Curs Limba Engleza An I

UNIVERSITATEA CONSTANTIN BRNCOVEANU
- PITETI -
Camelia CHIRIL
Adela DUMITRESCU
Georgiana MNDRECI
Mihaela BURSUGIU
P RACTICAL ENGLISH
FOR COMMUNICATION
- APPLICATIVE COURSE -
Piteti, 2013
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................5
UNIT 1 ..............................................................................................................................7
INTERVIEW WITH A BUSINESSMAN ...............................................................................7
Grammar Focus: The verbs To be and To have.......................................................11
UNIT 2 ............................................................................................................................13
A TYPICAL MANAGERS OFFICE...................................................................................13
Grammar Focus: The Noun ....................................................................................16
UNIT 3 ............................................................................................................................19
DESCRIBING PEOPLE ...................................................................................................19
Grammar Focus:The Adjective................................................................................22
UNIT 4 ............................................................................................................................26
BUSINESS DRESS CODE ..............................................................................................26
Grammar Focus:The Pronoun................................................................................29
UNIT 5 ............................................................................................................................35
HOBBIES AND INTERESTS............................................................................................35
Grammar Focus: Present Tense Simple..................................................................39
UNIT 6 ............................................................................................................................42
PEOPLE AND WORKPLACES ........................................................................................42
Grammar Focus: Present Tense Continuous...........................................................46
UNIT 7 ............................................................................................................................49
BUSINESS MEALS & SOCIALIZING ...............................................................................49
Grammar Focus: Present Perfect Simple ................................................................52
UNIT 8 ............................................................................................................................55
STAYING IN A HOTEL ....................................................................................................55
Grammar Focus: Present Perfect Continuous..........................................................57
UNIT 9 ............................................................................................................................60
TRAVELLING..................................................................................................................60
Grammar Focus: Past Simple Tense.......................................................................63
UNIT 10 ..........................................................................................................................66
BANKING SERVICES .....................................................................................................66
Grammar Focus: Past Continous Tense..................................................................69
UNIT 11 ..........................................................................................................................71
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION .......................................................................................71
Grammar Focus: Past Perfect Simple and Continuous.............................................75
UNIT 12 ..........................................................................................................................79
HIGHER EDUCATION.....................................................................................................79
Grammar Focus: Future Tenses .............................................................................82
UNIT 13 ..........................................................................................................................86
THE INTERNET A GREAT INVENTION OF MODERN TIMES.......................................86
Grammar Focus: Modal Verbs ................................................................................88
UNIT 14 ..........................................................................................................................91
MASS MEDIA..................................................................................................................91
Grammar Focus: Direct and Indirect Speech ...........................................................94
UNIT 15 ..........................................................................................................................98
ONLINE SHOPPING .......................................................................................................98
Grammar Focus: The Conditional Mood..................................................................99
UNIT 16 ........................................................................................................................103
ENTERTAINMENT ........................................................................................................103
Grammar Focus: Formal and Informal Speech ......................................................105
UNIT 17 ........................................................................................................................109
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES ..........................................................................................109
Grammar Focus: British and American English......................................................111
UNIT 18 ........................................................................................................................115
THE LIFE OF A SUPERMARKET MANAGER ................................................................115
Grammar Focus: Wishes ......................................................................................117
UNIT 19 ........................................................................................................................119
BEATING THE COMPETITION......................................................................................119
Grammar Focus: The Passive Voice .....................................................................121
UNIT 20 ........................................................................................................................124
THE ENVIRONMENT A REAL GLOBAL ISSUE ...........................................................124
Grammar Focus: Phrasal Verbs............................................................................125
LIST OF IRREGULAR VERBS.......................................................................................128
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY.........................................................................................133
Introduction
Introdu
ction
The purpose of this book is to assist students in communicating
effectively in English. In many ways, the book looks like a general course
book, but, as the title suggests, with a particular focus on communication.
It gives clear practical tips per each topic that might be applicable to
their daily communication, especially in business.
The layout of the book is very simple focusing on reading,
speaking, listening, and writing skills. The book is organized into twenty
units where reading texts are used
used as contexts to develop the students
communication skills.
Each unit has two different sections. The first section is based on
interaction, word associations, comprehension, oral and written
communication and language activities. The topics approached in the
book encourage students to think and communicate on the themes
discussed. The second section focuses on grammar and it aims to help
students know the basic grammar rules and use grammatical structures
accurately when communicating in real language tasks.
tasks. Appendices
include a list of irregular verbs, usage of punctuation marks, as well as a
selected vocabulary list of measurement.
This book is primarily a learnerlearner-centered and tasktask-based course
language
ge teaching
book. It reflects some of the approaches in English langua
and learning currently in practice around the world. Overall, the book
5
provides students with an interesting and practical tool for intensifying

communication in the English language while studying and practising
grammar. We believe students will
will find this book a refreshing change and
we advise them to keep it on the work desk for an easy reach when needed.
The authors
Unit 1
INTERVIEW WITH A BUSINESSMAN
Born and raised in Belgium, James Brooks is a former Australian manager who has
lived and worked on many continents. With his parents and his wifes continuous support,
he managed to become a successful businessman. Recently his parents-in-law have
become his business partners. Today James Brooks runs multiple businesses in different
countries. Heres an interview offered by James Brooks to a business magazine.
Journalist: You are a famous businessman and your life is permanently associated
with businesses. What is the story of your life?
James Brooks: Well, I was born in Antwerp, Belgium. I graduated the University of
Antwerp, getting a degree in business studies. When I was almost 20, I started my career
working for Morris Industries in Melbourne, Australia, which I consider to be the chance of
my life. My aunt was the companys executive and she helped me get some business
experience. In time, I became her manager. After ten years I recreated my career and I
started my own business.
Journalist: How did you handle both your studies and your job?
James Brooks: It was very difficult at first. I had to fly to Belgium every month to attend
classes at the university. I had to study for my exams, to improve my fluency in English and to
learn German. It was a big effort but finally I was successful. And I met a beautiful flight
attendant, who is my wife now. Together we have a daughter, Cathy, who is 12, and a son,
Benjamin, who is 8.
Journalist: How important were foreign languages in your career?
James Brooks: They were vital. I couldnt have succeeded without speaking some
foreign languages. I have businesses all over the world. I must keep in touch with my people. I
need to speak their language or any other language they understand. Now I speak Dutch,
French, English, German and some Italian.
Journalist: By the way, what determined you to run multiple businesses?
James Brooks: You see there are some advantages when you choose to follow this
direction. First of all, a greater variety of tasks makes you better and better in your work.
Then, you diversify your income sources which can offer a greater financial security. Today I
invest my money in education, research, financial management and real estate.
Journalist: Except talent, experience and ambition, what else do people need to be
successful in business?
James Brooks: They must be lucky!
Journalist: Are you a happy person now?
James Brooks: Ive always been happy. I have my family and my friends next to me all
the time. You dont have to be a millionaire or a magnate to be happy. Nevertheless, a large
budget probably makes it easier!
Journalist: Thank you for your time.
James Brooks: Youre welcome!
Vocabulary Focus
former having been such at some
previous time
parent-in-law a person who has a
legal affinity with another by being the
parent of the other's spouse
fluency ability to express oneself readily
and without effort
to run a business to control, manage,
or direct
executive a person or group having
administrative or managerial authority in
an organization
to handle to deal with or have
responsibility for
support an act or instance of helping

flight attendant member of an aircrew
employed to ensure the safety and comfort
of passengers
to keep in touch to maintain
communications with someone
research to study about something
thoroughly
real estate land, including all the natural
resources and permanent buildings on it
magnate a powerful or influential person,
especially in business or industry
Vocabulary Practice
1. Match the countries on the left with the nationalities on the right:
1. Romania
a. Spanish
2. France
b. Portuguese
3. The United States of America
c. German
4. China
d. Dutch
5. Japan
e. English
6. Turkey
f. Romanian
7. Portugal
g. Russian
8. Holland
h. Turkish
9. Denmark
i. Chinese
10. Italy
j. American
11. Spain
k. Japanese
12. England
l. French
13. Germany
m. Hungarian
14. Russia
n. Danish
15. Hungary
o. Italian
Now discover the country or the nationality in the following sentences:
1. There are thermal baths all over this country, including in the capital, Budapest.
2. They like drinking vodka.
3. Its capital city is Ankara.
4. Dracula lived on the territory of this country.
5. They grow tulips and have windmills.
6. Country where people eat paella and watch corridas.

7. Its largest city is Berlin.
8. George Bush was their former president.
9. Their capital city is Paris.
10. They eat spaghetti and pizza.
11. This Asian country has the most popular wall in the world.
12. They love talking about the weather and their queen.
13. This is a Northern European country where the Vikings lived for some time.
14. Asian people who are very good at making electronic equipments.
15. Situated in Southern Europe, this country shares the Iberian Peninsula with Spain.
2. Translate the following sentences into English:
1. Fiica mea lucreaz n Spania. Noua ei cas este n Malaga, pe coasta de nord a
Mrii Mediterane.
2. Noi locuim n Danemarca. Prinii i bunicii notri locuiesc n Olanda.
3. tiu c Steve este la Moscova acum. El ncepe o afacere cu partenerii rui.
4. Marcello este din Italia, ns soia lui este din Germania. Ea a locuit la Frankfurt
nainte s se cstoreasc.
5. Karen i Andy sunt studeni britanici. Ei studiaz la Londra.
6. tii c fratele i cumnata lui s-au mutat n Frana? Ei au cetenie francez acum.
3. Read the text. Are the sentences true or false?
Hi! My name is Blanca and Im from Madrid, Spain. I am a student at the Technical
University of Madrid. My boyfriend, Juan, is also Spanish. He is a shop assistant. The shop
is in the centre of Madrid. Juan is from Barcelona. We arent married. Im 24 and Juan is 26.
My address is 10 San Antonio, Madrid, and my telephone number is 91 523 487.
TRUE
FALSE
1. Madrid is in Italy.
2. Blancas from Madrid.
3. Juan is not from Madrid.
4. Blanca is a shop assistant.
5. Juan is a shop assistant.
6. Juans 26.
7. Blancas 26.
8. The shop is in Barcelona.
9. Juan and Blanca are not married.
10. Juans address is 10 San Antonio, Madrid.
4. Choose the correct reply (a or b) to each of the sentences (1-7):
1. Nice to meet you.
a. Hello!
b. Fine, thanks.
a. That would be nice.
b. Very good, thanks.
2. How was your flight?
3. Ill take you to your hotel and then we

can have dinner there.
4. How are you?
a. Fine, thanks.
b. Thank you. That would be nice.
a. Very well, thanks.
b. Nice to meet you.
a. Pleased to meet you.
b. Nice meeting you too.
a. Yes, me too.
b. Here you are.
a. Thanks.
b. You are welcome.
5. It was nice meeting you!

6. I look forward to seeing you next time.
7. Have a good trip back!
5. Complete the telephone conversation. Use the right greetings and formulas:
A: This is Morels Restaurant.
B: . This is Chris Alvarez.
A: Good morning, Mr. Alvarez. Can I help you?
B: Yes, .. . I would like a table for two.
A: Certainly. When are you coming?
B: Tonight. Its my birthday today.
A: Oh, !
B: Thank you.
A: What time would you like to make the reservation?
B: 8.00.
A: Ok, Mr. Alvarez. Well see you at 8.00 tonight.
B: . . Goodbye!
A:
6. Fill in the blanks with the adequate expression: father-in-law, daughter, parents,
uncle, children, married to, aunt, granddaughter, husband, cousins.
My best friend, Scott, is 33 years old. He is Helen who is 31 years old. They are ..
and wife. They have a , Lisa, and a son, Henry.
The family lives next to Helen's parents, Ben and Doris. Ben is Helen's father and Doris
is her mother. Ben is Jack's and Doris is his mother-in-law. Henry is their grandson and
Lisa is their . Henry and Lisa say that they have the best grandparents in the world.
Helen also has a sister and a brother. Her sister's name is Mary and her brother's name is
Frank. Frank has two , David and Sherrie. The kids are Henry and Lisas . Sherrie is
Helen's niece and David is Helens nephew. Helen is their .. and Scott is their .
Scotts .. live in the country. The kids love to spend their holidays with them. They
also have a dog, Spot, and a cat, Whiskers. They are good friends with the pets.
7. Fill in the blanks with the right terms denoting family members:
1. Your husbands parents are your . .
2. Your sisters daughter is your . .
3. Your uncles children are your . .
4. His sons children are his . .
10
5.
6.
7.
8.
My daughters daughter is my . .
His wifes sister is his . .
My husbands sister is my
Their childrens children are their ..
GRAMMAR FOCUS
TO BE / TO HAVE
Affirmative
TO BE
TO HAVE
I am (Im)
You are (Youre)
He/She/It is (Hes)
We/You/They are
I/You have
He/She/It has
We/You/They have
Negative
I am not
You are not
He/She/It is not
We/You/They are not
I/You have not (havent)
He/She/It has not (hasnt)
We/You/They have not
Examples:
Alison is my colleague at the university.
She is not my best friend.
Are you his new manager?
We have a new car.
I have not a good job.
Has he a Romanian-English dictionary?
GRAMMAR PRACTICE
8. Fill in the blanks with the right form of the verb to be:
1. It .. cold today.
2. I .. at home with my family.
3. These people .. Korean.
4. There .. a pen on the desk.
5. My name .. Nikita.
6. We .. from Ukraine.
7. Those ladies .. my colleagues.
8. I .. OK, thanks.
9. Clara and Steve .. married.
10. She .. our English teacher.
11. This girls birthday .. in April.
12. The Germans .. very civilized.
11
Interrogative
Am I?
Are you?
Is he/she/it?
Are we/you/they?
Have I/you?
Has he/she/it?
Have we/you/they?
9. Fill in the blanks with the right form of the verb to have:
1. We .. many relatives in our family.
2. Jane .. five English books.
3. I .. an expensive sport car.
4. Doris . two cousins in Australia.
5. They .. a big house not far from the beach.
6. My sister .. a lot of books in her room.
7. My father .. a new computer in his office.
8. My mother .. a sister and a brother.
9. Jack .. some uncles in Iraq.
10. Bill Gates .. a lot of money.
11. She .. a baby daughter and an older son.
12. They .. four tickets to the show.
10. Underline the correct verbal form:
1. We are / have a new colleague.
2. I am / have a lot of money.
3. She is / has a good wife for a rich husband.
4. You are / have our best friends.
5. They are / have a lot of work to do.
6. Her friend is / has an expensive watch.
7. You are / have a large family.
8. My brother-in-law is / has a good economist.
9. Their children are / have a nice and clean room.
10. The English textbook is / has 10 units.
a. Prietenul meu este student la aceast universitate. b. El are 2 frai i 2 cumnate n
Norvegia. c. Cele 3 mtui ale ei sunt n Spania mpreun cu familiile lor. d. Colegii notri sunt
n sala de seminar. e. El este nepotul unui mare politician. f. Este colegul tu un bun student?
g. Italienii i nemii nu au familii numeroase. h. Benjamin este din Anglia, Helen este din SUA,
iar Michelle este din Frana. i. Socrii mei nu sunt la New York, ei sunt la Londra.
WRITING FOCUS
12. a. Make a short description of your family. Write about 150-200 words.
b. Write an essay in which you highlight the greeting differences of various nationalities.
SPEAKING FOCUS
13. a. A possible business partner comes to your office. Make a conversation in which you
introduce yourself to the visitor.
b. Discuss the importance of speaking more foreign languages.
12
Unit 2
A TYPICAL MANAGERS OFFICE
Charles Campbell has just graduated university and is now thinking seriously about
opening his own business. But, based on his professional training, knowledge and information,
he knows very well that he has to consider a business plan; so he is going to start by
organizing his office. He knows there will be plenty of important decisions to make and that is
why he has set out some criteria to keep in mind: location, available financing, office
equipment and office furniture. 21st century technology has greatly advanced and that is why a
modern office uses a large and varied amount of equipment for efficient daily activities.
Charles Campbell wants to begin with his office furniture which must include a
computer desk and at least two chairs, an armchair and a sofa, a nice floor carpet to match the
light-coloured office walls and curtains or window blinds, some wooden office shelves and file
cabinets for storing stacks of paper and important documents, air conditioner and some
colourful flower vases. Charles is also thinking about a whiteboard and marker pens, but his
budget cannot cover them yet. On his office desk he will need a desk lamp, a multi-line
telephone system to ensure efficient communication, including a fax machine and a voice
recorder, a computer or a laptop with a multifunctional printer (including a photocopier and a
scanner), an electronic typewriter, a paper shredder, and possibly a multimedia projector.
Next, the future manager must purchase office stationery and mailing supplies, such
as: pens, pencils, rulers, stapler and staples, paperclips, notepads to record minutes in
meetings, post-it notes for short messages, calculator, business cards, writing paper, paper
bags, envelops and stamps, a pair of scissors, folders, notebooks, correction instruments
and other items.
Charles knows he will be very busy in the near future searching for the best deals
and finding someone reliable to help him purchase all these office equipment items to start a
successful business, but he is also aware of the benefits of investing in and using modern
equipment: saving money, saving time and saving the environment.
Vocabulary Focus
criterion, (pl.) criteria a standard or a
rule by which something can be judged or
decided
carpet a thick heavy covering for a
floor, usually made of woven wool or
synthetic fibres; a rug
available present and ready for use; at
hand; accessible
paper shredder a mechanical device

used to cut paper into chad, typically either
strips or fine particles
stationery office materials (such as
paper, pens, ink, etc.) used for writing or
typing
supplies materials or provisions stored
and dispensed when needed
13
window blinds a blind for privacy or to

keep out light
shelf, (pl.) shelves a structure made of

a rigid material, fixed on a wall and used
to hold or store objects
file cabinet office furniture consisting of
a container for keeping papers in order
to store to reserve or put away for
future use
stack an ordered pile, especially
arranged in layers
to purchase to obtain in exchange for
money or its equivalent; to buy
stapler a mechanical device that joins

sheets of paper or similar material by
driving a thin metal staple through the
sheets and folding the ends
staple a small formed metal fastener
paperclip a clip for holding paper sheets

together, especially one made of bent wire
minutes (pl.) an official record of the
proceedings of a meeting
reliable capable of being relied on;
dependable
Vocabulary Practice
1. Find out the correct words by rearranging the letters. Start with the Capital letter:
a) t l e S a p
b.) h e f l S
c) n q E i p u m t e
d) d e r F o l
e) b o t e N o k o
f) p l e r S t a
g) u r n i F t e r u
h) f e c O f i
i) r a n a g M e
j) S r s i s c o s
2. Cross out the odd word from each series:

a. to purchase, to buy, to pay for, to sell, to obtain, to acquire;
b. pen, pencil, ruler, minutes, stapler, paperclips;
c. available, vacant, existing, accessible, obtainable, unavailable;
d. office, department, place of work, bureau, headquarters, workplace;
e. pencil, curtains, carpet, window blinds, sofa, chair;
f. honest, trustworthy, undependable, reliable, responsible, dependable.
3. Fill in the sentences with the following words:
kitchen, windows, ceiling, ranch house, night table, garden, porch, carpet, walls, bed
a. We live in a . in the country-side and in front it has a large flower
. and an orchard in the back.
b. In our house there are a lot of modern paintings on the .
c. My bedroom has large .. with blue blinds, a king-size . with a small
. next to it and some mirrors.
14
d. In the living room there is an expensive original Persian . on the floor and a
chandelier hanging from the .
e. We cook our meals in the , but we eat in the dining room or on the
when there is nice weather outside.
4. Find the appropriate word for each of the following definitions (use a dictionary).
a. A room where people can cook or prepare dinner is called a . .
b. A piece of furniture where people keep their clothes is called a . .
c. A room where people can take a bath or a shower is called a .
d. A piece of furniture on which people can sit, relax, watch TV or read is called a .
e. A big lamp hanging from the ceiling is called a .
f. A room below the roof of a house usually used for storing different items is called an
.. .
g. A small room, usually off a kitchen, used for the storage of food provisions,
tableware, etc. is called a . .
h. The area below the ground floor where people store various things is called a
.. .
i. A room in a house designed for the use of children is called a .
j. A room or a space used especially for storing wines is called a .. .
5. Answer the following questions.
a. What does a manager have to consider before starting a business and why?
b. What type of furniture and equipment can you find in a typical managers office?
c. Think of other important examples of office equipment and furniture that a
managers office should have, other than the ones mentioned in the text.
d. Think of ways in which the most important items of office equipment mentioned in
the text could be used.
e. Which are the benefits of a modern and fully-equipped office?
f. Talk about the furniture you have at home.
GRAMMAR FOCUS
THE ARTICLE
Type
Definite
article
Form
Uses
THE pronounced It points out a particular
[]: the boy and individual, group or class, or a
[i]: the apple
definite concept/notion.
For surnames in the plural.
For names of countries in the
plural, mountains ranges,
regions.
15
Examples
The coffee you make
delicious.
is
The Smiths live in London.

The United States of America;
The Netherlands; The Alps; The
Middle East
Type
No article
Indefinite
article
Form
A a boy;
An an apple
Some
Uses
For names of oceans, seas,
rivers.
For months, days of the week,
etc. (definite).
For unique nouns.
With musical instruments.
To define a class of people
(using an adjective).
To talk about something in
general.
For names of people.
For names of countries in the
singular; summits of mountains,
towns, countries.
For months, days of the week,
etc. (indefinite).
For names of parks, lakes,
streets.
It refers to any one of a group
or class of things. It can only
be used with countable nouns
in the singular.
Before phrases of time and
measurements.
Before of phrases of jobs.
Before nationality adjectives.
It is used with countable nouns
in the plural and with
uncountable nouns.
Examples
The Atlantic (Ocean); The Nile;
The Statue of Liberty
The August of 2010 was the
hottest.
The Earth; The Sun; The White
House
She plays the piano.
the rich; the poor; the British
Coffee is a popular drink.
Peter and Charles live in London.
Romania; Mount Everest;
Europe; New York
Lets meet on Monday.
August is my favourite month.
Central Park; 42nd street; Oxford
street; Loch Ness
You can drink a glass of milk in
the kitchen.
We study English once a week.

The bananas are 1 a kilo.
He is a manager.
Obama is an American president.
Id love to have some milk.
He gave me some information/
advice/news on this issue.
THE NOUN
Singular
COUNTABLE NOUNS
Regular plural
Noun + s
Noun + es (after sibilants)
Noun ending in y changes
it into i + es after
consonants
Noun ending in y keeps it
Plural
a room / an office
a porch / a suitcase
a city / a party / a lady
two rooms / offices

two porches / suitcases
two cities / parties / ladies
a toy / a day
two toys / boys
16
Singular
in the plural after a vowel
Noun ending in f or fe
a) changes it into v + es in
the plural
b) keeps the f in the plural
Noun ending in o
a) adds s in the plural
b) adds es in the plural
Plural
a wife / a shelf
two wives / shelves
a roof / a cliff
two roofs / cliffs
a photo / a disco / a piano /

a studio
a potato / a hero
Nouns with two plural penny
forms (always use a tornado
dictionary if you are not buffalo
sure)
COUNTABLE NOUNS a man/woman/child/mouse/
Irregular plural
tooth/goose/foot/ox/ person/
louse
Nouns with the same form a fish / sheep / species /
means / series
Nouns with foreign plural
a criterion / basis / crises /
datum / medium
UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS
Nouns with no plural they furniture/homework/advice/
take the verb in the information/knowledge/
singular
news/ luggage
(abstract nouns)
wisdom/intelligence/
beauty/ gold/oil
Nouns with no singular a / one pair of scissors/
they take the verb in the trousers/glasses/ jeans/
plural
pants
COMPOUND NOUNS
a son-in-law/a passer-by/
court martial
a gentleman/policeman/
two photos/ discos/pianos/ studios

two potatoes / heroes
pennies (coins) / pence (price)
tornados / tornadoes
buffalos / buffaloes
two men/ women/ children/
mice/teeth/geese/feet/ oxen/people/lice
two fish/ sheep/ species/ means/ series
two criteria / bases / crises / data /
media/mediums
two pieces of furniture/
homework/advice/information/knowledge
/news/luggage
scissors / trousers / glasses / jeans /
pants
savings / customs / goods
two sons-in-law/passers-by/courts
martial
two gentlemen/policemen/
GRAMMAR PRACTICE
6. Choose the right form (pay attention to nouns and articles):
a. There is/are an/some interesting news on TV about office equipment/equipments.
b. Money are/is very important when you decide how much you can spend on new
furniture/furnitures.
c. Is/are there much/many traffic in London at rush hours?
d. My boss has an/the appointment with a sales agent to get some/an information about
some low price studios/studioes.
e. I work as an/the accountant and I think I need a/the new pair of glass/glasses.
7. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate plural form of the nouns in brackets:
a. Our managers are real (gentleman) .. .
b. You can buy two (furniture) at the price of one for your office.
17
c. In business you must listen to as many (advice) .. as possible to

make the right decision.
d. The policy of this airline company is to board (woman) and (child)
. first on the plane.
e. I visited three (city) .. in two (day) .., I took many (photo)
. and I sent three (postcard) .
f. In our new office we must purchase two (armchair) ., four (shelf)
, two (fax) and two (paper shredder) .
8. Correct the mistakes in the following sentences (there is one mistake in each
sentence):
a. I need an advice on how to order some office equipment online.
b. They urgently need some informations about accommodation in London.
c. I am very sorry I am late, but the traffic were very busy.
d. The news are on TV right now.
e. He has a lot of luggages for a two-day trip.
f. We live in Netherlands with our family.
g. He works as assistant manager in a famous company.
h. We have many knowledge on this matter.
i. My neighbour talks to two mans everyday.
j. My glasses is not in my pocket.
a. Aceste criterii sunt foarte utile n activitatea noastr. b. Noi trebuie s achiziionm cteva
rafturi i jaluzele pentru noul nostru birou. c. Aceste femei i aceti brbai au multe articole
de papetrie moderne. d. Pe birou sunt nite agrafe, dar nu tiu unde este capsatorul.
e. Cei doi poliiti dein multe date, informaii i nouti despre aceste persoane. f. Tatl ei
este o persoan onest i lucreaz ca pilot de avion. g. Copiii notri vor vizita muntele
Everest i Loch Ness la var. h. Vecina mea cnt la pian i la vioar. i. Eu ascult mereu
radioul dimineaa i seara. j. n India sracii i bogaii triesc n lumi diferite.
WRITING FOCUS
10. Describe the place where you live (house, flat, studio) or the place where you would like
to live. Mention the rooms, the furniture and the electric appliances that you have in
your house.
SPEAKING FOCUS
11. Talk about the way you would like to furnish and equip your office to be successful in
your business. Motivate your choices.
18
Unit 3
DESCRIBING PEOPLE
Kate, lets get going. Were going to be late for the party!
Just a second, Kevin, Im coming; if only I could find my tiny old round pink-diamond
golden ring to match my brand-new dress . . . I dont want to miss any minute of this
awesome get-to-know-each other-party thrown by our boss. Oh, finally, here it is! Im ready.
Kate, you look breath-taking, all our new work colleagues will be impressed. Lets
go, the cab is waiting downstairs.
After twenty minutes, at the party.
Kevin, this place is great; it looks very bright, luxurious and large. The light beige
walls match the golden curtains so well, and the lights . Everything is shiny and the
atmosphere is fantastic. Look at the band, the musicians are performing amazingly, though
the music is not too loud. There are so many people here; youll have to tell me a little bit
about everybody. Whos that good-looking, well-dressed, young, slim lady over there?
Which one, exactly? There are too many people here.
The one next to the blue table, the tall, red-haired, beautiful one, I think she has
freckles and light complexion.
Oh, I see her now. She is our bosss wife. Her name is Brigitte Johnson.
She is very beautiful. Whats she like?
She is extremely intelligent and confident, but shes also outgoing and funny.
Nevertheless, at work she is fairly demanding and a perfectionist sometimes.
Is her husband here? What does he look like?
Of course hes here, he threw this party. Look, hes moving towards Brigitte. Hes
three years older than his wife. Hes the tall, middle-aged man over there. Hes got a beard
and a thick moustache and he wears glasses. Hes oval-faced, hes got green eyes and
dark blonde short hair, crew-cut. He looks very smart now, but usually he dresses quite
casually at work.
Now I see him too. He seems very friendly and sociable.
Yes, he is. Look, they are coming this way; lets say Hello to them.
Hello, Mr Johnson, let me introduce my fiance, Kate.
It is a pleasure to meet you, Kate. This is my wife, Brigitte.
This is an amazing party; everybody is dancing and having a great time. This is the
best way to get to know a little bit better our work colleagues. Mr Johnson, you had an
excellent idea with this party. Lets mingle and enjoy it!
Vocabulary Focus
to match to be exactly like, to
correspond exactly
nevertheless in spite of that, however,

nonetheless
19
brand-new absolutely new

breath-taking inspiring or
exciting, astonishing
though despite the fact that,
although
confident marked by confidence
in oneself, self-assured
outgoing sociable and responsive
to others, friendly
demanding requiring much effort or attention,

