Part 4 Comprehensive Reading

In this part, you will read a longer and complete article and practice your comprehensive reading skills.

Before You Read

Task 5：Previewing Vocabulary

Task 6：Reading This Article 

As you read the following selection, think about the answer to this question: What makes a good leader? Read the selection. Do not use a dictionary. Then do the exercise that following the reading.

Leadership – What Makes a Good Leader

1   It goes without saying that good leadership is crucial to any successful business. But, what makes a good leader and how can people develop themselves into good leaders? The answer is that there are many factors that contribute to good leadership.

Get Talking 

2  Communication is one of the key elements of leadership. Good communication skills need to be learned to effectively become a good leader. When communication occurs, as a leader, you will be able to accurately convey your ideas and thoughts to your subordinates. If employees have no idea what is on your mind, your leadership is going to falter — they are not mind readers.

3  If there is a problem a certain employee is experiencing, good communication can filter the problem out. You, as a leader, can dissect the problem and offer solutions in various ways.

4   Ideas that are given to employees work both ways, as well. Employees can give helpful feedback and generate new ideas to you that help the company as well, when good communication is present.

Get Things Moving 

5  Motivation is another variable that plays an important role in good leadership. Employees tend to stagnate when motivation decreases—and it will decrease without proper motivation. Many leaders try to motivate the old-fashioned way—through fear. (Do what I say or something bad will happen.) This is not advisable, since it tends to only deliver short-term results and cause even less competent work in the long run, due to resentment resulting from the fear tactics.

6  Instead, try adding challenges for employees. A fresh challenge always adds excitement and spawns creativity. Challenge your employees with tasks that may be slightly out of their range and let them work at it! This increases motivation.

7  If they run into a snag, guide them towards a solution but don’t offer the actual solution outright. Coach them into discovering the solution themselves. Once they have, their self-esteem will rise, thereby raising their motivation level.

  Use others’ potential. 

8  Many times, employees’ potential is wasted. Good leaders are comfortable with delegating responsibilities since they recognize that their employees are more than just employees; they are people too. These people have lives outside of work where they have to make decisions on a daily basis, from how to deal with house payments, to car bills, to raising children, to uncountable tasks in everyday lives. Yet, at work, their decision making skills are not trusted enough to choose what type of toner needs to be ordered for a set of printers.

9  The point here is that employees need to be trusted to do more. A good leader doesn’t manage every single detail. Use others’ potential to your benefit. You will find that you have become a better leader for it. 

Task 9：Focusing on Vocabulary

A. Choose the correct definition for each word.

B. Fill in each blank with the proper form of the word given in brackets.

1. Sometimes the weather forecast is ___________ (accurately), sometimes not. 

2. In typical management problems, there is usually a large number of ___________ (variable). 

3. Bicycle manufacturers are facing greater pressure from the ___________ (decrease) market. 

4. The economy shows no signs of ___________ (falter).

5. Only ___________ (uncountable) nouns can be used in the plural. 

6. A ___________ (dissect) of your argument shows several inconsistencies.

7. The hospital has a backup ___________ (generate) in case there is a power failure. 

8. Poor economic policies led to a long period of ___________ (stagnate) and decline. 

9. The HR director is responsible for managing staff, projects, and ___________ (tactic) decision-making.  

10. I ___________ (resentment) having to get his permission for everything I do.

Task 10：Focusing on Word Formation

The following roots can be found in the text.

 I. Read the text carefully, locate the words in the text that contain one of the above-mentioned roots, and tell the part of speech and the meaning of each word.

II. Fill in the blanks with the words given below. Change the form where necessary.

1. There are too many __________ in the experiment to predict the result accurately.

2. Not everyone can __________ and digest the public information they receive. 

3. His __________ remark killed the conversation.

4. The jacket is available in __________ colors.

5. A highway and a railway __________ here.

6. Most of the house remains __________ even after two hundred years.

7. We need managers who can master the method and __________ of resolving conflict.

8. When preparing meals, you need to think about __________ and taste as well as nutritional value.

9. In the financial __________, banks and insurance companies have both lost a lot of money. 

10. Remember to be __________ when expressing a personal judgment.