Grammar Activity

Identify the correct prepositions in the following sentences.

1. The company is (on, in, at) Haven Street.
2. She was (on, in, at) home early yesterday.
3. A few people were (on, in, at) the house when I arrived at six
o’clock.
4. I placed my things (on, in, at) the table but most of them are gone!
5. We are planning to see him (on, in, at) Shanghai.
6. Someone was (on, in, at) the door when I entered.
7. We live (on, in, at) the fourth floor of this apartment building.
8. Let us meet (on, in, at ) the corner of 12 Street and 13 Street.
9. We were swimming (on, in, at) the beach when the accident
happened. Unit 1. Lesson 8. Reaching the End 1
 Finding
Comfort

LESSON 1
UNIT II: WORK LIFE
Lesson Outline
1. Reading
2. Vocabulary Focus
3. Easy Challenge
4. Average Challenge
5. Summary

3
Describe your
first
impression of
your boss.

4
Setting
Agatha, one of the new
recruits, left the office of
Mrs. Smith in tears.
Brenda, the secretary could
not help but comfort her.

5
Brenda: Here’s some water. Are you okay? She was in a foul mood
since this morning. We think she’s displacing all her frustration on
everyone, including you.
Agatha: I have always set my heart in finishing the task with flying
colors. In fact, I have been burning the candles at both ends just to
achieve this! But she’s exasperated by what I presented. Now, she
wants me to report all to her!
Brenda: Our boss likes to micromanage. In fact, ever since she took
this spot, she has been breathing down my neck. Of course, I have
been doing this job for a while now and I know what she wants.
You’ll learn the ropes perfectly soon, Agatha.
6
Brenda: As your ally, I believe you can do it! Now, don’t forget
to ring me up whenever you need help.
Agatha: I think I will learn things in hindsight, especially with
the help from people like you. I will remember you, Brenda.
Thank you.
Brenda: Don’t mind it, Agatha. I will give you a lesson on office
politics one of these days—things that are not taught in the
university.
Agatha: Oh! (Laughs) I love this topic!
Brenda: Now, hush! We are in the office still, and we can have a
chitchat in a restaurant or café, but not here. Walls have ears, you
know. 7
Vocabulary Focus
Let us read the following office expressions

 to displace (psychology)  to learn the ropes

 with flying colors  to move up the ranks
 to exasperate  hindsight
 to micromanage  office politics
 to breathe down one’s  walls have ears
neck

8
Brenda: Here’s some water. Are you okay? She was in a foul mood since
this morning. We think she’s displacing all her frustration on everyone,
including you.
to displace (psychology)
a. to face the situation poorly
MEANING b. to make others feel worse about themselves
c. to transfer negative emotion to others
d. to show real feelings to others

MORE Because Roy had a bad day at school, he arrived home and
displaced his anger by making a mess in the living room.
EXAMPLES
After her mother scolded her, Karen looked for her cat and
displaced her frustration at it by kicking it.
9
 Our mind has a
way to deal with
undesirable situations.
We call this
DEFENSE
MECHANISM. 10
 Whenever my mom had
a fight with dad, we all
hide in the bedroom or
else, she might displace
her frustration on us.

Your Sentence
Whenever my boss is angry, ________________________
11
What do you
do when your
spouse
displaces
negative
feelings to
you?
12
Agatha: I have always set my heart in finishing the task with flying
colors. In fact, I have been burning the candles at both ends just to
achieve this! ! But she’s…
with flying colors
a. very successfully
MEANING b. with great excitement
c. with no mistakes
d. satisfactorily

MORE She finished the gao kao with flying colors! Now she can enroll in
Beijing University.
EXAMPLES
William finished his training with flying colors! The boss was
blown away by his intelligence and positive attitude.
13
 If we will finish all the
projects we have with
flying colors, we really
need a long break!

Your Sentence
If I ____________ with flying colors, I will ____________.
14
 What
motivates you
to accomplish
tasks with
flying colors?

15
Agatha: … In fact, I have been burning the candles at both ends just to
achieve this! But she’s exasperated by what I presented. Now, she wants
me to report all to her!
to exasperate
a. to be full of expectations
MEANING b. to be excited about something
c. to be saddened
d. to cause anger of someone

MORE The incompetence of the officer exasperated the manager so

much that he was told to pack his things and go.
EXAMPLES
Going through the same problems over again is exasperating!