or great patience or skill
middle-aged relating to a persons life
between youth and old age (45-65 years old)
beard the hair on a mans chin, cheeks and
throat
to mingle to join or take part with others, to
mix, to bring together, to merge
complexion the natural colour, texture and
appearance of the skin, especially of the face
Vocabulary Practice
1. Match the following headings with the right columns of describing adjectives.
a. Personality
b. Height
c. Face
d. General appearance
e. Complexion
f. Build
g. Hair
h. Age
Young
Old
Elderly
Middle-aged
In his/her 30s
Beautiful (women)
Pretty (girls)
Handsome (men)
Cute
Good-looking
Attractive
Scruffy
Untidy-looking
Messy-looking
Short/shortish
Tall/tallish
Average height
Square
Round
Oval
Thin
Wide
Thin or round-faced
With freckles/freckled
With wrinkles/ wrinkled
Chubby
Tanned
Short
Long
Medium length
Bald
Straight
Wavy
Curly
A ponytail
White
Grey
Blond/fair-haired
Light or dark brown
Red
Black
Average built
Slim (positive)
Overweight (positive)
Well-built/muscular
(positive)
Plump (neuter)
Stocky (neuter)
Skinny (negative)
Fat (negative)
20
Outgoing
Sociable
Friendly
Smart
Reliable
Shy
Lazy
Perfectionist
Good sense of
humour
Immature
Childish
Talkative
Generous
Light
White
Olive-skinned
Dark/light-skinned
2. Complete the gaps with the appropriate missing words. Use the explanations in
brackets to help you.
a. What does this Asian woman look like?
Well, shes -faced, ..-haired, -eyed, she is of
height and she is very , in her early 20s.
And what is she like?
She is very (likes people) and highly .. (she has a 150 IQ).
b. Could you describe this African-American person a little bit for me, please?
Of course, he is very . (1.95m.), he is .-skinned, his hair is
and of medium ., he has big eyes and he wears sun all the time.
And what about his personality, whats he like?
Well, he is not very . (he does not talk much) and he is not very
(he does not socialize much) because he loves computers; but he is very
. (smart person) and . (you can count on him).
3. Find the opposite for the following descriptions. Use the example as a model.
Example: I think his brother is rather tall, tanned and stocky.
No, quite the opposite; he is shortish, he has a light complexion and he is slim.
a. I think her mother is average height, she has long curly dark hair and she is oliveskinned.
No, quite the opposite; ..
b. I think her husband is short, well-built, in his 30s, he has a long beard and a
chubby face.
Oh, no; .
c. She says your boss is tallish, grey-haired, in his 50s, he wears glasses and has a
thick moustache.
No, ...
d. He has a wide face and dark complexion, and he is very muscular.
Oh, no ..
e. She is around 20, tall, slim, beautiful and has long straight black hair.
On the contrary,
4. Answer the following questions about the text.
a. Why is Kate late for the party?
b. How is the location of the party? How do Kate and Kevin describe it?
c. How does Brigitte Johnson look like? How about her personality, what is she like?
d. How does Kevins boss look like? What is he like?
e. How are their work colleagues dressed at the party?
f. How do you think people should dress at a party?
GRAMMAR FOCUS
21
One
useful
big
new
oval
red and English cotton

white
sleeping
Noun
Purpose
Material
Proper adjective/Origin
Colour
Shape
Age
Size/ D imension/
A ppearance/ Measure/
Shape/ C ondition
Opinion/Quality
Quantity/Number
THE ADJECTIVE
The adjective is a part of speech that qualifies a noun or a noun phrase, giving more
information about it, and it directly precedes the noun or nominal phrase:
She is a beautiful lady. This is a very fast train. We drink fresh hot milk every night.
Order of adjectives. In English, if there are more than two adjectives that qualify a noun,
there are some guidelines for arranging them in a sentence.
bag
Degrees of comparison
Long
Adjectives
Short
Adjectives
Type
of adj.
Positive
degree
Comparative degree
Of superiority
Of equality
Of
inferiority
Not
as+adj.+as
Not as tall
as
Not as
nice as
Tall
Nice
Happy
Easy
Big
Thin
Adj.+er than
Taller than
Nicer than
Happier than
Easier than
Bigger than
Thinner than
As+adj.+ as
As tall as
As nice as
Beautiful
Handsome
Intelligent
Difficult
Interesting
More+adj.+ than
More beautiful/
handsome/
intelligent than
As+adj.+ as
Not
As beautiful/ as+adj.+as
handsome/
Not as
intelligentas beautiful/
handsome /
intelligent
as
22
Superlative degree
Relative
Absolute
superlative superlative
Adverb+adj
The+adj.+
est
Very /
The tallest Extremely /
The nicest Perfectly /
The happiest Really /
The easiest Highly /
The biggest Remarkably
The thinnest tall/nice/
happy/easy,
etc.
The
Adverb+adj
most/the
Very /
least+adj.
Extremely /
The
Perfectly /
most/the
Really /
least
Highly /
beautiful/
Remarkably
handsome/ beautiful/
intelligent handsome/
intelligent, etc.
Irregular Adjectives
Type
of adj.
Positive
degree
Good
Bad
Little
Much /
many
Far
Late
Comparative degree
Of superiority
Better than
Worse than
Less than
More than
Farther/
Further than
Later/
Latter than
Older/
Elder than
Nearer than
Old
Near
Of equality
As+adj.+as
As good as
As bad as
As little as
Of
inferiority
Not
as+adj.+as
Not as
good as
Not as bad
as
Not as
little as
Superlative degree
Relative
Absolute
superlative superlative
The best
The worst
The least
The most
The farthest/
the furthest
The last/ the
latest
The oldest/
the eldest
The nearest/
the next
Adverb+adj
Very /
Extremely /
Perfectly /
Really /
Highly /
Remarkably
good, bad, little
Double comparatives
1. The + Comparative of adjective/adverb + S + V, the + Comparative of adjective/adverb + S + V
Examples: The more you learn, the more you know.
The sooner you come, the earlier/quicker we finish.
The more difficult the tasks, the more rewarding the prize.
2. S + V + comparative of adjective + and + comparative of adjective
Examples: It gets darker and darker in here.
The party is getting better and better.
This movie is becoming more and more frightening.
GRAMMAR PRACTICE
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Noun
Purpose
Material
Proper
adjective/
Origin
Colour
Shape
Age
Size/
Dimension/
Opinion/
Quality
Quantity/
Number
5. Arrange the following adjectives in the right order to form sentences, using the
table below:
pink / big / box / Chinese / a / brand-new.

blue-eyed / gorgeous / blond-haired / a / girl.
wooden / dark / a / table / small / Spanish.
luxurious / modern / huge / a / light-brown / restaurant / room.
teacher / American / new / handsome / student / young / good-looking
small / nice / brown / French / old / brick and wood / ranch house.
6. Use the adjectives in brackets in the correct form of either comparative or

superlative degrees of comparison.
23
a. Our university offers (good) degree courses.

b. Violet is 35 years old and Tom is 50 years old; Violet is 6 years ..
(young) than Tom.
c. My fiance was . (good-looking) girl at the party.
d. The Vatican city is the (small) country in the world.
e. After seeing the final results the coach decided that John is (bad)
player in the team.
f. My brother is a (strong) swimmer than I am, but Im trying to do
my best.
g. When winter comes, the days are getting (cold), but also
. (short).
h. Carol is . (happy) girl today because she got good marks in school.
i. Which of these two shirts is .. (cheap), this or that?
j. Milk is said to be (healthy) and (nourishing) than
many other types of food.
7. Choose the correct form for the following double comparatives:
a. The hard/harder he works, the good/better results he has.
b. The less/little food he ate, the thin/thinner he got.
c. Nowadays students know that the more/much they study, the best/better results
they obtain.
d. The bright/brighter the sun, the happy/happier I feel.
e. There are more and much/more and more tourists in certain areas of our country.
f. You have to be very careful; this movie is getting more and more/less and less
complicated and sad and sadder/sadder and sadder.
g. Of course you can come to the party. The much/more we are, the funnier/funniest it
will be.
h. Your mother will be very upset about the failed exam. The soon/sooner you tell her
about it, the safe/safer it will be for you.
a. Aceast tnr i frumoas domnioar este mai nalt i mai bronzat dect sora mea.
b. Dac vrei s ai succes la petrecere, trebuie s fii foarte bine mbrcat, foarte prietenos i
natural. c. Cu ct petreci mai mult timp n faa televizorului, cu att eti mai obosit. d. Acest
brbat are barba mai lung dect tatl meu i este mai scund dect el. e. Tu citeti mai
multe cri dect mine, dar sora mea citete cele mai multe cri. f. Cu ct pierzi mai mult
timp n faa oglinzii, cu att mai mult vei ntrzia la petrecere. g. El este mai tnr, mai
inteligent, mai rapid i mai puternic dect colegii lui de echip. h. eful nostru este extrem
de exigent, dar este mult mai nelegtor dect fostul tu ef. i. Ea are ochii verzi precum i
cel mai lung i mai crlionat pr dintre toate fetele pe care le cunosc. j. Muzica este din ce
n ce mai tare, iar eu sunt tot mai nerbdtor s merg acas.
WRITING FOCUS
24
9. Write a brief article describing the physical qualities (appearance) and the personalityrelated aspects you are looking for in a partner. Our magazine will offer the winner a
romantic dinner with the matching partner, with his/her consent.
SPEAKING FOCUS
10. Choose one of these topics:
a. Describe one (or more) of the following people, giving details about their appearance
(face, hair, height, build) and personality: you yourself / your best friend / your ideal of a
handsome man or a beautiful woman / a relative / a neighbour.
b. Make a dialogue with your partner in which you choose a person to describe: one of you
should ask questions about physical appearance and personality, and the other one should
answer them.
c. Think about a famous person and describe him/her without giving his/her name. At the
end, ask your colleagues to guess who was the person described.
25
Unit 4
BUSINESS DRESS CODE
Choosing your outfit for a day at work, for a job interview, for a business lunch or for a
similar event when you want to make the best impression can be troublesome and give you
a lot of headaches when checking your wardrobe, but if you are aware and if you follow
certain dress codes you can simplify things dramatically.
In the business world nowadays there are a lot of written and mostly unwritten rules
concerning the dress code that must be followed both by employers and by employees. In
business, people usually work in an office and in order to be efficient at what they are doing
they must work comfortably in their workplace. But this does not mean neglecting the way
they dress since they have to project a professional image for their customers or potential
partners. That is why there are some standards for the dress code.
It is obvious that casual clothing or clothing that one wears to the beach, to dance
clubs, to parties, to gym sessions or the like, is not appropriate to wear to work. The
appropriate business attire requires that clothing should always be pressed and never
wrinkled, it should never be dirty or frayed and all seams must be finished. Companies also
encourage wearing clothes with the company logo or in the companys colours, as a way of
promoting the companys image, instead of clothes with pictures or words that might be
either offensive or unacceptable.
It goes without saying that different societies and cultures have different business
dress codes, but the standard in the field refers to both men and women wearing a suit, a
jacket, and pants or a dress skirt. Of course this is a very simplified approach since there is
also the aspect of colours the standard being that of black and white, but shades of dark
grey, blue, brown and other earth tones can never go wrong. Always stay away from bright
colours since they attract attention in an unnecessary way. Women have more options and
a wider range of choices to combine and create an appropriate professional attire.
The most conservative type of business wear refers to a business suit or pants suit,
or dress and jacket for women (short or long-sleeved, according to the season) and a
business suit or a blazer, dress pants and a tie for men. For a more relaxed business style,
women can choose a casual look: a shirt with a collar and/or a sweater, dress pants, or
moderate-length (knee-length) skirt or dress and a pair of nice shoes-either moderate heels
or flats (avoid open-toe shoes or strapless shoes that expose your feet); men can opt for a
polo shirt, a shirt with a collar and/or a sweater, dress pants and dress shoes, no tie
required.
In terms of revealing clothing, it should be avoided. In case you have tattoos or body
art, it should be covered. For women, jewellery, make-up, hair and perfume should never be
ostentatious, but conservative and tasteful, since everything that stands out distracts
26
attention. For men, they should always be well-groomed or shaved off. Personal hygiene is
highly important too.
Thus, if you follow some basic rules, if you observe the way your colleagues or
bosses dress, if you pay attention to details and if you have good taste you will definitely
make a good impression and you wont break the business dress codes.
Vocabulary Focus
outfit a set of clothing, often with
accessories
shade the degree to which a colour is

mixed with black or is decreasingly
illuminated; gradation of darkness
sleeve a part of a garment that covers
all or part of an arm
casual suited for everyday wear or use,
informal
heels (high heel/heeled shoes) shoes
with high heels
flats a shoe with a flat heel
revealing showing or designed to show
more of the body than is usual conventional
ostentatious characterized by
pretentious, exaggerated
well-groomed having a tidy pleasing
appearance; attentive to details of dress
troublesome causing trouble or

anxiety, difficult
dramatically in a very impressive
manner
to neglect to pay little or no attention to;
to disregard; to fail to do or carry out
the like a similar kind, sort, kind, variety
attire clothing of a distinctive style or for
a particular occasion
wrinkled (of linen or clothes) not ironed,
rough, unsmooth
frayed to become worn away or tattered
along the edges; worn; affected by wear;
damaged by long use
seam a line of junction formed by
sewing together two pieces of material
along their margins
collar the part of a garment that

encircles the neck
Vocabulary Practice
1. Answer the following questions about the text:
a. Why is it difficult sometimes to choose an appropriate outfit?
b. What does a business dress code refer to? Do people dress differently for different
occasions?
c. What does an appropriate business attire generally requires? Which are the best
colours to use?
d. How should women dress to fit the business dress code? What should they avoid?
e. How should men dress to fit the business dress code? What should they avoid?
f. Can you give examples of different dress codes according to different societies or
cultures (for example religious countries, Muslim people, Asian culture, etc.)?
27
g. Which is your favourite dress style? How do you dress when you go to an
interview/a business meeting/a graduation ceremony/a date? Give advice on how
people should dress on such occasions.
2. Decide if the following statements are true or false:
a. For women the business dress code requires short skirts, bright colours and strong
long lasting perfume.
b. For men the appropriate business attire refers to a business suit or a blazer, dress
pants and a tie.
c. In business, regardless the season, women must wear long-sleeved jackets or
shirts, turtleneck sweaters and opaque tights.
d. Revealing clothing (showing skin, cleavage, legs, etc.) is highly appropriate in the
business world.
e. Paying attention to details in business is very important: never wear wrinkled, dirty
or frayed clothes and make sure all seams are finished.
f. The best colours to wear in business are black and white, dark grey and earth
tones.
3. Find the antonym in each of the following series of synonyms:
a. troublesome, upsetting, worrying, easy, difficult, hard.
b. dramatically, radically, modestly, noticeably, considerably, severely.
c. attire, clothing, dress, outfit, garments, undress, wear.
d. offensive, nice, unpleasant, nasty, distasteful, hateful.
e. casual, informal, relaxed, formal, sporty, comfortable.
f. ostentatious, pretentious, affected, modest, showy, exaggerated.
g. well-groomed, neat, chic, elegant, messy, smart.
4. Form the appropriate word from the word in CAPITALS and use it in the sentence:
a. In business you can simplify your dressing choices .. if
DRAMATIC
you know the rules.
b. Casual .. is also accepted in certain types of
CLOTH
business.
c. If you wear clothes with pictures or words at work it may be
OFFENCE
considered . by clients or employees.
d. In the summer .. shirts or jackets are appropriate for
SLEEVE
women.
e. In the business world . clothes are to be avoided
REVEAL
if you want to make a good impression.
f. Men must be all the time according to the standard
GROOM
business code.
28
GRAMMAR FOCUS
Personal Pronouns
Number/p
Subject
erson
pronoun
Sg./1st
I
Object
pronoun
Me
Sg./2nd
Sg./3rd
Pl./1st
You
He
She
It
We
You
Him
Her
It
Us
Pl./2nd
You
You
Pl./3rd
They
Them
Example
I dress up for special occasions.
Mary helps me all the time.
Do you like this suit?/Kevin loves you very much.
He studies law in England./Did you hurt him?
She loves music./ Do you know her?
It doesnt work anymore./Can you fix it?
We are going to a party./Did he tell you anything about
us?
Do you need any help with the shirt?/I saw you
yesterday.
They are very well-groomed./I told them about the
meeting.
Demonstrative Pronouns
Number
Sg.
Near
This
Far
That
Pl.
These
Those
Example
I dont like this dress here. How about that one over
there?
These shirts are bigger than those.
Possessive Adjectives and Possessive Pronouns

Number
/person
Sg./1st
Sg./2nd
Possessive
adjective
My
Your
Possessive
pronoun
Mine
Yours
Sg./3rd
His
Her
Its
His
Hers
Its
Pl./1st
Our
Ours
Pl./2nd
Your
Yours
Pl./3rd
Their
Theirs
Example
This is my painting./Mine is the best.
Where is your sweater?/This is mine, but
where is yours?
His car is not here. / This isnt his.
I like her skirts a lot. / Hers are more
colourful than mine.
This isnt its (the dogs) bone. / Do you know
where is its?
This is not our car. / Ours is parked over
there.
These are your magazines and these are
mine. / Yours are red.
These arent their children./Theirs have
29
Number
/person
Possessive
adjective
Possessive
pronoun
Example
blond hair.
Interrogative Pronouns
Person
Thing
Person/
thing
Person
Subject
Who
Object
Whom
Example
Who told you this?/ Whom did you tell the secret?
What happened here?/What do you want to drink?
Which came first at the party?
Which will the doctor see next?
There is one missing car. Whose hasnt arrived yet?
I found some photos. Whose did you find?
What
Which
Whose
Relative Pronouns
Defining
Subject
Object
Possessive
Nondefining
Subject
Object
Possessive
Example
The person who/that called me is my friend.
The car which/that hit him was not found yet.
The person whom/who/that I talked to is my teacher.
The book which/that I bought is very good.
The students whose parents are here are very bright.
I am looking for car whose owner parked it here. / I am looking for
the car of which the owner parked here.
Mrs Jones, who is American, is my teacher.
The book, which is old, is very expensive.
Mrs Jones, whom/who I like very much, is my teacher.
The book, which I bought yesterday, is very expensive.
My sister, whose car I borrowed, is on vacation.
The car, whose driver left a minute age, is searched for by the
police.
The car, the driver of which left a minute ago, is searched for by
the police.
Reflexive Pronouns
Number
/ person
Sg./1st
Reflexive pronoun /
Intensive pronoun
Myself
Sg./2nd
Yourself
Sg./3rd
Himself
Herself
Example
Now I can see myself in the mirror.
I made the cake (by) myself.
You dont have to blame yourself for this.
Have you yourself talked to him?
Mark sent himself the letter.
The manager himself came to the party.
30
Itself
Pl./1st
Ourselves
Pl./2nd
Yourselves
Pl./3rd
Themselves
Lucy sent herself a copy. / She visited me herself.

My dog hurt itself.
The exam itself wasnt very difficult.
We blame ourselves for this mistake.
We will solve this ourselves.
Help yourselves to some more cake!
You yourselves told us the news.
They have to look after themselves.
They themselves have never tried this product they
advertise.
Reciprocal Pronouns
Each other
One another
The two friends are talking o each other. (only two people; A and B)
The ten friends are helping one another in need. (more than to people)
Indefinite Pronouns
Pronoun
anybody
anyone
anything
nobody
no one
nothing
somebody
someone
something
everyone
everybody
everything
each
either
Meaning
no mater what person/thing
no person/no single thing
an unspecified or unknown
person/thing
all people/things
every one of two or more

people or things, seen
separately
one or the other of two
people or things
neither
not one and not the other of

two people or things
little (sg.)
much (sg.)
both (pl.)
a small amount
a large amount
two people/things seen
together
a small number of people
few (pl.)
31
Example
Anybody can come here.
There isnt anyone absent.
Is there anything wrong with this computer?
I called you house but nobody answered.
Nothing happened while I was gone.
Somebody stole my wallet, Im sure of it!
There must be something in the fridge to
eat.
We can start working because everybody
is here.
Dont worry; everything is all right.
Each has to bring a new toy for the
homeless children.
Would you like some mineral water or still
water? It doesnt really matter; either is
good for me. You either stay or leave.
I told both Jim and Dave the truth but
neither believes me.
He neither studies nor works.
Little is known about him.
Much has happened since our last meeting.
Dave and Tom are both here.
I think both apples and bananas are good.
Few have tried to climb this mountain.
Pronoun
Meaning
Example
most
or things
a large number of people or
things
more than two but not
many
the whole quantity of
something or of some
things or people
the majority
none
not any/no person(s)
many (pl.)
several (pl.)
all
Many have already arrived at the party.

They all participated and several got
diplomas.
All is forgotten now.
All have arrived.
Most have accepted the terms of the
contract.
He invited all his friends but none has/have
come.
GRAMMAR PRACTICE
5. Choose the appropriate pronouns in each of the following sentences:
a. I/me want to design suits for men.
b. Mary and I/me are going to a party tonight.
c. He/him told us the truth about his/him friend.
d. This jacket is for she/her.
e. Our/us manager is in China to sign a contract.
f. The girl looked at her/herself in the mirror before she left the house.
g. This book is their/theirs.
h. Peter and Polly helped each other/one another with the project.
i. Two of us/we are part of an international business team.
j. I remember that they/them gave we/us suggestions about how to dress.
6. Complete the following sentences with the appropriate pronoun according to
each sentence:
a. skirt here does not match at all .. shirt over there.
b. I told sister that deserves to be paid more.
c. Doris and Jim smile at every time meet.
d. The five members of the team must respect .. .
e. She is not your friend, she is .. ! I said.
f. He talks to wife every day when he is away.
g. My friends love jazz; this CD is for . .
h. Where is .. boss right now? . is on a business trip to Florida.
i. relatives are visiting them this weekend and .. have to wait for
at the train station.
j. This modern sports car is ; we paid 250,000 for it.
7. Complete the following sentences with the appropriate form of relative pronouns
or indefinite pronouns:
a. The girl, sister is your work colleague, is my best friend.
32
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
.. can I go out with tonight?

Is she the one for . the letter is sent?
The dress . you intend to buy is too expensive.
Thank you very much for the data you emailed me yesterday.
A guide is a person .. shows tourists the most interesting things to visit in
a city.
g. .. can solve this problem in five minutes.
h. Is there . at the door? Ive just heard the door bell.
i. You can drink coffee green tea, they . contain caffeine.
j. could answer the teachers question, it was too difficult.
k. We expect at the party tonight; no one should miss it.
l. You must tell us . interesting about the project in order to approve it.

a. Aceti experi ne mprtesc experiena lor n domeniul modei. b. Acest biat, ai crui
prini lucreaz ntr-o banc, este foarte cunoscut n coal. c. Tamisa este un fluviu care
trece prin Londra. d. A sunat eful meu? Am neles c mi-a lsat un mesaj referitor la
proiectul nostru. e. Garderoba lor nu include nc haine potrivite pentru o inut formal.
f. Cred c notiele mele s-au amestecat cu ale tale sau cu ale ei. g. Oricine poate spune ceva
fie despre cum nu trebuie s te mbraci, fie ce s nu pori n lumea afacerilor. h. Noi avem mari
emoii i trebuie s nvm s ne controlm. i. Cei doi prieteni se susin reciproc naintea
interviurilor dificile. j. Nou ne plac dulciurile, aa c aceast ciocolat este pentru noi.
WRITING FOCUS
9. You want to become a journalist/editor at a fashion magazine. You have seen the
following advertisement posted by a prestigious fashion magazine for potential
employees: Write a 30-40 line article on rules and pieces of advice on how young
people should dress when working in a business company (choose one season only,
either summer or winter). The article will be sent to our chief editor and the author of the
best article will become a member of our team.
SPEAKING FOCUS
10. Debate on the following topics, giving arguments in favour or against your
opinions:
a. How important is the way people dress?
b. Is it fair to have our judgments influenced by the way people dress?
c. Is it true that a book shouldnt be judged by its covers?
d. Do we really need business dress codes? If yes, why?
Agreeing
I strongly/partly/totally/really agree with you.
I agree with you 100 percent.
33
Disagreeing
I dont entirely agree that
I disagree
Yes, but I also consider that

We also have to take into consideration
I respect your opinion/belief, but

Id like to add that
I have a different point of view on this.
I don't think so.
I'm afraid I disagree.
I totally disagree.
I beg to differ.
I'd say the exact opposite.
Not necessarily.
That's not always true.
That's not always the case.
No, I'm not so sure about that.
I couldnt agree with you more.

I believe that is true.
I support the idea that
Im in favour of
That's so true.
That's for sure.
You're absolutely right.
Absolutely.
That's exactly how I feel.
Exactly.
I'm afraid I agree with ...
I have to side with on this one.
No doubt about it.
I suppose so./I guess so.
You have a point there.
I was just going to say that.
34
Unit 5
HOBBIES AND INTERESTS
When we talk about hobbies we think about various free time activities that
give us pleasure and make us forget the tensions of everyday life. Hobbies are
considered to be a nice escape from the routines of our life. Hobbies add color and
substance to a monotonous lifestyle.
People practice hobbies for interest and enjoyment, not for financial reward. At
the same time, a hobby can make you get certain skills, knowledge and experience,
as well as obtain personal fulfillment and satisfaction.
Business people generally pursue expensive hobbies. They enjoy travelling,
hunting, collecting art, golfing and they are almost always experts on cars. But
businesspeople are no different than others: their hobbies and interests also include
a large variety of activities from ping pong to skydiving. However, those proficient in
business tend to gravitate toward certain activities that assist them in the workplace.
People say that to practice a hobby you need to be passionate about that
activity. Nevertheless, many hobbies do have one major downfall. They can get
really expensive. For instance, hobbies such as recreational flying, horseback riding,
collecting model trains or luxury watches are considered highly expensive. And
these hobbies speak to two things: (1) the people who practice them have been
successful in business for some time; (2) they are motivated to focus on success in
order to continue with those hobbies. Even usual hobbies such as bicycling or
photography can cost you a lot. Bicycling involves buying a lot of tools to keep you
safe and comfortable while riding. Photography means buying modern cameras as
well as upgrading your accessories all the time.
The danger with hobbies is that the more you enjoy them, the more money
you spend on them. Whether its worth buying your own horse, buying more golf
courses, or getting the best fishing equipment, theres a direct correlation between
how much a hobby costs and how much youre into it. That explains why some
people own a different pair of shoes or various sports equipment for every sport they
play. Its easy to get carried away when you are having fun.
Heres a list with the most common recreational activities that people fill their
free time with.
1. Listening to Music
Listening to music is probably one of the most common hobbies and interests.
There are few people in the world that wouldnt be fond of music. People like
35
different types of music and whether you are a fan of jazz or classical music, heavy
metal or dance, music is often part of your life.
2. Reading Books
Some people enjoy spending their time reading books, magazines or
newspapers. The best way to acquire wisdom is by cultivating the habit of reading
books. A good book can be satisfying and can teach us about plenty of subjects.
The best way to cultivate this habit is to understand that reading is a pleasure.
Always keep a good book around you and set some time for reading every day.
3. Stamp Collection and Coin Collection
Some interesting hobbies and interests are stamp collection and coin
collection. Thousands of people across the world have the habit of collecting stamps
and coins, which requires passion and attention. Some people collect antiques and
artwork, but these hobbies are more rare, because antiques and artwork are usually
expensive.
4. Playing Musical Instruments
Many studies show that people who play music have generally higher IQ scores
than those who arent musical. People who play music acquire patience and discipline
and are able to communicate their emotions. The best thing would be to develop this
habit as early as possible. However, it is never too late to cultivate good habits.
5. Dancing
Dancing is another hobby that many people in the world have. Dancing is
greatly beneficial in keeping people young. Its about balance, social satisfaction,
and self-confidence.
6. Gardening
Aside from improving our environment and having your own source of flowers,
fruit and vegetables, gardening is permanently encouraged as it offers stress
reduction, physical benefits, patience and health. Remember that many specialists
consider that spending time in a garden has physical and emotional healing effects.
Vocabulary Focus
escape the act or an instance of getting
free from danger or confinement
monotonous causing lack of interest
enjoyment the feeling experienced
when one's wishes are met
fulfillment the state of being actual or
complete
to pursue - to go after, to go in search of
self-confidence great faith in oneself or

one's abilities
downfall a change to a lower state or level
proficient having exceptional knowledge,
experience, or skill in a certain field
habit a usual manner of behaving or doing
to acquire to receive as return for effort
36
Vocabulary Practice
1. Answer the questions:
a. What interests do you have outside your job and school?
b. Do you believe that activities such as going shopping, playing computer games,
watching TV or online chatting could be considered hobbies?
c. What nonprofessional activity do you find most inspirational and why?
d. Enumerate some hobbies that you like and talk about their benefits.
e. Which hobbies are the most expensive and which are the cheapest?
f. Are there any dangerous hobbies?
g. What hobbies would you like to try but have no courage in trying them out yet?
h. Comment on the following quotation: A hobby a day keeps the doldrums away.
2. Choose the right definition for each activity:
1. painting
2. writing poems
3. collecting pens
4. playing chess
5. scuba diving
6. fishing
7. car racing
8. traveling
9. photography
10. knitting
a. to gather pens for enjoyment

b. visiting different places in the world for various
purposes like business, leisure, education or recreation
c. a form of diving with the help of a scuba set to
breathe underwater
d. the most popular form of auto racing
e. a method by which thread is turned into cloth or other
fine crafts (by hand or machine)
f. the art of creating pictures by recording them on a
photographic film
g. the process of covering surfaces with paint for artistic
effects
h. playing a game with 16 pieces, played by two players
on a white and black board with 64 squares
i. writing compositions in verse in order to transmit ideas
or emotions in an imaginative way
j. the activity of trying to catch fish
3. Fill in with the following words: has, before, usually, rides, Wednesday, a lot of,
concerts, rarely.
Mary Wilson has . hobbies and interests. She usually gets up early so she
can run ... going to work. She doesn't often have time to ski, but she occasionally
goes skiing during the winter. Mary often .. a horse somewhere near her home.
She also loves music. She always goes to choir practice on . evenings and sings
in church on Sundays. She doesn't have much extra money, so she rarely goes to .
in the city. She .. watches TV because she likes spending her time in the open.
She usually goes to the gym if it's raining outside. She doesnt stay alone because she
. a lot of friends. She occasionally does something alone, but she . does
her activities with one of her friends. She's a happy woman!
37
Now read attentively the text above and choose the correct answer to the next
questions based on Mary Wilsons hobbies and interests. Each question has only one
correct answer.
1. Why does Mary Wilson usually get up early?
A) She gets up early to run before work.B) She gets up early to go to work.
C) She gets up early to have breakfast.
2. How often does Mary Wilson go skiing?
A) She often skis. B) She occasionally skis in winter. C) She rarely skis in winter.
3. How often does Mary Wilson ride a horse?
A) She rides a horse every day.
B) She often rides a horse. C) She never rides
a horse.
4. What kind of music does Mary Wilson like doing?
A) Playing the violin
B) Singing
C) Playing the piano
5. How often does Mary Wilson go to concerts in the city?
A) Every Sunday B) Rarely
C) Never
6. How often does Mary Wilson watch TV?
A) She usually watches TV every night. B) She rarely watches TV. C) She never
watches TV.
7. What does Mary Wilson usually do if it's raining?
A) She goes outside.
B) She goes to the gym. C) She calls friends.
8. How often is Mary Wilson alone?
A) She is often alone.
B) She isn't often alone. C) She is usually alone.
4. a. Use the words interest, interesting, interested in different contexts.
b. Write nouns derived from the following verbs:
Verb
to practice
to know
to experience
Noun
Verb
to fulfil
to read
to collect
Noun
c. Find the opposites:

