10 A working life
Glossary
Page 113 10.9 bewildering (adj) /bɪˈwɪldərɪŋ/
confusing ● When I first started learning to
10.1 entrepreneur (n) /ɒntrəprəˈnɜː/ code, it seemed like a bewildering mass of
sb who sets up a business ● The entrepreneur symbols. ➣ bewildered (adj), bewilderment (n),
started a successful budget airline company. bewilder (v) ❖
❖
10.10 on the cusp (expr) /ɒn ðə kʌsp/
10.2 unpaid (adj) /ˌʌnˈpeɪd/ at the time or point where a state or situation
done without receiving payment ● His changes and becomes sth else ● She was on
employer expected him to work unpaid the cusp of completing her degree course and
overtime. ➣ payment (n), pay (v) entering the world of work. ❖
❖ ✎ Opp: paid
10.11 align (v) /əˈlaɪn/
be compatible with; match ● He prefers to
work for a company that aligns with his ideas
Reading Pages 114–115 of social justice and fair play. ➣ alignment (v)
❖
10.3 the big picture (expr) /ðə bɪɡ ˈpɪktʃə(r)/ 10.12 strategically (adv) /strəˈtiːdʒɪkli/
the situation as a whole, not just the details in a planned way ● If you plan your studies
● Before you accept the job, look at the strategically, spreading the work throughout
big picture of whether you’ll be making a the school year, you’ll be more relaxed in the
difference in other people’s lives. exams. ➣ strategy (n), strategic (adj)
❖ ❖
10.4 set (adj) /set/ 10.13 achievable (adj) /əˈtʃiːvəbl/
steady; fixed ● As an office worker, he has a which can be achieved ● Our plans will be
set working day of eight hours. ➣ set (v) achievable with everyone’s co-operation.
❖ ➣ achieve (v), achievement (n) ❖
10.5 air traffic controller (n) /ˌeə træfɪk ✎ Opp: unachievable
kənˈtrəʊlə(r)/ 10.14 absorbing (adj) /əbˈzɔːbɪŋ/
sb who guides aircraft pilots by radio during holding your interest ● The book was so
landing and take-off ● The air traffic controller absorbing that I lost track of the time and read
advised the pilot to land at another airport. it till the end. ➣ absorb (v), absorption (n)
❖ ❖
10.6 graphic designer (n) /ˈgræfɪk dɪˈzaɪnə(r)/ 10.15 commitment (n) /kəˈmɪtmənt/
an artist who designs images for books, a responsibility to do sth ● I can’t go to evening
websites, etc. ● The graphic designer created classes because I have another commitment.
the logo for our website. ❖ I’m looking after my aunt’s children.
10.7 human resources manager (n) /ˌhjuːmən ➣ commit (v) ❖
rɪˈsɔːsɪz ˈmænɪdʒə(r)/ 10.16 place faith in (expr) /pleɪs feɪθ ɪn/
a person in charge of dealing with matters trust in; rely on ● Should you place faith in an
related to a company’s employees ● The agency to find you a job when you could be
human resources manager chose six people contacting companies directly? ❖
to interview for the job. ❖ ✎ Syn: ✎ Also: put (your) faith in
personnel manager
10.17 buzzing (adj) /ˈbʌzɪŋ/
10.8 electrical engineer (n) /ɪˌlektrɪkl endʒɪˈnɪə(r)/ lively; full of activity and noise ● He enjoyed
sb who designs and builds electrical equipment the buzzing atmosphere of the street market.
and systems ● As an electrical engineer, you ➣ buzz (n, v) ❖
could be offered a post where you get to test
systems for rockets and satellites!
❖
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10.18 content (adj) /kənˈtent/
happy with life ● He felt content working from Vocabulary Page 116
home as he could spend time with his family.