16
 Because she was not
paying attention, I was
exasperated for
repeating everything for
her.

Your Sentence
Because ____________, my daughter was exasperated.
17
Do you know
someone who
is easily
exasperated?
How do you
deal with
them?
18
Brenda: Our boss likes to micromanage. In fact, ever since she took this
spot, she has been breathing down my neck. Of course, I have been
doing this job for a while now...
to micromanage
a. to know every part of the task
MEANING b. to feel responsible for all details
c. to control every part of an activity
d. to provide praise and appreciation

MORE Because she prefers to micromanage all the time, everyone felt
that they have to consult her all the time.
EXAMPLES
Many decided to leave the company because of the
micromanaging style of the CEO in handling the business.
19
 Micromanaging is a
poor leadership style
that has numerous
negative impacts in
the total performance
of a team. 20
 The new manager has
the tendency to
micromanage, and this
worsens every time the
deadline nears.

Your Sentence
_________ has the tendency to micromanage and
___________.
21
 How do you
deal with a
boss who
micromanages?

22
Brenda: Our boss likes to micromanage. In fact, ever since she took this
spot, she has been breathing down my neck. Of course, I have been
doing this job for a while now...
to breathe down one’s neck
a. to conduct regular inspection on someone
MEANING b. to monitor someone closely in an irritating way
c. to criticize than praise someone frequently
d. to adjust properly without any problems

MORE Although he is already 18 years old, his parents never stop

breathing down his neck by calling him in the university every day.
EXAMPLES
Our manager breathes down everyone’s neck by constantly asking
for updates almost every hour!
23
 The administration
decided to breathe down
everyone’s neck by
putting surveillance
cameras in every part of
the small office.

Your Sentence
______________ breathe down my neck by
______________.
24
If you grew up
with a parent
who breathes
down your
neck, how
would you
feel?
25
Brenda: ... I have been doing this job for a while now and I know what
she wants. You’ll learn the ropes perfectly soon,

to learn the ropes

a. to get promoted or climb the career ladder
MEANING b. to enjoy the job after a troubling time
c. to find ways to survive in a difficult situation
d. to learn/know how to do a job/activity

MORE Our manager has no consideration because he assigned me, of all

people, a high-priority project before I even learn the ropes!
EXAMPLES
In a span of three years, he learned the ropes in the mining
industry, and now, he is a billionaire.
26
 He thought that a four-
year degree was enough
to learn the ropes in the
business industry, but he
realized it was not
enough.

Your Sentence
______________ to learn the ropes in the
______________.
27
 How did you
manage to
learn the ropes
of your
position in
your company?
28
Agatha: Thanks, Brenda. I feel I have so much to prove as a new recruit.
I really want to move up the ranks, you know. I like this company a lot.

to move up the ranks

a. to get the best position in the company
MEANING b. to get promoted
c. to achieve something
d. to be praised by the higher ups

MORE It took her time to move up the ranks because she committed
mistakes numerous times before.
EXAMPLES
When she finally moved up the ranks, she held a party which
everyone in the office attended.
29
 In order for me to move
up the ranks at the
university, I have to
study for my PhD and
do research work.

Your Sentence
In order for me to move up the ranks in ______________
, I ______________. 30
 What is the
highest
position that
you are aiming
for if you move
up the ranks?
31
Agatha: I think I will learn things in hindsight, especially with the help
from people like you. I will remember you, Brenda. Thank you.

(in/with) hindsight
a. understanding a situation before it happened
MEANING b. an expression of regret
c. understanding a situation after it happened
d. an expression of hope

MORE With hindsight, I realized that it would have been better if I picked
the other company and not this one.
EXAMPLES
I would choose dignity over money in hindsight. I would rather
remain poor than humiliated.
32
 With hindsight, we
managed to make the
right decision, prepare
for the worst, and hope
for the best.

Your Sentence
With hindsight, _________________________.
33
 What is
recently your
greatest
realization in
hindsight?

34
Brenda: Don’t mind it, Agatha. I will give you a lesson on office politics
one of these days—things that are not taught in the university.

office politics
a. ways one gets promoted through hardwork
MEANING b. ways everyone addresses issues by talent and skills
c. ways the job is done through connections
d. ways people relate in the office to gain something

MORE Office politics can be so nasty that those who are close to the
boss often get the most opportunities than others.
EXAMPLES
He made friends with the right bosses and eventually became a
manager in a span of one year. That’s because of office politics.
35
Office politics can be
the reason why an
excellent employee
may fall behind
someone with great
people skills.
36
 Due to office politics,
employees became two-
faced in order to gain
something.