Word
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Opposite
to enjoy
monotonous
different
expensive
the best
usually
38
GRAMMAR FOCUS
THE NUMERAL
Cardinal numerals
20 twenty
1 one
21 twenty one
2 two
22 twenty two
3 three
30 thirty
4 four
5 five
40 forty
50 fifty
6 six
60 sixty
7 seven
70 seventy
8 eight
80 eighty
9 nine
90 ninety
10 ten
100 one hundred
11 eleven
12 twelve
101 one hundred and
one
13 thirteen
14 fourteen 154 one hundred and fiftyfour
15 fifteen
500 five hundred
16 sixteen
17 seventeen 1,000 one thousand
18 eighteen 1,000,000 one million
19 nineteen
Ordinal numerals
1st the first
20th the twentieth
2nd the second
21st the twenty-first
3rd the third
22nd the twenty-second
4th the fourth
30th the thirtieth
5th the fifth
40th the fortieth
6th the sixth
50th the fiftieth
7th the seventh
60th the sixtieth
8th the eighth
70th the seventieth
9th the ninth
80th the eightieth
10th the tenth
90th the ninetieth
11th the eleventh
100th the hundredth
12th the twelfth
101st the hundred and first
13th the thirteenth
154th the hundred and
14th the fourteenth
fifty-fourth
th
15 the fifteenth
500th the five hundredth
16th the sixteenth
1,000th the thousandth
17th the seventeenth 1,000,000th the millionth
18th the eighteenth
19th the nineteenth
PRESENT TENSE SIMPLE

Affirmative
Negative
Interrogative
S + present simple (V1)
S + do / does not + verb
Do / Does + S + verb?
I/you/we/they work
I/you/we/they do not (dont) work
Do I/you/we/they work?
He/she/it works
He/she/it does not (doesnt) work
Does he/she/it work?
Uses:
Examples:
1. to express regular routines and Alison often watches TV after dinner.
habits
Jack doesn't spend too much time on reading.
2. to express general truths
The Earth moves around the sun.
A tailor makes clothes.
Water boils at 100 degrees C.
3. to denote an event which is planned
The exams begin at 10 oclock tomorrow.
for the future
Our winter holiday starts on December 22nd.
4. to express instructions,
People read safety directions before opening the bottle.
sport commentaries, exclamations,
The player hits the ball and scores.
stage directions, etc.
Here comes our bus!
Time expressions: always, usually, often, sometimes, occasionally, seldom, rarely, in the
morning, on Mondays, every day/week/month/year, etc.
Note: the verb to be does not take the auxiliary verb do in the negative or the interrogative form.
Examples: I am not from Seattle. Are you married?
39
GRAMMAR PRACTICE
5. Fill in the blanks with the suitable numerals: twenty-nine, eleven, three, twenty
thousand, the first, seven, twenty-eight, second, two, first
1. I have .... computers at home: one is mine and one is for my sister.
2. My .... impression is that he is very good at English.
3. They invite me to .... interview next week.
4. I need .... euros to buy a car for my wife.
5. Each football team consists of .... players.
6. This is your .... chance; this time you must keep your promise.
7. We want to buy .... kilos of apples.
8. February has ..... days in a leap year.
9. Four times seven are .... .
10. .... is my lucky number.
6. Read the following numerals and dates:
1. 22nd October 1982
2. 12th April 1961
3. 6th March 1876
4. 8,454 km
5. 1,206 kg
6. 822 kg
7. 3,370 km
8. 5,895 m
9. 19,888,000 lei
10. 25th July 1939
7. Put the verbs in brackets in the present simple:
Hi everybody! I'm Sue. I like habits and routines. I always (to do) .... the same things
at the same time. For example, I (to drink) .... two glasses of milk in the morning and I
usually (to arrive) .... at school at twenty five past eight. I often (to wear) .... jeans and Tshirts. I (to love) .... pop music. I also (to love) .... planting flowers in the garden. I (to have)
.... a beautiful garden.
I (to live) .... with my parents and my brother, Tom. He is very different from me. He
never (to arrive) .... on time for lunch. He (to like) .... new clothes and fashion, and he (not to
listen) .... to pop music. He (to play) .... hard rock in a group called "Metal Bananas". We (to
be) .... in an English club called The Happy Gang. We (to go) .... to the club on Saturdays.
8. Correct the verb-related mistakes in the following sentences:
1. Our Management exam begin at 9.30 tomorrow morning.
2. Tom watchs TV every evening before going to sleep.
3. Vegetarians does not eat meat.
4. Do she like reading books?
5. A liar is someone who doesnt tells the truth.
6. Do they goes to the theatre on Saturdays?
7. The boys in my group usually apologizes for their rude behaviour.
40
8. Students has hobbies such as reading, dancing or listening to music.

9. Adam play the guitar when he return from school.
10. Do Johnny and Danny goes swimming every day?
9. Choose the right variant:
1. Tom .... like chocolate icecream.
2. I .... understand my friends sometimes.
3. Dr Watson .... drink alcohol.
4. We .... like rock music very much.
5. Your friend .... eat sweets.
6. .... Mr Smith live in New York?
7. Sunflowers .... grow in cold climates.
8. Children usually .... like vegetables.
9. .... it often rain in your country?
10. She .... remember anything of the accident.
dont
dont
dont
doesnt
doesnt
do
dont
doesnt
does
dont
doesnt
doesn't
doesn't
don't
don't
does
doesn't
don't
do
doesn't

a. Dac l ntlnesc astzi, i povestesc despre planurile noastre de vacan. b. El trece pe
la biroul meu n fiecare mari dimineaa. c. Prietena mea nu are timp liber, deci nu are nici
hobby-uri. d. Lumina cltorete mai rapid dect sunetul. e. El sper s se mute la o nou
companie din New York anul viitor. f. Fotbalistul lovete mingea i nscrie. g. Plecm de la
Londra miercuri la ora 10 i sosim la Paris la ora 14. h. Lui Ben nu i place s citeasc n
timpul liber, ns ascult muzic n fiecare zi. i. De obicei ne lum vacan iarna pentru c
ne place s schiem. j. Oamenii de afaceri practic hobby-uri costisitoare precum golful,
clria sau vntoarea. k. Noi pltim 255.000 de euro pentru aceast cas. l. Eu am 28 de
ani, iar vrul meu are 33 de ani. m. Al doilea student de acolo este prietenul meu. n. Este a
patra oar anul acesta cnd mergem n Anglia.
WRITING FOCUS
11. What are the strangest hobbies you have heard of? Find information on these hobbies
and present them in writing. Write a 200-word essay.
SPEAKING FOCUS
12. Debate on the following topics, giving arguments in favour or against your opinions:
a. How important is to have a hobby?
b. Do people need hobbies? If yes, why?
c. Do you think that a persons character and standard of living have any kind of
influence on the hobbies that the respective person chooses to have?
d. Make a dialogue with your colleague in which you talk about your hobbies. Mention
the days and the times when you practice these activities.
e. Do you consider that there are certain popular hobbies in your country? Discuss
this topic with your colleagues.
41
Unit 6
PEOPLE AND WORKPLACES
Choosing your job is one of the most important and difficult decisions people face in
life. All of us want to enjoy what we do for a living. But for a job to provide satisfaction, it
must give the reward a person expects. Earning the highest possible salary is the top
priority for most people. Others get their greatest satisfaction from helping other people,
working for charity organizations, managing a risky business or solving difficult issues.
Starting with the 1990s, a lot of surveys show that people want more from work than money.
While managers consider that the most important aspect of work is money, workers say that
personal time and attention from their supervisor is another motivational factor at work.
According to their level of education and specialization, people can choose between
professions and trades. A profession is a vocation based on specialized educational training
whose purpose is to supply counsel or services to others. Examples of professions are:
lawyers, doctors, accountants, economists, professors. Doing manual work in a particular
field of activity such as constructions, electricity or social services is considered a trade.
On the other side, when looking for a job, you need to observe the various fields of
activity in which you can choose your occupation: healthcare and education, engineering
and construction, financial management and accountancy, law and administration,
journalism and public relations, sport and tourism and the list could go on.
Finding the right job for you isnt a matter of luck. It is your responsibility to plan for
the future and take the necessary steps to reach your goals. You must plan wisely. This
means using every tool available to help you recognize your occupational potential. In many
ways, job happiness depends on being yourself. Thats why it is important to make a
detailed inventory of your interests, skills, natural abilities and personality traits. You must
also take a look at your achievements in school, your leisure-time activities and the parttime jobs you have had.
There are some job presentations made by two college students who live in different
countries and who have recently been employed for the summer break.
Hi. Im Charlotte Stone and I work as a sales-assistant at Macys in London. Getting
this job was quite easy. All I had to do was to complete the online application and forward it
to the Human Resources Department. I have a part-time job, which means that I work 20
hours a week. Most employees in the store have a full-time job that includes 40 hours a
week, and they can also do overtime work, which involves working longer and earning more
money. Every employee has a contract, an agreement that clearly stipulates the period of
employment and the salary. Hourly pay starts around 8.00. My boss is very nice to us as
long as we respect the companys policy: Wear comfortable shoes, have a good attitude,
smile at your customers, and remember the ones who come back!. I can say that I am
satisfied with my new job.
Hello. My name is Morgan Mason. I work as a junior accountant in Vancouver,
Canada. Every day I commute by train from White Rock to the companys head office
42
located in Vancouver. I leave home at 7:45, I get to work at about 9:00 and I finish at 5 p.m.
I love my work because it helps me enrich my experience and improve my skills in
accounting, computers and other areas. Sometimes I have to talk to the new customers, and
that helps me develop my communication abilities. I never do shift work. I get my remuneration
once a month, on the 20th and I am well-paid. I am really happy with my new job!
Vocabulary Focus
reward something offered or
given in return for a service
performed
to supply to offer what is
needed for a task or activity
counsel an opinion suggesting
a wise or proper course of action
achievement a successful result
brought about by hard work
to improve - to make better, to
correct
customer a person who buys a
product or uses a service from a
business, client
earning an increase usually measured in

money that comes from labor, business, or
property
survey a close look at or over someone or
something in order to judge condition
wisely having or showing deep understanding
and intelligent application of knowledge
to employ to provide with a paying job
to enrich to make better, to upgrade
shift work an employment practice designed
to make use of the 24 hours of the clock; it refers
to work schedules divided in night shifts and day
shifts
Vocabulary Practice
a. What are the main motivations for working, in your opinion? Which of them is the
most relevant to you?
b. What jobs have you had in your life and what did you like and dislike about them?
c. Enumerate some strategies that you would implement at your job in order to improve
the quality of work.
d. What is a profession? Give examples of professions and talk about their advantages
and disadvantages.
e. What is a trade? Give examples of trades and talk about their advantages and
disadvantages.
f. Write the word family of the verb to work. Make sentences with each word you find.
g. What are your career goals for the future?
2. Find the suitable job title:
I like computers and I know how they work.
I plan, design and oversee the construction of different buildings.
I practice law and I provide legal services to people or businesses.
43
I cure people who are ill.

I work in a multinational company where I control the financial situations.
I teach in an academic environment.
I buy and sell stocks on the stock market.
I build cars, roads, bridges, machines, etc.
I work for the accounting department.
I repair all types of cars.
3. Say if people normally feel happy or unhappy in the following situations:

a) You are out of job.
b) You find work very rewarding.
c) You haven't been given a pay rise for years.
d) You have been recently promoted on a higher position.
e) Your work consists of long night shifts.
f) You have a steady income.
g) You are not paid for working overtime.
h) Your perks have been eliminated.
i) You have been put in charge of the marketing department.
j) Your job is very demanding.
4. Match the terms with the right definitions. Then use the terms from 1-10 to
complete the sentences below:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
benefits
competition
contract
entrepreneur
to take early
retirement
a. person who sets up and runs his or her own business

b. an evaluation of an employees work by an employer
c. the lowest pay rate that a business can legally pay its workers
d. unfair treatment because of race, sex, colour, religion, age, etc.
e. various compensations provided by an employer to employees,
in addition to their normal salaries, such as health insurance, sick
leave, etc.
6. minimum wage f. a regular payment to a retired person by a former employer
7. job review
g. to retire before the company's official retirement age and receive
fewer benefits
8. discrimination h. to dismiss from a job
9. pension
i. rivalry among those who are attempting to achieve the same goal
10. to fire
j. verbal or written agreement between two or more persons with
mutual obligations
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
The .. for that good job was fierce; more than 200 people applied!
Fast food restaurants usually pay beginning workers no more than the ........ ........ .
Companies that refuse to hire workers over 40 years old are guilty of age ... .
With each new job promotion, Harley also got new .. .
After many years of hard work, grandpa will retire and receive a .. from the
company where he was employed.
44
f. Thomas has always wanted to be his own boss; he plans to become an .. .

g. The new manager decided to .. David Smithfield because he violated the
companys policy.
h. At Andys six-month .. .., the supervisor made several suggestions for
improvement.
i. Our written .. clearly stipulates who suffers the losses in case of bankruptcy.
j. In case some aged or sick employees decide to . .. we can offer
good pension benefits for them.
1. Complete the gaps with the appropriate missing words and then translate the text
and the sentences into Romanian.
famous, work, start up, the first, are, businesses, determined, bright,
money, sold, able to, until
Entrepreneurs are people who .. and run their own businesses. The U.S. economy
was built on the .. ideas and hard work of its entrepreneurs. Some of Americas first
entrepreneurs were trappers who .. wild animal furs. Henry Ford was a .. American
entrepreneur. In 1913, he developed .. assembly line to produce cars.
What does it take to be a successful entrepreneur? Small business owners ..
independent, confident people. They are risk takers who like challenge and are .. make
decisions on their own.
Many entrepreneurs work 12 hours a day. To save .., a small business owner often
does the of many people: owner, office manager, bookkeeper, and salesperson.
Sometimes, entrepreneurs become wealthy. But the reality is that about one-fourth of all
new .. fail within the first three years. Often, the business was launched without enough
capital - the money needed to set up and run the business .. it makes a profit. Most
entrepreneurs dont make a great deal of money. But people who are .. to work for
themselves often value independence more than a high income.
profession, skilled worker, unemployed, pay slip, apprentice, commuter
- A .. is a person who drives to work every day from a big distance.
- A .. is any worker who has some special skill, knowledge, or usually acquired
some abilities in his work.
- An .. is someone who learns a skilled trade on the job, under the direction of more
experienced workers.
- A person who does not have a job, is available for work, and is actively looking for
work is named ..
- A .. is a large set of skills that people acquire by specialized educational training,
the purpose of which is to supply service to others and earn money.
- A .. is a piece of paper included with a person's salary payment, that records how
much money the person has earned and how much tax or insurance etc. has been taken
out.
45
GRAMMAR FOCUS
PRESENT TENSE CONTINUOUS
Affirmative
S + am/is/are + Verb-ing
I am working
We/You/They are working
He/She/It is working
Negative
S + am/is/are + not + Verb-ing
I am not working
We/You/They are not working
He/She/It is not working
Interrogative
Am/is/are + S + Verb-ing?
Am I working?
Are we/you/they working?
Is he/she/it working?
Uses:
Examples:
1. to express an action that is happening

at the moment of speaking
2. to express an action that extends over
a longer period of time including the
moment of speaking
Alison is watching TV now.

Im wearing a coat as it is very cold.
The wind is blowing outside.
I am reading a play by Shakespeare.
My mom is planting some flowers in the garden.
Listen! He is playing the piano.
3. to express ones immediate plans for

the near future
I am going to Constana tomorrow.

We are having dinner in town tonight.
Time expressions: now, right now, just now, at the (present) moment, today, tomorrow, tonight,
this moment/week/month/year etc.
Notes:
1. The verb to be does not normally appear in the continuous aspect but sometimes it is used
to express a temporary action and changes its meaning.
Examples: Im in the classroom now. I am being rude today.
2. Verbs of perception such as hear, see, smell, look, taste, feel, sound, appear as well as
cognitive verbs such as believe, know, think, understand, forget, suppose change their meaning
when they are used in the present continuous form.
Examples: The food tastes delicious. My mother is tasting it.
I see a butterfly. Im seeing the manager tomorrow.
I think he is a good person. Im thinking of my mother.
GRAMMAR PRACTICE
6. Fill in the gaps with the present continuous form of the verbs in brackets:
1. The two businessmen .. (not attend) the meeting today.
2. The company manager (delegate) new tasks to the employees.
3. Customers .(complain) about the bad services.
4. Wait! We . (work) on a new project at the moment.
5. John . (travel) to Tokyo tomorrow for a business meeting.
6. Today we (invite) our business partners to have lunch together.
7. Ann . (present) the new marketing strategies?
8. The annual income dramatically (decrease) due to the economic crisis.
9. The sales department (implement) the new management policies.
10. I .. (apply) for a financial expert position now.
46
7. Underline the right verbal form:

1. We pay / are paying local taxes every year.
2. Listen! They talk / are talking about your promotion.
3. Tom is / is being an appreciated employee.
4. The two colleagues share / are sharing the same office.
5. The new employees do / are doing overtime work this week.
6. We look / are looking for a new job.
7. People who work / are working hard usually earn / are earning more money.
8. My full-time job includes / is including working 40 hours a week.
9. Most businesses employ / are employing less people this year.
10. Bankers criticize / are criticizing the global economic situation.
8. Put the following verbs into the present tense simple or present tense continuous:
1. . you (know) that man over there? Actually, I do. He is Helens husband.
2. Are you doing anything tomorrow evening? Yes. I .. (see) Jack at nine oclock.
3. I .. (see) you have bought a new car. Yes, I have and I like it very much.
4. Whats that noise? Our neighbors .. (have) a party.
5. Graham (have) a new computer. I know. Ive already seen it.
6. Your perfume .. (smell) nice. What is it?
7. What . you (look) at? Some photos I took during my holiday.
8. You .. (look) very pretty today. Thank you. Ive just had my hair cut.
9. I .. (think) we are being followed.
10. What . he .. (think) about? I guess he .. (think) about the party tonight.
11. She .. (be) usually generous, but today she (be) a little selfish.
12. Im sorry, but I .. (not understand) what you mean.
a. Directorul bncii i pregtete dosarul de pensionare. b. Compania face profituri mari
anul acesta. c. Eu aplic pentru un job cu jumtate de norm acum. d. Aceti muncitori nu
mai lucreaz n schimbul de noapte sptmna aceasta. e. Vnzrile scad acum din cauza
crizei economice. f. Luna aceasta noi facem naveta la o filial a companiei. g. V pregtii
documentele pentru interviu? h. eful nostru este o persoan calm, ns zilele acestea el
este foarte nervos. i. Directorii companiei vorbesc despre un posibil faliment. j. Spitalele din
strintate angajeaz 2.000 de doctori romni anul acesta.
WRITING FOCUS
10. a. Make a detailed description of your job. Make reference to the working conditions,
work schedule, coworkers, management, salary and other benefits, etc.
b. You see the following job announcement in a business magazine. Write an email in
which you apply for the job offered below.
47
Job Announcement
Dear candidates,
We are glad to inform you that we have job openings in our company. We are one of
the leading Electronics and Marketing Companies in the U.S. We are now looking for
dedicated and energetic professionals who have at least 2 years of experience in
Marketing & Sales to occupy the various positions in the company. We offer
compensations and benefits that are best in the industry as well as a professional
working environment.
Please forward your applications to simpson.bobby@global.com at the earliest, only
if you meet our requirements. All applications are sent to our corporate office to face
the interview.
With regards,
Simpson D. Bobby,
Human Resources Manager,
Global Electronics Inc.
SPEAKING FOCUS
11. Debate on these topics:
a. Job vacancies are displayed on the Internet all the time. Why is it then so difficult
for some people to get a job?
b. Businesses should hire employees for their entire lives. Do you agree or disagree?
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
c. Some people prefer to work for a large company. Others prefer to work for a small
company. Which would you prefer? Motivate your choice.
d. Make a dialogue with your colleague in which you talk about the jobs you would
most and least like to have. Present the reasons of your choice.
48
Unit 7
BUSINESS MEALS & SOCIALIZING
In most parts of the world, having lunch or dinner together with your business
partners or work colleagues has become an important part of doing business.
In some parts, such as North America, eating meals is a way of building a
relationship or celebrating a partnership, while in other cultures, such as China, making
deals often gets done over the dinner table. In other countries, having a drink after work with
colleagues is a popular way to relax. This kind of socializing helps you get to know each
other and build team spirit.
To attract customers who are just getting off work, many bars and clubs have a
happy hour. This is a promotion in the early evening, usually lasting an hour or so, when
pubs and bars offer special prices on drinks, such as buy one get one free or all drinks at
half price.
All these promotions invite people to socialize with colleagues during happy hour or
during other informal occasions. Consequently, it is vital to have some skills that help you
deal with different types of after-work social activities. Whether you have dinner or not,
whether you drink alcohol or not, in many places around the world you will likely be invited
to the restaurant or to a pub with colleagues or business partners. And no matter if you are
doing business or just socialising with your colleagues, it is important to be able to handle
the basics of dining out. This includes ordering food, recommending dishes, proposing a
toast, and paying for the check, among other things. You must also know how to offer to buy
drinks for others and how to make polite excuses when youve had enough or when its time
to go.
In the dialogue below, we follow Mario, the representative of an Italian company, on
his visit to the United States of America. As planned, he is having dinner in Las Vegas with
Sarah, his American business partner. Dave, one of their new customers, has also joined
them.
The group has just arrived at the restaurant. They are hungry and they want to order
as soon as possible.
Waiter: Good evening. A table for three?
Dave: Yes, please.
Waiter: Smoking or non-smoking?
Sarah: Non-smoking.
Waiter: Right this way.
They walk to a table. Mario, Dave and Sarah sit down and the waiter gives them the menus.
Waiter: Ill be back in a few minutes to take your order.
Waiter (five minutes later): Are you ready to order?
Mario: I think so, but can I ask you something? What is beef Stroganoff?
Waiter: Its beef cut into small pieces and served in a sour cream and white wine sauce.
Mario: Ok, that sounds good. Ill have that.
49
Waiter: Excellent. And that comes with your choice of French fries, fried mushrooms or rice.
Mario: Ill have rice.
Waiter: Anything for you?
Dave: Ill have the onion soup. And then a Greek vegetables salad.
Waiter. OK. What else can I get you?
Sarah: Is the spaghetti and meatballs a very large dish?
Waiter: Yes, its a big one.
Sarah: Oh, Im not very hungry.
Waiter: Then can I recommend chicken with mushrooms? That comes with a white sauce,
but its not too big.
Sarah: Ok. Ill take chicken and mushrooms and a salad to start.
Waiter: Very good. And what can I get you to drink?
Mario: A bottle of wine for me.
Dave: A cup of coffee, please.
Sarah: Ill have some orange juice.
Waiter: Oh, Im afraid were out of orange juice. But we have pear, apple, grape, kiwi and banana.
Sarah: Kiwi and banana? That sounds interesting. Ill try that.
Waiter: Excellent. Ill be back with your drinks in a minute.
Vocabulary Focus
meal - the foods eaten or prepared for
eating at one time; a time or occasion when
food is eaten
to have a drink/lunch/dinner - to serve the
meals of the day (morning/noon/evening)
pub - a building or room especially in where
alcoholic drinks and often food are served
to socialise (Am. socialize) - to talk to and do
things with other people in a friendly way
bill - a document that says how much

money you owe for something you
have bought or used
to order - to request (food or drinks)
from a restaurant
dish - a part of a meal served at one
time
to handle - to deal successfully with (a
person, situation, etc.)
Vocabulary Practice
1. Answer the following questions:
a. Do you usually prefer to eat out or to eat at home?
b. How often do you go to the restaurant with your family?
c. What is your favourite restaurant?
d. What is your favourite food to order there?
e. Have you ever had a business lunch?
f. Is there any difference between a restaurant, caf, bar, pub, cafeteria?
g. Have you ever been to a Western restaurant (for example in the US or Europe)?
Were there any differences in customs between your country and the West?
h. What is your opinion about fast-food restaurants?
i. Whats the purpose of business meals? Are they the same all over the world?
50
2. Put the words below in the right order to make up sentences:

a. and Green sour sometimes usually mango is sweet.
b. as are chocolate fattening foods Rich and creamy cake such.
c. chips crispy are and Potato salty.
d. smooth of and peanut crunchy extra kinds are butter 3 crunchy The.
e. or crust thin like you Do pizza your thick?
f. to raw healthy vegetables is fresh eat It.
g. it can chewy meat you If long too cook be.
h. to like rice add soy to vinegar sauce and I soup.
i. roll you crust dough the Can for pie the?
j. spicy dishes Many the to brought potluck party people.
3. Choose the right word from the box to fill in the gaps:
piece, glass, cup, bottle, bowl, can, slice, basket, bunch, carton, bar
a. I would like to have a ............ of beer.
b. May I have a ........... of bananas please?
c. I would like to have a ...........of noodles.
d. Would you like a ............of lemon in your coke?
e. May I have a ........... of cake please?
f. Please pass me that ........... of milk.
g. May I have a ........... of soda please?
h. Can you get a me a ............ of apple juice please?
i. Can you open that ........... ...of wine please?
j. Lilian is feeling sick, lets get her a ........... of fruits.
k. May I have a .............of coffee please?
l. I want a .................... of chocolate.
4. a. Match the nouns to the adjectives, then say which of the expressions are
positive and which are negative:
Adjectives
slow
poor
helpful
varied
warm
high
Example: slow service (negative)
Nouns
menu
service
atmosphere
prices
staff
location
b. What should(nt) a good restaurant have? Use your answers to make up

sentences, as in the example:
Example: A good restaurant should not have .
However, it should have .
51
5. Put the dialogue in the correct order:

a. No problem. Im happy to help you. Goodbye.
b. Oh, really. Thats great news. Sorry to have troubled you.
c. Let me see. Here it is. The items you ordered were sent out today.
d. What seems to be the problem, Ms Joshed?
e. Hello. This is Diana Joshed, customer no RJ234. Im calling about my order.
f. I havent received any goods yet and I placed my order over three weeks ago.
g. Hello. BMS customer services, Maya speaking. May I help you?
1.
e
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
GRAMMAR FOCUS
PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE
Affirmative
S + has/have V-ed/(V3)
I/you/ /we/they have lived
in England.
He/She/It has had
breakfast.
Uses:
Negative
S + has not/hasnt/have
not/havent+V-ed/V3
I/you/he/she/we/you/they have not
(havent) lived in England.
He/She/It has not (hasnt) had
breakfast.
Interrogative
Have / Has + S + Ved/V3?
Have I/you/ we/you/they
finish/come?
Has he/she/it/ had
breakfast?
Examples:
1. to put emphasis on the result

