Directions: Listen to the following three passages and choose the right answer to the question you hear. Then write all the answers into chapter test. 

Passage 1

Questions 16 to 19 are based on the passage you have just heard.

16. A) Always getting to work on time.

      B) Being very busy. 

      C) Doing the job in an earnest way. 

      D) All of the above.

17. A) Politics.

      B) Policy.

      C) Politeness.

      D) Patience.

18. A) The one with flattery.

      B) The one who comes earlier.

      C) The one the manager likes.

      D) All of the above.

19. A) Speaking up for oneself is part of human nature.

      B) Office politics is necessary for self-advancement.

      C) Hard work is of little importance to one’s promotion.

      D) All employees can recognize the need for flattery.

Passage 2

Questions 20 to 22 are based on the passage you have just heard.

20. A) Dying slowly.

      B) Being painful.

      C) Getting busy.

      D) Facing career death.

21. A) Office politics is inescapable.

      B) Office politics is about dealing with people.

      C) Politics is part of society.

      D) Anyone will do fine in office politics.

22. A) People are required to change themselves.

      B) Office politics will cause career death.

      C) Special communication skills are required.

      D) Office politics gives people opportunities to learn and grow.

Passage 3

Questions 23 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.

23. A) How to find little ways to do a job better.

      B) How to socialize with the boss.

      C) How to do little extras in a picnic.

      D) How to improve day-to-day behavior at work.

24. A) Build good relationships with the knowledge gurus.

      B) Stick to the “critical path” when organizing time.

      C) Get hung up on whether the desk is clean or cluttered.

      D) Go beyond the regular work to come up with new ideas.

25. A) Their competitors’ perspective.

      B) Their customers’ perspective.

      C) Their own perspective.

      D) Both A) and B).

Passage 1

        People want to get ahead when they are working in office, but not everyone can reach the goal. For example, people like A is for always getting to work on time; people like B is for being very busy; people like C is for the earnest way you do your job. You may be all these kinds of people at the office, and even more. But when it comes to getting ahead, some experts say, the ABCs above are not enough, a P should be included, for P — politics, as in office politics.

        In fact, today, experts explain office politics as proper behavior used to go after one’s own self-interest in the workplace. In many cases, this involves some forms of socializing within the office environment — not just in large companies, but in small workplaces as well.

        “The first thing people are usually judged on is their ability to perform well on their work,” says Neil P. Lewis, a management psychologist. “But if two or three candidates are up for a position, each of whom has reasonably similar ability, a manager is going to choose the person he or she likes best to get ahead. It’s simple human nature.”

        Yet, psychologists say, many employees and employers have trouble with the concept of politics in the office. Some people, they say, have an idealistic vision of work and what it takes to succeed. Still others connect office politics with flattery, fearful that, if they speak up for themselves, they may appear to be flattering their boss for favors.

        Experts suggested that office politics should be the need for some self-promotion. 

Passage 2

        Here is a message for people who say office politics don’t matter: You will die a slow, painful career death. This is because there’s no getting around office politics, and mastering them is essential to being able to steer your own career. Don’t take that as bad news, though, because mastering office politics is good for your soul.

        Office politics is inescapable because it’s about dealing with the people. A small percentage of people are mentally unable to understand office politics. The rest of you need to get with the program. Because where there is a group of people — anywhere, even on the playground — there is politics.

        Politics is part of society. And my guess is that you want to participate in society so that you can support yourself. But people who are good at politics are generally empathetic and they have good self-discipline — they can moderate themselves so they are pleasant to be with.

        Most people who hate politics think they have to change who they are to succeed. Anyone who is being their best self will do fine in office politics.

        So get to know yourself. Saying you just can’t do politics is giving up on being your best self. For most people in today’s workplace, office politics is about getting the best opportunities to learn and grow; the best projects, the best training, the assignments that build skills the market values.

Passage 3

        Robert E. Kelly, a consultant for major corporations and a professor at Carnegie Mellon University，has written a book entitled How to Be a Star at Work, in which he teaches readers how to improve their day-to-day behavior at work by using some breakthrough strategies: 

        1. Initiative

        It’s not about finding little ways to do your job better, or volunteering to do little extras like planning the annual picnic．Star performers know that real initiative means going beyond your regular work to come up with new ideas that really help the company’s bottom line．

        2. Networking

        Average performers think it means socializing with the boss in hopes of getting a promotion．Star performers know it’s really about building good relationships with the knowledge gurus who can help you get your work done faster and better．

        3. Self-management

        Don’t get hung up on whether your desk is clean or cluttered — that has nothing to do with success. The key is whether you are sticking to the “critical path” when you organize your time, work space, and goals.

        4. Perspective

        Average workers see everything from their own point of view, but stars learn to consider the perspectives of their colleagues, bosses, customers, and competitors．

        5. Teamwork

        Everyone talks about teams, but stars know how to avoid the pitfalls that often derail them.