Check your vocabulary for TOEFL
WORK
Exercise 1
Look at the words and expressions in the box, and
answer questions 1 – 14. You may need to change the form of some of the words..
adverse working conditions applicant application form be laid off blue-collar worker boss candidate commission demanding dismiss dismissal downsize employee employer fire fixed income flexible working hours freelance full time hire homeworker incentives incentive scheme income increment interview interviewee interviewer job satisfaction job security manager manual worker manufacturing industry (on) leave overtime part-time pension pension contributions perks profession promotion raise recruitment drive repetitive strain injury (RSI) resign retire rewards and benefits salary self-employed semi-skilled service industry sick
building syndrome sickness
benefit skilled a steady job stress supervisor unemployed unemployment union unskilled unsociable hours wage (on) welfare white-collar worker workaholic
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1
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Replace the word in bold in this
sentence with another word from the box which has a similar meaning: “A lot
of people wanted the job, but she was the best candidate”.
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2
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What is the difference between a wage
and a salary?
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3
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Complete this sentence: _____________
is a painful condition of the muscles in the hands and the arms caused by
doing the same movement many times (for example, using a computer over a long
period of time).
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4
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Replace the word in bold in this
sentence with another word from the box which has a similar, but less formal,
meaning (you will need to change the form of the word): “When he was caught
stealing from the company, he was instantly dismissed”.
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5
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Complete this sentence: The word raise
in the box is similar in meaning to _____________ (which is also in the
box).
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6
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What is the difference between a blue-collar
worker and a white-collar worker?
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7
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True or false?: When a company downsizes
its work force, this means that it pays its workers less than before.
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8
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Complete this sentence: _____________
are extra payments or benefits that you get in your job (for example, free
meals, health insurance, company car, etc.).
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9
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What do you think sick building
syndrome is?
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10
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Complete this sentence: If you have
_____________, you have work which is reliable and will last for a long time.
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11
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True or false?: retire and resign
have the same meaning.
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12
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Complete this sentence: Banks,
hospitals, and hotels are examples of _____________.
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13
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Would you be happy if you had adverse
working conditions?
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14
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Complete this sentence: A person who is
_____________ is not permanently employed by one company, but sells their
services to more than one company.
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Exercise 2
Use your
dictionary to check the meanings of the other words and expressions in the box.
Exercise 3
Complete this essay with appropriate words and
expressions from the box in Exercise 1. You may need to change the form of some
of the words.
“Some
people live to work and others work to live. In most cases, this depends on
the job they have and the
conditions under which they are employed. In your opinion, what are the elements that make a job worthwhile?”
In answering
this question, I would like to look first at the elements that combine to
make a job undesirable. By avoiding such factors, potential (1) _____________
are more likely to find a job that is more worthwhile, and by doing so, hope
to achieve happiness in their work.
First of all,
it doesn't matter if you are an (2) _____________ worker cleaning the floor,
a (3) _____________ (4) _____________ worker on a production line in one of
the (5) _____________, or a (6) _____________ worker in a bank, store, or one
of the other (7) _____________: if you lack (8) _____________, with the knowledge
that you might lose your job at any time, you will never feel happy.
Everybody would like a (9) _____________ in which he or she is guaranteed
work. Nowadays, however, companies have a high turnover of staff, (10)
_____________ new staff and (11) _____________ others on a weekly basis. Such
companies are not popular with their workers.
The same can be
said of a job in which you are put under a lot of (12) _____________ and
worry, a job which is so (13) _____________ that it takes over your life, a
job where you work (14) _____________ and so never get to see your family or
friends, or a physical job in which you do the same thing every day and end
up with the industrial disease that is always in the papers nowadays – (15)
_____________.
With all these
negative factors, it would be difficult to believe that there are any
elements that make a job worthwhile. Money is, of course, the prime
motivator, and everybody wants a good (16) _____________. But of course that
is not all. The chance of (17) _____________, of being given a better
position in a company, is a motivating factor. Likewise, (18) _____________
such as a free lunch or a company car, an (19) _____________ plan to make you
work hard such as a regular (20) _____________ above the rate of inflation,
(21) _____________ in case you fall ill and a company (22) _____________ plan
so that you have some money when you retire all combine to make a job
worthwhile.
Unfortunately,
it is not always easy to find all of these. There is, however, an alternative.
Forget the office and the factory floor and become (23) _____________ and
work for yourself. Your future may not be secure, but at least you will be
happy.
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Exercise 4
Now try this essay. Use words and expressions from
the vocabulary box in Exercise 1, and any other words or expressions that you
think would be relevant.
“It is more important to have a job you
enjoy doing than a job which pays well.” How far do you agree with this
statement? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
ANSWER
KEY
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