She has written five letters.
2. to denote an action that is still going on
School has not started yet.
3. to express an action that stopped recently
She has cooked dinner.
4. to express a finished action that has an
I have lost my key.
influence on the present
5. to denote an action that has taken place
I have never been to Australia.
once, never or several times before the
moment of speaking
Time expressions: already, ever, just, never, not yet, so far, till now, up to now
Notes:
1. to form regular participles, we add ed to the infinitive form: work worked; play played
2. Many common verbs have an irregular past participle. See the list of irregular verbs at the end
of this course book.
Examples: go gone, write written, eat eaten.
GRAMMAR PRACTICE
6. Put the verbs into the present perfect simple, affirmative or negative:
a. I (not / work) today.
52
b. We (buy) .a pizza from fast-food.

c. We (not / plan) .our holiday yet.
d. Where (be / you)..lately?
e. He (write).five letters to his American penpals.
f. She (not / see)..her brother for a long time.
g. (go/ you)..to school this week?
h. Our seminars (not / start)yet.
i. (speak / he) already to his boss?
j. No, he (have / not).the time yet.
7. Write questions using the verbs in the present perfect simple:
a. you / answer / the question
b. Jenny / lock / the door
c. Walter / call / us
d. you / see / the picture
e. your friends / get / the best prize
f. it / rain / a lot
g. how often / they / go / to his concert
h. Maureen / already watch / the film
i. how many books / Bob / read
j. ever / you / be / in London
8. We use the present perfect to express what has (not) happened so far. (Note that
no time in the past must be given otherwise you have to use past tense simple.)
Read the following article and put the verbs in present perfect simple:
Loch Ness is a lake between the Scottish towns of Inverness and Fort Augustus. The
word loch is Scottish for lake. Loch Ness is about 37 km long and extremely deep, the
deepest part is 226 m. Loch Ness is famous for its friendly monster, Nessie. Most people
think that this is only a legend, but every year tourists from all over the world come to Loch
Ness and hope that they will see the monster.
a. Tourists from all over the world (be) . ..to Loch Ness.
b. Most of them (see / not) .. Nessie, however.
c. Only very few people say that the Loch Ness Monster (appear) .. in front of them.
d. Even scientists (come) to Loch Ness to find the monster.
e. And the boss of the Guinness brewery (promise) to pay 500,000 pounds to
the person who catches Nessie.
9. Translate the following dialogue into English:
Michelle: Cred c osptarul ne-a uitat. Ateptm aici de peste o jumtate de or i
nimeni nu ne-a luat comanda nc.
Robin: Ai dreptate. A trecut pe lng noi de cel puin douzeci de ori. Probabil crede c
am comandat deja.
Michelle: Privete acel cuplu de acolo! Sunt aici de cinci sau zece minute i deja
mnnc.
Robin: Trebuie s i dea seama c nu am comandat nc. Stm aici de mai mult de o
jumtate de or privindu-l cu insisten.
53
Michelle: Nu tiu nici mcar dac ne-a observat. Alearg de la o mas la alta s ia
comenzi i s serveasc mncare.
Robin: Dar nu s-a uitat n direcia noastr niciodat. S mergem la alt restaurant!
WRITING FOCUS
10. a. Write a letter addressed to the manager of a restaurant in which you complain about
the bad services in his restaurant (hot soup, rude waiters, dirty tablecloth, etc.).
b. Write a recipe for a cookbook. Think of one of your favourite foods.
SPEAKING FOCUS
11. a. What kind of problems can anyone encounter when going to a restaurant?
b. Can you think of a time when a restaurant ran out of something you ordered?
c. Have you ever had very bad customer service?
d. Has the waiter/waitress ever mixed up your order/overcharged you/been very rude?
e. Are you allergic to certain foods?
f. Discuss about the types of food and drinks recommended on a diet.
g. What is your opinion on genetically modified foods, are you in favour or against using
them? Give reasons to support your answer.
h. Are you a vegetarian or a meat eater? What is the difference between them? Whiat
diet should people choose in order to have a balanced diet?
54
Unit 8
STAYING IN A HOTEL
Hotels are establishments that provide paid accommodation to the guests who rent a
furnished room by the night. This is usually a more expensive option than hostels, motels,
guest houses, inns or chalets, but hotels do come in handy when you need a good sleep.
Arriving at a hotel after a long, hard day of travel, Sarah Miller needs to do one last
thing before she can take a hot shower and relax in front of the TV she has to check in.
That means registering for the room by filling in a form and giving the hotel receptionist her
credit card number. Checking in at hotels is an important part of travel, whether its for
business or for pleasure. Here is the dialogue at the reception of the hotel:
Receptionist: Good afternoon, Madam. Can I help you?
Sarah: Good afternoon. Id like room in your hotel, please.
Receptionist: Have you made any advance booking, Madam?
Sarah: Im afraid I havent done any room reservation. I tried to book a room online, but the
hotel reservation software was not working.
Receptionist: What kind of a room would you like? A single room or a double room?
Sarah: A single room, please.
Receptionist: Let me see (looking into the register). We are fully booked up at this time of
the year. No, we havent any available single rooms, Madam.
Sarah: But, please, try to help me out. I dont know where else to stay in this area.
Receptionist: How long do you want to stay?
Sarah: Just for one night. Im catching the afternoon train tomorrow.
Receptionist: All right then. I think we can accommodate you in one of the rooms booked by
a German group. Their plane has been delayed and they will arrive tomorrow at lunch time.
Will that be all right, Madam?
Sarah: Thats great! Thank you very much.
Receptionist: You are welcome. The room is on the second floor. Will you please fill in your
name and address in the registration book, please. I also need your passport and your
credit card number. The price is 65 per night.
Sarah: Does the room tariff include any meals?
Receptionist: Only breakfast. The other meals are charged separately. Here is your room
key. You have room 206. The porter will take you luggage up to your room. Is there anything
else you would like?
Sarah: No. Thank you very much.
Vocabulary Focus
accommodation a room in a hotel
where travellers can sleep
55
to check in to register at a hotel
hostel an inexpensive place for young

travellers to stay overnight, also named
youth hostel
available present and ready for use; at
hand; accessible
booked up if a hotel was booked up, all
the rooms have already been taken
to fill in / Am. fill out to complete (a
document) by providing necessary information
chalet a small house often in a group

of similar houses where people go for
vacations
to book (in) to make a reservation
British : to register in a hotel
to check in to arrive at and be given a
room in (a hotel, motel, etc.)
porter a person whose job is to carry
bags or luggage at a hotel, airport, etc.
Vocabulary Practice
a. What is a hotel? What types of hotels can you mention?
b. What are the differences between a cheap hotel and a luxurious hotel?
c. What other types of accommodation can you mention?
d. What are the advantages of staying in a hotel as compared to staying in a tent?
e. Enumerate some people of the hotel staff and say what are they in charge with.
f. Are facilities such as central heating or air conditioning important when choosing your
accommodation?
2. Fill in the sentences with the following words:
accommodation, luxurious, on premises, checked in, lounge, amenities,
booked up, en-suite bedroom
a. The hotel has other .......... such as a restaurant, swimming pool, and exercise room.
b. The hotel has a restaurant ................
c. They weren't sure if they could provide food and .................... for the whole group.
d. They can afford now a holiday to a ............... hotel.
e. The tourist arrived at the hotel, went to the reception desk and .................
f. The comfortable armchairs of the hotel ................ invite you to relax and dream away.
g. I want to book a double room at your hotel with .................... facilities.
h. The hotel was all .................. for the week.
3. Find the correct word for each column:
verb
to accommodate
noun
adjective
booking
available
to travel
reception
56
facile
4. Cross out the odd word from each series:
a. hotel, hostel, motel, inn, chalet, store, camp site
b. arrive, check out, come, turn up, show up, reach
c. concierge, chambermaid, receptionist, tourist, doorman
d. double room, single room, bedroom, en-suite room, twin room
e. cheque, tip, gratuity, money, cash, change, coin
f. charge, price, tax, prize, tariff, attendance, rate
g. beforehand, reserve, book, cancel, bespeak, register
5. Match the words and make up sentences with the expressions:
1) to book
a) a form
2) to fill in
b) a porter
3) to tip
c) in a double room
4) to stay
d) a bill
5) to check in
e) dinner at 6
6) to make
f) a reservation
7) to pay
g) at reception
8) to serve
h) a single room
GRAMMAR FOCUS
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Affirmative
Negative
Interrogative
S + have / has + been + Ving
S + have not/havent/ has

not/hasnt+ been +V-ing
Have / Has + S + been + Ving?
I/you/we/they have been

living in a hotel.
He/She/It has been filling
in the form.
I/you/he/she/we/you/they have
not (havent) living in a hotel.
He/She/It has not (hasnt) been
filling in the form.
Have I/you/ we/you/they been

living in a hotel?
Has he/she/it/ been filling in
the form?
Uses:
Examples:
1. to show that something started in the

past and has continued up until now
They have been talking for the last hour.

Ive been looking for affordable accommodation.
2. to talk about an action that started in the

past and stopped recently
Why is the grass wet? Has it been raining?

You seem tired. Have you been exercising?
Time expressions: for, since, how long?, lately, recently, all day/morning/month, etc.
Note: with the verbs live, work, teach and feel we can use the present perfect or the present
perfect continuous with no difference in meaning.
Example: He has lived/has been living in London for the last five years.
57
GRAMMAR PRACTICE
6. Choose the best option between present perfect simple or present perfect continuous:
a. At last! Ive solved / been solving the problem.
b. Jack has been trying / tried to get this book published for ages but so far no one has
said Yes.
c. So, what have you done / been doing recently? Anything interesting?
d. My friend has been buying / bought a new car. It looks great.
e. Ive never believed / been believing in ghosts or witches or fairies.
f. You look well. Have you been taking / taken more exercises recently?
g. The children are tired because theyve played / been playing all day.
h. Have you swum / been swimming? Your hair looks wet.
i. Fantastic news! Theyve been agreeing / agreed to buy the house.
j. Oh, There you are! Ive looked / been looking for you everywhere.
7. Find the correct sentence in each pair:
a. Youre so thirsty! What have you been doing?
b. Youre so thirsty! What have you done?
a. Ive never understood maths.
b. Ive never been understanding maths.
a. He is tired because he has run.
b. He is tired because he has been running.
a. Ive been walking ten kilometres.
b. Ive walked ten kilometres.
a. Sorry Im late. How long have you waited?
b. Sorry Im late. How long have you been waiting?
8. Complete the dialogue. Use the correct form of the verbs in brackets. If two forms
are possible, write both:
Sarah: Wow, it (be) very busy in the shop this morning, hasnt it?
Kim: Yes. It (put) new stock on the shelves since I got here. There
(not/be) a quite period at all. The phone in the office (ring) every two minutes, so I
(try) to answer all the emails that the customer services department
(send) me!
Sarah: Yes I know how you feel. Its incredible! I (write) replies to twenty
emails. And I (serve) all the customers that (come) in today.
9. Translate into English:
a. El caut de dou sptmni un hotel de cinci stele cu vedere la mare. b. El completeaz
acest formular de cinci minute i nu a terminat nc. c. De ct timp atepi la recepie?
Atept de un sfert de or. d. Camerista face curat de cnd oaspeii au predat camerele.
e. De cnd ncerci s faci rezervare la aceast pensiune? ncerc s fac o rezervare de o
sptmn. f. Ai studiat ultima ofert la acest hotel de lux de pe Coasta de Azur? g. Plou
de dou zile, iar eu mi petrec timpul la piscina din interiorul hotelului unde sunt cazat.
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h. Hotelul meu preferat era rezervat n totalitate, aa c a trebuit s chem un taxi i s caut
cazare n alt parte.
WRITING FOCUS
10. Read the following fax message written to book a room. Pay attention to the
information provided and write a similar message.
FAX TRANSMISSION
To: The Metropolis Hotel
Fax no: 023 543 234
In the attention of: The receptionist
From: David Middleton
Fax no: 023 889 232
Date: 2nd March 2011
MESSAGE
I would like to book a room at your hotel. My wife and I will arrive on 10th May and
leave on 16th May.
We would like to book a non-smoking, en-suite room, with a balcony.
Do you have any available rooms? Could you please let me know the price per room?
Thank you.
SPEAKING FOCUS
11. a. Tim has already come back from his vacation. He was disappointed with the hotel
services such as small rooms, noisy guests, terrible food, being overcharged. What should
you advise him to do in order to repair the damage of his holiday?
b. What is your impression about mobile homes?
c. What types of accommodation do you generally choose when you travel abroad or in
your country? Motivate your choice.
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Unit 9
TRAVELLING
People like to travel to different places around the world. The term travelling refers to
the movement of one or more persons from one geographical location to another.
Travelling had no bounds in the old days. People could travel freely from one part of
the world to the other end. Now to cross the borders and to travel to certain foreign
countries you need the authorization of that country, named visa. When travelling, the
person must also have a passport, which is issued from the travellers homeland. The visa is
stamped in the passport. But you must keep in mind that there are no longer any frontier
controls at the borders between the EU countries. You will therefore need to present a valid
passport or ID card when travelling to the non-Schengen countries and when entering or
leaving the EU at the external borders.
Travelling could be done for different purposes: some people travel for pleasure,
others travel for education, health treatment, jobs, etc. Travelling may also include staying in
a place for a day or more. Some people prefer conducted tours in which case they have to
apply to a travel agency. Other travellers are interested in organizing their own journeys and
choosing their own route.
The terms recreation, tourism, holiday travel, volunteer travel, migration, business
trips are all incorporated in the term travelling. People can travel by various means of
transport. Planes, buses, cars, trains, bicycles, ships are the main and the most used ones.
Every country has a network of railways, airlines or highways. A small sum of money
is required to go from one corner of the country to the other. Driving a car in a city can be a
difficult job when you think to all the street jams, the numberless pedestrian crossings,
impossible parking, blocked crossroads, countless traffic lights, never-ending constructions.
To avoid all these you can travel by underground which has a cheap and efficient public
transport network system. If your business is more urgent, you can travel by plane. A plane
will need only a couple of hours to fly round the whole world. Flying is no longer luxury
transportation; today airlines give everyone the possibility to fly by offering attractive flight
costs to and from different destinations. Aircrafts land and take off at the right time.
Travelling by sea has also become more comfortable, swift and secure than before. Going
on a cruise is a choice usually made by rich people.
Finally, it can be said that travelling is a very interesting activity of human life,
sometimes considered even a hobby for some people. Besides pleasure, travelling also
introduces a new country to the travellers. People can learn about the different lifestyles,
customs or people in another country. Education, health and trade are also very popular
forms of travelling in todays world.
Checking in at the airport - Conversation
Tourist: Good morning. My flight is BA893.
Clerk: I need your passport and your ticket, please.
Tourist: There you go.
Clerk: Thank you. Do you have any luggage to check in, sir?
Tourist: Yes, I have two suitcases.
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Clerk: Could you put them on the weighing machine, please.

Tourist: Sure. I don't think my baggage exceeds the allowed weight.
Clerk: No. That's fine. Would you like a window or an aisle seat?
Tourist: A window seat, please.
Clerk: Here are your luggage tags and your boarding card. Your seat is 39C.
Tourist: Thank you. What is the boarding time?
Clerk: The plane is boarding in 30 minutes. You leave from Gate 15. Have a good flight!
Tourist: Thank you. Goodbye.
Vocabulary Focus
conducted tours an organized journey
in different parts of a country, region
travel agency a business that helps to
make arrangements for people who travel
journey an act of travelling from one
place to another
border a line separating one country or
state from another
homeland the country where someone

was born or grew up
underground / tube/ Am. subway trains
that run below the ground in a large city
crossroad a place where two or more
roads cross
to stamp to attach a postage stamp to
(something)
Vocabulary Practice
a. What documents do you usually need to travel to another country?
b. Why do people like travelling?
c. What means of transport are used nowadays?
d. What are the advantages of travelling by car/bus/train/tube/ship/bike?
e. What are the differences between a tour and a trip?
f. What is the most interesting city to visit in your country?
g. What is the most interesting souvenir that you have ever bought on one of your holidays?
2. Find definitions for the following means of transport:
1. subway
2. coach
3. train
4. van
5. truck
7. taxi
8. motorcycle
9. boat
10. plane
a. a connected series of vehicles that move along a rail track

b. a vehicle that runs on rails and used to carry people on a short distance
c. a large boat used for travelling long distances over the sea
d. a system of underground trains in a city
e. a small vehicle that is used for travelling on water
f. a vehicle with wings and engine that carries people or things in the air
g. a very large, heavy vehicle that is used to move large or numerous objects
h. a large bus with comfortable seating that is used for long trips
i. a big vehicle, shaped like a box, with doors and windows at the back and
sides, used for transporting people
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11. tram
12. ship
j. a car that carries passengers in the city from one place to another for an
amount of money that is based on the distance travelled
k. a vehicle with two wheels that is powered by a motor and that can carry
one or two persons
3. Choose the right word and fill in the blanks below:

luggage, flights, embark, depart, take off, platform, land, delayed, one-way, journey
a. We will travel from Spain to France by plane. The plane will...........at 10 am and will
...............at 11:00 am in Paris
b. The train for Cambridge will............from ..................number 9.
c. Anne and Joe will travel by sea. They will.................at Liverpool for New York.
d. I'd love to go on a long................
e. All..............to New York today are.......................because of bad weather.
f. How much is a.................ticket to New York?
g. We had to pay extra for our excess.....................
4. Make up a dialogue using the following expressions:
Asking about direction
Giving directions
How can I get to ... from here?
Go straight on
How can I get to...?
Turn right/left
Can you show me the way to...?
Take the first (turning) to the left/right
Can you tell me how to get to?
Go past the restaurant/school...
Where is...?
The ... is beside/in front of/next to...the....
Whats the best way to get to....?
5. Travellers Tips
a. Join the items from the two columns with in case or so that to form sentences, as
in the example below:
1. Be careful in crowded areas or at night
2. Let you family know your travel plans
3. Take your travel insurance
4. Find out the local address of your
countrys embassy or consulate
5. Make photocopies of your tickets and
passports
a. they/get in touch with you/emergency

b. they/ be replaced/more easily if lost
c. something serious/go wrong at/
destination
d. any of your belongings/be lost or stolen
e. there/be pickpockets or muggers about
Example: Be careful in crowded areas or at night in case there are pickpockets or

muggers about.
b. In pairs, think of other travellers tips and write them down giving a reason.
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GRAMMAR FOCUS
PAST TENSE SIMPLE
Affirmative
S + V-ed1 /(V2)
I/you/he/she/it
we/you/they finished
Negative
S + did not / didnt + V
I/you/he/she/we/you/they did
not (didnt) finish/come
Interrogative
Did + S + verb?
Did I/you/he/she/it/
we/you/they finish/come?
Uses
Examples
1. to express an action that occurred at a The postman delivered the parcel at 8
definite time in the past
oclock yesterday morning.
2. to denote actions that happened
She bought the tickets and went to the
immediately after one another in the past
theater.
3. to express habits or states which are
Mr. Jones worked in a factory when he
now finished
was younger.
5. used to can also be used to habits / He used to visit us every month when
repeated actions in the past
we were kids.
Time expressions: yesterday, then, when, last night/week/month/year/Friday/October,
how long ago?, three days/weeks etc. ago, in 1999 etc.
Note: the verb to be does not take the auxiliary verb did in the interrogative or negative.
Examples: She was happy. I wasnt happy. Were you happy?
1
Regular verbs form the past simple adding the ed to the infinitive.
GRAMMAR PRACTICE
6. Put in the verbs in brackets into the gaps. Use the past tense simple. Pay attention
to the punctuation when forming questions or sentences.
Example: .sheto Spain last summer? (to travel)
Did she travel to Spain last summer?
a. I my Maths homework yesterday. (to do)
b. .. Susan to England by plane? (to go)
c. They . a medieval castle two weeks ago. (to visit)
d. Jenny and Peggy their brother. (not/to help)
e. The children .. at home last weekend. (not/to be)
f. When .you this wonderful skirt. (to buy)
g. My cousin into the van. (not/to crash)
h. The boys .. the fenders of their bicycles. (to take off)
i. .. you .. your aunt last week? (to phone)
j. He .. to the office yesterday. (not/to drive)
7. Ask questions using the past tense simple:
1. you / your car / drive fast / in Germany
63
2. she / a car belt / wear

3. you / by train / travel / last year
4. he / a car / want to buy
5. we / on the sea / sail
6. Eric / his homework / forget to do
7. Jamie / all the races / win
8. the police / you / stop
9. the plane passengers / panic
10. she / by bus / in the city / go
8. Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular natural features on earth. It is listed
as one of the Seven Natural Wonders and became a United States National Park in 1919.
The park covers an area of nearly 5,000 km.
Carved by the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon slices deep into the Colorado Plateau
and forms one of the most impressive landscapes in the world. Up to 1963, when the Glen
Canyon Dam was built, the Colorado river moved 143 million tons of stones each year.
Put the verbs into the correct form (past tense simple or present perfect simple):
a. My friends (visit).. the Grand Canyon National Park last year.
b. I (be / never) .to the Grand Canyon National Park.
c. But I (see) ..lots of wonderful pictures.
d. And yesterday I (buy)..a book about the Grand Canyon.
e. I already (read) .. 30 pages about the Grand Canyon. It's really interesting.
9. Past tense simple or present perfect simple? Find and correct the mistake in each
sentence:
a. Didnt you do your homework yet?
b. Petes been to the shops. Hell be back soon.
c. Did you ever eat snails?
d. Were here since ten oclock.
e. No ones seen Lucky since three weeks.
f. I had a headache since I woke up this morning.
g. Have you called John yesterday?
h. A plane just crashed over the Alps. More details follow later.
i. When I was a child, I have ridden my bike to school.
j. I have never met my grandmother. She died before I was born.
a. n trecut, era mai periculos i mai palpitant s cltoreti. b. Ieri am fcut autostopul
deoarece m grbeam i nu am vrut s ntrzii la edin. c. Anul trecut, de Pate, am fost
n Spania i a plouat n fiecare zi timp de dou sptmni. d. N-am vrut s-mi petrec
concediul n strintate din cauza mncrii ciudate i a problemelor de limb. e. Prima linie
de metrou din Londra, care a folosit locomotiva cu abur, a fost deschis pe 10 ianuarie
1863, iar prima linie electric, numit tube a fost pus n funciune n 1890. f. Sptmna
trecut am mers cu autobuzul i ne-am blocat n traficul aglomerat la orele de vrf. g. Am
64
mers n Groenlanda cnd eram student i am fost impresionat de plimbarea cu sania tras
de cini. h. Acum dou zile am mers pe jos pn n centru i m-am simit foarte bine dup o
asemenea micare. i. Cnd eram student obinuiam s cltoresc att prin ar ct i n
strintate. j. Acelai lucru mi s-a ntmplat i mie cnd am ajuns prima dat la Paris.
WRITING FOCUS
11. Find the noun which goes with the adjectives, then use them to write a composition
to describe the place where you spent your holidays last year.
a. clean, sandy, dirty, secluded b e a c h.
b. trendy, expensive, second-hand, souvenir s _ _ _.
c. narrow, busy, winding, cobbled s _ _ _ _ _ .
d. luxury, family, five-star, Victorian h _ _ _ _.
e. delicious, local, gourmet c _ _ _ _ _ _.
f. rocky, snow-capped m _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
g. exotic, tropical, desert i _ _ _ _ _.
Last year I went to. . It was great. I spent most of my days .
SPEAKING FOCUS
12. Debate on the following topics:
a. What are the most popular holiday destinations for people in your country?
b. What is the most convenient means of transport for a successful trip?
c. What do you advise people to do when they are on holiday and the weather is terrible?
d. Think of some places that you have never visited before and that you would really like
to see. Ask questions about them.
e. Mention some unpleasant holiday experiences and the way you solved them.
f. Look at the following destinations and choose the most appropriate for you (motivate
your choice): a deserted beach/Tokyo/a mountain resort/a historical city/Thailand/Venice.
65
Unit 10
BANKING SERVICES
Finance is the essence of trade, commerce and industry. Nowadays, banks play an
important role in modern business. The financial and industrial development of any country
depends on the banking system.
The term bank is derived from the French word banco which means a bench or
money exchange table. In old times, European money lenders or money changers used to
display coins of different countries in big quantities on benches or tables for the purpose of
lending or exchanging.
Today a bank is a financial institution which deals with deposits and accounts and
many other financial services. It receives money from those who want to save in the form of
deposits and it lends money to those who need it. Banks offer many services to attract a
loyal clientele: to apply for a credit card or for a loan, to cash a cheque, to deposit or to
exchange money, to open a checking account or a savings account, to transfer money, etc.
The idea is that any bank deals with other people's money. It accepts money from the
people in the form of deposits which are usually repayable on demand or after the expiry of
a fixed period. It provides interest and it gives safety to the deposits of its customers.
The bank also lends out money in the form of loans to those who require it for
different purposes: to start a business, to buy a property, to purchase various domestic
appliances, etc. They also provide other services such as safe deposit boxes, money
orders, traveller's cheques, and so on.
No matter where we live, opening a bank account is one essential part of our life. We
need a bank account to make our monthly payments, to transfer money or to deposit it.
Checking accounts are just the beginning of the services. They come with a variety of
options from ATM and debit cards, direct deposits, unlimited cheque writing and various
methods of overdraft protections.
Banks own and operate ATM networks that provide convenient access to cash. With
the large network of automated teller machines or ATMs available, you are never very far
from your money. They can be found in most busy streets and shopping areas.
For those persons who are on the go, banks today offer online/Internet or mobile
banking. Many services are available over the computer or telephone, making it easy to
cheque balances, make online bill payments and balance your cheque book.
Some banks also offer information and help their customers invest their money.
Vocabulary Focus
savings (pl.) the amount of money that
you have saved especially in a bank over
a period of time
available present or ready for use
loan an amount of money that is given

to someone for a period of time with a
promise that it will be paid back
chequebook/checkbook a book that
66
contains blank cheques issued by a bank

overdraft an amount of money that is
spent by someone using a bank account
that is more than the amount available in
the respective account
bill a written document that specifies
the cost of goods sold, services
performed, or work done
exchange - funds payable either in a
foreign currency or in domestic currency
checking account a type of deposit

account held at a financial institution that
allows for withdrawals and deposits
money order - an order issued by a post
office or bank, for payment of a specified
sum of money
cash - ready money
Vocabulary Practice
a. What is a bank?
b. What are the main services provided by a bank to its customers?
c. What banking services do you personally take advantage of?
d. What do the ATM networks provide?
e. What are savings accounts?
f. What is the online or mobile banking?
g. Comment on: A bank is a place where they lend you an umbrella in fair weather and
ask for it back when it begins to rain.
h. Would you suggest any significant changes in the banking industry?
2. Match the banking terms with their appropriate definitions:
1. mortgage
2. bank loan
3. overdraft
4. joint account
5. interest
6. travellers cheque
7. current account
8. overdraw
9. deposit account
10. statement
a. money lent by a bank etc and that must be repaid with

interest
b. to draw beyond ones credit
c. a bank account held in the names of two or more people,
often husband and wife
d. a record of transactions in a bank account
e. a type of bank account on which interest is paid
f. deficit in a bank account caused by withdrawing more money
than is paid in
g. money paid for the use of money lent
h. a bank account from which money may be drawn at any time
i. a legal agreement in which a person borrows money to buy
property (such as a house) and pays back the money over a
period of years
j. a cheque issued by a bank to a traveller to enable him to
67
obtain foreign currency when he is abroad

3. Give adjectives corresponding to the following nouns: payment, negotiation, safety,
bank, commerce, finance, transaction, loyalty.
4. Fill in the blanks with prepositions:
a. The cheque provides an easy and cheap means remitting money.
b. Some banks make insurance and investment services available their customers.
c. Banks own and operate ATM networks that provide convenient access cash.
d. Anyone may open a checking account providing proof of identity and a specimen signature.
e. ATMs are to be found most busy streets and shopping areas.
f. A bank is a financial institution that serves a financial intermediary.
g. You must have a current account, or certain types of savings accounts to pay cheque.
h. The cheque is made payable (written) the order of the beneficiary.
i. The account holder is responsible keeping sufficient funds to cover all cheques
written against the account.
5. Choose the right word to finish the sentences:
1) Ben and Jen needed money to redecorate their home, so they asked a loan officer if
they qualified for a ......... instead of a second mortgage on their house.
a. deposit slip
b. Iine of credit
c. debit card
d. bill
2) Nowadays, bank customers have more options. For example, they can pay their bills
over the telephone or they can pay them ..........
a. online b. over the phone c. with a safety deposit box d. with a bank retailer
3) Some people rent a ......... in order to keep important papers and items safe.
a. deposit slip
b. safety deposit box
c. debit card
d. bank statement
4) Almost all customers have a(n) ......... card so they don't have to go into the bank to
withdraw money. They can also use their cards to purchase goods in stores.
a. export
b. debit
c. withdrawal
d. loan
5) Laurie has two accounts. She can ......... funds from her checking account into her
savings account right over the phone.
a. loan
b. order
c. transfer
d. rent
6) Every month, Kevin ......... his bank statement in order to balance his chequebook.
a. fills out
b. exchanges
c. withdraws
d. reviews
7) Mary has an appointment with a loan ......... because she wants to buy a new car and
needs $3000 to complete the purchase.
a. teller
b. secretary
c. taker
d. officer
8) Karen learned how to her chequebook at an early age.
a. balance
b. pay-off
c. exchange
d. withdraw
9) Rose and Tom want to obtain the bank approval for a because they want to buy a house
this year.
a. check
b. safety deposit box
c. mortgage
d. savings account
10) Normally, people get ......... for a mortgage before they go house hunting so they
know what kind of house they can afford to buy.
68
a. pre-approved
b. withdrawal slips
c. an order
d. traveller's cheques
GRAMMAR FOCUS
PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE
Affirmative
S + was/were + V-ing
Negative
Interrogative
S + was not/wasnt + V-ing
Was/Were + S + V-ing?
S + were not/werent + V-ing
I/ he/she was going to the
I/he/she wasnt going to the
Was I/ he/she/ going to the
bank.
bank.
bank?
We/you/they were
We/you/were not /werent
Were we/you/they talking
talking about interest rates.
talking about interest rates.
about interest rates?
Uses
Examples
1. for an action which was in progress when We were playing football in the garden when
another action interrupted it
it started to rain.
2. for two or more simultaneous actions in the I was cooking dinner while Marry was
past
watching TV.
3. for an action which was in progress at a
stated time in the past
5. to describe the atmosphere, setting etc. and
to give background information to a story
At 10 oclock last night I was driving back

home from the party.
The birds were singing and the sun was
shining when something strange happened...
Time expressions: while, when as, all morning/evening/week, etc.

