Unit 4 1

Unit 4 Money talksActive reading (1)Reading and understanding3 Choose the best answer to the questions.1 Why did the writer feel ashamed when she met an old friend in a theatre queue?(a) She found she didn’t have enough money to pay for the tickets.(b) She realized that her friend had been more successful in life.(c) She thought her friend’s credit card looked better than her own.(d) She felt her friend looked better than she did.2 What happened when she applied for a gold credit card?(a) She didn’t get one.(b) It cost her more than she expected.(c) She was sent one of a different colour.(d) She felt better.3 Which sort of customers do credit card companies want?(a) People who already have a lot of money.(b) Students who might have a lot of money one day.(c) People who are likely to spend more money than they have.(d) People who will never be able to pay the interest on repayments.4 What did the writer’s daughter want her to do?(a) To lend her £3,000.(b) To let her use the writer’s credit card.(c) To support her application for a credit card.(d) To increase the amount of money the writer was giving her regularly.5 Why couldn’t Kelly access the money in her account?(a) She didn’t have an Internet connection.(b) The bank wouldn’t let h er operate the account from abroad.(c) She didn’t have any money left in the account.(d) She had a communication problem in a foreign bank.6 What happened to Kelly in the end?(a) She couldn’t afford to continue her education.(b) She stayed overseas and got a job in a supermarket.(c) She had to take a bigger student loan to pay off her debts.(d) She was helped financially by her family.Dealing with unfamiliar words4 Match the words in the box with their definitions.1 the action or process of buying or selling something (transaction)2 to some degree, but not completely or extremely (fairly)3 a written or spoken statement in which someone says that they are not satisfied with something(complaint)4 to inform someone officially about something (notify)5 happy and satisfied with your life (contented)6 information that makes people notice a person, product etc (publicity)7 to fail to do something that would have been helpful or honest (omit)8 very expensive, and therefore available only to people who have a lot of money (exclusive)9 difficult or impossible to exist or do something without (indispensable)10 to trick someone by behaving in a dishonest way (deceive)5 Complete the paragraph with the correct form of the words in Activity 4.If you’re going to study in the UK, a bank account is (1) indispensible. That’s because for(2) transactions involving large sums of money you need to pay by bank transfer, or by cheque. It’s(3) fairly obvious you can’t carry large amounts of cash around with you all the time. So you need to choose a bank. And that’s not easy, because these days you hear more (4) complaints than appreciation of the services they provide. They all spend a lot of money on (5) publicity trying to attract students, whom they see as an investment for their own future. Some of them offer (6) exclusive free gifts like designerT-shirts or stylish pens to secure your custom. But don’t be (7) deceived by these offers. A (8) contented customer is someone who knows they can rely on their bank to (9) notify them when conditions change, and not to (10) omit to tell them when interest rates on overdrafts or credit card repayments have been increased.6 Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the words in the box.1 My car is very inexpensive to run – it uses LPG instead of petrol. (economical)2 When I saw Brian in his new sports car I felt a bit unhappy that he had something which I didn’t have. (jealous)3 Our relationship is not serious or deep; we just say hello to each other whe n we meet, and that’s it. (superficial)4 You’re likely to have a lot of repayments to make if you go on spending like that. (liable)5 I like this coffee. It has a rather different and easy-to-recognize taste. (distinctive)6 We have exchanged a number of letters about the best way to pay back the debt. (correspondence)7 The important thing is to exercise some self-control when using a credit card. (restraint)8 It reminds me of that lovely story about the evil giant who turns out to be afraid of his own shadow. (delightful; wicked)7 Answer the questions about the words and expressions.1 If someone makes a pathetic excuse, is it (a) a good one, or (b) a bad one?2 If you are prone to headaches, do you (a) often, or (b) seldom get them?3 If you lure someone into doing something, do you (a) ask them directly, or (b) attract them, perhaps