➣ content (n, v) ❖ 10.30 vacancy (n) /ˈveɪkənsi/
an available job ● There is a vacancy at the
10.19 career path (n) /kəˈrɪə pɑːθ/ local supermarket that I think I will apply for.
the jobs and training sb does to build a career ➣ vacant (adj) ❖
● Nick decided to leave the family business
and follow his own career path as a musician. 10.31 administrator (n) /ədˈmɪnɪstreɪtə(r)/
❖ sb who is in charge of a business, an office,
etc. ● Having years of experience, he was
10.20 enthusiasm (n) /ɪnˈθjuːziæzm/ given the job of administrator in the sales
sth that you feel passionate about or very team. ➣ administer (v), administration (n)
interested in ● Art and music are her ❖
main enthusiasms. ➣ enthusiastic (adj),
enthusiastically (adv) ❖ 10.32 supplier (n) /səˈplaɪə(r)/
a person or company who provides goods
10.21 integrate (v) /ˈɪntɪɡreɪt/ ● I ordered shoes online, directly from the
combine things so they work well together supplier. ➣ supply (n, v) ❖
● The architect managed to integrate the
colours of the natural surroundings into the 10.33 agency (n) /ˈeɪdʒənsi/
building design. ➣ integration (n), integral a business that provides a service for other
(adj), integrally (adv) ❖ people or companies ● The hotel hires
seasonal workers through a recruitment
10.22 aptitude (n) /ˈæptɪtjuːd/ agency. ➣ agent (n) ❖
a natural talent for doing sth ● All applicants
for the course will need to take an aptitude test 10.34 issue (v) /ˈɪʃuː/
to assess their skill levels. ➣ apt (adj), aptly give out sth officially ● When he lost his credit
(adv) ❖ card, he asked the bank to issue a new one.
➣ issue (n) ❖
10.23 intern (n) /ˈɪntɜːn/
a student or graduate who has a temporary 10.35 sick leave (n) /sɪk liːv/
work experience post ● Anna worked as an time you take off work because you are ill
intern in a newspaper office while studying ● When Aldo caught the flu, he had to take a
journalism. ➣ internship (n) ❖ few days’ sick leave. ❖
10.24 shadow (v) /ˈʃædəʊ/ 10.36 recruitment (n) /rɪˈkruːtmənt/
stay close to and observe sb who is doing a the process of finding and hiring new staff
job that you want to learn to do ● As an intern, ● As chief editor, she is involved in staff
she had to shadow the team of architects. recruitment to expand the team.
➣ shadow (n) ❖ ❖
10.25 first-hand (adj) /ˌfɜːst ˈhænd/ 10.37 personnel (n) /ˌpɜːsəˈnel/
directly; from personal experience ● Sally staff ● The human resources manager is in
studied recent teaching theories and also got charge of hiring or firing company personnel.
first-hand experience teaching adults. ❖
❖ 10.38 statistical (adj) /stəˈtɪstɪkl/
10.26 necessity (n) /nəˈsesəti/ related to statistics ● We need statistical
sth that needs to be done or that sb must have data to back up our theory. ➣ statistics (n pl),
● There’s no necessity for you to dress statistically (adv) ❖
formally when you work from home. 10.39 right (n) /raɪt/
➣ necessary (adj), necessitate (v) sth you are legally allowed to do or have
❖ ● Fair working conditions should be a basic
10.27 priority (n) /praɪˈɒrəti/ human right. ❖
sth that sb considers more important or needs 10.40 let down (phr v) /ˈlet daʊn/
more attention than other things ● Her top disappoint ● The suppliers let us down and
priority was to find a career she would enjoy. failed to deliver the goods on time. ➣ let-down
➣ prioritise (v) ❖ (n) ❖
10.28 usefulness (n) /ˈjuːsflnəs/
the fact of how useful sth is ● He questioned
the usefulness of the survey because the
group of respondents was small. ➣ useful
(adj), usefully (adv) ❖
10.29 genuinely (n) /ˈʤenjuɪnli/
seriously ● I felt genuinely moved by your offer