Note: When there are two past continuous forms in a sentence with the same subject we can
avoid repetition by just using the present participle (-ing form) and leave out the verb to be.
Example: He was walking along, he was singing a song. He was walking along, singing a
song.
GRAMMAR PRACTICE
6. Yesterday at 3 p.m. the following people were in the middle of an action. Write
positive sentences using the verbs in the past tense continuous:
a. You / play / cards
b. Alice / walk / around the lake
c. Caron / listen / to the radio
d. We / read / a book about Australia
e. Linda / look for / her ring
f. Fiona and Sam / visit / the castle
g. Ben / wash / the car
h. Kim and I / wait / in the park
i. Helen / cook / dinner
j. Greg and Phil / count / their money
69
7. Put the verbs in the past tense continuous:

a. When I phoned my friends, they (play) . monopoly.
b. Yesterday at six I (prepare) . dinner.
c. The kids (play) . in the garden when it suddenly began to rain.
d. I (practise) . the guitar when he came home.
e. We (not / cycle) . all day.
f. While Aaron (work) . in his room, his friends (swim) . in the pool.
g. I tried to tell them the truth but they (listen / not) . .
h. What (you / do) . yesterday?
i. Most of the time we (sit) . in the park.
8. Ask for information about the bold part of each sentence:
a. Henry was living in London last year.
b. Anita was working at a restaurant last week.
c. Ricky was waiting for Polly.
d. Sarah was singing a song.
e. Joe was reading a book.
f. At six o'clock, Mary and her family were having dinner.
g. Bob was walking home because his car had a flat tire.
h. At half past seven, Mr Logan was driving home.
i. The children were playing in the sandbox.
j. Claire was visiting her best friend.
a. Bancomatele dau acum posibilitatea efecturii celor mai uzuale operaiuni, precum
retrageri i transferuri. b. Deschideam un cont de economii la aceast sucursal cnd mi-a
sunat telefonul mobil. c. A putea s comand un carnet de cecuri, v rog? d. La ora 13 el
completa un formular pentru un cont curent. e. Ieri pe vremea aceasta mi ateptam soia
pentru a depune nite bani n contul nostru. f. n timp ce eu completam un cec pentru
achitarea mrfii, colegul meu i fcea recepia. g. Se gndea s-i ia un cec de cltorie
deoarece reprezint una din metodele cele mai sigure de a transporta bani n strintate.
h. Primeam un raport al bncii n fiecare lun, dar m-am hotrt s-mi retrag toi banii i s-i
investesc n imobiliare.
WRITING FOCUS
10. Make up a dialogue asking and giving information about bank services.
SPEAKING FOCUS
11. Choose one of these questions to discuss:
a. Can you name any major foreign banks where one could open an account?
b. How do banks make their money?
c. What recent banking developments can you mention?
70
Unit
Unit 11
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
From a smile and a wave to a message on the Internet, communication keeps us in
touch with the rest of the world. It is a process of sharing facts, ideas, opinions, thoughts
and information through speech, writing, gestures or symbols between two or more persons.
Imagine that you have a company and you begin a day's work with a brief meeting
with your employees. Later on that day, you study some visual graphs of production rates of
the past two weeks. After lunch, you get an e-mail regarding a complaint from a customer
saying that the product isnt working properly, so then, you notify your employees and
explain the case after apologizing to the customer about the inconvenience. By the end of
the day a shipment has finally arrived, containing parts that you have waited for to finish
assembling your product, and you notify your employees once again so they can begin
preparing. Finally at the end of the day, you receive a call; it turns out to be a customer who
is interested in buying your product. What you practically did for a days work was
communicating, beginning with the brief meeting you had with your employees to the
customer you spoke on the phone at the end of the day.
The way you communicated in business was important, because you had to change
the customers negative attitude into a positive attitude and satisfy the customers needs.
Your communication skills made the customer feel more relaxed, giving you the opportunity
to fix the problem. Consequently, if you have good communication skills you will always end
with great results.
Todays technology has significantly changed the methods used to communicate in
business. Emailing and faxing have become very popular methods to communicate in business.
But the more traditional communication methods still have an important place in most businesses.
Verbal communication in groups and between individuals is still a popular method of
business communication. Mastering the art of verbal communication can help you
communicate ideas and solve problems in ways that everyone understands.
Phone communication remains an important means of business communication
because it can link partners, employees and business professionals nationally and globally.
Costs of phone communication can be significant, especially if the business requires a lot of
international calls.
The Internet and social media Web-based portals, such as Facebook and Twitter,
represent ways for businesses to communicate important information in a matter of seconds.
Faxing is a fast way to communicate information and data as well. Faxing can be
especially beneficial when information needs to be communicated in hard copy.
Written communication is another important method of communication because it
helps establish a paper trail. Believe it or not, companies still write memos and other reports
that communicate information internally throughout a company.
Non-verbal communication is also used in business more often than we realise.
When your manager reads your report, he may not need to say anything to show you how
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he feels. The way he holds the report and the look on his face immediately tells you if he is
delighted, surprised, disappointed or angry.
Many aspects of communication come down to not what is said but how it is said.
In fact, facial expressions and gestures have always been a powerful way of communicating
and many expressions have the same meaning all over the world. For example, people
smile when they are happy or frown when they are sad. Equally, showing your open hands
is widely recognised as a sign of peace, while raising your fist can be a sign of anger or
aggression. However, some gestures may have different meanings in different places. A
friendly sign in one culture might be impolite in another - so take care!
Another way of showing your feelings is through touch or sounds that aren't words. Sighs
can show that you are bored, while laughter usually tells people that you are amused. Handshakes,
kisses and hugs are different ways of greeting people or signs of affection and love.
On the other hand, what we wear can also communicate something about us.
Business people usually wear expensive suits in order to appear serious, people in the
entertainment industry wear glamorous outfits, and teenagers might wear designer jeans
and pierce their noses. So when you meet someone for the first time, remember, it's not just
what you say that makes an impression, but also what you wear and what you do!
Vocabulary Focus
graph an abstract representation of a
set of objects
complaint a feeling or declaration of
disapproval
properly in an adequate manner
suitable for the occasion or purpose
shipment transportation of goods and
cargo, by land, air, and sea
inconvenience something that is a
source of irritation
to assemble to form by putting together
parts or materials
to notify to make known openly or

publicly
memo a message on paper from one
person or group
to master to acquire complete
knowledge, understanding, or skill in
hard copy a permanent reproduction or
copy on paper of any transmitted data
paper trail the written evidence of
someone's activities
to pierce to make a hole or series of
holes, to puncture
Vocabulary Practice
1. What is the importance of communication in business?
2. What methods of business communication can you mention?
3. What positive examples of business communication can you mention?
4. What negative examples of business communication can you mention?
5. Enumerate some types of non-verbal communication.
6. How can a persons body language affect communication?
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7. Do you consider that facial expressions, gestures, eye contact, posture, or the tone
of your voice can help you communicate in business?
8. Comment on: Managerial communication sets the companys direction and builds
professional relationships that ultimately determine the performance culture of the
workplace.
2. a. Write the word family of the verb to communicate.
b. Give the corresponding nouns to the following verbs:
Verb
Noun
Verb
to communicate
to produce
to express
to speak
to complain
to master
to report
to meet
to ship
to transmit
c. Find synonyms for:
Word
1. relaxed
2. to notify
3. customer
4. to communicate
5. globally
6. to change
7. glamorous
8. to meet
Noun
Synonym
d. Match the expressions 1 5 with their meanings a e.

1. to keep in touch
a. to change something for a specific purpose
2. is widely recognized
b. to threaten someone or something
3. take care
c. think about what you are doing
4. specially adapted
d. accepted around the world
5. to warn off
e. to stay in contact with someone
3. Fill in the blanks with the following words and then translate the text into Romanian.
time, help, talking, many, read, essential, about, intimidating, crucial
Tips to Improve Verbal Communication
Verbal communication skills are .. in todays business environment both
formally and informally. The following tips .. you think about how you can improve your
verbal communications skills, whether in planned or unplanned situations.
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1. Read more. Simply increasing what you .. (business texts, novels, newspapers,
etc) can improve your vocabulary and help you express your ideas more clearly.
2. Think about the words. Too .. words will bore your listener, take up too much
time and result in losing credibility. You must not use words that people dont understand as
you may appear .. and make them feel inferior.
3. Listen and be interested. Listening more and .. less means you understand your
partner and bring him into the conversation. This also means showing respect to the other party.
4. Use examples. If youre speaking .. a business matter, use facts, hypothetical
situations or company history to clarify or illustrate your statements.
5. Think before you react. How you phrase your words is a .. aspect of business
relationships. Therefore, take the.. to carefully build your language.
4. Match the terms to their definitions:
1. telegram
2. mobile phone
3. fax
4. voice mail
5. e-mail
a. the method of exchanging digital messages on the Internet

b. telephonic transmission of scanned printed material (both text
and images)
c. a mobile electronic device used to make telephone calls
d. a message sent over a telegraph
e. a computer based system that allows users and subscribers to
exchange personal voice messages
5. Say if the following sentences are true or false:

a. Sharing or exchanging information and ideas between persons means communication.
True
False
b. The process of communication may not always contain a message.
True False
c. Feedback is one of the elements of the process of communication.
True
False
d. A traffic policeman showing a stop sign is a process of communication.
True
False
e. Communication with the help of words is known as non-verbal communication.
True
False
f. Verbal communication may be oral or written.
True
False
g. There are various ways through which we communicate our message. These are
called types of communication.
True
False
h. Telegrams, faxes or e-mails are means of communication normally used to send
urgent messages.
True
False
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GRAMMAR FOCUS
PAST PERFECT SIMPLE
Affirmative
S + had+ V3
I/you/he/she/it /we/you/they
had sent the message
Negative
S + had not / hadnt+ V3
I/you/he/she/we/you/they had
not (hadnt) sent the message
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Interrogative
Had + S + V3?
Had I/you/he/she/we/you/they
sent the message?
Uses:
1. to express an action which
happened before another past
action or before a stated time in
the past
Examples:
Lucy had finished writing all her letters and emails by six
oclock.
By the time I arrived in my office the boss had already left.
The new secretary said that she had brought the papers.
2. to denote a past action that

took place over a period of time
The production manager had been in the factory for 50

minutes. Pat had lived in London for 10 years.
She had worked there since 2007 when I met her.
Time expressions: for, since, before, after, already, just, till/until, when, by the time,
scarcely/hardly when, no soonerthan, etc.
Note: The use of scarcely, hardly, no sooner in initial position generates inversion between the
subject and the auxiliary.
Examples: No sooner had they finished work than the manager called them back.
Hardly / Scarcely had they returned from the U.S.A. when they were sent on a
business trip to Portugal.
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Affirmative
S + had+ been +V-ing
I/you/he/she/it/we/you/they
had been talking
Negative
S + had not / hadnt been+ V-ing
I/you/he/she/we/you/they had
not (hadnt) been talking
Uses:
1. to put emphasis on the duration of an
action which started and finished in the
past, before another action or stated time
in the past
2. to express an action which lasted for
some time in the past and whose result
was visible in the past
Interrogative
Had + S + been+ V-ing?
Had
I/you/he/she/it/we/you/they
been talking?
Examples:
I have been walking for about half an hour when I
realized I was out of town.
By the time her mom arrived, she had been
talking on the phone for 10 minutes.
She had been swimming and her hair was still wet.
We had been working and we were tired.
Time expressions: for, since, how long, before, until/till, by the time, etc.
GRAMMAR PRACTICE
6. Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the right forms of
past perfect simple or past perfect continuous:
I'm sorry I left without you last night, but I told you to meet me early because the show
started at 8:00. I ...................... (try) to get tickets for that play for months, and I didn't want to
miss it. By the time I finally left the coffee shop where we were supposed to meet, I.................
(have) five cups of coffee and I..................... (wait) over an hour. I had to leave because
I...................... (arrange) to meet Kathy in front of the theater.
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When I arrived at the theater, Kathy...........................(pick up, already) the tickets and
she was waiting for us by the entrance. She was really angry because she..................... (wait)
for more than half an hour. She said she................... (give up, almost) and.............. (go into)
the theater without us. Kathy told me you.................. (be) late several times in the past and
that she would not make plans with you again in the future. She mentioned that
she..................... (miss) several movies because of your late arrivals. I think you owe her an
apology. And, in the future, I strongly advise you to arrive on time!
7. Put the verbs in brackets in the correct tense (past perfect tense simple or paste
tense simple):
a. After Alice............ (to spend) his holiday in England she............. (to want) to learn English.
b. Morris.................(to phone) Dad at work before he...................(to leave) for his trip.
c. Mary............. (to turn on) the radio after she.................... (to finish) her homework.
d. When he.................. (to arrive) at the stadium the match................... (to start) already.
e. My cousin................... (to live) in London before he...................(to move) to Rome.
f. Before she............... (to paint) the portrait she....................... (to play) the piano.
g. Mother................ (to watch) a movie after the children................... (to go) to bed.
h. After Marc .............. (to prepare) dinner he.................. (to phone) his girlfriend.
i. I.................... (to be) very tired because I........................ (to study) too much.
j. They................ (to ride) their bikes before they.......................(to meet) their friends.
7. Rewrite the sentences using the words in brackets:
a. As soon as he went into the bank, one of the robbers attacked him.
(No soonerthan)
b. She fired him as soon as she was appointed manager.
(Hardlywhen)
c. As soon as he stepped into his office, the cell phone rang.
(No soonerthan)
d. They read the text first. Immediately after that they answered the questions.
(Hardlywhen)
8. Underline the correct form in italics:
1. When she entered her flat she had found / found that someone had broken / broke in.
2. He had been driving / was driving home when / after he crashed into a tree.
3. When Laura arrived / had arrived at the restaurant, Tony had gone / had been gone home.
4. When / While I entered the room, they had just / yet finished their dinner.
5. After they had been living / lived there since / for two years they decided to build an
extension to their house.
6. While / After he had graduated from university, he joined / was joining the army.
7. She had been watching / watched TV since / when Tome came home.
8. She had never / ever been to South America before / after.
9. Translate into English using past perfect simple, past perfect continuous or past
tense simple:
77
a. Mi-a prut ru c nu i-am mprtit gndurile mele. b. De ndat ce a terminat de scris emailul, l-a trimis tuturor prietenilor si. c. El nu fcuse nimic nainte de a-mi cere sfatul n
legtur cu mijloacele de comunicare pe care le putea folosi ntr-o asemenea situaie.
d. Secretara mi-a spus c directorul vorbea la telefon de o jumtate de or. e. Ei
comunicaser prin scrisori nainte s apar Internetul. f. Ieri pe vremea aceasta, Tom vorbea
cu partenerii de afaceri de un sfert de or. g. Cnd avusese probleme cu vocea, el folosise
foarte mult limbajul non-verbal. h. Citisem mult despre comunicarea verbal nainte s scrie o
lucrare despre aceasta. i. L-am ntrebat dac a expediat deja scrisoarea. j. Studiasem la
universitate timp de 3 ani nainte de a ncepe s lucrez n aceast companie.
WRITING FOCUS
10. Verbal communication is the essence of what most of us do in business - whether we
are making a business plan, dealing with some difficult situations, revitalising a team,
responding to complaints or creating an exceptional customer service climate. The essential
actions taken by managers and staff happen through various types of communication.
Provide some examples of bad communication and discuss upon the best improvement
solutions. Write an essay on this topic.
SPEAKING FOCUS
11. a. Sending short text messages, talking over the phone, chatting on the internet; what is
the importance of these means of communication in your everyday life?
b. Do you consider that it is important to know how to interpret body language in order to
predict other people's mood and thinking? Does body language (arms crossed, standing,
sitting, relaxed, tense) send a message to the others? Give clear examples.
c. Should universities often organize communication sessions to improve students
communication skills?
d. Is text messaging language detrimental to the grammatical skills of youth culture?
e. Face to face communication is better than other types of communication such as
letters, emails or telephone calls. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
f. What is your opinion about writing letters? Do you believe it is an old-fashioned
method to communicate?
g. Express your opinion on the following statement: If communication is not effective,
coordination breaks down, relationships suffer, mistakes multiply and productivity
decreases.
78
Unit 12
HIGHER EDUCATION
On their first day at the University Campus in Porto, Portugal, three Erasmus
students meet as roommates for six months: Bill is from California, US, Will is from London,
UK, and Andrei is from Piteti, Romania a student at Constantin Brncoveanu University.
The students introduce themselves, make themselves comfortable in their room and then
they go out at the campus cafeteria to get to know each other a little bit better and to chat.
Andrei: So, Bill, can you tell us a few things about the higher education system in the
US, because Id like to apply there for a scholarship in the future.
Bill: Well, in the US we have public and private education. Thus public universities
are usually state-sponsored, while private schools are independent their funding being
ensured primarily by the tuition they charge and by sponsorship.
Andrei: From what I know post-secondary education in the US is known as college
or university. Is there a difference between them?
Bill: Yes, there is. Universities are a group of colleges, meaning that when you go to
university you will graduate from one (or more) of their colleges. So universities are bigger,
better known and they also focus on research. Colleges offer degrees in one specific area,
they have smaller classes, creating thus a more friendly learning environment for students
and a better student-teacher interaction. Single colleges tend to be smaller, but they are a
bit cheaper than universities.
Will: In the UK higher education is provided by three main types of institutions:
universities, colleges and institutions of higher education. All universities are autonomous
institutions and most of them are divided into faculties which may be subdivided into
departments.
Andrei: In Romania we have a similar system: universities are made up of faculties,
which have in their turn specialized departments.
Will: Bill, which are the most important criteria for admission to university?
Bill: Well, in the US students usually apply for admission and the criteria involve the
rigor and grades obtained in high school. In addition, extra curricular activities, a personal
essay and an interview are commonly used for college admission.
Will: In the UK the most common qualification for entry to higher education is the
General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) at Advanced (A) level. After taking this
exam (in which students usually take up to ten subjects), students may choose to continue
their education at vocational or technical colleges, or at the university. I must say that Alevel examinations are required for university entrance in the UK.
Bill: How about Romania? Which are the admission criteria in Romania?
Andrei: Well, in our country the most important criterion is the Baccalaureate diploma
for which you have to take a final exam at the end of the four-year high school cycle,
comprising two or three oral examinations and four or five written ones. Furthermore,
Romanian private and state universities are independent and autonomous institutions, with
79
their own internal policies regarding admission, exams and graduation. Universities are also
free to provide full-time education and part-time education or distance education for the
students who work or want to get a job.
Will: Bill, can you tell us a little bit about the types of diplomas awarded at the end of
your studies?
Bill: Four years of study lead to a Bachelor of Arts (BA), a Bachelor of Science (BS),
or sometimes another type of bachelors degree.
Will: In the UK there are three university levels. The first level lasts three or four
years and leads to a Bachelors degree and the second level is the Masters degree which
could be a Master of Arts (MA), Master of Business Administration (MBA) or other types.
The third level is the Doctor of Philosophy, also known for short as D.Phil. or PhD.
Andrei: So, there are a lot of similarities but also differences between these three
systems of higher education, with their positive and negative aspects, but the important
thing is that they offer opportunities for study, for international student and teacher
exchange, for different types of scholarships and international experiences.
Will: Yes, I agree. Its vital to have the desire to learn more and to be open to new
experiences and challenges once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.
Vocabulary Focus
to apply (for) to put in an application or
request
scholarship a grant of financial aid
awarded to a student, as for the purpose
of attending a college, or because of
academic merit
tuition fee a fee paid for instruction,
especially for higher education
to pursue to apply oneself to (ones
studies, hobbies, interests, etc.)
emphasis special importance or

significance
vocational of or relating to applied
educational courses concerned with skills
needed for an occupation, trade, or
profession
to award to grant or to give especially
as a reward for merit; to bestow, to confer
undergraduate a college or university
student who has not yet received a
bachelors degree (undergrad)
Vocabulary Practice
1. Answer the following questions.
a. What does higher education mean and which are the advantages of attending university?
b. What types of higher education can you mention and what is the difference between them?
c. What is the difference between a college and a university?
d. Which are the general selection criteria for students who want to enrol to a university?
e. How can a student obtain free tuition or a scholarship?
f. What types of diplomas or degrees can you obtain after graduating each of the three
levels of higher education?
g. Do you consider that students who enrol on a full-time basis must be obliged to
attend classes?
80
2. a. Find the word family of the verb to educate.

b. Write nouns derived from the following verbs:
Verb
to attend
to graduate
Noun
Verb
to study
to research
Noun
Verb
to enrol
to know
Noun
3. Match the following terms with their definitions.

a. credit
1. the time during which a school, college or university holds classes
b. teaching staff
2. teaching by giving a discourse on some subject, typically to a class
c. graduate student 3. a unit of academic work successfully completed; they vary
depending on a particular course or difficulty of the subject
d. major
4. a discipline, a branch of knowledge
e. placement test 5. a type of test given to students in order to place them at a level of
class most suited to their needs
f. undergraduate
6. the subject studied at a less concentrated level and in order to
round out an education
g. academic year 7. a student who has entered studies for his Masters or Doctoral degree
h. minor
8. professors or teachers who are employed at an educational institution
i. lecture
9. a student who must have a Bachelors degree before continuing in
a graduate program for a Masters degree or Doctorate degree
j. subject
10. the subject in which a student specializes and, usually, the area
in which a student plans a career
4. Correct the following sentences using the expressions from the box below.
lecture; to resit an exam/to retake a failed exam; subject; to skip classes/lectures; to take an
exam/to sit an exam/to do an exam; to be expelled from the university; to fail/miss an exam/to
do badly in an exam; teacher; to pass an exam/to do well in an exam; grade.
1. I cant come out. Im studying. Im passing an exam tomorrow.

2. Congratulations! I know you managed your examination.
3. You can study various careers at this university.
4. I got good notes in my continuous assessment last semester.
5. She is a professor in a primary school.
6. He gave an interesting 60-minute conference on management.
7. Theres no problem if you fail the exam. You can pass it.
8. I like this subject so I never attend classes.
9. If I dont take these exams I will be thrown out of the university.
10. I wont get the scholarship this term because I passed my last exam.
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GRAMMAR FOCUS
FUTURE TENSES
Future Tense Simple
Affirmative
S + Shall/Will/ll + V1
Interrogative
Shall/Will + S + V1?
Negative
S + Shall not (shant) / Will not
(wont) + V1
I/we shall not /will not go
You/he/she/it/they will not go
I/we shall/will/ll go
Shall/Will I/we go?
You/he/she/it/they will/ll go
Will you he/she/it/they will/ll go?
Uses
Examples
1. to talk about future events, to make Next August they will open a new branch of
predictions, assumptions, to make invitations, this university.
requests, decisions on the spot
Will you join us for lunch?
2. in type 1 conditional clauses (introduced by Ill call you if something goes wrong.
if, unless, in case, provided that, etc.) and time Well write to you when we know the result of
clauses (introduced by when, after, before, till, the test.
as soon as, etc.) we use no future, but present
Time adverbs: tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, next week/month/year/etc., soon, in the (near)
future, in two/three/etc. days/months/years/etc. time, etc.
Future Tense Continuous
Affirmative
S + Shall/Will/ll + Be +
V-ing
I/we shall/will be studying
You/he/she/it/they will be
studying
Interrogative
Shall/Will + S +Be + V -ing?
Shall/Will I/we be studying?
Will you he/she/it/they will be
studying?
Negative
S + Shall not (shant) / Will not
(wont) + Be +V-ing
I/we shall not /will not be
studying
You/he/she/it/they will not be
studying
Uses
Examples
1. to describe an activity Next year Ill be studying in London.
in progress in the future or While Im studying, youll be cooking dinner.
to say that something will Dont cut the onions! Youll be crying!
definitely happen
This time tomorrow hell be taking his graduation exam.
Time adverbs: this time tomorrow/next Monday/next week/next month/etc., all day tomorrow/
next year/ etc., all week/month/year/etc.
Other Ways of Expressing Future
Be going to
S + To Be(conjugated) + Going to + V1
It is used to make a connection
between present and future, to
express plans and intentions
(things we have already decided
to do) or to make predictions
Be due to
S + To Be(conjugated) + Due to + V1
82
Were going to have lunch with the

professor from New York.
Be careful! That rock is going to fall!
Look at the sky! Its going to rain.
He is due to name the new chief of the
Be about to
Present
tense simple
Present
tense
continuous
It is used to express things we

expect to happen.
S + To Be(conjugated) + About to + V1
It is used to express things that
will or will not happen very soon .
S + V1
It is used to talk about events in
the future based on a fixed
timetable, program, calendar etc.
S + To Be(conjugated) + V-ing
It is used to express things we
have arranged to do in the future.
company in a few days.

We are to move in a new house soon.
Some people say that the place of
development in technology is not about
to slow down soon.
Im about to leave in five minutes.
Jims plane leaves London at 12 p.m.
The academic year starts on October 1st.
Ann is leaving tomorrow morning for

London.
Im seeing my friend today at lunch.
GRAMMAR PRACTICE
5. Choose the best future tense form in the following sentences:
a. Please dont leave until I wont come/come back.
b. Ill meet/be meeting the bank manager on Monday morning.
c. While I am taking my exam, youll be thinking/think about me.
d. This time next year I will study/will be studying for my admission exam at university.
e. When she will come/comes back, let me know.
f. Be careful! If you take one more step, youll fall/are going to fall.
g. Shall/will you join us for dinner tonight?
h. Tomorrow between five and seven Helen will study/will be studying the policy of
Erasmus scholarships.
i. If I get a visa, Ill go/Im going to the US to apply for a state university.
6. Correct the mistakes in the following sentences:
a. We were discussing your case tomorrow, so Ill be able to give you an answer soon.
b. You miss the class if you dont hurry!
c. Well go out if the weather will be fine.
d. When youll receive the results of the test, please let me know.
e. Tomorrow between six and eight they work on their project presentation.
f. Youll be able to speak English better if youll study more and come to classes.
g. The plane to London leave at 3 a.m. and arrive at 5:30 on Monday.
h. While we study they will be visit the park.
i. He becomes the vice-president of the company this week.
j. Shall you come with us on vacation?
7. Put the verbs in brackets in the right future tense:
a. What we (do) if we miss the plane?
b. Private higher education (develop) .. throughout the country soon.
c. After the graduation ceremony we (go) out to celebrate.
d. I hope that the Romanian grading system (be) .. similar to the one in the UK and
US in the future.
e. I (apply) . for a private university after I graduate high school.
83
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
If I (study) . better, I (become) . a good student.

