Choose the best answer to each of the following questions.
1. What word was used to describe the way that meetings were run in the past?
a) authoritarian
b) efficient
c) relaxed
d) lengthy
2. A new head was brought in because ...
a) the company was old-fashioned.
b) the former head had retired.
c) profits were low.
d) the company was nearly bankrupt.
3. The new head ...
a) had worked in this field of business all his life.
b) already worked for this company.
c) had not been a senior manager for long.
d) was well known for making tough decisions.
4. The shopkeepers were not happy with the new head because ...
a) he didn't consult them about new decisions.
b) he wasn't strong enough.
c) his policies were not good for the company.
d) he wasn't very friendly.
5. At the extraordinary meeting ...
a) the atmosphere was very relaxed.
b) people were very quiet.
c) shareholders were unable to reach a decision.
d) the board of management was replaced.
6. After the extraordinary meeting...
a) very little changed.
b) the new management put new policies into practice.
c) they returned to their old practices.
d) people continued to be very unhappy.
Translate the text.
TEXT 6
Read the text and do the tasks that follow.
SOME ADVICE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS
1 In large organizations, leaders should spend no more than four hours a day
in their offices. The rest of the time, they should be out with their people,
talking to lower-level employees and getting their feedback on problem
areas. They should be making short speeches and handing out awards. They
should be travelling widely throughout their organizations.
2 The best leaders are those whose minds are never closed and who are eager
to deal with new issues. Leaders should not change their minds too
frequently after a major decision has been made, but if they never
reconsider, they are beginning to show a degree of rigidity and inflexibility
that creates problems for the organization.
3 Executives must take a disciplined approach to their schedules, their post,
their telephone calls, their travel schedules and their meetings. Staying busy
and working long hours are not necessarily a measurement of leadership
effectiveness.
4 Leaders may run efficient organizations, but they do not really serve the
long-term interests of the institution unless they plan, set goals and provide
strategic perception.
5 The leader must be willing to pass on skills, to share insights and
experiences, and to work very closely with people to help them mature and
be creative.
6 Leaders should let people know that life is not so important that you can’t
sit back occasionally and be amused by what is happening. Laughter can be
a great reliever of tension.
7 Reliability is something that leaders must have in order to provide stability
and strength to organizations. Leaders must be willing to be flexible but
consistency and coherence are important elements of large organizations.
8 Leaders must not only understand the major elements of their businesses
but must also keep up with any changes.
9 Leaders should be able to look at themselves objectively and analyse where
they have made mistakes and where they have disappointed people.
Paragraphs 1-9 contain advice for business leaders. Choose the appropriate heading for each paragraph from the list below.
a. A leader should be a good teacher and communicator.
b. A leader must manage time and use it effectively.
с. A leader must have technical competence._
d. A leader must provide vision.
e. A leader must be visible and approachable.
f. A leader should be introspective.
g. A leader should be dependable.
h. A leader should be open-minded.
i. A leader should have a sense of humour.
Are the following statements true or false?
1. Leaders should spend more than four hours a day in their offices.
2. Leaders should not change their minds too often.
3. The best leaders should stay busy and work long hours.
4. Leaders plan, set goals and provide strategic perception.
5. Leaders must provide stability.
6. Executives must not be criticized.
Translate the text.
TEXT 7
Read this article about Ted Turner, the American television entrepreneur. Do exercises that follow.
TED TURNER – MR TV
BORN IN CINCINNATTI, Ohio in 1938, Ted Turner became a CEO at the age of only 25 when he took over his father’s advertising company.
In 1970, he moved into television when he bought a small Atlanta TV station, WJRJ. He later changed its name first to WTBS, then to TBS. In 1976, WTBS was the first TV station in the USA to transmit to cable systems nationwide via satellite, in the same year, Turner bought the Atlanta Braves baseball team.
1977 was another sporting year for Ted Turner. He bought a basketball team this time, theAtlanta Hawks. He was also captain of the boat Courageous, which sailed to victory in the America’s Cup.
In 1980 he launched CNN (Cable News Network), which is now recognized as the leader in instant coverage of world events. Six years later he bought the MGM / United Artists Entertainment Company, and then founded a new TV company, TNT (Turner Network Television) in 1988. In 1990 he created his own charity organization, the Turner Foundation.
In 1996 Time Warner bought TBS for $7.5 bn, and Ted Turner was no longer in charge. “I've been a CEO for thirty-three years, and that’s a long time for anyone,’ he said at the time. ‘I’m married to Jane Fonda, so I know what it’s like to be number two.”
True or false?
1. Ted Turner became CEO at the age of 40.
2. In 1970 he moved into television.
3. Turner bought two baseball teams in 1976 and in 1977.
4. CNN is one of the best news channels.
5. Turner sold his TV company to Time Warner.
6. He has been a CEO for thirty-three years.
Answer the questions.
1. When was Ted Turner born?
2. Where was he born?
3. What did his father do?
4. Did Ted Turner work in advertising?
5. When did he move into television?
6. What was the name of the first TV station he bought?
7. What does the abbreviation CNN mean?
8. When did Turner create his own charity organization?
9. Why did he sell TBC?
Translate the text.
TEXT 8
Read the article and answer the questions below.