of help. ➣ genuine (adj) ❖
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10.41 stationery (n) /ˈsteɪʃənri/
paper, pens, envelopes, etc. that are used for Listening Page 118
writing letters, taking notes, etc. ● We order
stationery for the office once a month from an 10.52 promotion (n) /prəˈməʊʃn/
online supplier. ❖ a move to a more important job in a company
or organisation ● Petra was pleased about
10.42 literary (adj) /ˈlɪtərəri/ her promotion from sales assistant to store
related to literature ● Debbie is studying the manager. ➣ promote (v) ❖
literary works of Jane Austen. ➣ literature (n)
❖
10.43 hectic (adj) /ˈhektɪk/
very busy and rushed ● How do you manage Speaking Page 119
to cope with your hectic work schedule? Don’t 10.53 candidate (n) /ˈkændɪdeɪt/
you get a day off? ❖ sb who is being considered for a job or place
10.44 minimum wage (n) /ˌmɪnɪməm ˈweɪdʒ/ on a course ● We’ll interview the four best
the lowest amount an employer can pay a candidates for the job. ❖
worker by law ● He felt lucky to find his first job 10.54 marketing (n) /ˈmɑːkɪtɪŋ/
even though he only got the minimum wage. the business of advertising and selling a
❖ company’s products ● If you enjoy travelling
10.45 placement (n) /ˈpleɪsmənt/ and are a good communicator, you could
a work position for a short time to practise consider a career in marketing. ❖
doing a job, often as part of a training course 10.55 executive (n) /ɪɡˈzekjətɪv/
● In his final year at university, he did a a business official/representative ● The
teaching placement in a secondary school. company executives are having a planning
➣ place (v) ❖ meeting with the manager. ❖
10.46 résumé (n) /ˈrezjuːmeɪ/
a record of work experience, qualifications
and skills, etc. which sb uses to apply for work
● From the details on her résumé, she was Grammar Page 120
obviously well-qualified for the job in the bank.
10.56 glance (at) (v) /glɑːns (æt)/
❖ ✎ Also: CV (Curriculum Vitae)
look at sb/sth quickly ● He glanced at the list of
10.47 supervisor (n) /ˈsuːpəvaɪzə(r)/ job vacancies on the website. ➣ glance (n)
sb who manages a work process or a team ❖
of staff ● Feeling dizzy, Helen asked her
10.57 trip (v) /trɪp/
supervisor for a break. ➣ supervise (v),
accidentally catch your foot on sth and fall or
supervision (n) ❖
nearly fall ● When he tripped on the stairs, he
10.48 tedious (adj) /ˈtiːdiəs/ fell and hurt his leg. ➣ trip (n) ❖
boring and repetitive ● The conference
10.58 cable (n) /ˈkeɪbl/
consisted of long tedious presentations,
a strong thick metal rope which acts as a
making me wish I hadn’t bothered going.
power line ● The road has been dug up to
➣ tedium, tediousness (n), tediously (adv)
install new electric cables. ❖
❖
10.59 co-operative (n) /kəʊˈɒpərətɪv/
10.49 textile (n) /ˈtekstaɪl/
a business owned jointly by the people
cloth; material ● Cotton is grown and
involved, who share its profits ● We buy olive
harvested for the textile industry.
oil directly from the farmers’ co-operative.
❖
➣ co-operative (adj), co-operatively (adv)
10.50 retire (v) /rɪˈtaɪə/ ❖ ✎ Abbrev: co-op
stop working, usually because you reach a
10.60 loan (n) /ləʊn/
certain age ● My grandfather retired from his
money that sb borrows ● He got a loan from
job at 65, but still keeps busy doing voluntary
the bank to buy a car. ❖
work. ➣ retirement, retiree (n), retired (adj)
❖ 10.61 crop (n) /krɒp/
a plant grown on farms for food production
● The heavy storm destroyed this year’s
Grammar Page 117
vegetable crops. ❖
10.51 applicant (n) /ˈæplɪkənt/
sb who has applied for a job or other position
● Four applicants were interviewed for the job.