by deceiving them about it?4 When you hug someone, do you (a) put your arms around their neck and shoulders, or (b) turn your back at them?5 If you go into the red, have you (a) done something embarrassing, or (b) spent more money than you have on your bank account?6 Is an overdraft an agreed sum of money which the bank (a) allows you to spend when you have nomoney left in your account, or (b) gives you to open a new account?7 If a doctor’s fee is exorbitant, are they charging you (a) too much, or (b) too little?8 If you go on a spending spree, do you buy (a) lots of things, or (b) only a few things?9 If you yearn for something, do you desire it (a) strongly, or (b) sincerely?Active reading (2)4 Choose the best answer to the questions.1 In the opinion of the writer, what makes someone lucky in marriage?(a) Being able to see and understand their partner’s soul.(b) Finding someone who has the same ideas about money.(c) Having enough money to be able to save for the future.(d) Marrying someone who is wealthy.2 According to the writer, why do most people today get married?(a) Because they are in love.(b) Because they need the stability that marriage can provide.(c) Because marriage is a financial partnership.(d) Because of pressure from families.3 What, according to Susan Reach Winters, are the major causes of divorce?(a) Sexual problems.(b) Problems with children.(c) Financial problems.(d) All of these things.4 What do experts advise couples to do before they get married?(a) To plan for their financial future.(b) To think about their career.(c) To discuss children.(d) To discuss health care.5 What was the key to Jerry and Susan Ballard’s financial pl anning?(a) They gradually increased the amount they saved every year.(b) They had regular meetings about how to spend their money.(c) They interrupted their savings only to make important purchases.(d) They made sure they saved regularly each year.6 How did Marc B. Schindler help a couple in difficulty?(a) He persuaded the wife to stop buying clothes.(b) He persuaded the husband to stop eating out.(c) He helped them to save more than a million dollars.(d) He made them see each other’s point of view.Dealing with unfamiliar words5 Match the words in the box with their definitions.1 a system of words, numbers or signs used for sending secret messages (code)2 a senior manager in a business or other organization (executive)3 a husband or wife (spouse)4 rich and successful (prosperous)5 a major benefit (asset)6 felt or done in the same way by each of two or more people (mutual)7 likely to have a good relationship because of being similar, or able to exist together (compatible)8 having an extremely close relationship (intimate)9 to be an expert in a particular part of a subject or profession (specialize)10 money that you have saved in a bank or invested so that you can use it later (savings)6 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the words in Activity 5.1 Ken Hu is now an executive in a company which specializes in giving advice to private investors.2 Although the programme was compatible with my computer, the instructions were written in code, so I was unable to understand anything.3 It is obviously an asset to a marriage if each spouse has a sensible attitude towards money.4 Let’s try to create a more prosperous future by planning ahead and agreeing on mutual goals.5 We are intimate friends, but I don’t know how many savings they have in the bank.7 Answer the questions about the words.1 If something is of cardinal importance, (a) is it vital, or (b) can you forget about it?2 If you weather a bad period, do you (a) survive it, or (b) fail to survive it?3 Would you expect someone who is supportive to (a) help you, or (b) leave you in a moment of crisis?4 When you experience a downturn in your personal situation, do things get (a) better, or (b) worse?5 Is a mediator someone who (a) tries to end a quarrel between two people by discussion, or (b) keeps them apart?6 If you have divergent views about something, do you (a) agree, or (b) disagree with each other?7 Is buddy an informal word for (a) a friend, or (b) a colleague?8 Which is a better way to enliven the evening: (a) to go out to the theatre, or (b) to go to bed early?8 Answer the questions about the phrases.1 If you scrape by on your present salary, are you (a) living comfortably, or (b) having a hard time?2 If a decision about something boils down to money, is this money (a) an important factor in the decision,or (b) the last thing to be considered?3 If your ideas are in sync with someone else’s, do you think (a) alike, or (b) differently?4 If