I hope when we (come) back the children (study) for the exam.
He (go) to the library, he has a project to finish.
This time next year our students (work) as managers.
She (become) a PhD professor in management sciences next year.
8. Translate the following texts

A. into English:
a. Sistemul de nvmnt superior romnesc este structurat pe 3 niveluri de studii
universitare: studii universitare de licen, studii de masterat i studii doctorale. b. n
nvmntul superior nu sunt admise discriminri pe criterii de vrst, naionalitate,
etnie, sex, origine social sau orientare politic. c. Majoritatea specialitilor consider
c instituiile de nvmnt superior au nevoie de o mai bun gestionare intern,
considernd c parteneriatele cu diverse intreprinderi i concurena vor consolida
pozitia universitior. d. Cadrele didactice recunosc necesitatea unor standarde de
calitate i a unor etichete de calitate europene, iar majoritatea cred c mobilitile
studenilor ar trebui s devin o parte obligatorie a programelor de studiu.
B. into Romanian:
Graduates of American law schools are finding that their chosen career is less
lucrative than they had hoped.
The Apprentice, a television show in which contestants compete for the privilege of
working for Donald Trump, presents 16 people who are down on their luck, having lost
previous jobs or otherwise having to start all over again. No fewer than five of them are
lawyers. The legal-job market in America remains blocked. But the numbers applying to law
school are still soaring, and students are taking out ever bigger loans as tuition fees grow
faster than lawyers salaries. Increasingly, they are graduating into a world of overblown
expectation and debt.
Graduates chances in the job market have worsened since the cleaning of 2009,
when firms laid off young lawyers and withdrew job offers. The National Law Journal says
that the 250 biggest firms cut their numbers of attorneys by 4% in 2009 and were projected
to cut by another 1.1% in 2010, making for the worst two-year period in the last 33 years.
WRITING FOCUS
9. a. Find information on the concept of home schooling and briefly present the main ideas
in a summary and then state your opinion on this type of learning referring to its advantages
and disadvantages.
b. Write some things that you would like to improve about the university where you study.
c. Make a comparison between high school life and university life, referring to their
advantages and disadvantages.
84
SPEAKING FOCUS
10. Select and debate one or more of the following topics:
a. The final exam (baccalaureate) should or should not be eliminated.
b. Admission to universities is or is not necessary and/or relevant.
c. How should universities organize their exams in order to be more efficient both for
teachers and students?
d. Which are the benefits of scholarships (for example Erasmus) for students? Would
you like to apply for one?
e. Do you think that students who apply for an Erasmus scholarship improve their
academic information and intensify research in their field of study?
f. Which are the main areas of the Romanian higher education system that should be
improved? How?
g. How do you see the Romanian education system as compared to the foreign
ones?
h. Comment on: The world does not need gorgeous halls and rooms for its
development, but schools with competent teachers and free tuition for talented
young disciples who are unable to pay the expense of study.
i. Do you agree or disagree: The power of education and study can be your
salvation in life? Motivate your answer.
j. Some people believe that university students should be required to attend classes
(in some countries it is mandatory for students who want to graduate university).
Others believe that going to classes should be optional for students. Which point of
view do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer.
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Unit 13
THE INTERNET A GREAT INVENTION OF
MODERN TIMES
Everywhere you look, you notice something related to the Internet. The Internet is an
impressive creation and the entire world is more and more addicted to it.
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that facilitates
sharing and exchanging information serving billions of users worldwide. And today people
can access the Internet almost anywhere
The most traditional communication media: telephone, music, film and television are
redefined by the Internet. The Internet has accelerated new forms of human interaction.
Online shopping has boomed both major retailer outlets and small artisans and traders.
Educational materials at all levels, from pre-school to post doctoral, are available on
websites. In distance education, it helps with homework and other assignments, self-guided
learning, etc. It is easier for people to access educational information at any level from
anywhere.
Content management systems allow collaborating teams to work on shared sets of
documents simultaneously without accidentally destroying each others work.
The Internet allows computer users to remotely access other computers and
information stores easily, wherever they may be. This is one of the newest ways of working
from home, collaboration and information sharing in many industries.
The web has also enabled individuals and organisations to publish ideas and
information to a potentially large audience online at great reduced expense and time delay.
Publishing a web page, a blog or building a website involves little initial cost and many costfree services are available.
Advertising on popular web pages is very profitable, while e-commerce or the sale of
products and services directly via the web continues to grow.
Electronic mail or email is an important communication service available on the
Internet. Internet telephony is another common communication service made possible by
the creation of the Internet.
The Internet has enabled new forms of social interaction, activities and organizations
thanks to its basic features such as usability and access.
Vocabulary Focus
worldwide happening or existing all over outlet a shop or a place where a particular
the world
product is sold
boom a sudden major increase in trade, artisan a worker who has special skill and
profits etc. in a particular country or region training, especially one who makes things
boom and bust a situation in which a individual a person considered separately
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countrys economy regularly goes through from their society or community

periods of success followed by a period of failure
retailer a person or a company that sells feature an important part or aspect of
goods directly to the public for their own use something
Vocabulary Practice
a. What is the Internet?
b. How often do you use the Internet and in what purpose?
c. Which are the advantages and the disadvantages in using the Internet?
d. How does the Internet help individuals and organizations?
e. How important is the Internet for the advertising industry?
f. Do you consider that the Internet can help you learn English? Do you take advantage
of this?
2. Complete the text with the words or phrases in the list: connected, download,
crashes, delete, back up, logged, burn, plugs, virus.
This book takes the reader from the moment he .......... in his computer through to
complicated tasks like recovering files. It starts with an introduction to all the basic functions
and explains in simple language how to ............your data so it doesnt get lost if the
computer........... or if you accidentally...........an important file. It also has up-to-date
information about online services and step-by-step instructions for how to get .............to the
Internet and useful sites to visit once youve ...........on. In no time at all, you will be able
to............ files and install software from the Net. All the key skills that most users need to
know such as how to........... a CD and what to do if your PC gets a...........are included. A
must-have book for anyone thinking of buying a PC is also required.
3. Match the following terms with their definitions:
a. internet
b. e-commerce
c. blog
d. advertising
e. e-mail
f. trader
g. web page
1. someone who buys or sells things
2. an announcement informing people about a product, service or event
3. buying or selling goods on the Internet
4. page or document that you can read on a web site
5. a system for sending messages from one computer to another
6. a type of diary on a web site that is changed regularly to give the latest news
7. a computer system that allows people in different parts of the world to exchange
information
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4. Fill in: there or it:

a. ..........are a lot of people online and .......overloads the server.
b. .........s so much you can do to improve your memory if you think you are losing........
c. ......s pointless trying to remind him, he forgets everything.
d. .......was such a pity I couldnt come, but......was nothing I could do about it.
e. .......s time to upgrade our computer.........are some fantastic laptops available now.
f. .....s impossible to know what changes........will be to data storage in the future.
g. .......s probably going to be unsafe. .......are a lot of ways for hackers to get into the system.
GRAMMAR FOCUS
MODAL VERBS
Can, could, shall, should, will, would, may, might, must, need, ought to, used to, dare are
modal verbs. Modal verbs have more than one meaning in English. They are used to express ability,
possibility, probability, logical assumptions, permission, necessity, advice, criticism, obligation,
requests, offers, suggestions, prohibition, duty.
Characteristics of modal verbs:
- they do not take -s in the third person singular: He should check the email.
- they do not have long infinitive forms: can, could, may, might etc.
- they are always followed by a short infinitive: The Internet can offer a huge benefit.
- they invert with the subject in the interrogative: May I use your computer?
- they can be directly negated by not: You must not forget to confirm it.
-they do not have forms for all tenses, but they have equivalents to express them:
can to be able to
may to be allowed to / to be permitted to
must to have to
Meanings of modal verbs
USE
Ability
Possibility
Probability
PRESENT / FUTURE
John can work on computer.
PAST
John could/was able to work on

computer. (past repeated action)
She can make up computer programmes. He was able to make such a difficult
decision.
He can still be at the office.
He could have had a dispute with the
She could be angry.
manager.
He might need a new laptop.
Jane might have broken the keyboard.
He will work tomorrow.
They should have finished by now.
They should meet him there.
All the students ought to have started
Justin ought to be in London by 10 the course.
oclock in the morning.
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Logical
assumption
He must be exhausted.
She cant be serious.
They couldnt be on a trip.
He must have won the competition.

They cant have broken the password.
They couldnt have been there all day
long.
He was allowed to attend the business
the meeting.
She was not allowed to take the floor.
Who else can use your password?

Guests may not smoke in
conference room.
Might I bring a friend with me
Necessity
All users must pay for these programmes. I had to pay for this computer game.
She had to find a new address on the
He has to find a new address.
Internet.
The computers need to be fed with new He had to sell his products online.
data. We ought to reply to his Inquiry
Mary didnt have to turn off the
computer.
Advice
You should type faster.
You should have paid more attention.
They ought to keep to the speed limit. You ought to have sent the results by
Shall I place the order online?
e-mail.
Criticism
They should warn us.
They should have warned us.
She could at least wait until 4 oclock. She could at least have waited until 4
oclock.
Obligation
I must pay for such information.
I had to pay for such information.
We ought to give more money to We ought to have given more money
charity.
to charity.
Requests
Can I use your computer? (informal)
Could I use your computer? (polite)
May I use your computer please? (formal)
Will you give me a hand?
Offers
What can I do for you?
Shall I help you?
Would you like me to do it for you?
Suggestions Shall we stop here?
The secretary could have sent all the
Could we type all the contracts?
letters.
Prohibition
They cant use the Internet at work.
You couldnt use the Internet at work.
You mustnt break the rules.
Students may not talk during the test.
Duty
All users must meet the rules.
All users had to meet the rules.
People must live in harmony.
She ought to have been more intetested.
Permission
GRAMMAR PRACTICE
5. Choose the correct modal + infinitive in each sentence:
a. You should remind him the email because he might / should forget.
b. He hasnt placed the order yet, but he could / cant do it tomorrow.
c. If the manager has another meeting, he should / must call to let me know.
d. I think he is not going to dismiss me, so I neednt / cant worry.
e. The Internet must / can provide us a lot of useful information.
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f. Shall / would I help you send the mail?

g. They could / mustnt get the information faster thanks to the Internet.
h. You could / dare upgrade your computer.
6. Translate into English using modal verbs:
a. Vrei, te rog, s nchizi calculatorul? b. Nu am putut niciodat s folosesc aceste programe.
c. Lucram foarte mult pe calculator cnd eram n liceu. d. nvmntul la distan ar putea fi
mbuntit datorit Internetului. e. Internetul poate fi accesat aproape oriunde. f. Poi gsi
informaii despre orice n cteva secunde. g. Ar trebui s te conectezi la Internet de ndat ce
ajungi acolo. h. Dac te conectezi la Internet, poi avea mai muli clieni pentru aceast gam
de produse. i. Nu trebuie s mai verifici adresa de email. Am verificat-o eu deja.
7. Translate into Romanian the following fragment about the birth of YouTube:
In 2005, Chad Hurley and Steve Chen, two software designers from California were
invited to a dinner party. Several people had brought theirs camcorders to the party and
these people were complaining about how difficult it was to share home videos online. That
was when Chad and Steve came up with the idea for YouTube, the site which makes you
easy to upload home videos onto the Internet. They formed a company, borrowed some
money and set up a business.
It turned out that millions of people already had short home video clips that they
thought it might be fun to share with other enthusiasts around the world.
Launched in December 2005, YouTube soon contained more than a million short
video clips. People were uploading 8,000 clips a day, and watching three millions a day.
They had mostly heard about the site through word by mouth, email and hyperlink, and
eighty percent of the clips had been made by amateurs.
WRITING FOCUS
8. Write an article about the impact of the Internet on your life.
SPEAKING FOCUS
a. Do you think that computers are the greatest invention of modern times?
b. Do you think that our lives have been improved by the Internet?
c. Which is the best way to find out about the news: television, newspapers or the Internet?
d. Have you ever chatted on the Internet? Is it dangerous to meet people on the Internet?
e. A lot of personal information is now kept on computers. Do you find this worrying? Why?
Why not?
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Unit 14
MASS MEDIA
Since the 1950s, when newspapers, radio and TV began to be the primary sources of
information for a larger and larger percentage of people, these media began to be
considered as central instruments of mass communication.
The term mass media refers collectively to all information technologies, including
the Internet, television, newspapers, film and radio, which are used to transmit news to a
large number of people.
In this era of globalization, people depend on information and communication to
remain connected with the world. Consequently, it is imperative to explain the three basic
functions of mass media; they provide news/information, entertainment and education. The
first and foremost function of the media in a society is to provide news and information to the
masses; that is why the present era is also named the information age. People need
news/information for various reasons, to socialize or to make decisions and formulate
opinions. Entertainment would be the other function of the mass media where it is mostly
used for amusement and relaxation. Educating the masses about their rights, moral, social
and religious obligations is another important function of mass media.
The way we dress, what we eat and how we live our lives is influenced by the media.
The media make billions of dollars with the advertising they sell and that we are exposed to
every single moment. We buy what we are told to buy. We construct our lives based on the
trends that the media imposes on us. The media has a significant influence upon our lives.
Of all the media distribution channels the most influential has been the television. We
are constantly exposed to thousands of news, commercials, documentaries, movies, talk
shows, music and educational programmes. Television viewing is a major activity and it
occupies a large portion of peoples time.
To understand how important television is, we can look at the variety of programmes
and the valuable content it offers and the purposes it serves in daily life. The viewer can
watch a weather report to prepare for the day. Cartoons and sport provide relaxation and
fun. School programs, documentaries and the news teach us about the world, while
advertisements inform us about products and new ideas. TV not only provides many types
of programmes with interesting content, but it also offers entertainment and knowledge. It
can contribute positively to the education of society and peoples awareness of others, and it
will continue to have a strong influence.
The radio plays an important role in sharing information. It has something for
everyone: music for the ones who just want to relax and listen to famous bands, radio
shows and news for those who want to be informed. The radio represented the beginning of
a network of worldwide communication; it was one of the greatest inventions in the 20th
century and it is still needed and used by millions of people today.
The press is another powerful medium. It has the ability to influence the way people
view the world, as well as their opinion of what they see. A free and independent press is
very important in todays society as it represents one of the instruments used by the state in
order to maintain the status quo.
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The press consists of newspapers and magazines. Newspapers provide various

information on politics, finance and economics, on arts and theatre, on science and culture;
they present TV programmes, information about the weather etc. Newspapers fall into two
categories: the popular papers (tabloids) interested in scandals and stories about the life of
celebrities, and the quality papers (broadsheets) presenting economic news, politics, sport,
business, entertainment, etc.
People usually buy their papers from a newsagent, but others prefer to receive it at
home, that's why they subscribe to their favourite paper. The front page is covered with big
headlines while the cover of a magazine is often a colour photograph.
A magazine is a publication with a variety of articles divided into several sections:
politics, sports, business, home decorating and gardening etc. It includes various things
such as: world news to know what's going on in the world, articles and stories about famous
people, fashion styles, ads for various products or services, wanted ads for people who are
looking for a job or people who want to buy/sell things, film or book reviews to know about
the latest movie to see or the latest book to read, the readers' mail or letters to the editor,
comics for children or adults, the horoscope for superstitious people, the agony column or
the lonely heart column for people who have problems in their sentimental lives, crosswords
and games to pass the time when travelling on buses or trains, surveys and opinion polls to
discover what the majority of people think, many photos and articles to report on events etc.
Vocabulary Focus
mass a quantity of matter usually of
considerable size
billion a very large number: one
thousand million
status quo the existing state of
affairs, normality
content something that is contained
trend a line of general direction or
movement, tendency
to shape to form, to create, to give a

particular form or shape to
awareness having or showing realization,
perception, or knowledge
worldwide extending throughout the entire
world, global
to impose to establish or apply by authority
poll the casting or recording of the votes of
a body of persons
Vocabulary Practice
1. What does the term mass media refer to?
2. Which are the three basic functions of mass media?
3. What is the information age?
4. How does mass media influence society? Give some examples of positive and
negative influences of mass media.
5. Enumerate some TV programmes that you usually watch.
6. What is the importance of the radio today?
7. Are you a great reader of newspapers?
8. Name some famous newspapers/magazines. What type of information do they provide?
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2. Match the terms to their definitions:

1. editorial
a. any information on current events which is presented by print, TV
broadcast or Internet to a mass audience
2. magazine
b. photographers who follow celebrities in order to photograph them
for publication
3. headline
c. a term used to describe sensational news reporting
4. news
d. a Web site, usually maintained by an individual with regular
entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such
as graphics or video
5. advertising
e. news which is just coming in
6. blog
f. the text at the top of a newspaper article, indicating the nature of
the respective article
7. yellow
g. a form of communication that typically attempts to persuade
journalism
potential customers to purchase or to consume more of a particular
brand of product or service
8. tabloids
h. a publication containing a variety of articles on finance, economy,
politics, sports etc, published weekly or monthly
9. breaking
i. an article in a newspaper or magazine that expresses the opinion
news
of the editor, editorial board, or publisher
10. paparazzi
j. newspapers of small format reporting gossip or stories with
illustrations about famous people
3. Choose the right word and fill in the blanks:
published, pick up, change, broadcasts, shot, edited, shows, censored
a. The BBC World Service news throughout the world.
b. This TV channel a good film every night at 9:30.
c. The book was by ABC Press and it was sold on the Japanese market.
d. The film that got the Oscar last year was in Spain.
e. Do the antennas in the neighbourhood all TV stations?
f. They the film before showing it on TV.
g. The main article in this business magazine has been badly .
h. You can the TV channels only if you use the remote control.
4. Find definitions to explain the jobs of the following people involved in the media:
Example: A make-up artist makes up the faces of people who are to appear on TV.
1.
2.
3.
4.
a foreign correspondent
an editor
a publisher
a camera operator
5.
6.
7.
8.
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a reporter
a newsagent
a film director
a journalist
5. Make up sentences with the following words and expressions: to spread news,
weekly paper, foreign news, press agency, TV channel, on the air, broadsheet, press
release, crosswords, to subscribe.
GRAMMAR FOCUS
DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH
Direct Speech / Quoted Speech
Uses:
1. It is used to repeat or quote the exact
words used by another speaker
Examples:
I go to the university every day, Jim said.
She said to me, Stop talking so much!
The student said, I'm going to pass this exam.
Note: In direct speech, we use quotation marks to enclose the words spoken without making any
other changes in the sentence.
Examples: She asked: Will you read this article?
He said I want a newspaper.
Indirect Speech / Reported Speech
Uses:
Examples:
1. It refers to repeating what another
I am reading a tabloid now. She said that she
person says. When we report what
was reading the tabloids then.
someone says, we do not repeat exactly
Dont sell the magazine at this price! He
every word that was said
advises me not to sell the magazine at that price.
2. When reporting a command, wish or
The doctor said, "Get some rest." The doctor
suggestion, say or tell is followed by a thatsaid that I should get some rest./The doctor told
clause or a shortened infinitive clause
me to get some rest.
3. When reporting questions, the sentence
Ann said "Do you want to come with me?" Ann
order is very important. When reporting
asked me if I wanted to come with her.
yes/ no questions connect the reported
Dave said, "Where did you go last weekend?"
question using 'if'. When reporting
Dave inquired where I had gone the previous
questions using question words (why,
weekend.
where, when, etc.) use the question word.
He asked, "Why are you studying English?"
She wondered why I was studying English.
The verb to say is replaced with to ask, to
inquire, to wonder etc.
Note: When changing from direct speech to indirect speech, it is often necessary to change the
pronouns to match the subject of the sentence. It is also important to change time words when
referring to present, past or future time to match the moment of speaking.
Examples: I speak English. He says that he speaks English.
Carol, open the door! He told her to open the door.
I am living in London now. She said she was living in London at that moment.
They bought a new car last year. They said that they had bought a new car the
previous year.
I havent seen Julie. She said she hadnt seen Julie.
Ill see you later. She said she would see me later.
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GRAMMAR PRACTICE
6. Fill in the sentences with the right form of the verbs to say or to tell:
1. Ann . goodbye to me and left.
2. . us about your holiday. Did you have a nice time?
3. Don't just stand there! . something!
4. I wonder where Sue is. She . she would be here at 8 o'clock.
5. Jack . me that he was fed up with his job.
6. The doctor . that I should rest for at least a week.
7. Don't . anybody what I . . It's a secret just between us.
8. Did she . you what happened? No, she didn't . anything to me.
9. George couldn't help me. He . me to ask Kate.
10. They never me the truth.
7. Transform the sentences into reported speech. Make the necessary changes:
1. Karen: "Don't buy too many newspapers!" Karen warned me
2. Victoria: "Check your e-mails now!" Victoria told me
3. Teacher: "Don't forget to do your homework!" The teacher reminded me
4. Mike: "Don't shout at Peter!" Mike told me
5. Fred: "Come with me to the cinema today!" Fred told me
6. Yvonne: "Don't talk so loud!" Yvonne told me
7. Jessica: "Write an article for this magazine!" Jessica told me
8. Denise: "Don't open the door!" Denise told me
9. Student: "Meet me at 5 p.m.!" The student told his colleague
10. Jane: "Don't let the kids watch that scary movie!" Jane advised me
8. Complete the sentences in reported speech. Change the pronouns and the verbal forms:
Helen is in front of the class holding a presentation on London. As Helen is rather shy,
she speaks with a very low voice. Your classmate Gareth does not understand her, so you
have to repeat every sentence to him.
Helen: I want to tell you something about my holiday in London.
Gareth: What does she say?
You: She says that
Helen: I went to London in July.
You: She says that
Helen: My parents went with me.
You: She says that
Helen: We spent three days in London.
You: She says that
Helen: London is a multicultural place.
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You: She says that
Helen: I saw people of all colours.
You: She says that
Helen: Me and my parents visited the Tower.
You: She says that
Helen: One evening we went to see a musical.
You: She says that
Helen: I really love London.
You: She says that
9. Complete the sentences in reported speech. Note whether the sentence is a
request, a statement or a question and whether you have to change the tenses or not:
1. "I was very tired," she said. She said
2. "Be careful, Ben," she said. She told Ben
3. "I will get myself a drink," she says. She says
4. "Why haven't you phoned me?" he asked me. He wondered
5. "I cannot drive them home," he said. He said
6. "Peter, do you prefer tea or coffee?" she says. She asks Peter
7. "Where did you spend your holidays last year?" she asked me. She asked me
8. He said, "Don't go too far." He advised her
9. "Have you been shopping?" he asked us. He wanted to know
10. "Don't make so much noise," he says. He asks us
10. Translate the sentences into English and then transform them into reported speech:
a. I-am spus Mariei: i cunoatem de zece ani, sunt cei mai buni ziariti de la Sunday
Times. b. Redactorul-ef mi-a spus: Lucrez la aceast editur de 4 ani. c. Ghidul le-a
spus turitilor: V voi da toate informaiile necesare despre noua destinaie mine. d. M-a
ntrebat: i place s citeti reviste? e. I-am rspuns: Da, mi place foarte mult. Am citit
deja dou astzi. f. L-am ntrebat: Ce ai de gnd s scrii acum? g. M-a ntrebat: De cnd
nvei engleza? h. Am ntrebat-o: Le-ai spus totul despre noul articol? i. L-am sftuit:
Cumpr un ziar de la chioc ca s afli ce s-a ntmplat! j. I-am ntrebat pe jurnalitii de la
Adevrul: Cnd ai publicat acest articol? k. I-am spus Mariei: Mergi la redacie! l. Le-am
spus: Citii The Observer i spunei-mi ce scrie n editorial.
WRITING FOCUS
10. a. Write an article for the university newspaper in which you present your point of view
regarding student life.
b. Find an article in a newspaper or magazine and translate it into English.
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SPEAKING FOCUS
a. How often do you read the paper or watch the news on TV?
b. How important is it for you to keep up with current events?
c. Do you think that most newspapers print what's really important, or what will make them
sell more newspapers? What about TV news?
d. Do you believe that mass media provides a clear image of the realities around us?
e. Do you think that news reporting has got better, worse, or stayed the same over your
lifetime?
f. How do you feel about censorship? Are there times when the news should be censored?
g. Do you think that the media is objective? Why or why not?
h. Do you think that the media covers too much bad news and not enough good news?
What was the last "good news" story you heard?
i. Is the role of mass media to inform or to control people? State your opinion on: Whoever
controls the media, controls the mind.
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Unit 15
ONLINE SHOPPING
These days lots of people shop online. This is the process whereby consumers
directly buy goods or services from a seller in a real time, without an intermediary service,
over the Internet.
In recent years, online shopping has become popular; however, it still caters to the
middle and upper class. In order to shop online, one must have access to a computer as
well as a credit card or a debit card. Online stores are usually available 24 hours a day and
many consumers have Internet access both at work or at home. Other establishments such
as Internet cafs and schools provide Internet access as well.
Most people shop online for the convenience provided, but also to pay the lowest
possible price. They visit different websites to shop around for the lowest price, but today an
automatic shopping comparison is possible thanks to a browser automatically showing the
prices for the same item at different online stores on the web. In this way, customers can
easily compare prices and choose which one to buy.
E-commerce has a huge impact on the way we are doing a business. It helps us
increase the number of customers on the market, improve efficiency and effectiveness and
transform all business processes. Its cheaper for a retailer to set up a website than it is to
rent a shop, fit it out and pay someone to work there. Besides, a website has global reach,
so customers can come from all over the world.
However, there are also some disadvantages of shopping online. Your credit card
can be put at risk. You must ensure that you only use safe sites and be very careful with
your credit card details or someone else may be able to use your credit card. On the other
hand, the picture you have on your computer screen might not reveal the true quality and
the product might not meet your expectations. As you cannot touch or examine things
before you buy them, you may be disappointed when your purchase arrives.
All in all, there are both advantages and disadvantages to shopping online. It is easy
and convenient, but it is also risky and dangerous.
Vocabulary Focus
to cater to provide food or drinks at to cater to to provide people with everything
an event
they want or need
item an individual thing, usually one browser a computer programme that allows
of the several things in a group or on a you to look at and search through information on
list; an article in a newspaper or
the Internet; someone who is looking at things in
magazine
a shop without being sure whether they want to
buy anything
establishment any institution,
retailer a person or a company that sells
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organization or business
goods directly to the public for their own use
convenience a condition that makes to fit out to put equipment into a room or
it easier to do something and helps you building so that it can be used for a particular
to avoid wasting time or effort
purpose
Vocabulary Practice
1. In most lines of this text, there is one extra word. Write the extra word or put a tick
if the line is correct:
First came the PC, then the Internet and email; now the e-book is upon us, a handheld device similar in size and appearance to a video cassette. The user simply calls up the
website on their PC, selects the desired book, downloads it onto their e-book machine and
sits down to read it. For to turn a page, the user simply taps the screen. E-book technology
is being evolving rapidly. But why would one want an e-book machine if in preference to a
book? Well, one selling-point companies emphasised, when these devices had hit the
market, is the space they did save when going on holiday. E-books lighten the load, literally.
Ten large novels can be put onto a device that is weights less than the average paperback.
One can understand why commercial interests seem to be want us to change.
2. Use the word given in brackets to form a word that fits the space:
There are more and more magazines with an ever larger proportion of ads, where
clearly a fortune has been spent on the................... (produce) of the ad. This may be
because the advertisers have paid to use a famous celebrity or because of using an exotic
................ (locate) as background or because the ad uses expensive photography and
............... (graph). People become ................. (increase) sophisticated so ads should also
become more .................. (challenge) to catch our attention. At the same time, as more and
more people are hooked into an ever-expanding range of TV channels, advertising on
television becomes .................. (price). Because of this, some experts say the TV
companies may lose their market as the Internet competes for our attention. It is becoming
.................... (economic) now for companies to use TV as they dont get the returns they
demand on their ................. (invest). But advertising on the Internet has opened up a whole
new ball game of .................... (possible). In fact, consumers are getting very ..............
(resent) as the mainly pop-up ads used on the Internet are seen as a gross ................
(intrude) of privacy by most of us.
GRAMMAR FOCUS
THE CONDITIONAL MOOD
The Conditional Mood has two tenses: present and past.
1. Present Conditional (+) S+ should / would + V1
(-) S + should not / would not + V1
(shouldnt t / wouldnt)
(?) Should / Would + S + V1?
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2. Past Conditional (+) S + should / would have + V3 / V-ed

(-) S + should not / would not + have + V3 / V-ed
(shouldnt t / wouldnt)
(?) Should / Would + S + have + V3 / V-ed?
Both Present and Past Conditional have a continuous aspect expressing actions or states in progress.
Examples: Justin would be working if he were not so tired.
Justin would have been working if he had not been so tired.
CONDITIONALS
First Conditional (probable condition)
Main Clause if Conditional Clause
Present / Future Present Tense
V1/ shall / will + V1 if V1
Example: I place the order online if I know the delivery terms.
I shall place the order online if I know the delivery terms.
Second Conditional (hypothetical / improbable / rejected / unreal condition)
Present Conditional Past Tense Subjunctive
Should / would +V1 if V2 / V-ed (* to be were)
Example: I should place the order online if I knew the delivery terms.
Third Conditional (impossible condition)
Past Conditional Past Perfect Subjunctive
should / would +have + V3 / V-ed if had + V3
Example: I should have placed the order online if I had known the delivery terms.
Notes:
1. Alternatives to if
There are some other alternatives to if: unless, on condition (that), provided / providing
(that), as long as, in case, suppose / supposing (that), whether.
Examples: You will pay extra charge unless you shop online.
I shall buy the books on condition that I have enough money on me.
You can shop online as long as you have a credit card.
Please contact me in case your computer is broken.
Supposing you had access to this address, what would you be interested in?
We shall attend this training course whether the company pays for us or not.
2. The omission of if
When if is omitted for stylistic purposes, an inversion take place.
Example: Were the electricity supply to fail, the machines would automatically switch off.
Had we placed the order earlier, we would have received it until now.
3. Mixed Conditionals
We can make up mixed conditionals if the context allows it, by combining an if-clause from
one type with a main clause from another.
Example: If you were more careful, you wouldnt have broken the keyboard. (2+3)
If he hadnt missed the bus, he would be at work now. (3+2)
GRAMMAR PRACTICE
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3. Use the verbs in brackets in the correct form:

a. You would get a better price for your products if you (to launch) them this year.
b. If he (to be ready), he might come with us.
c. They would have hired me if I (to prove) computer skills.
d. I couldnt have sent you the offer if you (to have) an available email.
e. If we (to shop) online, we could pay the lowest price for this item.
f. You would have saved time and money if you (to use) the Internet.
g. In case the online store (to be) still available, would you have placed the order?
4. Complete the following conditional sentences:
a. The manager wouldnt have signed the contract if .
b. Had I had a laptop .
c. If they found all the necessary information, .
d. What would you buy if .?
e. If I were you,.
f. If she finds new online stores, .
g. If I had known about the contract,.
5. Choose the best ending for each sentence:
1. If I were rich, .
2. If you didnt smoke, .
3. If you read the instructions, .
4. If I were you, .
5. If the computer is out of order, .
6. If they worked harder, .
7. If you lend me some money, .
8. If we dont hurry, .
a. . I will pay you back tomorrow.

b. . they could finish in due time.
c. . I would buy an expensive car.
d. . try to have it fixed.
e. . well be late for the meeting.
f. . I wouldnt do that.
g. . youd feel better.
h. . you would know what to do.
6. Choose the correct answer for each gap.

