The modern office: Russian and Western approaches differ

Контрольная работа 2

Вариант 1

(выполняют студенты, фамилии которых начинаются с  букв 
А, Б, В, Г, Д, Ж, З, И)

Задание 1. Прочитайте текст, переведите и ответьте на вопросы.

The modern office: Russian and Western approaches differ

An opinion poll conducted among designers of office décor has yielded a stunning result: There is a clear dividing line between “Westerners” and “Russian traditionalists” with regard to the appearance of a contemporary office. Although the two groups of designers fulfill different orders to decorate different orders, the former believe that their task is to competently apply Western design solutions in Russia, while the latter counter that “Russia is unique in its specifics, which demand special solutions.”

What are the main differences between these approaches to the organization of office space? If, for example, a Western company organizes a Moscow office, it will practically resemble a standard Western office, which typically has open space with no partitions, with each workplace well planned, with a minimum of furniture, and with a well-defined color spectrum. A Western office strictly conforms to ergonomics as regards lighting, intercom, and computer network - all forming an integral part of the interior décor.

Another characteristic feature of a Western office is its “democratic” styling: The boss’ workplace looks practically the same as that of a rank-and-file office worker. As for the Western manager, he trusts his office designers more than his Russian counterparts do.

A typical Russian boss looks at the designer’s task from a totally different viewpoint. This is due primarily to our Russian traditions and mentality, which the designer has to take into account. Typically, he has to reserve for the boss a vast VIP space that takes up the bulk of the funding. A separate office space - preferable with a waiting room - for the Russian boss is a must. And if funding permits, he must also have a separate toilet, a rest and a billiard room, a sauna, and other luxuries. These normally include a dark-wood-table with inlaid designs, and other high-end furniture. The whole set-up of the boss’ private office gives you to understand that he is a man of considerable stature, manifestations of which are, among other things, his red carpet strips or his Persian carpet, which is more often seen in the management office of big companies nowadays.

Вопросы к тексту

1. Where do “Westerners” and “Russian traditionalists” differ?
2. What is a standard Western office?
3. What is a must for the Russian boss?
4. What does the whole set up of the boss’ private office demonstrate?

Задание 2. Переведите, обращая  внимание на формы причастий.

1. Leaving the room he said that he was in a hurry.
2. The man making a report is a good speaker.
3. The tourist stood in front of the monument admiring it.
4. The report made by him was interesting.
5. The children left at home played the computer games.

Задание 3. Раскройте скобки и выберите нужную форму: Past Simple или Present Perfect.

1. We (to do) business with that firm five years ago.
2. Our manager (to receive) foreign businessmen this month.
3. Our department (to be) in charge of the firm’s finance since 2005.
4. The secretary (to bring) the mail in the morning.
5. The bookkeeper (to sign) just letter of credit.

Задание 4. Раскройте скобки и выберите нужную форму: Past Simple или Past Perfect. Переведите.

1. He (to think) he (to meet) her before.
2. The economist (to work) in our department for ten years.
3. The head of the department (to receive) the latest catalogues last week.
4. That contract that you (to sign) (to be) profitable for our company.
5. My friend (to thank) me for what I (to do).

Задание 5. Измените формы  сказуемого в действительном залоге на страдательный. Переведите.

1. They conducted an opinion poll among designers of office décor.
2. The designers discussed the problems of the appearance of a contemporary office.
3. A Western company will organize an office in Moscow.
4. The designer is planning each workplace with minimum furniture.
5. The Western designer took into account the Russian traditions and mentality.
6. The group of designers has already fulfilled the order to decorate the office.
7. You often see carpets in the management offices of big companies.
8. The head of the department interviewed some candidates.

Задание 6. Переведите предложение, обращая внимание на модальные глаголы  и  их эквиваленты.

1. They had a lot of work to do, so they had to work overtime.
2. This place is far from here and you will have to go there by car.
3. If you go by train you will be able to see the beautiful scenery out of the window.
4. The student could not answer the question.
5. Accountants must use personal computers in their work.
6. This designer can help you decorate your office.
7. The secretary is to be at the office at 9 o’clock.
8. You have written your test and you may go home.

Вариант 2

(выполняют студенты, фамилии которых начинаются с букв 
К, Л, М, Н, О, П, Р, С)

Задание 1. Прочитайте текст, переведите и ответьте на вопросы.

Boss’ private office 
(What a modern day office should look like)

In the designers’ community there is a clear dividing line between “Westerners” and “Russian traditionalists”. Minimal furnishings and high-tech office equipment are typical of the boss’ private offices in the West. The majority of Russian company directors firmly believe that their private office should convey a sense of awesomeness. The furnishings of the boss’ private office include a dark-wood table, with inlaid designs and other high-end furniture. The whole set-up of the boss’ private office gives you to understand that he is a man of considerable stature.

