2.4. (14 Points) Janet Brown, your boss, has called a meeting on Thursday, but you cannot attend because you will be away at a conference.

Write a short note to your boss

- apologising for your absence

- explaining why you will be away

- saying where the conference is.

Write about 15-20 words.

TO: Janet Brown Message: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Reading.

3.1. (30 Points) Read the text below about the financier Muriel Siebert. Translate the text into Russian. The First Woman of Finance

1. Muriel Siebert was the first woman to have a seat on the New York Stock Exchange, and the first to head one of its member firms, Muriel Siebert & Co. She took leave in 1977 to serve as the first woman Superintendent of Banking for the State of New York. She often appears on talk shows, telling industry to make better use of women: 'Women executives can be a strong competitive force against other countries that still only employ males in executive positions.'

2. Her favourite word is 'risk'. She says: The men at the top of industry and government should risk sharing leadership with women. In these fast changing times we need different viewpoints and experiences. The real risk lies in continuing to do things the way they've always been done.'

3. Her best-known 'risk' was in 1967 when she applied to become the first woman member of the Stock Exchange. Many men on Wall Street were openly against her application. She was turned down by nine of the first ten men she asked to sponsor her application. Before considering her for membership, the Stock Exchange set a new condition: she needed a letter from a bank saying they would lend her $300,000 of the $445,000 seat price. But banks would not lend her the money until the Stock Exchange agreed to admit her! The problem was finally solved and she was elected to membership in December 1967. In December 1997 she celebrated her thirtieth anniversary by ringing the closing bell.

4. Her next career move was to the post of Superintendent of New York State's Banking Department. In the 1970s, banks were facing many difficulties. Interest rates climbed steeply and bank failures became common everywhere. Siebert acted quickly to prevent bankruptcies in New York State. She forced banks to merge, persuading stronger institutions to help weaker ones, and demanded tough action, such as forcing one bank president to cut his salary in half.

5. During this period, she had placed her company in a blind trust run by her employees, that is, a trust which managed a company for her while she held public office. It was a costly mistake: she discovered that three employees had left taking her customer lists with them. She rebuilt the company, and rejected offers to buy her company because: 'As the only woman owner of a Stock Exchange firm I feel an obligation to finish the job I started.'