Variant V

I. Read the text and аnswer the questions.

MANAGEMENT STYLES (II)

Men and women do things differently. There are, of course, exceptions to every generalization, including this one.

Cristina Stuart is a managing director of Speakeasy Training, a consultancy that runs courses for men and women working together. Here she describes a few key differences between the sexes in the workplace.

Body language

Male body language tends to be challenging. Female body language tends towards self-protection. A stereotypical female pose is sitting cross-legged; the male sits with legs apart to give an impression that he is in control.

Male behaviour can include forceful gestures for example banging a fist on the desk for effect. The female style does not usually include aggressive gestures.

Language

The male way of speaking does not encourage discussion. Women tend to welcome others’ opinions and contributions more.

Self-promotion

Men find it easy to tell others about their success. Women tend to share or pass on the credit for a success.

Humor

Men’s humor can be cruel – a man’s joke usually has a victim. Female humor is less hurtful. A woman often jokes against herself.

CAVEAT

Many men have a female style of working. Equally many women have a male approach.

As Ms Stuart says many of the current management theorems – flatter organizations, empowerment, managing by consensus – have a female style to them.

 

 

1. Men and women do the things in the same way, don’t they? No, they don’t. Men and women do things differently.

2. Whose behaviour can include forceful gestures? Male behaviour can include forceful gestures for example banging a fist on the desk for effect.

3. Whose way of speaking encourages discussion? The male way of speaking does not encourage discussion.

4. Is it easy for women to tell others about their success? Women tend to share or pass on the credit for a success.

5. What are the features of men’s humor? Men’s humor can be cruel – a man’s joke usually has a victim.

6. Do any women have a male style of working? Many men have a female style of working. Equally many women have a male approach.

7. What are some current management theories? As Ms Stuart says many of the current management theorems – flatter organizations, empowerment, managing by consensus – have a female style to them.

II. Find in the text the following words and expressions:

обобщение; generalization

основные различия; key differences

иметь тенденцию, to tend

склонность к; tendency to

мужское поведение; male behaviour

ударять кулаком по столу; to bang a fist on the desk

включать в себя; to include

поощрять дискуссию; to encourage discussion

подход; an approach

предостережение. Caveat

III. Put the verb in brackets in the correct form: Gerund or Infinitive.

1. It’s better to avoid travelling during the rush hour.

2. Shall we postpone going away tomorrow instead of today?

3. The driver of the car admitted not having a licence.

4. Would you mind turning the radio down, please?

5. She’s a very interesting person. I always enjoy talking to her.

6. I’m not feeling very well. I don’t fancy going out.

7. John was unable to play in the tennis tournament as he was about having an operation on his knee.

8. I’m sorry to say that his recent car accident has made it impossible for John to qualify for the race.

9. I would prefer to go to the football match instead of watching it on TV last night.

10. I can’t help thinking how graceful Julie is as a gymnast.

IV. Rewrite the sentences in Reported Speech, as in the example.

E.g. “It’s raining heavily,” he said.

  He said (that) it was raining heavily.

 

1. She said that she would go to the dentist.

2. She said that she had lived in Montreal for ten years.

3. Dad said that they were leaving in June.

4. Annie said that she had forgotten to take the dog for a walk.

5. They said that they had done the washing-up.

6. He said that he always woke up early on Mondays.

7. She said that the Browns were looking for a new house.

V. Writing

1. Erika Wedel organises publicity events at a large advertising agency. She has written an article for the in-company magazine about her typical day. Read her article:

I usually try to be at the office by half past nine but sometimes it’s later. I’m lucky that I can work the hours I choose as long as get the work done! The first thing I always do is check my post; I pass anything to do with money to the finance department and all the day-to-day enquiries go to my secretary. She sends out letters of confirmation, handles routine queries, things like that. I deal with anything urgent before my first appointment at ten thirty. Most mornings usually involve meetings; these can be with clients who want us to organize a publicity launch or with other departmental managers. I spend at least two hours a day in meetings. Then I go back to my office and check that my secretary has everything under control – she always has! Next I grab a sandwich for lunch, unless I’m having lunch with clients, and then I usually spend the afternoon out of the office. I have to visit the places where any publicity event is going to be held and talk to the staff there, from the security personnel to the chefs. I always make contact with all the staff myself – I think it’s very important for a successful event. Then it’s back to the office, hopefully by half past five. Most people have left by then and that’s when I get a lot of my work done because there’s none to interrupt me. I sign the letters that my secretary has typed, update the schedules for each of the events that I’m handling and then finally I check my schedule for the next day so that I know what time I have to be back in the office!

 

2. Look at the list of things Erika does. What order do you think she does them in?

c) arrives at the office

b) checks her post

e) passes correspondence to the finance department on her secretary

f) makes sure her secretary doesn’t have any questions

d) deals with anything urgent in her post

h) spends the morning in meetings

a) visits suppliers, venues etc

i) has lunch

g) returns to the office and finishes her work

j) checks her schedule for the next day

 

3. Write a short article for an in-company magazine about your typical day (maximum 120 words). First note down six things that you usually do, then write your article. If you wish, you can write about an imaginary job!

 

My working day starts very early. From Monday to Friday I get up at half past six and I have a shower and a cup of coffee. I usually leave the house at ten past seven. I get to the studio at about eight o`clock and start work. I start work at eight o`clock and finish at five o`clock. Then I leave the studio at a quarter past six. After that, I get home. Then I cook dinner. I stay at home in the evening. I usually watch television and then I go to bed at half past eleven. At weekends I don`t get up until ten o`clock. In the evening, I often see some friends or go to the cinema.

VI. Retell the text of ex.I.

 

The text has the title “MANAGEMENT STYLES”. The author tells us about the difference in the communication style of men and women. He notes that men and women do things differently. However, Cristina Stuart is a managing director of Speakeasy Training, describes a few key differences between the sexes in the workplace.

First of all, male body language tends to be challenging. Female body language tends towards self-protection. Male behaviour can include forceful gestures for example banging a fist on the desk for effect. The female style does not usually include aggressive gestures.

As for language, the male way of speaking does not encourage discussion. Women tend to welcome others’ opinions and contributions more. It is important to note that men find it easy to tell others about their success and women tend to share or pass on the credit for a success.

Moreover, men’s humor can be cruel. Female humor is less hurtful. Many men have a female style of working. Equally many women have a male approach.