A request from your boss

Selina: No way! You? Married? To …?
Patrick: I don’t think you know her. Her name’s Marigold. And we’ve got two kids. They’re five and eight years old.
Selina: Married and with two kids? Wow!
Patrick: Don’t look so surprised!
Selina: No, no … I’m just amazed how time flies! I’m happy for you. I really am.
Patrick: Thanks. You should really come round to the house one day.
Selina: That would be great. Let’s swap numbers and ...
Listening: B1

Work–life balance

Listen to a radio interview about maintaining a good work–life balance to practise and improve your listening skills.

Before listening

Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.

Preparation task

Match the definitions (a–h) with the vocabulary (1–8).

Vocabulary Definition

1. 
   …… work–life balance
   
2. 
   …… overtime
   
3. 
   …… a best-selling book
   
4. 
   …… an advantage
   
5. 
   …… a concept
   
6. 
   …… to fade
   
7. 
   …… freedom
   
8. 
   …… mobility
   
   1. 
      a successful book
      
   2. 
      giving the right amount of time to work and to the rest of your life
      
   3. 
      an idea
      
   4. 
      working more than your normal work hours
      
   5. 
      the ability to work from different places
      
   6. 
      a positive thing about something
      
   7. 
      to become less clear or visible
      
   8. 
      being free to do what you want