Exercises for Integrated Skills

1. Dictation

U2-Dictation.mp3(下载附件 6.86 MB)

 

2. Fill in each blank in the passage belowwith ONE word you think appropriate.

Americansaverage 25.1 working (1) ________ per person in working age per week, but theGermans average 18.6 hours. The average American works 46.2 weeks per year, (2)________ the French average 40 weeks per year. Why do western Europeans work somuch (3) ________ than Americans? Recent work argues that these differencesresult (4) ________ higher European tax rates, but the vast empirical labor supplyliterature suggests that tax rates can (5) ________ only a small amount of thedifferences in hours between the U.S. and Europe. Another popular view is thatthese differences are explained (6) ________ long-standing European “culture,” yetEuropeans worked more than Americans as (7) ________ as the 1960s. We believethat European labor market regulations, advocated by unions in decliningEuropean industries who argued “work less, work all” explain the bulk of the (8)________ between the U.S. and Europe. These policies do not seem to haveincreased employment, but they may have had a more society-wide (9) ________ onleisure patterns because of a social multiplier where the returns to leisureincrease as more people are (10) ________ longer vacations.

Oral Activities

1. Making a Dialogue

Suppose you’re going in for a job interview.Think what questions the interviewer may ask and how you would answer them.Role play the situation with a classmate and simulate the dialogue.

 

Some possiblejob interview questions and answers

Question1
Explain to us, as best you can, why you have applied for a position in ourcompany? Or why do you think you might like to work for our company?

I am very interested in the field yourcompany is in.

Your company has a very good reputation.

Good pay.

Famous.

Good training.

I’ve always wanted to work in this field, andyour company is one of the leaders in this field.

I’ve wanted to work for you since yourrepresentative gave a career talk on campus, and gave me a very good impressionof your organization.

Question 2
What do you know about our company?

Famous.

Your annual report describes you as ...

My friends in the field say that your companyis ...

Question 3
What do you knowabout the type of work we expect from you?

What it says in the job advertisement.

Well at first I’d expect to... Then later,hopefully I will be promoted and I will ...

I’d expect to carry out the functions of thepost, and be creative and a good team member.

Question 4
In what way do you feel our company will help you to use your abilities fully?

I think I will be able to use myinter-personal skills as a team member ...

I think I will be able to put into practicethe skills I learned at University.

I’m afraid I’m not clear on what exactly yourcompany offers its employees in this area.

Question 5
Have you any experience of this type of work?

No.

Well, from my summer working experience Ihave teamwork and organizational skills.

No, but I’m sure I will pick up the job veryquickly.

Question 6
What qualities do you have?

The qualities that I have learned in myuniversity career, for example ...

The qualities that you mentioned in the jobadvertisement..

Question 7
We have severalapplicants for this position. Why do you think you are the person we shouldchoose?

I have no idea, but I’m sure I’d work hard.

I have the abilities, qualities andexperience that you requested in your job advert, for example ...

Question 8
Why did you choose this course as your field of study?

I chose the course because it would prepareme for this field, and I believe that this field suits my personality andstrengths, for example ...

My teacher and career counselor recommendedit.

Question 9
How do you seeyour career developing?

After a few years of gaining experience inthe company and furthering my professional qualifications, I’d like to put myexperience and skills to use in management.

I aim to be promoted within two years, lead ateam, and, when I have enough experience  in the field, I will start myown company.

Well, I expect that after a few years, themanagement will promote me when they think that I am ready.

Question 10
Do you have anyparticular strengths or weaknesses?

I think I’m good at ...

I think I’m good at ... As for weaknesses, myChinese typing speed isn’t very good, and I’m studying to improve it.

I’m good at ...  On the other hand I’m alittle bit lazy.

Sometimes I’m too hard-working and I putmyself under too much pressure to make things perfect.

 

2. Having a Discussion and Debate on the FollowingTopic

People in the world can be divided into two types — thosewho work to live and those who live to work. Which type do you think Phil is?Which type would you like to be and why?

 

Viewpoints

In somesense it is like Shakespeare’s "to be or not to be", which isabsolutely a complex issue.

 

Work to Live: Some people work to live. These people viewtheir work or careers largely as toil because their purpose is to earn a living.Their real interests lie elsewhere, and their work or careers are only means toan end, not an end in itself. Some of these people try to cut corners, to gainthe maximum pay with the minimum of effort. Others do indeed take great pridein their work, and put great effort in doing their jobs well, but their jobssimply are not the centers of their lives.

 

l Somepeople agree to the opinion that hard work is all for the sake of living.

l Fromchildhood, people have to study hard so as to enlarge their knowledge, toimprove the quality and to increase the experience for a social being.

l Afterthey step into the social stage, they work diligently every day to maintaintheir jobs, to promote their career positions and to run their own businesssuccessfully.

l Thisstate of mind might agree with the majority. The sweat dropped today is for thesake of tomorrow’s harvest, in other words, living is the origin and basis oftheir work.

l They have the belief that the harder they work, the more the rewards they will get.

 

Live to Work: Certain people, it is said, live to work.This is shorthand for saying that their lives center on their work or careers,and that achievement in their professions is a major source of satisfaction andmeaning in their lives. Money may or may not be a major motivation for thesepeople. In some cases, achieving huge levels of pay (as is the case with manysenior corporate executives, such as CEOs) is regarded more as a means ofkeeping score and proving your relative worth versus other people, than it isfor the money itself.

l Somepeople take the views that work is the purpose and ambition of their lives.

l Theycan not imagine how life will be without work. Work for them is destiny.

l Inthis kind of people’s minds, the destiny has been rooting in their deep heart,which leads them to work harder and harder, which encourages them to makeconsistently brave and meaningful new tries and which makes them have a faithto live a worthwhile life.