1. Supposing you ............a large sum of money, what would you do with it?
a. win
b. will win
c. won
2. If you..........to me, you wouldnt be in this situation now.
a. listen
b. will listen
c. had listened
3. Unless you.........him, he will not help you.
a. will ask
b. ask
c. asked
4. Provided you leave now, you...........get there on time.
a. will be able to
b. were able to
c. would have been able to.
5. If he..........the answer, he would tell you.
a. knows
b. would know
c. knew
6. I should have lent you that book provided you....... it by the end of the week.
a. would have returned
b. had returned
c. returned
7. If you..........the phone number, I would have called you.
a. gave
b. would have given
c. had given
8. If they...........time, they would have delivered the merchandise on time.
a. would have had
b. will have
c. had had
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9. Dont come unless he............you.

a. tells
b. doesnt tell
c. will not tell
10. If he..........harder, he might become a good sales manager.
a. has worked
b. worked
c. would work
a. A fi cumprat online dac a fi tiut c preurile sunt mai mici. b. Ce decizie ai lua dac
ai fi in locul meu? c. Poi s cumperi online dac ai un card de credit. d. Dac dorii s
primii produsele pn sptmna viitoare, trebuie s plasai deja comanda. e. Dac a fi n
locul tu, nu a cumpra nite produse att de scumpe. f. Am putea s v acordm o
reducere pentru comenzi mai mari. g. Dac dorii s primii detalii n legtur cu aceast
reducere, v vom trimite oferta noastr sptmna viitoare. h. Dac preurile sunt
acceptabile, vom plasa o comand de prob. i. Dac mrfurile nu ar fi fost n stoc, nu ar fi
fost livrate att de repede.
8. Translate the following fragment on putting the fun into shopping:
These days, throughout the length and breath of Britain shopping centres do not only
provide customers with a formidable array of products to choose from, but they also employ
a range of subtle entertainment techniques to make you want to buy them. Sometimes, it is
a simple idea such as a bookshop providing a caf where customers can sit and read in
comfort, or a fashion show put by a department store. Sometimes, the concept is more hitech, like the electronic games and huge video screens showing cartoons in a childrens toy
shop. Whatever the method, retailers realise that offering some kind of pleasant experience
is good for business, particularly nowadays with so many people buying their goods online.
WRITING FOCUS
9. Write a short article expressing your opinion about online shopping.
SPEAKING FOCUS
a. Which are your favourite online shops? Why? Tell your partner.
b. Are you pro or against online shopping? Debate upon its advantages and
disadvantages and then choose a side, explaining your choice.
c. What can you do to protect yourself against the risks of shopping online?
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Unit 16
ENTERTAINMENT
Everybody loves leisure time; everybody wishes to have more spare time; everybody
goes to work and cant wait for the weekend or vacation to come. Why? Well, simply because
this free time represents the time they decide how to spend, it is the time they dedicate to their
families, friends or to their own.
Nowadays all the types of different activities that people use to amuse themselves
can be generally called entertainment. People throughout the world have various ways of
relaxing and entertaining themselves, many differing according to age, interests, season,
society, culture, traditions or customs. Generally speaking, entertainment represents the
types of activities that provide amusement for people either in an active way (involving
participation) or in a passive way. There is a wide range of choices when it comes to
selecting your favourite type of entertainment, either for groups or individuals, for outdoor or
indoor activities, local, national or international ones.
These days there is a whole industry that deals with entertainment and if you have
what it takes you can start up a business by opening your own entertainment agency which
can be very successful as long as you find a market for your products and services.
Children mostly prefer active recreation that provides a balance between mental and
physical activities according to their age: games, sports, music and dance, cartoons,
puppets, clowns, pantomimes, storytelling, comics and so on. Children also love organized
parties provided by entertainment agencies which bring magicians, singers, actors or
famous look-alikes to make their parties unforgettable.
Teenagers and young people mostly prefer active entertainment, usually in groups;
the most modern is going to clubs, discos, watching movies at malls or shopping centres,
going to live concerts, practicing sports, etc.
Adults can prefer both active and passive leisure activities, mostly live entertainment
for all ages and which includes music concerts, live TV shows, live sports, theatre
performances or plays, opera, reading clubs, social dance (dance courses), comedy, standup comedy, etc. Families usually prefer travelling or playing games as a way of relaxing
themselves, such as chess, card games, Monopoly, ball games, etc. Such indoor or outdoor
activities allow members of a family (friends or relatives) to spend time together, to develop
physical or mental abilities and release work pressure.
Nowadays there is a wide range of public entertainers that offer the public what it wants
in exchange for an amount of money, usually known as corporate entertainment it is provided
by an entertainment agency whose main aim is to organize parties, theme parties, outdoor
parties or events, to hire mimes or bands that play all types of music. Such activities can also
be a good source of attracting tourists to a special location. In the US, for example, there are
also some non-conventional relaxing activities, such as bird-watching or tree-hugging.
You can see how all these different types of entrainment can lead to a successful
business, how they can broaden peoples tastes and influence them by offering more and
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more choices and recreate people, helping them recharge their batteries. Nevertheless, a
major criticism of entertainment is that it diverts peoples time and money away from
activities that are considered meaningful, such as volunteering or studying. This type of
criticism is based on indoor activities, such as watching TV or movies, playing computer
games or surfing the Internet activities which turn people into couch potatoes or distance
them from real friends and real socializing.
However, people become more and more aware of such risks and they have the
possibility to choose their favourite and most suitable form of entertainment.
Vocabulary Focus
leisure/spare/free time time available
for ease and relaxation
entertainment the act of entertaining;
something that amuses, pleases, or
diverts, especially a performance or show
to start up to come or cause to come
into being for the first time; originate
to have (got) what it takes to have
the skills, power, intelligence, etc., to do
something
puppet a small figure of a person or
animal, designed to be fitted over and
manipulated by the hand; a marionette; a
doll
look-alike one that closely resembles

another; a double
outdoor located in, done in, or suited to
the open air; taking place, existing, or
intended for use in the open air
pantomime communication by means of
gesture and facial expression; a player in
such a pantomime performance
couch potato a person who spends
much time sitting or lying down, usually
watching TV
recharge ones batteries take a break
from activities which are tiring or difficult in
order to relax and feel better when you
return to these activities
Vocabulary Practice
1. Answer the following questions about the text:
a. Why do people love entertainment and leisure time?
b. What do you understand by entertainment?
c. Which are the most common types of entertainment?
d. Talk about the types of entertainment that you know based on age, interests, society
and culture. Give some clear examples.
e. What does it take to run a successful entertainment agency?
f. What types of services does an entertainment agency offer?
g. What is the major criticism brought to entertainment nowadays?
2. Match the following words to form series of two or three synonyms:
leisure
expand
custom
show
outdoor
free
dynamic
adult
entertain
advantage
active
spare
tradition
amuse
outside
mature
broaden
performance
benefit
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3. Find the word family of the term entertainment.

4. Read the following email and identify the expressions that make it informal; then
rewrite it by replacing the informal structures with some of the semi-formal or
formal ones from the box below the email.
Hi Jack,
What's up? Glad to hear from u.
Well, thanks for ur last email. Sorry I didn't have time to write u back but I was very
busy at work.
I wanna tell u I'm gonna plan a party weekend out in the open and I wanna invite all my
pals at my crib to have a blast next weekend.
By the way, this is ur invite. U r the 1st on my list. Please come! We're gonna swim in
the pool, play some football, shoot some pool or darts, later on grab something to eat
and have a sip, listen to some nice music and cut the rug a little. How about it?
Hope to see u soon.
Cheers, mate!
Dani
you want to house your
friends outdoor How are you?
drink billiards going to have a lot of fun
thank you invitation I am play
write soon dance
GRAMMAR FOCUS
FORMAL AND INFORMAL SPEECH
In English, as in any language, there is a difference between formal and informal speech, which
is not a problem of correct or incorrect language, but one of register which is a variety of language,
related to a particular subject matter or area of activity, a set of words and expressions as well as
syntactical features that they may be suited to characterize that specific area of language.
Formal (academic) writing and speaking is quite different from informal written and spoken
English and the differences are obvious in colloquialisms (conventional expressions) that are
inappropriate for formal written English.
Formal English is specific to written contexts (such as business or official correspondence,
reports, etc.). Informal English is generally used with family and friends; it is mostly used in spoken
language, but also in written informal letters, e-mails, on socializing networks, etc.
For English language speakers it is very important to be aware of such differences in spoken and
written English, in both grammar and vocabulary, and not to mix the two registers.
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Examples
Contracted
forms
Relative
structures
Use of
whom
Auxiliary
verb usage
Word
choice
(phrasal
verbs)
Prepositions
Vocabulary
Passive v
Active voice
structures
Formal register
They have played tennis many years.
I am outside.
The boy believed that he was on time.
The woman who you are talking
about is my sister.
Whom have they mentioned?
Informal register
Theyve played tennis many years.
Im outside.
The boy believed he was on time.
The woman you are talking about is
my sister.
Who have they mentioned?
Have you ever been there?
Ever been there?
The police investigated the situation.

Unfortunately, his aunt died last year.
I learned some Italian while I was in
Rome.
The police looked into the situation.

Unfortunately, his aunt passed away
/ passed on last year.
I picked up some Italian while I was
in Rome.
Which nation does he belong to?
Neither of them use this service.
They fixed the sink.
Thanks for your attention.
Sorry? / What? / Pardon?
Active voice structures
They gave the participants a diploma.
/ The participants received a diploma.
To which nation does he belong?

Neither of them uses this service.
They repaired the sink.
Thank you for your attention.
I beg your pardon?
Passive voice structures
The participants were given a
diploma.
GRAMMAR PRACTICE
5. Which are the main differences between a formal and an informal letter? Use the
following expressions to help you decide and match them to the informal and
formal register:
Dear Tom,
Write soon
Dear Mr Jones,
Im happy to hear that
I am sorry to inform you that
Our products are used for a variety of
Best wishes,
Did you know that ?
Im really sorry
Dear Sir or Madam,
Yours faithfully,
If youve got any questions,
In accordance with
Thanks for your letter
Love,
In response to your previous
I look forward to hearing from you
Formal letter: ..
Informal letter: ..
6. Match up the formal sentences below to their informal equivalents:
a. Im sorry but
b. The company laid him off because he didnt work much.
c. Should you require any assistance, please fell free to contact us
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d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
His insufficient production conducted to his dismissal.

We have the pleasure in announcing that
Were going to have a blast tonight.
We regret to inform you that
Im happy to say
We will enjoy some quality time this evening.
If you need any help give us a call.
7. Match the following underlined phrasal verbs to their more formal explanations on
the left:
a. People work out at the gym as often as possible in their leisure time 1. participate
to burn off the calories and keep fit.
2. progressed
b. It is highly important to begin your set of exercises with a warm up 3. surrender
and in the end it is vital to cool down and stretch properly.
4. exercise
c. If you want to win a game or a competition you must never give in. 5. told to leave
d. Table tennis is a great sport; anyone can join in.
6. become cooler
e. He will be sent off the pitch if he continues this aggressive behaviour. 7. be defeated by
f. Im sure out football team will go out to Argentina in the semi-finals. 8. get rid of
g. Our team won the game and so they went forward to the next
9. gentle
round.
exercises
8. Translate the following letter into Romanian and decide whether it is formal or
informal. Then rephrase it into the opposite register using some of the expressions
in the box below the text to help you:
Joanne McQueen
5 Hill Street
Madison, Wisconsin 53700
April 15th, 2011
Ms. Helen Jones
Chief Editor
Daily News
Boston, Massachusetts 01234
Dear Ms. Jones,
I am writing to announce you that I received you letter from March 5th in which you
requested details on my sisters leisure activities in view of publishing an article in
your local newspaper.
Florence McQueen, as a professional swimmer, does not have much leisure time,
but when she does, she likes to relax. She spends a lot of time with friends she
was in school with. They like shopping or simply making conversation at one of
their homes. Sometimes they go in the countryside to spend some time outdoors,
107
to play different games or to paint since she has a secret passion for art in general
and for painting in particular.
I hope the information I provided you with meets your expectations and if you need
further details please contact my sister for an interview or telephone conversation
if necessary I will offer you her contacts.
Yours sincerely,
JMcQueen
Joanne McQueen
chitchat hang out get in touch with/drop a line to
pal/mate let someone know
get ask for love give live up to loosen up craze get more time off
WRITING FOCUS
9. a. Write an informal letter to a pen friend describing your favourite leisure activity.
b. Write a formal letter to an entertainment agency asking for further information on their
services and agenda.
SPEAKING FOCUS
10. Discuss and express your opinion on the following topics:
a. Do you agree that entertainment can also have negative effects on people? If yes, explain
why.
b. Which are the benefits of entertainment on people?
c. Which is your favourite type of entertainment? Why?
d. What are, in your opinion, the typical Romanian leisure activities?
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Unit 17
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
Travelling to all corners of the world gets easier and easier. We meet people of
different nationalities, but how well do we know and understand each other? There are
many differences between people within any nation or culture. Education, social standing,
religion, personality, beliefs, past experience, family care, and many other factors affect
human behaviour and culture. It is true that there are cultural and ideological differences
and it is good to have an understanding about a culture's customs and ways.
Imagine you have arranged a meeting at four oclock. What time should you expect
your foreign business colleagues arrive? If they are German, they will get in time. If they are
Americans, they will probably be 15 minutes early. If they are British, theyll be 15 minutes
late, and you should allow up to an hour for the Italians. There is an international etiquette
concerning how to behave with foreign business partners. If you want not to behave badly
abroad, you should know something about the customs of your business partners country:
The British are happy to have a business lunch and discuss business matters with a
drink during the meal, while the Japanese prefer not to work while eating. Lunch is a time to
relax and get to know one another, and they rarely drink al lunchtime.
The Germans like to talk business before dinner, while the French like to eat first
and talk afterwards. They have to be well fed and watered before they discuss anything.
American executives sometimes show their feelings of ease and importance in their
offices by putting their feet on the desk. In Japan, people would be shocked because
showing the soles of your feet is the height of bad manners.
The Japanese have perhaps the strictest rules of social and business behaviour.
Seniority is very important, and a younger man should never be sent to complete a business
deal with an older Japanese man. The bow is a very important part of greeting someone.
You should not expect the Japanese to shake hands. Bowing the head is a mark of respect
and the first bow of the day should be lower than when you meet thereafter.
The Americans sometimes find it difficult to accept the more formal Japanese
manners. They prefer to be casual and more informal, as illustrated by the well-known
Have a nice day!. American waiters have a one-word imperative: Enjoy! The British, of
course, are cool and reserved. The frequent topic of conversation between strangers in
Britain is the weather. In America, the main topic between strangers is the search to find a
geographical link. Oh, you live in Ohio? I have a friend who once worked there.
We notice that good manners are dependent on culture; an excellent etiquette in one
society may shock another. Most of the problems between nations grow from deep
misunderstandings between people, and many of those misunderstandings are rooted in
cultural differences. Thats way people should know more about other countries, about
different customs, traditions and cultures.
109
Vocabulary Focus
belief a feeling that something is
good, right, or valuable
to behave to act in a particular way
etiquette the rules indicating the
proper and polite way to behave
formal showing great concern for
behaving in a proper and serious way
to allow to permit, to regard or treat as

acceptable
ease a relaxed and informal way of behaving
bow the act of bending forward at the neck or
waist in order to greet someone or show respect
informal not formal, having a friendly and
relaxed quality
Vocabulary Practice
a. Which nationalities are the most and least punctual?
b. Why do the British consider that everyone understands their customs?
c. Which nationalities do not like to eat and do business at the same time?
d. Which nationalities have rules of behavior about hands? What are the rules?
f. What differences of manners are there between Americans and British?
2. Fill in the blanks with the following words:
opposite, due to, American English, left, throughout, culture, right, mixture
There are vast differences in ...........between Americans and their British
Commonwealth counterparts throughout the world. .........................is spoken in the USA,
Canada and many Pacific Rim countries where America has had some influence. British
English is spoken.................. the British Commonwealth of 54 countries, some of the most
notable being the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, Canada being
the exception. Although part of the Commonwealth, Canadians tend to speak a .. of
American and British English............... that country's proximity to the USA (although they
spell the British way). In what driving is regarded, the first thing to be considered is that fact
that Americans drive on the ............... and in the Commonwealth you drive on the
.................. Now if that isn't confusing enough, even the road markings are opposite. In
America yellow lines signify the center of the road and white lines represent the edge while
exactly the ..............occurs in most Commonwealth countries.
3. Circle the correct answer:
1) In the U.S., Canada and most European countries, you are expected to arrive ................
for appointments or meetings.
a. late
b. on time
c. not on time
2) In Spain, you're expected to arrive .................. for most appointments or meetings
a. late
b. early
c. on time
3) In Japan, China, Korea and Vietnam, never pass something to an older person or
superior with only one hand; you're expected to use ...............
a. right hand
b. left hand
c. both hands
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4) In the U.S. and Canada, don't .................. if you're invited to someone's home.
a. call
b. arrive early
c. go
5) In the U.S. and Canada, you're supposed to ............ if you plan to visit someone at home.
a. go first without calling
b. arrive early
c. call first
6) In many Asian countries, it is .............. to visit your friends at home without invitation or
prior appointment.
a. acceptable
b. not acceptable
c. unusual
7) In most countries, when you meet someone for the first time, you aren't ............. to hug or
kiss them.
a. should
b. must
c. supposed
8) In Peru, Columbia, Brazil, Bolivia and Mexico, it is common to ................. someone you
have just met for the first time.
a. kiss
b. bow at
c. ignore
9) In the U.S., Canada and many European countries, it is ................. to eat noisily in front
of others.
a. polite
b. impolite
c. OK
GRAMMAR FOCUS
BRITISH ENGLISH AMERICAN ENGLISH
There are many differences between British and American English. Generally, it doesn't
matter which variety of English you speak or write, but in a text you must use either British or
American spelling. Here are some of the biggest differences between British and American English.
BRITISH ENGLISH
AMERICAN ENGLISH
Vocabulary
flat
apartement
pavement
sidewalk
curtains
drapes
lift
elevator
lorry
truck
rubbish
garbage/trash
holiday
vacation
return ticket
round trip
zebra crossing
pedestrian crossing
roundabout
traffic circle
bookshop
bookstore
term
semester
Grammar
1. British speakers use "yet" with the present perfect tense, while American speakers tend to
use the Past Simple.
2. British speakers use at the weekend, while American speakers say on the weekend.
1. Have you eaten dinner yet?
Did you eat dinner yet?
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2. at the weekend
on the weekend
Punctuation
In British English, the final comma before "and" (in a list) is omitted, but not in American English.
She bought cereal, coffee, sugar and tea.
She bought cereal, coffee, sugar, and tea.
1. our and or: British English tends to use -our ,whereas American English uses -or:
colour
color
neighbour
neighbor
favour
favor
2. re and er: Some noun endings are -re in British English, but -er in American English:
theatre
theater
centre
center
3. ice and ise: Some words have -ice ending for the noun and -ise ending for the verb in British
English. However, in American English both noun and verb are spelled ice.
practice(n.)- to practise (vb.)
practice (n.) to practice (vb.)
4. ll and l: In British English, when a word ends in a single consonant, it is doubled when we
add a suffix beginning with a vowel
traveller
traveler
skillful
skilful
British English and American English have different spellings for certain words
cheque
check
programme
program
moustache
mustache
Writing dates
In British English we follow the day month year format, although this is month day year
format in American English.
2/7/2011 is July 2nd
2/7/2011 February 7th
GRAMMAR PRACTICE
4. Find the correct American English expressions: elevator, chips, baggage, notebook,
garbage can, subway, railroad, vacation, movie, truck, automobile, candies, pants, cookies,
airplane, cell phone, fall, student, cab, drugstore, gas station.
British English
French fries
sweets
rubbish bin
mobile phone
pupil
car
exercise book
American English
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taxi
petrol station
autumn
luggage
biscuits
trousers
chemists
lift
underground train
holiday
film
railroad
aeroplane
lorry
5. Write the text in American English choosing the correct word:
Last month I drove to London. As there was an accident on the R32 I had to take a
detour / diversion. I stopped in front of a theatre / theater to ask for directions. A young
woman told me to turn right at the crossroad / intersection and ask again at the gas station /
petrol station. There a friendly shop assistant / sales clerk told me to take the second exit of
the round about / traffic circle. After I had passed a pedestrian crossing / zebra crossing I
saw a bookshop / bookstore and a large car park / parking lot. I parked my car / automobile
there and walked to the center / centre.
6. Write the text in British English choosing the correct word:
Mr. Simpson was very busy yesterday. He drove to a drugstore / chemists for some
medicines. Then he went to the supermarket to get some biscuits / cookies and candies /
sweets. He also needed some new trousers / pants and notebooks / exercise books for his
little boy. He went back home and realised that he had lost his cell phone / mobile phone.
Then Mr. Simpson had to return to all places he was before to find it. What a busy day!
7. Decide whether the sentence is written in British or American English:
a. What about another chocolate biscuit?
b. Well have to stop at the next gas station.
c. I got this book at the new bookstore.
d. He loves travelling by train.
e. Put this box into the garbage can, please.
f. Have you checked your DVD player already?
g. Have you seen Sams new truck?
h. The park is in the centre of the town.
i. I like French fries, they're very crispy.
j. Have you seen the latest movie?
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k. I've passed this test. So I'll get my driving licence very soon.
l. Tom told me to get off the Underground at Tower Hill.
WRITING FOCUS
8. a. Write an essay about the things you like most and the things you like least in your own
culture. Make reference to what it means to be polite and what is considered rude in your
culture.
b. Do you consider "when in Rome, do as the Romans do" is always good advice? Why
or why not? Have you ever been in a situation where you felt you had to "do as the Romans
do"?
SPEAKING FOCUS
a. Imagine you are at a party in England. How could you begin a conversation with a
stranger? Continue the conversations with your partner.
b. An American friend of yours is going to work in Japan. Give some advice about how
he/she should and shouldn't behave.
c. What other culture(s) besides your own do you admire? Why?
d. If aliens visited your country, what might surprise them?
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Unit 18
THE LIFE OF A SUPERMARKET MANAGER
Being a supermarket manager is not an easy task. A supermarket manager may
assume many different duties, such as supervising employees and store operations, taking
inventory and ordering products, performing administrative and human resources work, or
engaging in safety inspections and loss prevention. Most managers are very skilled at
organizing merchandise, communicating with employees and providing excellent customer
service.
A supermarket manager in a large store might be in charge of supervising a specific
department. A manager typically monitors the inventory and the appearance of his department.
He usually determines the price on items, directs employees in stocking shelves, and orders new
products when quantities are low. A manager may design store displays and actively engage
with customers to inform them of deals and help them find various products.
To become a supermarket manager, a person must typically have at least a high
school diploma and extensive supervisory experience in retail or customer service. But most
supermarket manager positions often require candidates to hold college degrees in
business management or accounting.
***
Jonathan Matthews left school at seventeen, went to college and then worked in his
fathers mini-market. After two years, he went to work for Bargain Foods and then he joined
Saver Mall as a trainee manager. Three years later he got his present job as a supermarket
manager with Saver Mall. This is what he told us about his job:
The supermarket that I manage is in West London, but I spend most of my time
visiting Saver Mall supermarkets all over Britain. I need to see the way things are working in
the other supermarkets. I also attend lots of meetings. My work hours change every week
because Saver Mall is opened 24 hours a day. Last week I worked from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.
but this week I need to be at work from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The first thing I do every day is to
check my emails.
Sometimes, I travel to different countries to check how foreign supermarkets are
doing. Thats my favourite part of the job! But I like my work in London, too. Travelling can
be very hard work. When I get back from a journey, I usually go straight home to get some
sleep. I earn quite good money and Im happy to be working for Saver Mall.
Vocabulary Focus
employee someone who is paid regularly to work to be in charge of to be responsible
for a person or a company
of
employer a person or a company that pays
to stock if a shop stocks goods, it
someone to work as a member of their staff
has them for sale
loss no longer having something, having less trainee someone who is in training
115
than before, money lost, death of somebody, for a particular profession or job
failure to win race etc.
skilled having the ability and experience to do merchandise goods that people buy
something well
and sell
Vocabulary Practice
1. Choose the correct answer:
1. Jonathans first job was
a. at college.
b. with Bargain Foods.
c. in a mini-market
2. When Jonathan first worked for Saver Mall, he was
a. an assistant.
b. a manager.
c. a trainee manager.
3. Jonathan does most of his work
a. in London.
b. in other countries.
c. in other supermarkets.
4. Jonathans working hours
a. are different each week.
b. are 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.
c. are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
5. At the beginning of each day, Jonathan
a. goes to a meeting.
b. checks other supermarkets. c. reads massages.
6. What does Jonathan like best?
a. checking emails
b. going to different countries
c. travelling by road
7. The first thing Jonathan does after a journey is
a. have a meal.
b. go to his office.
c. go to bed.
8. Jonathan
a. enjoys his job.
b. does not like his work in London. c. wants to earn more money.
2. Read the description and find the word. The first letter is already given. There is
one space for each other letter in the word:
a. You can go there to buy or sell goods.
b. When someone sends you this kind of message, you
read it on a computer.
c. The person whose job is to organize and control the work
of a business or organisation.
d. It arrives by post and you must open an envelope to read
it.
e. A person or a company that sells goods directly to the
public for their own use.
f. Type of plastic money you can use in order to pay by.
g. A shop or place where a particular product is sold.
h. Goods that people buy or sell.
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m_____
e____
m______
l_____
r_______
c___
o_____
m__________
GRAMMAR FOCUS
WISHES
We can use wish / if only to express a wish.
Past Tense Simple/Continuous to say that we would like something to be different about a
present situation.
Examples: I wish I were rich now.(but Im not)
If only I were going shopping. (but Im not)
Past Perfect to express regret about something which happened or didnt happen in the past.
Examples: I wish I had finished setting up all the prices.
If only she hadnt told me to do that. (but she did)
Subject + would + short infinitive to express a polite imperative or a desire for a situation or
persons behaviour to change.
Examples: I wish you would stop smoking.
If only it would stop raining.
Note: If only is used in exactly the same way as wish, but it is more emphatic or more dramatic.
UNREAL PAST had better / would rather
The Past Tense Simple can be used to talk about imaginary, unreal or improbable situations in
the present or in the present and the Past Perfect can be used to talk about imaginary, unreal or
improbable situations in the past. This is called Unreal Past.
Past Tense Simple to refer to the unreal present:
Examples: If I were you, Id go shopping later.
I wish he were more patient with the customers.
Suppose you were asked to work extra hours, what would you do?
He behaves as if he were the boss.
Its time we left.
Past Perfect to refer to the unreal past:
Examples: If I had been more careful, I wouldnt have lost it.
If only he hadnt told something like that.
Id rather he hadnt spent so much money yesterday.
Suppose he had seen you, what would you have done? They looked at each other as if they had
met before.
had better = should
- for present or future reference: Youd better buy the cheaper one.
- for past reference: It would have been better if you had told them the truth.
I would rather = Id prefer
When the subject of would rather is also the subject of the following verb, we use Id rather+ Present
Infinitive (for present / future reference) or Id rather+ Perfect Infinitive (for past reference).
Examples: Id rather leave now.
Id rather have admitted going back to the supermarket.
When the subject of would rather is different from the subject of the following verb, we use: Id rather
smb.+ Past Tense (for present or future reference) or Id rather smb.+ Past Perfect (for past reference).
Examples: Id rather you applied for the manager position.
Id rather you had called me earlier.
GRAMMAR PRACTICE
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3. Rephrase the sentences below so as to use a past tense form after the verb wish:
a. I am sorry you are not one of our customers.
b. I regret the ATM is out of order.
c. I am sorry Jonathan does not want to attend this meeting.
d. I am sorry they do not sell any item.
e. The manager regrets he is so busy today.
f. It a pity you are late for work every morning.
g. Its a pity the manager is not in the office.
h. Its a pity they do not earn so much.
4. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense:
a. If only I ........................ (know) about your problem, I would have helped you.
b. If the supermarket manager ........................ (not/give) his approval, this wouldnt
have happened.
c. Id rather we .................... (have) a stronger advertising campaign.
d. I wish I .................. (call) my manager to apologise.
e. If only I .................. (work) on week-ends.
f. I wish I .................. (talk) to him like that.
5. Complete the sentences using the words in bold. Use two to five words:
a. It would have been better if you had bought the two products.
only
If .......................................the two products.
b. I didnt go to the meeting because I didnt know about it.
known
If ......................................the meeting, I would have gone.
c. You ought to have finished the project by now.
time
Its .......................................the project.
d. I think you should join our team.
Were
If .........................., I would join our team.
e. I didnt make up my employment file, so I cant apply for this job.
wish
............................
6. Translate into English using would rather or had better:
a. Domnul director ar prefera ca tu s participi la aceast expoziie. b. Cred c mai degrab a
bea o cafea n dimineaa aceasta. c. A prefera s vii la timp la ntlnirea de afaceri. d. Mai
bine ai verifica preurile la noile produse. e. Mai degrab ai fi spus asta de la bun nceput. f.
tiu c ai prefera ca ei s fie aici acum. g. Directorul ar prefera ca noi s obinem cele mai
bune preuri. h. A prefera s le spui de la nceput despre planurile noastre de afaceri.
WRITING FOCUS
7. Make up a job advertisement for the position of a supermarket manager.
SPEAKING FOCUS
8. Express your opinion on the following statement: Dont buy what you want, buy
what you need?
118
Unit 19
BEATING THE COMPETITION
There are some tips that you should consider for beating a competition.
1. Know what you want. Be clear about the information you are looking for. Much of
what you are seeking is already available. Talk to your staff, customers and suppliers.
Prepare a list of the specific information you require. Look for the competitors price plans,
additional services and staff capabilities.
2. Get to know your competitors. Make sure you balance older established
businesses with ones new to the market. Talk to them at trade shows when they are more
willing to be chatty. But be cautious: sharp competitors may offer you some misinformation
or embellish sales figures to make themselves look good.
3. Make competitive links. If you have many competitors, put the information on a
spreadsheet. Look for the common themes of successful and unsuccessful competitors.
Overall, try to determine their individual strategies. Dont be surprised if several share the
same strategy.
4. Use the Internet. Use the Internet for a quick insight into a competitors business
style. The information is freely available and easily accessible. As a starting point, find out
whether your competitors have a website and review it thoroughly. Look for upcoming
trends in your area of business.
5. Contact your competitors. Call or visit competitors and talk to their staff.
Employees can be an important source of valuable information. You may need to make
several calls or visits to develop a complete picture.
6. Alert your staff. Talk to your personnel about the importance of confidentiality.
Train them to ask why callers might need the information they are seeking. Develop a
company policy regarding the information that is allowed to be discussed with outsiders.
7. Allow time. Dont expect to gather all the information you need to make sound
business decisions in a few telephone calls or store visits. Take your time. Avoid the trap of
using old information. You should be gathering information on an ongoing basis and
routinely adjusting your marketing plan.
8. Read brochures. Competitive literature will tell you many things-including strategy,
positioning, products and services, target group and key staff. Check to see if the literature
is out of date or up to the minute.
9. Call the competitors. Examine how their staff answer the phone and how they
approach prospective customers or opportunities. Make a call to them and act like a new
business prospect. Have others do the same thing, and then compare notes.
10. Its not all bad. Not everything the competitor does is right or wrong. Copy the
good and avoid the bad.
119
Vocabulary Focus
available able to be obtained, taken
spreadsheet a chart produced on a