➣ apply (v), application (n) ❖
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Use your English Page 121
10.74 flexible (adj) /ˈfleksɪbl/
which can be changed easily ● The company
offers flexible working hours, which may
10.62 do the dirty work (expr) /duː ðə ˌdɜːti ˈwɜːk/ benefit workers with young children.
do the unpleasant tasks ● As manager, he ➣ flexibility (n) ❖
has to do the dirty work of firing people.
❖ 10.75 approach (n) /əˈprəʊʧ/
a way of thinking about or doing sth ● Our
10.63 do the donkey work (expr) /duː ðə ˌˈdɒŋki new manager has a very logical approach
ˈwɜːk/ to dealing with problems. ➣ approach (v)
do the difficult or heavy part of a job ● She ❖
sits around chatting all day while we do all the
donkey work. It’s not fair! ❖ 10.76 digital nomad (n) /ˈdɪdʒɪtl ˈnəʊmæd/
sb who can travel around and work online from
10.64 get worked up (expr) /get ˌwɜːkt ˈʌp/ any location ● Amanda left her office job in
become upset ● Don’t get so worked up about London and became a digital nomad working
it! Let’s calm down and discuss the problem. from her camper van around the world.
❖ ➣ nomadic (adj) ❖
10.65 make light work of (expr) /meɪk laɪt wɜːk əv/ 10.77 decent (adj) /ˈdiːsnt/
do sth quickly and easily ● If you help me, we acceptable; not bad ● I don’t mind doing
can make light work of cleaning the house. tedious work as long as they give me a decent
❖ salary. ➣ decency (n) ❖
10.66 work in progress (expr) /ˌwɜːk ɪn ˈprəʊɡres/ 10.78 set (yourself) up as (phr v) /set (jɔːˈself) ʌp əz/
a job that isn’t completed yet ● The declare and establish yourself as ● The travel
company website is still a work in progress. agency has set itself up as an ecotourism
❖ specialist. ❖
10.67 work my way up (expr) /ˌwɜːk maɪ weɪ ʌp/ 10.79 visa (n) /ˈviːzə/
begin work in a low position in a company and a proof of official permission to enter or stay in
keep getting promoted to higher levels ● Sarah a foreign country ● UK residents require a visa
had to work her way up from cleaning dishes if they wish to stay more than 90 days in the
to head chef. ❖ EU. ❖
10.68 incapable (adj) /ɪnˈkeɪpəbl/ 10.80 follow suit (expr) /ˈfɒləʊ suːt/
not capable; not having the ability or qualities do sth the way that sb else has just done
necessary for sth ● He has no leadership ● When one supermarket chain began giving
skills, so he’s incapable of running the out loyalty cards, all the others followed suit.
company. ❖ ✎ Opp: capable ❖
10.69 accustomed (adj) /əˈkʌstəmd/
used to sth ● He used to have a private office, Expressions
so he’s not accustomed to sharing a room with at your convenience on the cusp
others. ❖ ✎ Opp: unaccustomed do the dirty work place faith in (sb/sth)
10.70 horrified (adj) /ˈhɒrɪfaɪd/ do the donkey work set yourself up as
deeply shocked ● I was horrified to hear about follow suit take advantage of
the working conditions in the clothing factory. get worked up work in progress
➣ horrific (adj), horrify (v) ❖ make light work of work my way up
10.71 eligible (adj) /ˈelɪʤəbl/
qualified or able to do sth ● You need a degree
in engineering to be eligible to apply for the Work nouns
job. ➣ eligibility (n) ❖ agency duty recruitment
✎ Opp: ineligible career path leadership skills reference
10.72 derive from sth (phr v) /dɪˈraɪv frəm ˈsʌmθɪŋ/ careers fair loan résumé
come from ● The plot of the musical derives commitment marketing right
from the story of Romeo and Juliet. committee minimum wage sick leave
➣ derivative (n) ❖ co-operative placement vacancy
crop promotion visa
10.73 reliance (n) /rɪˈlaɪəns/
dependence on sb/sth ● It’s useful to have a
range of skills to avoid reliance on just one line
of work. ➣ rely (v), reliable, reliant (adj)
❖
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Writing Pages 122–123
10.92 reference (n) /ˈrefrəns/
a letter with information about you, written
by sb who knows you, especially to a new
10.81 yours faithfully (expr) /jɔːz ˈfeɪθfəli/
employer ● My English tutor wrote me a
with respect; the standard most formal ending
reference to help me get a place on the
for a letter before signing it when you have
summer course. ➣ refer (v) ❖
addressed somebody as ‘Dear Sir/Dear
Madam,’ etc. and not by their name ● It’s 10.93 leadership skills (n pl) /ˈliːdəʃɪp skɪlz/
respectful to end business letters with ‘yours qualities that make sb a good leader ● A team
faithfully’. ❖ coach needs to have great leadership skills.
