STUDENT MATERIAL

The Secret of Success

www.bspelling.com
 902 57 52 49
info@bspelling.com

2
 902 57 52 49
info@bspelling.com

# SECTION A – LET’S TALK

3
 902 57 52 49
info@bspelling.com

4
 902 57 52 49
info@bspelling.com

5
 902 57 52 49
info@bspelling.com

# SECTION B – GRAMMAR

6
 902 57 52 49
info@bspelling.com

# SECTION C – VOCABULARY

7
 902 57 52 49
info@bspelling.com

8
 902 57 52 49
info@bspelling.com

9
 902 57 52 49
info@bspelling.com

# SECTION D – EXCERCISES

10
 902 57 52 49
info@bspelling.com

# SECTION E – READING
TEXT The Secret of Success
The message that society's top performers are not the most skilled and shouldn't
be emulated, appears to be counter-intuitive. Yet this report says that those who appear
to have achieved the most in their particular field of expertise, are often
the beneficiaries of luck, an external, random force.

The authors of this study point to the example of Bill Gates, the co-founder of the
computing giant Microsoft, and one of the world's richest men. They say that although he
is undoubtedly talented, he achieved his initial success because his affluent family were
able to send him to a school where programming was on the curriculum - at a time when
most Americans didn't have access to computers. Family connections also helped,
according to Professor Chengwei Liu from Warwick University Business School. Overly
fortunate.

That kind of luck is often at work in the lives of the most successful, argues Mr. Liu,
which means their achievements aren't completely attributable to their own skill. Instead,
he advocates looking at those whom he calls 'the second best'. They aren't relying on
lucky chances, so their performances offer an opportunity to measure real success. The
study also argues that there are dangers if colleagues try to emulate the achievements
of those who've been overly fortunate.

This could explain the global Banking crisis says Professor Liu, who also believes that
studying the lives of people such as Bill Gates for tips on reaching the top is fruitless. Of
course, some academics argue that individuals can in fact create their own lucky
circumstances through using personal contacts and pursuing all available opportunities.
This research though says that because those with the highest salaries haven't
completely earned them through skill, they should be taxed more heavily - which would
be very bad luck

EXERCISE 2 Find the words defined from the text

1. Contrary to what you expect.
2. Wealthy:
3. Recommends / supports:
4. Failing to achieve what is desired:

11
 902 57 52 49
info@bspelling.com

# SECTION F – LISTENING
LISTENING
Attempts have been made to define success from the earliest of times: in ancient
Greece Aeschylus said, "When a man is willing and eager, the gods join in." In
Ecclesiastes in the Bible it says, "Take time to work – it is the price of success." William
Menninger said that "The six essential qualities that are the key to success (are):
sincerity, personal integrity, humility, courtesy, wisdom (and) charity," whereas novelist
Pearl S. Buck thought that "The secret joy in work is contained in one word – excellence.
To know how to do something well is to enjoy it." However, often it can seem as though
success is due to large doses of luck – being in the right place at the right time or simply
having the right numbers on your lottery ticket!

If you do a search on the internet for "success definition" you will find that it means "the
achievement of something desired, planned or attempted" – an accurate definition for
some, no doubt, but one that leaves us none the wiser as to how to achieve it.

EXERCISE 3 Complete the following phrases from the article

1. Aeschylus thought that it was important for a man to be willing and _____.
2. William Menninger said that there were _____ qualities which formed the key to
success.
3. Pearl S. Buck thought that _____ was a key factor.
4. Success has been defined as the achievement of something ______ .

12
 902 57 52 49
info@bspelling.com

# SECTION G – SOLUTIONS

GRAMMAR

EXERCISE 1 Change these sentences in first conditional for an

alternative form
1. If you don't mend your ways, you are going to land in trouble.
2. We will go grab something to eat if you have finished your work.
3. If you drink too much alcohol, you are going to land in hospital with liver
problems.
4. If he should arrive, we will invite him along to dinner.

READING

EXERCISE 2 Find the words defined from the text

1. Contrary to what you expect. Counter-intuitive
2. Wealthy: Affluent
3. Recommends / supports: Advocates
4. Failing to achieve what is desired: Fruitless

13
 902 57 52 49
info@bspelling.com

LISTENING

EXERCISE 3 Complete the following phrases from the article

1. Aeschylus thought that it was important for a man to be willing and EAGER.
2. William Menninger said that there were SIX ESSENTIAL qualities which formed
the key to success.
3. Pearl S. Buck thought that EXCELENCE was a key factor.
4. Success has been defined as the achievement of something DEFINED,
PLANNED OR ATTEMPTED

14