Focus on vocabulary

1. Transcribe and read out these words.

climb, formidable, parity, reversion, executive, swap, undervalued, focus,

corporate, furtherance

2. Supply words for the definitions.

1. to fill smth too full (with smth)

2. with attention directed to what you want to do

3. very successful

4. to help (smth) advance or succeed

5. to be successful in one’s career

3. Give synonyms.

1. conditions 6. to climb the ladder

2. to divide 7. equality

3. to go back 8. to stuff

4. to exchange 9. frightening

5. to underrate 10. ambitious

4. Give the opposites.

1. long-term 2. to promote 3. to undervalue 4. to make it 5. to live up to smth

5. Fill the gaps with the correct prepositions.

1. Are women failing to live up … their potential in the male – dominated

world? Are they still facing formidable obstacles … making it … the top?

2. People should be judged … ability and intelligence, not gender.

3. Men with less experience and qualifications may be promoted … women.

4. The debate now should focus … men’s choices … a change.

5. It seems men do not have the choice of staying at home to raise the children,

while women have the choice to revert … the traditional family role.

6. Match each of the adjectives on the left with suitable nouns on the right to

make as many collocations as possible.

1. formidable a. plan g. task

2. high-flying b. effect h. situation

3. long-term c. question i. unemployment

4. lead d. problem j. obstacles

e. career k. myth

f. role l. executive

7. Explain the difference between childcarer, childminder, babysitter, and

nanny. Complete these sentences.

1. They work from dawn to dusk and their kids are raised by a series of… .

2. When I had my first child, I could have coped by employing a full-time

live-in … , but I wouldn’t forgo seeing my child grow up.

3. A working mother has to rush home after work to pick the kids up from a … .

4. Now that we have a … to look after the girls I can go out to work.

5. When Diana was a baby she had a succession of … who only stayed a few

months each.

6. I’m afraid we’re going to have to stay at home tonight – I can’t find a …

7. It’s important to give the … an emergency phone number in case the

children get hurt or sick.

8. Could you explain what is meant?

1. to make it to the head of the boardroom table

2. to fail to live up to one’s potential

3. the senior management roles are equally split male/female

4. a high-flying career

5. high-pressure environment

9. Paraphrase using the active vocabulary.

1. Most women earn low wages doing essential but underrated jobs.

2. Women are still failing to fulfil their potential in the male-dominated world

of business and technology.

3. Women who have got to the top of their profession are still rare exceptions.

4. A manager who would favour an inferior man over a more talented woman

will be running a below-average operation.

5. Although my CEO husband is vastly better paid than me, he says he would

take my place any time.

6. For a young woman who is very ambitious and wants to succeed, being

attractive may impede her chances of success.