❖
10.82 yours sincerely (expr) /jɔːz sɪnˈsɪəli/
with respect; the standard most formal ending 10.94 extra-curricular (adj) /ˌekstrəkəˈrɪkjələ(r)/
for a letter before signing it when you have outside the usual school timetable ● Some
addressed the recipient by their name ● My students take part in so many extra-curricular
friend would think something was wrong if I activities that they have little or no free time.
sent her an email ending ‘yours sincerely’. ❖ ✎ Opp: curricular
❖
10.83 careers fair (n) /kəˈrɪəz feə(r)/ Adjectives
a type of exhibition where jobhunters can absorbing eligible literary
meet employers who are recruiting staff academic extra-curricular set
● The university is hosting a careers fair for accustomed first-hand statistical
graduates to meet potential employers. achievable flexible tedious
❖ bewildering fulfilling unpaid
10.84 at your convenience (expr) /æt jɔː buzzing hectic
kənˈviːniːəns/ content horrified
as soon as you prefer or can ● Please send us decent incapable
your résumé at your earliest convenience.
➣ convenient (adj) ❖
10.85 grant (n) /grɑːnt/
money you get from the government to study
● She received a small grant to pay for part of
Video Page 124
her studies. ❖ 10.95 gaucho (n) /ˈɡaʊtʃəʊ/
10.86 outcome (n) /ˈaʊtkʌm/ a South American cowboy ● Gauchos drive
result ● It is hoped the outcome of the Mars cattle on the pampas. ❖
mission will be a success. ❖ 10.96 freak out (phr v) /friːk aʊt/
10.87 fulfilling (adj) /fʊlˈfɪlɪŋ/ suddenly feel shocked; become angry ● The
which makes you feel useful and satisfies your boss will freak out when she sees the damage
needs ● He’s happy with his fulfilling job as a to the company car. ❖
music teacher. ➣ fulfil (v), fulfilment (n) 10.97 passage (n) /ˈpæsɪʤ/
❖ a road or path through a space between
10.88 academic (adj) /ækəˈdemɪk/ two high places ● They followed the narrow
related to education and studying ● Her track through the passage in the rocks.
academic record improved after taking extra ❖
tutorials. ➣ academic, academy (n) 10.98 run over (phr v) /rʌn ˈəʊvə(r)/
❖ hit sb/sth with a car, bus, lorry, etc. ● I dropped
10.89 take advantage of (expr) /teɪk ədˈvɑːntɪʤ əv/ my phone on the road and it’s been run over
make the most of an opportunity to do sth by a bus. ❖
● They took advantage of the sunny weather 10.99 videographer (n) /ˌvɪdiˈɒɡrəfə(r)/
and spent a few days camping. sb whose job is to make videos ● The
❖ videographer captured the traditional dancers
10.90 duty (n) /ˈdjuːti/ on film. ❖
a responsibility, especially of a job ● One
of her duties at the summer camp was to Phrasal verbs
supervise the children during outings. derive from sth let (sb) down
❖ freak out run over
10.91 committee (n) /kəˈmɪti/
an official group set up to perform a task
or make decisions ● She’s our class
representative on the students’ committee.
❖
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People and jobs
administrator executive
air traffic controller gaucho
applicant graphic designer
candidate human resources manager
digital nomad personnel
electrical engineer supervisor
entrepreneur supplier
© Cengage Learning, Inc.