By contrast, the furniture for a Russian company’s rank-and-file employees can be the cheapest; it’s the norm for many Russian companies to economize on furniture for their office workers. Designers find it hard to work with such a company, as it will interfere in the designing process and try to teach him how he should create the office’s interior décor. Such an attitude on the part of Russian managers is incomprehensible to Westerners.

This does not mean, however, that Russian managers can be accused of being uncultured. It’s just that many of them are compelled to follow long-standing traditions. They admit that they personally have no need for a luxurious private office, and that is a hindrance to efficient work. They point out, however, that clients will find it strange if the manager’s office doesn’t have extravagant furnishings.

Attitudes are different in the United States, where people of the stature of Microsoft’s Bill Gates can go to work wearing an old sweater and a pair of sneakers. If a Russian boss did that, eyebrows would rise. Nonetheless, the number of Western-type offices is increasing in Russia every year, and this is a stable trend.

Вопросы к тексту

1. What is the difference between the furniture for a Russian company’s rank-and-file employees and their bosses?
2. Why do the designers find it hard to work with some companies in our country?
3. How do our managers account for (объясняют) their extravagant furnishings?
4. What positive changes are taking place in this sphere?

Задание 2. Переведите, обращая внимание на формы причастий.

1. Entering the room she turned on the light.
2. Looking out of the window she saw her mother watering the flowers.
3. Hearing the sounds of music we stopped talking.
4. The coat bought last year is too small for me.
5. The girl reading the book is my sister.

Задание 3. Раскройте скобки и выберите нужную форму: Past Simple или Present Perfect. Переведите.

1. She (to live) there last year.
2. The rain (to stop) half an hour ago.
3. The weather (to change) and we go for a walk..
4. I (to see) him today.
5. I just (to meet) our teacher.

Задание 4. Раскройте скобки и выберите нужную форму: Past Simple или Past Perfect. Переведите.

1. I (to finish) my work at 7 o’clock.
2. By 2 o’clock the teacher (to examine) all the students.
3. Suddenly I (to remember) that I (to leave) my bag at home.
4. My friend (to decide) to visit this place.
5. When I (to enter) the hall the performance already (to begin).

Задание 5. Измените формы  сказуемые в действительном залоге на страдательный. Переведите.

1. The entire the group celebrated this birthday.
2. I spent all my money on books.
3. I don’t think we shall do all this work today.
4. They are eating melon now.
5. The students have already passed the exam.
6. The elephant broke the tree.
7. The waves carried the boat away.
8. A boy showed her the way to the hotel.

Задание 6. Переведите предложение, обращая внимание на модальные глаголы  и  их эквиваленты.

1. I shall have to write a composition.
2. She had to stay at home because she didn’t feel well.
3. We must work hard to learn English well.
4. I can’t recite this poem.
5. She can translate the article without a dictionary.
6. You must take part in this project.
7. The participants were to get there before the others.
8. There was to be a discussion later on.

Вариант 3

(выполняют студенты, фамилии которых начинаются с  букв 
Т, У, Ф, Х, Ц, Ч, Ш, Щ, Э, Ю, Я)

Задание 1. Прочитайте текст, переведите и ответьте на вопросы.

What a modern-day office should like

Drab offices are being transformed by modern interior décor as enterprise managers realize that the efficiency of staff depends greatly on workplace furnishing style. What a modern-day office should look like is open to debate.

There is difference between a Western manager and a Russian boss concerning their attitude to office designers. As for the Western managers, he trusts his office designers. A typical Russian boss looks at the designer’s task from totally different viewpoint. This is due primarily to our Russian traditions and mentality which the designer has to take into account.

Now let us look at a few more problems stemming from the so-called “Russian mentality”.

It/s traditional in Russia to discuss global problems in the kitchen and to have brain storms in the smoking room. In terms of office design, this means office premises must have a lot of “free space” for informal debate. A lack of such space can lead to a sharp fall in performance rating. In the science-intensive sectors, the inadequacy of “free space” will inevitably cause disaster, ending up not just in the death of a major project, but also in the breakup of the team or the firm concerned.

One more factor of major importance: Russians are more particular about their workplaces than people in other countries are. Unless the designer has created such a space, members of the staff will create it for themselves with anything handy - cardboard boxes or stacks of paper rising up on their tables. If they don’t do that they will find it hard to concentrate.

This character trait of Russians has created a formidable but interesting task for designers. On the one hand, the office must have as much open space as possible; on the other, it must create an illusion of privacy.

A great many methods have been devised to achieve these effects through selection of colors, arrangement of light and adeptly adjusted transparency of the partitions.