Your Sentence
Due to office politics, _________________________.
37
 A CASE OF OFFICE POLITICS

You and Mr. X are considered for a sought

How would you
after position, but the big bosses have yet compete with
to determine which between the two of
you deserves the position. Mr. X heard of someone who
this as well, so he started making friends
with them. He is rich and managed to be in plays with office
the parties that the big bosses also
attended. He sends them occasional invites
politics? Is being
to big parties. When he speaks of his
achievements, he would exaggerate and
excellent at your
make his stories seem more than what job enough?
they really are.

38
Brenda: Now, hush! We are in the office still, and we can have a chitchat
in a restaurant or café, but not here. Walls have ears, you know.

Walls have ears

a. to suggest that they are being monitored
MEANING b. warning in case of eavesdropping
c. warning for someone might betray them
d. to suggest that walls are thin

MORE We could not really talk negatively about our company in the
company because walls have ears.
EXAMPLES
You know walls have ears when your secrets were suddenly
known by many.
39
 Because walls have ears,
we should better avoid
talking negatively about
our boss.

Your Sentence
Because walls have ears, _________________________.
40
 Is it safe to
discuss
anything in
your office?
Do your walls
have ears as
well?
41
Setting
Agatha, one of the new
recruits, left the office of
Mrs. Smith in tears.
Brenda, the secretary could
not help but comfort her.

42
Brenda: Here’s some water. Are you okay? She was in a foul mood
since this morning. We think she’s displacing all her frustration on
everyone, including you.
Agatha: I have always set my heart in finishing the task with flying
colors. In fact, I have been burning the candles at both ends just to
achieve this! But she’s exasperated by what I presented. Now, she
wants me to report all to her!
Brenda: Our boss likes to micromanage. In fact, ever since she took
this spot, she has been breathing down my neck. Of course, I have
been doing this job for a while now and I know what she wants.
You’ll learn the ropes perfectly soon, Agatha.
43
Brenda: As your ally, I believe you can do it! Now, don’t forget
to ring me up whenever you need help.
Agatha: I think I will learn things in hindsight, especially with
the help from people like you. I will remember you, Brenda.
Thank you.
Brenda: Don’t mind it, Agatha. I will give you a lesson on office
politics one of these days—things that are not taught in the
university.
Agatha: Oh! (Laughs) I love this topic!
Brenda: Now, hush! We are in the office still, and we can have a
chitchat in a restaurant or café, but not here. Walls have ears, you
know. 44
EASY CHALLENGE:
Use all the expressions enclosed in braces in answering the questions.

1. What happened during Agatha’s meeting with her boss? {exasperate;

displace}

2. What does Agatha want? {with flying colors; move up the ranks;
hindsight}

3. How will Brenda help Agatha? {learn the ropes; office politics;
walls have ears}

4. What kind of boss do they have? {micromanage; breathe down one’s

neck}

45
AVERAGE CHALLENGE:
Fill in the blanks with the right idiom that has been discussed in this lesson.

1. Because he finished the training ________, he received an extra reward

from the company.
2. She refused to discuss the topic in the cubicle, because ________.
3. When I ________, I was able to enjoy the pleasure of being in a
spacious office and having a bigger paycheck.
4. Aunt Grace ________ by constantly checking if I am doing things well.
5. It took me a year to ________ in my new position and gain the
admiration of my boss.
6. I realized in ________ that my mother has always been right.
7. It was because of ________ that she managed to get promoted even
though she didn’t work as hard as the rest.
46
Wrap-Up

Do you have any questions?

47
About the
Author BRYAN PAUL L. ESPINOSA, M.Ed (ESL)
He finished three degrees in three prominent
universities—St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary for his AB
Philosophy; Central Philippine University for his
Bachelor of Secondary Education major in English; and
University of the Philippines for his Master of
Education major in English as a second language.

He taught English in Iloilo English Academy, Alphacrest

Academy and St. Paul University Iloilo.

During his free time, he writes short stories, travels,

and reads. He respects adults who are humble enough
to choose to learn.

48
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