requesting information
Could you tell me ..., please?
I'd, like to ask you ...
Would you mind telling me ...
I wonder if you could tell me ...
What is your position on ...
Checking and confirming information
Could you repeat what you said, please?
What exactly do you mean by ...?
You did say May, didn't you?
Sorry, that's not quite right It should be ...
Asking for and giving opinions
Do you really think (believe) that ...
Are you absolutely sure/positive that ...
Am 1 right in thinking that ...
I strongly believe that...
I have absolutely no doubt that ...
I really do think that ...
Agreeing and disagreeing
I totally agree with you.
I totally accept that ...
I agree up to a point.
That may be so, but ...
I can't go along with you on that.
I am afraid I can't accept that ...
Expressing support
I should like to express my total support for ...
I think the idea deserves our backing.
Expressing opposition
In my opinion this goes completely against the interests of ...
I can see no valid reasons for supporting a plan of this kind.
Giving reasons for or against proposals
I think this is a forward-looking (harmful) proposal.
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Nothing |
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I have heard has convinced me that ... |
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Everything |
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Advising and suggesting
Why don't we move on to ...
I suggest we close the meeting now.
I would advise you to prepare a short paper for the meeting.
■ Ex. 1. Build conversations like this from the prompts below.
1. — A: Could you repeat what you said, please? You did say 15, didn't you?
— B: Sorry, that's not quite right. It should be 50.
Prompts
13—30
a million — a billion
June — July
2. — A: Mr. White, I'd like to ask you about the plan of action. Do you really believe that it will be workable.
— B: I have absolutely no doubt that it will be workable in the near future. I think the plan deserves our backing.
— A: I can't go along with you on that. Nothing I have heard has convinced me that it will be workable.
Prompts
promotion compaign effective
investments profitable
credit card scheme efficient
3. — A: Mister Chairman, may I have the floor for a moment?
— B: O.K. The floor is given to Mr. Jones, but keep to the point, please.
— A: Surely, sir. I should like to express my total support for the plan. Everything I have heard has convinced me the plan is going to work.
Prompts
Madam Mr. Gorin programme
Miss Jackson idea
Mrs. Clarke scheme
■ Ex. 2. Write down what you would say at a meeting in each of the following situations. Give several variants wherever possible.
You attend a meeting and you want:
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to adjourn the meeting
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to back a proposal
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to take the floor
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to make a strong point
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to express your total disagreement with the proposal
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to clarify Mr. Brown's stand on the future of the bank
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to express your partial agreement with the plan
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to make sure you understood Mr. Black's idea of the public good
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to make sure you got the figure correctly
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to give reasons against the proposal
■ Ex. 3. Refer to texts 1—6 Section A, Units VI, VII. Revise the agenda of the meeting.
Role play: meeting of the board
FMA has called a meeting of the board to decide on the candidate for the Presidency.
Taking part in the meeting:
Mr Jerome Patterton — chairman of the board
Roscoe Heyward — executive vice-president
Alex Vandervoort — executive vice-president
Harold Austin — a board member, owner of the Austin Advertising Agency
Leonard Kingswood — a board member, chairman of Northam Steel
Mr Kenny — a board member.
Jerome Patterton — You chair the meeting of the board. You open it, pay tribute to Ben Rosselli, discuss the agenda and the procedure. You believe the candidates should speak in alphabetical precedence. You suggest setting the time limit for the report at 7 minutes and allow 15 minutes for questions.
Roscoe Heyward — Expound your views on the future of FMA. Structure your presentation according to the classical model.
Alex Vandervoort — Expound your views on the future of FMA. Structure your presentation according to the classical model.
Herald Austin — You are willing to pledge your support to Roscoe Heyward. You think he is the man the bank needs. You share his points of view on the future of FMA. And you make it clear when you take the floor. As to Alex Vandervoort, you detest the man. A week ago you fell out with him on the promotion campaign. You intend to take revenge on him now.
Leonard Kingswood — You are prepared to back Alex Vandervoort. In fact you are his strongest supporter and you know it. You find his programme appealing. You share its every point and make no secret of it. As to Roscoe Heyward you consider him to be the wrong choice, as his programme runs contrary to FMA's traditions.
Mr.Kenny — You can't make up your mind. At first sight both programmes look rational. So you ask the candidates questions clarifying some points they made. Your final decision will depend on their persuasiveness.
■ Ex. 4. Role play: debates.
The questioning occupied half an hour, after which Roscoe Heyward and Alex Vandervoort left the boardroom together. The directors debated the candidates for the remainder of the morning, weighing all pros and cons.
Taking part in the discussion:
all the members of the board.
Unit VIII
Topic: Globalization
Grammar: Present Simple for the Future after, when, it, etc.
Communication Skills: Asking Questions