1. Have you ever experienced deadline pressure?
Often. Last time with my coursework.
2. What is, in your opinion, the best way to meet deadlines?
Start on time and have got an action plan.
Exercise 1. Match the words with their definitions. Make up your own sentences with the words given.
1) procrastinate - C) (откладывать, затягивать)
- He always procrastinates everything.
2) tackle - E) (заняться, взяться)
- They tackled the project.
3) impetus - A) (импульс)
- We hope that the impetus will continue.
4) incentive - B) (стимул)
- This is a great incentive to work!
5) unflustered - D) (спокойный, невозмутимый)
- I am surprised that he is so unflustered.
6) rambling - F) (бессвязно)
- I can't stand when you are rambling! Speak clearly!
Exercise 2. Complete the expressions from the texts with the appropriate prepositions from the box and explain their meanings.
1) sort things out (разбираться в ч-л) (to understand smth very well)
2) line up all the tasks (выстраивать задачи в ряд) (to plan)
3) miss things out (пропускать ч-л) (to ignore)
4) get down well (успешно справляться с ч-л) (cope with smth successfully)
5) pull things off at the last minute (бросать все в последнюю минуту) (stop doing smth)
6) bring out the best of them (выявлять лучшее в ком-либо) (to unlock the potential)
7) break the goal down into smaller tasks (разбивать цель на меньшие задачи) (to simplify)
8) get bogged down (увязнуть) (stuck)
9) eat up valuable time (потеря драгоценного времени) (waste of rime)
10) turn up on time to interviews (вовремя прийти на собеседование) (to be punctual)
Exercise 3. Fill in the gaps with the appropriate phrasal verbs from Ex. 2.
1) - bring out
2) - turn up
3) - sort out
4) - break down
5) - pulled off
6) - missed out
7) - got bogged down
8) - got down ... well
9) - line up
10) - turn up on time
1. Which of the 3 opinions of the article do you agree with?
A. Nothing new. Boring in terms of information and a school-like manner of presentation. Not in the least creative.
B. Reminds of an instruction manual for employers to control motley employees.
C. Dryly scientific in manner but with a very clear and comprehensible helpful recommendations.
2. If you agree with any of the above opinions, do you think it is possible to make the text more appealing to the general reader? Who is the target reader?
II-II-II-II-II
The Russians are proverbially very slow when harnessing horses but they do ride fast. Does this mean that we are a nation of procrastinators? Русские медленно запрягают, но быстро ездят.
Probably yes. But in defense, I want to say that the mood is very important! With the right mindset the work is done better and faster. And, returning to the proverb, I want to note that someone may think that this is bad, but I consider it's better than the other way round - riding fast when the horse is not properly harnessed to the carriage.
