Phrasal verbs and compound nouns with set.

Vocabulary focus

 

1. Find words or phrases in the text which mean the same as the following:

 

1. making a judgement without being certain (paragraph 2)

    ……………………………………………………………………………………

2. calculate (paragraph 2)

    ……………………………………………………………………………………

3. quantity of goods produced (paragraph 2)

    ……………………………………………………………………………………

4. established (paragraph 3)

    ……………………………………………………………………………………

5. amount to be carried (paragraph 6)

    ……………………………………………………………………………………

6. fixed period of time worked each day, especially for factory workers

    (paragraph 6)

    ……………………………………………………………………………………

7. perception, clear realization, deep understanding (paragraph 8)

    ……………………………………………………………………………………

2. What is the meaning of the shop floor? (paragraph 4)

LANGUAGE STUDY

 

 

A. Match the following verbs and nouns with the correct definitions.

        

     1. set up (v.)            a) keep for a special purpose

     2. set-up (n.)            b) establish a business or organisation      

     3. set back (v.)        c) something that slows or impedes progress

     4. set-back (n.)        d) an organization or arrangement 

     5. set about (v.)       e) start to do, or deal with, something  

     6. set in (v.)             f) put back or delay the development of something

     7. set out (v.)           g) begin an undertaking of some kind, e.g. a journey

     8. set against (v.)     h) start and probably continue

     9. set aside (v.)          i) balance against 

   10. set down (v.)        j) write, make a record of

 

B. Complete the following sentences, using suitable verbs and nouns from

    the list above.

          

      1. When the Managing Director ……………….. to change the management

           structure, no one thought he had a chance of succeeding.

      2. The strike of our shop floor workers ……………….. production at least

           three months.

      3. It looks as if a recession is about to ……………….. . No one seems to

           have any money at the moment.

      4. The new Marketing Manager doesn’t understand the ……………….. of

           our department yet.

     5. It is a common practice of companies to ……………….. certain business

         losses ……………….. taxes.

     6. One of our competitors has ……………….. a distribution network

          covering the whole country. How annoying!

     7. How on earth are we going to ……………….. reducing our costs?

     8. Most companies ……………….. a part of their profits for future

        investment. The money is kept in their reserves.

     9. We had a big ……………….. last year when our warehouse caught fire

        and our stock was destroyed.

   10. If an employee has an accident at work, he or she has to ………………..

        what happened in a report.

 

3. Complete the following passage, using suitable words and phrases from the box

below.

    

assembly line             foreman               schedule             quality control

bonus                          lay off                 incentive             robot

capacity                      layout                  overtime               

component                  redundant            shift 

 

“I used to work in a company which made ……………….. (1) for cars. Things like spark plugs, carburetors, and so on. We were well paid and we had a productivity ……………….. (2) too. And if we needed extra money for a holiday, you usually had the chance to do a bit of ……………….. (3). The management was generous. They gave prizes, such as car radios, to workers who attended regularly. That was a real ……………….. (4) for us not to be sick! We worked two ……………….. (5) at the factory – I usually worked at night. I liked the ……………….. (6) a lot. He let you get on with the job.

Things changed two years ago. We got several big orders at once and just couldn’t cope. The Production Manager got really upset when we got behind ……………….. (7). The ……………….. (8) people weren’t too pleased either because a number of carburetors had faults, so they were thrown away. In the end, the company brought in some management consultants. They studied our methods of work, then recommended automating part of the plant. That meant changing the whole ……………….. (9) of the factory.

Well, we did as they said. I must say, our production ……………….. (10) did increase and stock levels became high again. The trouble is, the management decided to cut down the work-force. At first, only a few workers were ……………….. (11), but later staff from all departments were made ……………….. (12).

Nowadays, I’m working on an ……………….. (13) in a car manufacturing factory. I spray the car bodies. Would you believe it, I hear they’re bringing in ……………….. (14) to do my job! So I’ll be out of a job again soon”.