you do one thing in lieu of another, do you do it (a) after, or (b) instead of the other thing?5 Is your bottom line (a) the greatest change you are prepared to accept, or (b) a situation you are not really interested in?6 Will a cash cushion (a) protect you, or (b) let you down in times of financial crisis?7 If a firm goes bust, does it (a) make a lot of money, or (b) lose it all?8 If you pare back your expenses, do you (a) increase them, or (b) cut them?Language in useword formation: noun é verb1 Write the verbs which mean:1 to take people somewhere by bus (bus)2 to write a text message to someone (text)3 to go to parties and have fun eating, drinking, dancing etc (party)4 to convert a cheque into cash (cash)5 to pass something into someone’s hands (hand)6 to give someone something as a gift (gift)7 to put money into the bank (bank)2 Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verbs you formed in Activity 1.1 I’m afraid I can’t cash this for you, it hasn’t been signed.2 Did you expect them to gift you the computer instead of getting you to pay for it?3 After the match they bussed us all home.4 I will text you as soon as I get to the station.5 She handed me a copy of the report before the start of the meeting.6 I advise you to bank all that money lying on your desk.7 I’m exhausted. I’ve spent the whole of this week partying and having a good time.prone / liable / subject + to3 Rewrite the sentences using prone / liable / subject + to .1 The train is often delayed on Sunday evenings.The train is liable to delays on Sunday evenings. (There are staffing problems at weekends, especiallyon Sunday evenings.)The train is subject to delays on Sunday evenings. (There are particular regulations about Sunday travel.)2 Zak is a child who often has accidents.Zak is a child who is prone to accidents. (They are not his fault, he just seems accident-prone.)Zak is liable to have accidents. (He is careless and just doesn’t listen to advice about safety.)3 She frequently gets headaches.She is prone to headaches. (She will see a doctor to see if there is a medical reason but we don’t know the cause yet.)She is liable to get headaches. (Because those young children next door make so much noise.)4 The loan requires a check on your financial situation.The loan is subject to a check on your financial situation. (This is a legal requirement or a company regulation.)5 Joe is a person who often arrives late.Joe is liable to arrive late. (That’s Joe for you; you know him – never even tries to arrive on time!)Joe is prone to arrive late. (He lives near the river and the road is often flooded during this season so he may have to go by another route which takes much longer.)6 She may well break the rules in order to get what she wants.She is liable to break the rules to get what she wants. (She doesn’t care about rules and she is rather selfish and ambitious.)where4 Rewrite the sentences using where .1 We may get to a situation in which rising taxes make it hard to be profitable.We may get to a situation where rising taxes make it hard to be profitable.2 This is the point with which I disagree.This is a point where I disagree.3 My internship was an interesting experience during which I learnt how to deal with customers.My internship was an interesting experience where I learnt how to deal with customers.4 This is the point in the year at which they usually give everyone a bonus.This is a point in the year where they usually give everyone a bonus.5 Many people are now in a situation in which they cannot pay their debts.Many people are now in a situation where they cannot pay their debts.6 I work in an office in which everyone feels at home.I work in an office where everyone feels at home.collocations5 Complete the sentences with suitable expressions from the collocation box. Sometimes more than one collocation is possible.1 We were pushed out of the market by the tough competition.2 All he really wants is a steady job to provide him with a regular income.3 You made a smart decision when you left that company.4 He’s been having a rather tough time lately, since he lost his job.5 We use smart technology throughout the building. Everything is controlled by a central computer.6 You’ve made a really valuable contribution to our organization, and we will miss you.7 She gave me the most valuable advice about investments that I have ever had.8 There is a dress code in most banks, and you will be expected to wear smart clothes.9 Theirs is a very steady relationship.I expect they’ll get married quite soon.6 Translate the paragraphs into Chinese.如今，尽管我们大多数人是因相爱而结婚，婚姻从根本上讲仍然是金钱上的结合。