A request from your boss

Presenter: That doesn’t sound like much of a work–life balance. It sounds like all work.
Chris: Exactly, but this new mobility brings a lot of advantages with it. More people are now able to work flexibly, so if they need to leave the office early one afternoon to be with their family, they can catch up on work that evening from home or somewhere else.
Presenter: That sounds good. So, what you’re saying is that although traditional divisions between work and life are fading, many employees now have more freedom to do their work from different locations and at different times.
Chris: Yes, that’s it.
Listening: B2

A business interview

Listen to the business interview 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–f) with the vocabulary (1–6).

Vocabulary Definition

1. 
   …… a remote area
   
2. 
   …… pre-approved
   
3. 
   …… the founder
   
4. 
   …… a predicament
   
5. 
   …… numerous
   
6. 
   …… obvious
   
   1. 
      someone who starts a business
      
   2. 
      many
      
   3. 
      already officially recognised and accepted
      
   4. 
      far away from towns or other populated places
      
   5. 
      a difficult or challenging situation
      
   6. 
      easy to understand or notice
      

Tasks

Task 1

Choose the correct answer.

1. 
   Anna …
   
   1. 
      didn’t start the company but manages it now.
      
   2. 
      started the company and manages it now.
      
   3. 
      started the company but doesn’t manage it any more.
      

2. 
   The app …
   
   1. 
      is for parents to learn from.
      
   2. 
      is for students to learn from.
      
   3. 
      is for students who want to find a tutor.
      

3. 
   Many parents …
   
   1. 
      don’t have the time or knowledge to help with their children’s homework.
      
   2. 
      think that schools should help with their children’s homework.
      
   3. 
      don’t want to help with their children’s homework.
      

4. 
   The app …
   
   1. 
      has student exercises on it.
      
   2. 
      is only for people in remote areas.
      
   3. 
      offers live online support from tutors.
      

5. 
   On the app, tutors who live in remote areas …
   
   1. 
      often charge lower rates.
      
   2. 
      often charge higher rates.
      
   3. 
      don’t like to work too much.
      

6. 
   The app …
   
   1. 
      is new and not many people know about it.
      
   2. 
      is already popular.
      
   3. 
      is not very successful.
      

Task 2

Match the verbs (1–6) and nouns (a–f) from the interview.

Verbs Nouns

1. 
   …… to solve
   
2. 
   …… to come up with
   
3. 
   …… to meet
   
4. 
   …… to speak for
   
5. 
   …… to secure
   
6. 
   …… to expand
   
   1. 
      funding
      
   2. 
      a need
      
   3. 
      a problem
      
   4. 
      itself
      
   5. 
      the range of services
      
   6. 
      an idea