Text XII

Pre-reading

Task 1. Look up the pronunciation of the following words in the dictionary:

environment, tackle, interconnectedness, threat, scrutiny, transparency, compliance.

Task 2. Translate the following words:

English Russian

challenge …

… тенденция

environment …

scrutiny …

… поток (грузов)

… сотрудничество

integrity …

Task 3. Form new parts of speech with the help of the suffixes and the prefixes given. Mind the spelling. Consult a dictionary.

different (ly)

accept (able)

cooperate (tion)

(inter) connectedness

(inter) national

technology (ical)

comply (ance)

frequent (ly)

Task 4. Read the sentence and say what part of speech the italicized word is: noun or verb.

Key to much of this is the need to take maximum advantage of technological progress and increase the professionalism of staff.

Task 5. Which words constitute the word family including the word “connectedness”?

Meeting the challenges of the 21st century

What are the main trends? Has the role of Customs changed, merely expanded, or are we just doing things differently? Should we be considering a new operating model? What will our environment look like?

These questions and more are being asked by Customs as it sets itself on track to tackle the challenges of the 21^st century environment.

Clearly, to meet the demands that will be faced in the coming years and to ensure acceptable levels of effectiveness and efficiency, Customs will have to adapt, improve cooperation, and increase its interconnectedness if it is to cope with the pace of change and manage the opportunities and threats that lay ahead. Interconnectedness among Customs and its partners is vital. Understanding the global risk landscape is imperative, as Customs is at the frontier of globalization whilst operating under increasingly broad public scrutiny.

According to recent research, Customs in the 21^st century will be characterized by a number of key activities, working methods and concepts. These will include: managing international supply chains; controlling increased flows of people and goods; applying knowledge and risk management; advance processing of information; using a “single window” system; unified border management; greater flexibility; a high degree of automation and transparency; and a high level of integrity.

Key to much of this is the need to take maximum advantage of technological progress and increase the professionalism of staff.

Technology can help in reducing time spent on compliance activities so that Customs professionals set more possibilities to focus on providing more consulting services.

The change in communication technology will require a new type of Customs professional. Because this professional will be communicating more frequently and in a different manner than he does today, a greater emphasis will be placed on interpersonal skills, although technical competence will continue to be essential.

This substantial change will only happen if Customs organizations develop further the shift from a command-and-control style to the one that release the talents of Customs personnel. This means changing behaviors and attitudes and encouraging creativity and innovation.

Notes: The prefix “inter” means between or involving two or more different things, places, or people.

If two ideas, events, systems etc. are interconnected, it means that they are related and one is affected by the other.

Working on the text

Task 6. Guess the meaning of the given words and then check it in the dictionary.

interactive interconnectedness

intercontinental interdependence

interchangeable interrelationship

interpersonal interstate

Task 7. The verb “to meet” is polysemantic. In dictionaries several meanings can be found. Here are the most common ones:

a) to see and talk to somebody for the first time;

b) to bump into somebody by chance and talk to them;

c) if two things meet, they touch or join at a particular place;

d) to be waiting for someone at an airport, station etc., when they arrive in;

e) to deal with a problem or situation;

f) to satisfy wants, needs, conditions.

What is the meaning of the verb “to meet” in the given text?

Task 8. Match the verbs 1) to 6) to the nouns a) to f) to make word partnerships.

1. to tackle a) the shift

2. to meet b) maximum advantage

3. to improve c) challenge

4. to take d) a new type of Customs professional

5. to require e) demands

6. to develop f) cooperation

Task 9. Find words in the text which mean the following:

1. a general tendency in the way the situation is changing

2. the people and things that are around you in your life, the general situation you are in

3. working together in order to achieve something that you both want

4. the speed at which something happens

5. a chance to do something

6. the possibility that something very bad will happen

7. the quality of being easy to understand or the quality of glass that makes it possible to see through it

8. the people who work in a company, organization

Task 10. Translate the following text into Russian. Use a dictionary.

Some people might define integrity as adherence to a code of values. Even the drug lords have a code of values, but do they have integrity?

The dictionary defines integrity as soundness of moral principle and character, uprightness, honesty. Employee integrity then could be defined as: soundness of character and adherence to the organization’s code of values.

Task 11. The sets of words below are related to honesty or to dishonesty. Which word is different from the others in each set?

1. law-abiding trustworthy corrupt

2. fraud crime integrity

3. a bribe a salary a commission

4. piracy counterfeiting a right holder

Task 12. Make questions about the text to go with the given answers.

1. What …? These questions and more.

2. Why …? Clearly, to meet the demands that will be faced in the coming years.

3. What …? Interconnectedness among Customs and its partners is.

4. How …? Customs will be characterized by a member of key activities, working methods and concepts.

5. What …? The need to take maximum advantage of technological progress and increase the professionalism of staff.

6. Where …? On providing more consulting services.

7. Why …? Because this professional will be communicating more frequently.

8. What …? It means changing behaviors and attitudes and encouraging creativity and innovation.

Task 13. Translate the following text into Russian.

“More and more Customs administrations are beginning to realize that the survival of customs depends on the transformation of its “bag-opening gate-keeper” image into one of “the facilitator and protector of society”. As a result, Customs officers can now be heard using words like facilitation, consultation, dialogue, image, etc., when describing their functions.”

Task 14. Here are several adjectives characterizing a professional. In “buzz groups” discuss the given adjectives, choose 3 and add at least 3 of your own that you would like to see in a future Customs officer.

polite enjoyable

sociable well-dressed

charming pleasant

helpful intelligent

clever neat

friendly kind

competent skilful

enthusiastic fair

firm confident

Task 15. Write down five words that best describe the Russian Customs Service today. Compare your list with your partner’s.

Task 16. Participate in the group discussion on the five words that best characterize Russian Customs.

Task 17. If you were to work out a program of modernization in the Russian Customs Service, what would you start with?