Вопросы к тексту

1. Why are drab offices being transformed?
2. What does the designer have to take into account working in Russian office?
3. What does “Russian mentality” mean?
4. What is Russians’ attitude to their workplaces?
5. What methods have been devised to achieve the effects of open space and privacy?

Задание 2. Переведите, обращая  внимание на формы причастий.

1. Looking through the newspaper, she noticed a photograph of her boss.
2. The woman speaking now is our new secretary.
3. He entered the office, greeting everybody.
4. The documents signed by the boss were sent immediately.
5. When asked about his business trips he didn’t like to answer.

Задание 3. Раскройте скобки и выберите нужную форму: Past Simple или Present Perfect . Переведите.

1. Mr. Clark works at a bank. He (to work) there for 15 years.
2. What time they (to arrive)?
3. Our secretary (to lose) the key to the office. She can’t find it anywhere.
4. Last month he (to go) to London on business.
5. How many contracts you (to conclude) this year?

Задание 4. Раскройте скобки и выберите нужную форму: Past Simple или Past Perfect. Переведите.

1. He (not to be) at work when I (to arrive). He (to go out) somewhere.
2. By 8 o’clock yesterday they (to discuss) all the news.
3. We (to be) very pleased to meet Mr. Black again. We (not to see) him for 5 months.
4. The guests (to phone) us and to notify about their being late.
5. I was very nervous when the plane (to take off) because I (not to fly) before.

Задание 5. Измените формы  сказуемые в действительном залоге на страдательный. Переведите.

1. He will introduce me to the guests.
2. Has the secretary typed the letter? – No, she is typing them now.
3. When we came, they had signed all the documents.
4. We received the letter after his departure.
5. I didn’t leave the office open.
6. They were discussing the terms of the contract from 8 till 12.
7. Someone wants you on the phone.
8. This company is building a new hotel in the city centre.

Задание 6. Переведите предложение, обращая внимание на модальные глаголы  и  их эквиваленты.

1. Our boss has traveled a lot. He can speak four languages.
2. She wasn’t at home when I phoned but I was able to contact her at her office.
3. You have been traveling all day. You must be very tired.
4. Do you know if Jack is in his office? - I’m not sure. He may be in his office.
5. Everyone working at this company has to wear a uniform.
6. You are going to visit Greece. You should learn a few words of Greek before you go.
7. They were to arrive on Monday, but they didn’t come.
8. He asked if he might borrow my car.

Методические указания 
к заключительным компьютерным тестам 
по грамматике

Заключительные контрольные тесты  включают грамматический материал с 1–8 уроков.

Первая цифра в тесте означает номер урока, вторые цифры – номер задания предложения, например: 1.1-10 (урок 1 предложение с 1 по 10 имеют одно и то же задание).

Образцы выполнения тестовых заданий

1.1-10. Замените подлежащие личными местоимениями.

Образец: The table is round.

he

she

it

him

Ответ: it.

1.11-20. Выберите перевод притяжательного местоимения – существительного.

Образец: My car is in the yard. Where is твоя?

your

yours

ours

mine

Ответ: yours.

1.21-25. Раскройте скобки и укажите количественные местоимения.

Образец: There (to be) много apple-trees in the garden.

are much

is much

are many

Ответ: are many.

2.1-10. Поставьте глагол в форме Present Simple или Present Continuous.

Образец: (to see) that you (not to listen) to the radio.

see, listen

sees, listens

see, is listening

see, are not listening

Ответ: see, are not listening.

2.11-15. Выберите верное окончание разделительного вопроса (Present Simple, Continuous).

Образец: He is your brother, … ?

isn’t it

is she

isn’t he

is it

Ответ: isn’t he.

2.16-20. Выберите начало вопросительного предложения с подчеркнутой части предложения (Present Simple, Continuous).

Образец: Her son does well at school.

Where does … ?

Who does … ?

What does … ?

How does … ?

Ответ: How does he do at school?

3.1-10. Поставьте глагол в форме Past Simple, или Past Continuous.

Образец: We … the whole evening yesterday.

talked

was talking

were talking

talking

Ответ: were talking.

4.1-10. Поставьте глагол в форме Future Simple или Future Continuous.

Образец: He … tomorrow.

will be calling

will call

would call

calls

Ответ: will call.

5.1-5. Переведите слова в скобках, используя формы причастия I или причастия II.

Образец: The man (подписывающий) contract is our manager.

signed

signing

signs

is signing

Ответ: signing.

6.1-5. Выберете нужную форму сказуемого (Present Perfect, или Past Simple).

Образец: The manager (to sign) the contract lately.

signed

signs

has signed

have signed

Ответ: has signed.

7.1-10. Выберете перевод сказуемого в страдательном залоге

Образец: The work has been finished this week.

заканчивалась

закончили

заканчивается