Episode 210 B

EPISODE 210B
LEVEL B1 – B2

 

 

READING COMPREHENSION

 

WORK: GETTING PAID

At last I have a job that pays well (= I get a lot of money in it)! Last year I was on a wage (= I earned money depending on the number of hours you work) and I never knew if I was going to have enough money to get by on (= have enough money to survive) next month. Sometimes I really had to tighten my belt (= start spending less) at the end of the month. But now I have a salary (= a set amount of money that is paid monthly), plus I am on commission (= I receive a few percent of every sale I make). Also, many perks (= additional benefits) come with this job: I got a company car, a laptop and a mobile phone. Now, I am never in the red (= I never have debts). I get a bonus (= extra money) twice a year if I reach sales targets and I get sick pay (= money while I am sick and cannot work) and I have four weeks of paid holidays (= holidays when I get money despite I don’t work) a year. I’ve put aside (= saved up) quite a lot of money in this job already and I don’t think I will need to dip into my savings (= use the money which was put aside) any time soon. This money is there for a rainy day (= a time of need or trouble).

 

More contexts for the new words:

• His job is well-paid / poorly-paid.
• Please pay attention while I am talking to you.
• You’re going to pay me for this!
• Sorry, sir, this is a pay toilet.

 

 

EXERCISE 1

Match the columns to make correct expressions.

 

1. to tighten                   a. pay
2. to be on                      b. aside
3. paid                            c. commission
4. a rainy                       d. into your savings
5. to dip                         e. holidays
6. sick                             f. your belt
7. to be in                      g. day
8. to put money           h. the red

 

 

EXERCISE 2

Complete the questions with the correct words (the first letter is given) and answer them.

 

1. Do you earn a s……………….. or a w………………….. ? Do you receive any b……………….. for doing your job well?
2. What kinds of additional p……………………… do you receive in your company?
3. Are you good at putting money a…………………… for a r………………… day?

 

ENGLISH IN USE 

Look at this sentence from the text:

 

This money is there for a rainy day.

The word ‘money’ is an uncountable noun in English. Uncountable nouns:

• do not have plural forms
• are followed by the singular form of the verb
• are preceded by singular demonstratives (this, that)
• go together with quantifiers much and (a) little
• to express the idea of ‘one’, you need to use an extra phrase, such as a piece of, a bottle of, a kilo of, etc.

 

Remember that uncountable nouns are usually words describing substances or things which cannot be divided into separate parts (water, rice, electricity, etc) and abstract concepts (love, happiness, scenery, etc).

Some other tricky uncountable nouns are: information, news, furniture, advice, luggage.

 

 

IDIOM CLOSE-UP

 

A/ Mom, I’d really really like a new computer!

B/ We can’t afford a new computer! MONEY DOESN’T GROW ON TREES, you know!

 

If you say that money doesn’t grow on trees, you say that you should be careful how much money you spend because there is only a limited amount and getting money is not easy.

 

 

 

PHRASAL VERBS CLOSE-UP

 

1. If you SPLASH OUT, you spend a lot of money on things, especially things which are pleasant to have but which you do not really need.

 

He splashed out on a holiday last month.

From time to time, I like to go shopping and just splash out!

 

2. If you FORK OUT, you pay for something, especially something you would rather not have to spend money on.

 

 I needed to fork out for two wedding presents within the last two weeks, I’m broke!

They forked out over $100 for front-row seats, that’s crazy!

 

 

EXERCISE 3

Choose the correct option to complete each sentence:

 

1. If you fork out for something, you
2. a) may regret it later
3. b) buy something you don’t really need
4. c) put aside some money

 

2. If you splash out on something, you
3. a) spend a little money for small pleasures
4. b) you enjoy the process of buying the things
5. c) you go shopping and buy more items than you planned to

 

3. Someone might tell you that money doesn’t grow on trees if you
4. a) wanted to borrow z 100 PLN from them for the third time this month
5. b) earned twice as much as usual in one month
6. c) started saving for a rainy day

 

 

NEWS

 

WHAT PEOPLE WANT FROM WORK

 

Each and every one of us go to work for different reasons. But there are some underlying principles which rule people’s motivation to work and job satisfaction. Where exactly is money in this picture?

Some people work because they love what they do; others work for personal fulfillment. Others like to accomplish goals and feel as if they are contributing to something larger than themselves, something important. There are, basically, as many different reasons as there are employees. Whatever your personal reasons for working, the bottom line, however, is that almost everyone works for money. Whatever you call it: compensation, salary, bonuses, benefits or remuneration, money pays the bills.

 

GLOSSARY

– underlying principles – the main, though sometimes not obvious rules of how something works

– personal fulfillment – a feeling of pleasure because you are getting what you want from life

– to contribute to sth – to help to cause an event or situation, to give to achieve something together with other people

– the bottom line – the most important fact in a situation

 

 

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