computer that shoes numbers in a way that
makes them easy to compare
staff the people who work for a particular insight the ability to notice and understand
company, organization or institution
a lot about people or situations
supplier- a company, organization or country thoroughly very much, very carefully, so
that supplies or sells a product or service
that nothing is missed
trade the activity of buying or selling upcoming an event that will happen soon
goods or services
to embellish to make a story more trend a gradual change or development
interesting by adding details, especially that produces a particular result
ones that are not completely true
sale the process of selling goods or to seek to try to find something or someone
services for money
that you need in your life, to look for
figure number, amount
to gather to come together, to bring things
together
Vocabulary Practice
a. What do you mean by competition?
b. How important is it to make up a list of specific information?
c. How do you like to keep yourself informed? Why?
d. What should you know about your competitors?
e. Do you generally use the Internet to find out specific information?
f. Is it really important to call or visit your competitors?
g. How important is to educate your staff about confidentiality?
2. Think of the word which best fits each gap. Write only one word in each gap:
Most people dream ........ becoming reach and famous, but is that ........... success is
really about? It is a fact that many people ............ have achieved fame and wealth are far
less happy with their lives. They worry constantly ................. their money and reputation.
They are rarely satisfied ............ what they have. Singers may lose their popularity, athletes
may get injured and can no .............. perform well, and wealthy businessmen may lose their
money ................ making risky deals or bad decisions. The best way to be happy with
................. and with your life is to reconsider what happiness really is. We must realise that
human values and qualities are ........... more important than material things. A job, no matter
.............. humble, which is done with interest and care is worth as ............... as instant fame.
Being close to your family and having friends you can trust and depend .......... also makes
for a happy, successful life. These are the things that really count and give you the right to
consider ............. a successful person.
120
GRAMMAR FOCUS
THE PASSIVE VOICE
The Passive Voice is formed with the appropriate tense of the verb to be and the Past
Participle of the verb to be conjugated.
Present Tense Simple
Active Voice: This bank grants such loans.
Passive Voice: Such loans are granted by this bank.
Present Tense Continuous
Active Voice: This bank is granting such loans.
Passive Voice: Such loans are being granted by this bank.
Past Tense Simple
Active Voice: This bank granted such loans.
Passive Voice: Such loans were granted by this bank.
Past Tense Continuous
Active Voice: This bank was granting such loans.
Passive Voice: Such loans were being granted by this bank.
Present Perfect Tense Simple
Active Voice: This bank has granted such loans.
Passive Voice: Such loans have been granted by this bank.
Past Perfect Tense Simple
Active Voice: They said that the bank had granted such loans.
Passive Voice: They said that such loans had been granted by this bank.
Future Tense Simple
Active Voice: This bank will grant such loans.
Passive Voice: Such loans will be granted by this bank.
Future in the Past
Active Voice: They said that the bank would grant such loans.
Passive Voice: They said that such loans would be granted by this bank.
Modals
Active Voice: This bank can grant such loans.
Passive Voice: Such loans can be granted by this bank.
Notes:
1. The Passive Voice can be also formed with the verb get and the Past Participle of the
verb to be conjugated.
Example: All our items got broken during the transportation.
2. A synonym of the verb get is the verb become which expresses a gradual changing. It
is often accompanied by more and more and increasingly.
Example: The production of this factory is becoming increasingly specialized.
121
GRAMMAR PRACTICE
3. Replace the infinitives in brackets with the correct tense in the passive voice:
a. He (to tell) . to get clear information about what he is looking for.
b. The factory (to build) . recently.
c. You (to give) . the opportunity to study a foreign language here.
d. The letter (to sign) . by the manager.
e. If you visit the exhibition, you (to impress) .. by the variety of exhibits.
f. You (to give) .. the necessary information concerning this matter.
g. Your staff must (to educate) about confidentiality.
h. Many important things (to tell) . in the competitive literature.
i. The Internet (to use) . for a quick insight of many competitors.
4. Turn the following active sentences into passive ones:
a. They visited their competitors two days ago.
b. Do you know that the manager is waiting for you?
c. We received their offer yesterday.
d. She will not make a decision until the next business meeting.
e. Customers should send their complains to the managing director.
f. They have changed the marketing strategies in order to get more customers.
g. The competitors have not heard anything about this new branch.
h. The manager made me responsible for the sales department.
i. They asked me about the sales figures.
5. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar, meaning to the first
sentence, using the word given. You may use between three and six words.
a. They have decided they will sign the contract this week.
signed
It has been decided .......................................... this week.
b. The lectures gave the students an insight into modern management.
given
The .............................. modern management by the lectures.
c. The university issued a leaflet telling students how to apply.
by
.............................. the university telling students how to apply.
d. The company is setting the interviews in May.
being
The interviews ............................ in May.
e. Everybody should learn how to speak a second language.
taught
A second language ............................ everybody.
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6. Choose the most suitable alternative:

1. English ...................by everybody here.
a. is speaking
b. is spoken
c. has spoken.
2. We tried to open the door, but it .......................

a. was locked
b. has been locked
c. locked
3. The manager ........................to arrive by Friday.

a. will be expected
b. was expected
c. has expected
4. I promise you that the matter.......................................

a. is looked into
b. will be looked into
c. has looked into
5. We all .......................some questions at the interview next week.

a. have been asked
b. is being asked
c. will be asked
6. Success ................................................
a. must work
b. has to work for
c. must be worked for
7. Translate into English using the passive voice:

a. Am fost sftuit s discut mai mult cu angajaii lor despre aceast problem. b. O parte
din acest proiect a fost ntocmit de specialitii notri. c. Toate informaiile au fost obinute
sptmna aceasta. d. Vi se vor da multe detalii n legtur cu acest contract mine.
e. Scrisoarea de afaceri tocmai a fost redactat de ctre secretar. f. Li s-a cerut s termine
lucrarea la timp. g. Toate detaliile referitoare la acest proiect sunt date pe Internet. h. Nu s-a
menionat nimic n legtur cu situaia lor financiar. i. Nu pot fi acordate astfel de informaii
de ctre angajaii firmei lor. j. Nu s-a ncercat nimic pentru a se lua o decizie la timp.
WRITING FOCUS
8. Write an email to a friend asking different information on the marketing strategies used in
their company.
SPEAKING FOCUS
a. How can you get successful in a competition?
b. Speak about the responsibility of being successful.
c. Give examples of successful people who managed to reach their position by beating the
competition.
123
Unit 20
THE ENVIRONMENT A REAL GLOBAL ISSUE
Our natural environment is a treasure that we should always take care of. Nowadays
environment protection is a very important issue since there are so many problems affecting
the environment: acid rains, global warming, destruction of the wild habitats, the decline of
many species of plants and animals. We all know that these threats exist and that humans
have caused them. Many of us are very worried about the future of our planet and unless
we can find a way of solving these problems the environment will suffer even more. We risk
destroying the environment forever and causing irreversible damage that will have a
devastating effect.
Everybody knows that our planet is in trouble. Therefore, it is vital to learn how to
protect the environment. Everyone has a role to play. Community initiatives on environment
protection should be put into effect. All public sectors should work hand in hand to protect
and also educate the public. Students should take initiative through their university activities
too. Volunteers are also called upon to protect Mother Nature by doing everything they can
to prevent further degradation.
Everyone can do something to help slow down and reverse some of the damage.
We must always remember to be green. We must learn to live in a sustainable way and
learn how to use our natural resources which include air, freshwater, forests, wildlife,
farmland and seas without damaging them. As populations grow and lifestyles change, we
must keep the world in a good condition so that the future generations will have the same
natural resources that we have. Consequently, try to consider some suggestions on how to
be a green person:
1. Use recycled paper to help save trees.
2. Try to avoid buying plastic. It's hard to recycle. One way to cut down on plastic is
to refuse to use bags offered by supermarkets and use long lasting shopping bags instead.
3. Take your old clothes to charity shops. Some are sold, others are returned to
textile mills for recycling.
4. Use public transportation in the city. If everyone uses their own cars, pollution and
traffic congestion will become a huge problem. Use a bicycle or walk for short trips.
5. Sort out your rubbish. Organic matter such as potato peelings, left over food, tea
leaves can be transferred straight to a compost heap in the garden and used as a natural
fertiliser for the plants. You must also take the other items such as plastic bottles, juice
cartons and cardboard to nearby recycling banks.
6. Don't waste electricity or heat. Electricity and heating are produced by burning
coal, oil and gas and this action gives off carbon dioxide.
In conclusion, the basic steps in protecting the environment are: preventing pollution,
recycling materials, looking after reserves of water and conserving energy.
Vocabulary Focus
124
treasure something that you look after

carefully because you think is valuable or
important
degradation the process of changing
into a worse condition
acid rain rain containing a high level of

acid that can damage the environment. It
is caused by pollution in the air
volunteer someone who is not paid for
the work that they do, someone who offers
to do something without being forced
Vocabulary Practice
1. Fill in the correct word from the list below:
- natural
- captivity
- released
- species
- protect
- breed
- confine
- extinct
Human population expansion and the effects of hunting are threatening many
to such an extent that they are almost . In order to them,
many animals are kept in . in zoos and safari parks. The idea is that when
animals are able to .. in safety, their numbers will increase enough so that some
can be into their . habitats. Some extreme animal rights activists,
however, believe that it is better to allow a species to become extinct than to . them
to a prison-like zoo.
2. Choose the right word:
Tourism brings income and employment, but tourists (upset/disturb/annoy) the
environment and need services and accommodation, food, transport and waste disposal
which can (destroy/crash/wipe) the qualities of an area that attracted tourists in the first
(post/spot/place). Activities such as driving and water sports can (cause/result/bring)
problems, especially when too many people decide to do the same thing in the same place.
Eco-tourism is about enjoying your holiday destination without (wounding/spoiling/hurting) it.
The demand for eco-tourism is (developing/increasing/extending) and there are now
many holiday companies that work with local people to (guard/protect/prevent) their
environment. As an eco-tourist, you can help by booking your holiday with a responsible
company and (presenting/displaying/showing) respect for local customs when you arrive.
3. Fill in the correct word derived from the words in brackets:
(Conserve) are very concerned about the ever growing number of (endanger)
species in the world. (Environment) . problems such as freak weather
conditions, fire and acid rain are resulting in the (destroy) of vast areas of woodland
and forest. These areas are home to large numbers of animals and, as the land is vital to
their (survive) ., this is having (alarm) effects.
(Ecology) .. advocate the use of ozone-friendly products and recycling to achieve
a (reduce) in environmental damage. Safari parks have also been established in an
attempt to give (protect) .. to animals from big-game hunters. Numbers are slowly
beginning to increase and will (hope) ..continue to do so in the future.
GRAMMAR FOCUS
PHRASAL VERBS
125
to abandon to - to give smth. completely to

to accuse of - to say that someone is guilty
to accustom to - to make smb. used to
to advance to/towards - to come as far as
to agree on/upon - to have the same opinion about
to agree to - to accept to
to agree with - to think or say the same
to aim at/for - to plan or intent
to answer for - to be responsible for
to apologize for - to say sorry for smth.
to apply for - to make a formal request
to ask about - to enquire about
to ask for - to request
to ask in - to invite in
to assort with - to match
to be about to - to be going to
to be after - to want to chase
to be with - to support, to work for, to be in
company with
to believe in - to have faith in
to belong to - to be the property of/to be a
member of
to call for - to demand
to call in - to invite someone
to call on - to visit formally
to call off - to cancel
to carry on - to continue
to charge for - to ask a price for
to come across - to find/meet by chance
to consist of - to be made up of
to deal with - to treat
to decide on/upon - to make a decision on
to drop into - to visit a place informally
to feel about - to have an opinion about
to gaze at - to look steadily at
to get after - to chase
to get to - to arrive at
to go for - to support, to like, to intend to become
to introduce to - to make someone known to
someone else
to keep on - to continue
to laugh at - to be amused by someone
to learn from - to come to know
to learn about - to know about
to listen to - to pay attention to
to long for - to wish very much for smb. or smth.
to look after - to take care of
to look for - to search
to look into - to investigate
to match with - to assort with
to occupy with - to busy oneself with
to pay for - to pay a sum of money to obtain smth.
to plead for - to represent someone in the court
to plot against - to conspire against
to point at - to show, to aim
to provide with - to supply with
to rescue from - to save from
to result in - to have as a result
to run after - to chase, to be keen to get
to send for - to ask somebody to come
to show around - to take on a tour
to take for - to accept
to think about/on - to have thoughts concerning
to wait for - to stay in a place expecting
to wave at/to - to move the hand as a greeting
to wonder at - to marvel at
GRAMMAR FOCUS
4. Fill in the correct preposition:
a. Recycling will prevent further damage the environment.
b. Consumers need to insist .. products that dont harm animals.
c. We must protect even tiny insects . extinction.
d. We should prevent hunters . killing animals.
e. Climate change has been obvious. scientists for many years.
f. It is wrong to experiment .. animals.
g. We all need to protest . global warming.
126
5. Choose the right preposition:

1. Wait..me to finish writing this report.
a. at
b. on
c. for
2. I generally agree ..you.
a. on
b. about
c. with
3. He is really interested . global issues.

a. about
b. on
c. in
4. Who looks .. your pets when you are away?
a. into
b. after
c. for
5. If you want to get . the zoo, you must go this way.
a. at
b. to
c. about
6. I cant come to work on Friday. Could you give me a day .?
a. out
b. on
c. off
7. The investigation has not been finished yet. They are still looking..the matter.
a. on
b. into
c. around
8. Ill call .. him after I finish classes.
a. on
b. around
c. in
WRITING FOCUS
6. a. Find information and then write an article about the methods of saving energy at home.
b. Write 10-15 lines about the importance of environment protection.
SPEAKING FOCUS
a. Comment on the following statement: Cars should be banned from the city centre.
b. Why should natural resources be conserved?
c. Do you think there are lessons to learn from nature?
d. Which is more important, increasing people's standard of living, or protecting the
environment? Think of a situation in your area involving this issue.
e. Who do you think is more responsible for pollution, individual people or the government?
Explain.
127
LIST OF IRREGULAR VERBS

Infinitive
abide
Past Tense
abode
Past Participle
abode
arise
awake
be
bear
beat
become
begin
behold
bend
bet
bind
bite
bleed
blow
break
bring
broadcast
build
burn
burst
arose
awoke
was
bore
bore
beat
became
began
beheld
bent
bet
bound
bit
bled
blew
broke
brought
broadcast, -ed
built
burnt
burst
arisen
awoken
been
born
borne
beaten
become
begun
beheld
bent
bet
bound
bitten
bled
blown
broken
brought
broadcast,-ed
built
burnt
burst
buy
cast
catch
choose
clothe
come
cost
cut
bought
cast
caught
chose
clothed sau clad
came
cost
cut
bought
cast
caught
chosen
clothed sau clad
come
cost
cut
128
Translation
a sta, a rmne; a tri, a
locui
a se ridica
a trezi, a (se) detepta
a fi
a nate
a purta, a duce, a suporta
abate
a deveni
a ncepe
a zri, a vedea, a privi
a ndoi
a pune prinsoare
alega
a muca
a sngera
a sufla
a sparge
a aduce
a transmite
a cldi
a arde
a face explozie, a exploda,
a izbucni
a cumpra
a arunca, a azvrli
a prinde
a alege
a (se) mbrca
a veni
a costa
a tia
Infinitive
deal
dig
do
draw
dream
drink
drive
Past Tense
dealt
dug
did
drew
dreamt
drank
drove
Past Participle
dealt
dug
done
drawn
dreamt
drank
driven
eat
fall
feed
ate
fell
fed
eaten
fallen
fed
feel
fight
find
fly
forbid
forget
forgive
forsake
freeze
get
give
go
grind
grow
hang
have
hear
hide
hit
hold
hurt
felt
fought
found
flew
forbade
forgot
forgave
forsook
froze
got
gave
went
ground
grew
hung
had
heard
hid
hit
held
hurt
felt
fought
found
flown
forbidden
forgotten
forgiven
forsaken
frozen
got
given
gone
ground
grown
hung
had
heard
hidden
hit
held
hurt
129
Translation
a se ocupa, a trata
a spa
a face
a trage; a desena
a visa
a bea
a goni; a conduce (un
vehicul)
a mnca
a cdea
a (se) hrni, a da de
mncare
a simi
a lupta
a gsi
a zbura
a interzice
a uita
a ierta
a lsa, a prsi
a nghea; a degera
a obine
a da
a merge
a (se) macin; a (se) ascui
a crete
a aga, a atrna
a avea
a auzi
a ascunde
a lovi; a atinge, a nimeri
a ine, a reine, a cuprinde
a vtma, a pricinui durere;
a pgubi; a jigni, a ofensa,
Infinitive
keep
kept
Past Participle
kept
knit
knit,-ed
knit sau knitted
know
lay
lead
lean
knew
laid
led
leant
known
laid
led
leant
learn
learnt
learned
left
let
lay
learnt
learned
left
let
lain
lose
make
mean
meet
mistake
lit
lighted
lost
made
meant
met
mistook
lit
lighted
lost
made
meant
met
mistaken
mow
pay
put
read
ride
ring
rise
mowed
paid
put
read
rode
rang
rose
mown
paid
put
read
ridden
rung
risen
run
saw
say
ran
sawed
said
run
sawn
said
leave
let
lie
light
Past Tense
130
Translation
a face ru, a strica, a ine, a
pstra; a observa, a
respecta
a mpleti, a tricota, a
croeta
a ti, a cunoate
a pune, a aeza
a ndruma, a conduce a
(se) rezema
a nva, a afla
a lsa, a prsi; a pleca
a permite
a fi culcat, a fi ntins; a
zcea
a (se) aprinde
a pierde
a face
a nsemna
a ntlni
a nelege greit; a
confunda
a cosi, a secera
a plti
a pune
a citi
a clri
a suna
a se ridica, a se scula (n
picioare), a se nla
a alerga
a tia cu ferstrul
a spune, a zice
Infinitive
see
seek
sell
send
set
Past Tense
Past Participle
seen
sought
sold
sent
set
saw
sought
sold
sent
set
sew
sewed
shake
shave
shine'
shoot
show
shrink
shook
shaved
shone
shot
showed
shrank
sewn
sewed
shaken
shaven
shone
shot
shown
shrunk
shut
sing
sit
shut
sang
sat
shut
sung
sat
sleep
slide
smell
sow
speak
spell
spend
spill
spin
split
spoil
slept
slid
smelt
sowed
spoke
spelt
spent
spilt
span
split
spoilt
slept
slid
smelt
sown
spoken
spelt
spent
spilt
spun
split
spoilt
spread
spring
stand
spread
sprang
stood
spread
sprung
stood
131
Translation
a vedea
a cuta
a vinde
a trimite
a aeza, apune; a regla, a
fixa
a coase
a cltina, a scutura
a se brbieri
a strluci, a sclipi
a trage; a inti; a mpuca
a arta
a (se) strmta
a se strnge
a nchide
a cnta
a se aeza, a lua loc, a sta
jos
a dormi
a aluneca
a mirosi, a avea miros
a semna
a vorbi
a silabisi
a cheltui
a (se) vrsa
a fila, a toarce
a despica, a crpa
a prda, a jefui, a despuia,
a pgubi, a ruina, a strica
a ntinde; a mprtia
a sri
a sta n picioare
Infinitive
steal
stick
strike
Past Tense
stole
stuck
struck
Past Participle
stolen
stuck
struck
swear
sweep
swell
swim
take
teach
tear
tell
think
throw
understand
undo
undertake
upset
wake
swore
swept
swelled
swam
took
taught
tore
told
thought
threw
understood
undid
undertook
upset
woke
waked
wore
wove
wept
sworn
swept
swollen
swum
taken
taught
tom
told
thought
thrown
understood
undone
undertaken
upset
woken
waked
worn
woven
wept
wear
weave
weep
132
Translation
a fura
a nfige; a lipi
a izbi; a ciocni; a lovi; a
bate
a jura
a mtura
a umfla
a nota
a lua
a preda, a nva pe cineva
a rupe, a sfia
a spune a povesti
a gndi
a arunca
a nelege
a anula, a desfiina
a lua asupra sa
a rsturna, a dezorganiza
a se detepta
a purta
a ese
a plnge
Selected bibliography
Books:
Bourke K., English Verbs and Tenses, Oxford University Press, 2003
Camelia Chiril, Veronica Melca, Essential English, Editura Independena Economic,
Piteti, 2006
Dictionary of English Language and Culture, Addison Wesley Longman Limited, Harlow,
2000
English for Business & Administration, coordinated by the British Council, Cavallioti
Publishing House, Bucharest, 2000
Evans V., Dooley J., Upstream Intermediate B2, Students Book, Express Publishing,
2002
Graham Workman, Making Headway. Phrasal Verbs and Idioms. Advanced. Oxford
University Press. 1995.
Ian MacKenzie, English for Business Studies, Cambridge University Press, 2001
Leon Levichi, Gramatica Limbii Engleze, Editura Teora, Bucureti, 2001
Mann, R., Bell, J., Gower, R., First Certificate Expert, Students Resource Book,
Logman, 2003
Marcheteau, M., Berman, J.P., Engleza pentru economie, Business &
Economics, Teora, Bucuresti, 2000
Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners, Macmillan, London, 2002
McCarthy, Michael and Felicity ODell. English Vocabulary in Use Upper Intermediate.,
Cambridge University Press, London, 2004
Michel Marcheteau, Jean-Pierre Berman, Engleza comercial n 40 de lecii, Editura
Niculescu, Bucureti, 2002
Paul Emmerson, Business Grammar Builder, Macmillan, London, 2002
Serena Murdoch-Stern, Limba englez pentru afaceri, Editura Polirom, Bucureti, 2008
Simon Sweeney, English for Business Communication, Cambridge University Press,
2000
Vianu Lidia, English with a key, Editura Teora, Bucureti, 2001
*** English phrasal Verbs in Use 70 units of vocabulary reference and practice. Self2nd edition, Cambridge University Press, London, 2001. Excerpt. 76-77
Internet Resources:
A World Guide of Good Manners
<http://www.elanguages.org/files/21577 - Marea Britanie>
Bezon, Felipe. Different Types of Entertainment. 2 October 2009. Web. 6 August 2011
<http://ezinearticles.com/?Different-Types-of-Entertainment>
Dictionary, Encyclopaedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary. Web. July 2011
<http://www.thefreedictionary.com>
133
Dictionary and Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster Online. Web. July 2011

<http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary>
Education in England.15 august 2011. Web. August 2011.

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_England>.
Expressions for Agreeing and Disagreeing in English English Club. 1997-2011. Web. 27 July
2011.
<http://www.englishclub.com/speaking/agreeing-disagreeing-expressions.htm>.
English Used When Describing People - Yada Yada English. Web. July 2011.
<http://www.yadayadaenglish.com/describepeople.htm>.
Formal and Informal Language. Study Skills Brochure SLC/11/2006. Web. July 2011.
<http://www.flinders.edu.au/SLC> .
Higher education in the United States. 15 August 2011. Web. August 2011.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higher_education_in_the_United_States>.
Main Differences between Formal and Informal English. 13 May 2010. Web. July 2011.
<http://www.englishlci.com/blog/main-differences-between-formal-and-informal-english/>.
Pronouns English Club. 1997-2011. Web. 27 July 2011.

<http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/pronouns.htm>.
Past Progressive (Past Continuous), short explanation and exercises

www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/past-progressive
Romanian educational system. 28 June 2011. Web. August 2011.

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanian_educational_system>.
Travelling in Europe- Documents you will need

www.europa.eu EUROPA Travelling in Europe
Types of business communication

<http://www.ehow.com/types-business-communication-methods.html>
Quotations on communication
<http://thinkexist.com/quotations/communication>
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UNIVERSITATEA CONSTANTIN BRNCOVEANU

provides students with an interesting and practical tool for intensifying

support an act or instance of helping

6. Country where people eat paella and watch corridas.

2. How was your flight?

3. Ill take you to your hotel and then we

5. It was nice meeting you!

paper shredder a mechanical device

window blinds a blind for privacy or to

shelf, (pl.) shelves a structure made of

stapler a mechanical device that joins

paperclip a clip for holding paper sheets

2. Cross out the odd word from each series:

The Smiths live in London.

We study English once a week.

two rooms / offices

two toys / boys

two wives / shelves

two roofs / cliffs

a photo / a disco / a piano /

two photos/ discos/pianos/ studios

c. In business you must listen to as many (advice) .. as possible to

nevertheless in spite of that, however,

brand-new absolutely new

demanding requiring much effort or attention,

red and English cotton

pink / big / box / Chinese / a / brand-new.

6. Use the adjectives in brackets in the correct form of either comparative or

a. Our university offers (good) degree courses.

shade the degree to which a colour is

troublesome causing trouble or

collar the part of a garment that

Possessive Adjectives and Possessive Pronouns

Lucy sent herself a copy. / She visited me herself.

no person/no single thing

every one of two or more

not one and not the other of

not any/no person(s)

Many have already arrived at the party.

.. can I go out with tonight?

8. Translate the following sentences into English:

Yes, but I also consider that

I respect your opinion/belief, but

I couldnt agree with you more.

self-confidence great faith in oneself or

a. to gather pens for enjoyment

c. Find the opposites:

PRESENT TENSE SIMPLE

8. Students has hobbies such as reading, dancing or listening to music.

10. Translate the following sentences into English:

earning an increase usually measured in

I cure people who are ill.

3. Say if people normally feel happy or unhappy in the following situations:

a. person who sets up and runs his or her own business

f. Thomas has always wanted to be his own boss; he plans to become an .. .

1. to express an action that is happening

Alison is watching TV now.

3. to express ones immediate plans for

I am going to Constana tomorrow.

7. Underline the right verbal form:

bill - a document that says how much

2. Put the words below in the right order to make up sentences:

b. What should(nt) a good restaurant have? Use your answers to make up