Homework Marcel Javier Brea 13-0266

Passives Complete the text about the spice saffron using the best form of the verb in brackets. Saffron, with its distinctive bright yellow color, (1) has been used (use) in cooking for thousands Of years. It (2) was cultivated (cultivate) in a region that stretches from the Mediterranean to Kashmir. Around 300 tonnes of saffron (3) It was produced (produce) worldwide each year. Saffron (4) has come (come) from a flower, the saffron crocus. The purple flowers (5) It had to harvest (have to / harvest) at dawn before they (6) are wilted (wilt) in the heat of the day, and the central yellow stigma (7) is separated (separate) from the petals. These stigma (8) will be drying (then / dry) quickly and (9) will be sealed (seal) in airtight containers. Around 150 flowers (10) will be needed (need) to produce just 1g of dried saffron, so its perhaps not surprising that its the worlds most expensive spice by weight.

Abandon defend

be loyal to compromise make concessions obstruct

confront remain firm

1. Read the following opinions and match the phrases in italics with the synonyms in the box.

1. You should always stand up to bullies, no matter how much they may threaten you. Confront 2. Never give up hope, however bleak a situation may appear. Abandon. 3.It is best to stand your ground in an argument, however convincing your opponents arguments may be. Remain firm. 4. Governments should never give in to terrorists, regardless of the danger they may pose. Abandon. 5. You should never give way on your principles, however tempted you may be. Abandon 6. Parents should not stand in the way of their childrens ambitions, irrespective of their views and whether they are right or wrong. Obstruct. 7. You should stand up for the rights of all people, regardless of their race, gender or political or religion affiliation. Defend. 8. Always stand by your friends and family, whatever they may have done. Be loyal to.

Business talk

As more and more local authorities in the U.K. are having to find ways to cut costs while maintaining frontline services, I can reveal that Birmingham City Council has found a radical new solution, and is tackling the problem head-on by outsourcing 100 IT jobs to India. The news didnt go down well with the unions. In fact, the first they heard of it was when representatives of the outsourcing company arrived last week to learn the ropes from the very people theyll be replacing. This is the first example of a public sector organization being outsourced, but it seems likely that other authorities around the country might follow suit as they attempt to reduce expenses by up to 25 per cent and meet the target within the governments timescale of four years. Thousands of jobs are potentially at risk. In Birmingham there is bound to be a knock-on effect on the local economy when the people whose jobs have been axed are forced to tighten their belts and stop contributing to local businesses. Not that this seems to worry the council, though. Its handling of this whole fiasco has been a PR disaster, and has already sparked so many protests that it might well end up backfiring on them. No-one at the council was available for comment, which can only mean that the press office hasnt been outsourced yet. When I mentioned the story to an American colleague, she told me about a new trend called reverse outsourcing. When the recession hit US companies, many of them tried to alleviate the problem by downsizing their legal departments and outsourcing the work to countries such as India. Not surprisingly, however, many companies are wary of sensitive legal work being carried out in other countries, not least because of potential problems with data protection and litigation. So they came up with a novel solution

the outsourcing companies started hiring lawyers back in the United States, but paying them outsourcing rates. The lawyers may not be making as much money as theyd hoped for when they left law school, but a job is a job, after all. Its a question of supply and demand; as the skilled labor market in India dries up and wages skyrocket, and there is a surfeit of skilled unemployed workers in the US, then it makes sound business sense to tap it. But to look on the bright side for a change, a chain of bargain shops, which recently posted record profits for the third consecutive quarter, has announced that it is to open branches in out of-town shopping parks. Its a sign of the times that these shops, which are more usually to be found on our high streets, are now joining the big names at upmarket out-of-town shopping locations. There was a time when there was a stigma attached to shopping at charity shops and cut-price supermarkets. Not anymore. These days, shops like these are all the rage, giving people the opportunity to boast about the bargains theyve found. Its good to know that there are businesses out there still able to make a profit in this bleak economic climate. But to look on the bright side for a change, a chain of bargain shops, which recently posted record profits for the third consecutive quarter, has announced that it is to open branches in out of-town shopping parks. Its a sign of the times that these shops, which are more usually to be found on our high streets, are now joining the Big names at upmarket out-of-town shopping locations. There was a time when there was a stigma attached to shopping at charity shops and cut-price supermarkets. Not anymore. These days, shops like these are all the rage, giving people the opportunity to boast about the bargains theyve found. Its good to know that there are businesses out there still able to make a profit in this bleak economic climate.

Read the text and answer the questions

1. Who has to reduce cost? The U.K government has to reduce cost.

2. How is one council dealing with the problem? Is tackling the problem head-on by outsourcing 100 IT jobs to India.

3. What is the governments deadline for reducing costs? Attempt to reduce expenses by up to 25 per cent.

4. How did companies in the US try to improve their situation when the recession hit? When the recession hit US companies, many of them tried to alleviate the problem by downsizing their legal departments and outsourcing the work to countries such as India.

Listen to the Somali pirate's account of his life as a pirate. Make notes on... 1. His reasons for becoming a pirate. In Somalia there were no governments, rules, jobs, etc. So he became a fisherman to win money by capturing boats. 2. How the pirates board the ships. They shoot near the ships to get their attention and if they

dont stop they climb with a rope ladder. 3. What they do in the ship They count the crew and find out their nationalities, they check the cargo and ask the Captain to give them the honors of the ship, after that, they tell them that they just want their money. 4. How he views piracy.

Heroes escaping form poverty.

Listen to the audio CD then go to the activity section to upload your answers

Read the sentences below. How are these words in italics pronounced? Listen and check your answers.
1. The problem will continue to increase until there is

an international court.

They pronunciate with more effort the s.

2. Recently there has been a steady increase in attacks

by Somali pirates.
3. Coalition ships provide convoys to escort ships

across the seas.

4. Coalition ships provide an escort for ships in the

area. They dont pronunciate the letter T.

1. Read a business article of your choice from the business section of the Wall Street Journal

2. write a summary about your article 3. be ready to discuss in class this coming Saturday

Greek Budget Deficit Narrows Greece's budget deficit narrowed 42% in the first 10 months of the year on slightly higher revenues despite the country's deepening recession.