English Vocabulary in Use Pre-intermediate and Intermediate » Unit 38: Working in an office

Word List
  • absent
  • appointment
  • arrange
  • arrangement
  • attend
  • attendance
  • bin
  • break down
  • broken down
  • calculator
  • calendar
  • colleague
  • diary
  • files
  • filing cabinet
  • invoice
  • involve
  • keyboard
  • loads of sth
  • noticeboard
  • off [absent]
  • organisation
  • organise
  • paperwork
  • photocopier
  • produce v
  • production
  • run out of sth
  • show sb around
  • type v
  • work [function]
Exercises

38.1 ‣ Finish the noun in each sentence.

  1. I’ve just got myself a new key .
  2. I threw all that stuff in the rubbish _____.
  3. He put most of the stuff in the filing _____.
  4. It’s a very boring job and I spend most of my time doing general paper _____.
  5. I told him to put the details on the notice _____.

38.2 ‣ Which words are being defined?

  1. The place where you throw away paper you don’t want.
  2. People you work with. _____
  3. Something you put on a wall which tells you the date. _____
  4. A book where you write down appointments and things you have to do. _____
  5. A piece of paper which shows a customer what they have bought and what they must pay. _____
  6. An electronic device that helps you to add up numbers and do maths. _____
  7. An informal word meaning ‘lots’. _____

38.3 ‣ Complete the dialogues.

  1. A: What does the company do?
    B: It electronic equipment.
  2. A: I’ve _____ to see the bank manager on Friday, but I think I’m going to be away.
    B: OK. Do you want me to make another _____ for you?
    A: Yes, please. That would be great. Next Thursday or Friday, if possible.
  3. A: Why can’t we use the printer?
    B: It’s _____ of ink.
  4. A: Do you have to _____ meetings?
    B: Yes, sometimes, if my boss is away and he can’t go.
  5. A: We’ve got some visitors coming tomorrow.
    B: Right. Would you like me to _____ them _____ the factory?
  6. A: What does your work _____?
    B: Basically, I have to _____ people’s travel arrangements and hotel accommodation.

38.4 ‣ Rewrite the sentences using the words in capitals. Keep a similar meaning.

  1. My boss isn’t here today. OFF
  2. The photocopier is broken. WORK
  3. We’re very busy today. LOADS
  4. I have to go to a meeting. ATTEND
  5. We don’t have any more paper. RUN OUT
  6. Why isn’t he here this morning? ABSENT
Answer Key
A ‣ Office equipment

B ‣ Office work

Josh works for a company which produces1 furniture. He doesn’t work in the factory where the furniture is produced, but in the offices across the road.

His job involves2 quite a lot of paperwork3. He types4 letters to different companies, sends out invoices5 to customers and sends emails.

He also has to arrange6 visits to other companies, make appointments7 for his boss, and sometimes he shows visitors round the factory. Occasionally he has to attend8 meetings with his boss, but one of Josh’s most important tasks is to organise9 the office party every year.

1 makes
2 includes doing
3 work that uses paper, e.g. reports, forms
4 writes using a keyboard
5 documents showing how much the customer has to pay
6 plan and prepare
7 arrange a time when you meet someone
8 go to; fml
9 plan and arrange

Language help

verbnoun
arrangearrangement
organiseorganisation
attendattendance
produceproduction
C ‣ Office problems

Josh is having a bad day today. The photocopier has broken down1, the computer isn’t working and the printer has run out of2 paper. On top of that, two of his colleagues3 are absent4, just when there is loads of5 work to do.

1 stopped working
2 has no more
3 people you work with
4 not in the office; syn off
5 lots of; infml

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