Lesson 14: Salaries and Benefits

Read the following passage and write the words in the blanks below.

Basis: cơ sở

Compensated: bồi thường

flexibility: linh hoạt

retirement: nghỉ hưu

be aware of: nhận thức được

delicate: mỏng manh

negotiated: đàm phán

vested: được trao quyền

benefits: lợi ích

eligible : đủ điều kiện

raise: nâng

wage: lương

An important part of the job search often comes after an offer has been made. Papers should not be
signed until you have successfully (1) _ negotiated __ your salary and (2) _ benefits __. You want to
make sure you will be adequately (3) _ Compensated __ for your skills, work. and time. This is a (4) _
delicate __ and difficult area. You should (5) _ be aware of __ what the salary ranges are at the
company and in the field.

Some workers are not on a salary; rather they work for an hourly (6) _ wage __. In some cases,
workers who earn an hourly wage have more (7) _ flexibility __ with the hours they work.

The trade-off is that the worker may not receive any benefits. For those workers on a salary, the base
salary that is negotiated is critical, because most subsequent pay raises come in small incremental
amounts. Most companies have a review process either on an annual or semi-annual (😎 __ Basis _.
As a result of the review, an employee may receive a (9) __ raise _.

Each employee has a unique situation. Health insurance coverage and (10) __ retirement _ plans may
be essential to some employees, whereas they are not important to others. Many companies will
offer benefits in such a way that it is to the employee’s advantage to stay with the company for a
longer period of time. Employees may not be (11) _ eligible __ to sign up for a retirement plan until
they have been with the company for one year and employees are not fully (12) _ vested __ in these
plans until they have five years of service under their belts. Some bonus plans are paid out over a
period of years. Vacation time increases after more years of service.

Part 5 Incomplete Sentences

Choose the word that best completes the sentence.

10. All temporary workers are paid on an hourly ___ and receive no benefits.

(A) base

(C) basis

(😎 based

(D) basic

11.What is the company’s policy on ___ for part-time workers?

(A) benefited

(😎 beneficial
(C) benefits

(D) benefit

12.The tired employee hoped that she would be ___ for all the long hours she kept and weekends she
worked.

(A) compensation

(C) compensated

(😎 compensates

(D) compensate

13.Sometimes the manager is too ___ and his workers take advantage of him.

(A) flex

(C) flexibly

(😎 flexible

(D) flexibility

14.If the ___ continue into the evening, we will break for dinner at six.

(A) negotiator

(C) negotiate
(😎 negotiations

(D) negotiated

15.No one is sure what will happen to the company when the president finally ___.

(A) retires

(C) retired

(😎 retirement

(D) retiree

Part 6 Text Completion

To all union members:

Your union has been working for you. You may ___ (16) aware that we have been negotiating with
management for improvements in the benefits package. Yesterday an agreement was reached on the
following points:

1) All employees of the company will be ___ (17) for an increase in wages every six months. following
a performance review. Reasons for refusal to give a raise must be carefully documented according to
union guidelines.

2) Employees ___ (18) at one and a half times their usual hourly wages for overtime hours. Any time
worked beyond 40 hours a week counts as overtime.

3) Part-time employees can now receive full health benefits. It is each employee’s responsibility to
complete and submit the application forms. Part-time employees are also guaranteed five days of
paid vacation per year. These two benefits apply to employees who work a minimum of 20 hours per
week on a permanent basis.

16.

(A) be

(😎 is

(C) are

(D) were

17.

(A) flexible

(😎 beneficial

(C) eligible

(D) negotiable

18,

(A) will compensate

(😎 are going to compensate

(D) have to compensate

Part 7 Reading Comprehension

To: James Porter

From: Helene Bourassa

Subject: Re: Benefits questions

Dear James,

I will try to clarify for you your questions about retirement benefits.

Time of retirement: The time at which an employee can retire is calculated on the basis of age and
number of years of service to the company. An employee of the company can retire with full benefits
at age 55 if he or she has worked a minimum of 30 years for the company. Employees can retire at
age 60 or above with 25 years of service to the company. Since you are younger than 60 years old and
have worked for the company for 22 years, you won’t be eligible to retire for another few years.

Benefits for your spouse: I know this is a delicate matter, but it is important to know about. If you die
before your spouse, she will continue to receive full retirement benefits for the rest of her life.

Health insurance: Retirees are eligible to receive health insurance. There are several packages to
choose from, and I will send you brochures about them. Your spouse will also be eligible for health
coverage when you retire. If you happen to have any dependent children under the age of 21 and
living at home, they, too, will be eligible for health coverage.

I hope this answers your questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need any further
information.

Helene

19. How old is James Porter?

(A) Between 22 and 25.

(😎 25.

(C) Younger than 60.

(D) Exactly 60.

20.Who can receive retirement benefits after James dies?

(A) His children.

(C) All of his dependents.

(D) Nobody.

21.Who can get health coverage when James retires?

(A) His 19-year-old son who lives at home.

(😎 His 20-year-old daughter who lives with her spouse.

(C) Any of his children who want it.

(D) Only his wife.

22.The word BASIC in line 2 is closest in meaning to

(A) solution

(😎 formula

(C) amount

(D) foundation

23.The word DELICATE in line 7 is closest in meaning to

(A) sensitive

(😎 complicated
(C) necessary

(D) interesting

Lesson 15: Promotions, Pensions and Awards

Read the following passage and write the words in the blanks below.

Achievements: những thành tựu

look forward: mong đợi

merits: công đức

promotions: khuyến mãi

contributions: đóng góp

look to: tìm đến

obvious: rõ ràng

recognizes: nhận

dedicate: tế nhị, nhạy cảm

loyalty: long trung thành

productivity: năng suất

value: giá trị

Congratulations. You have been chosen by your colleagues to receive the Keeler Award of Excellence.
This prestigious award (1) __ recognizes _ employees who have made extraordinary (2) _
contributions__ to the corporation over the years.

Your co-workers gave several reasons for selecting you. First, they mentioned your (3) _

Achievements __ in the marketing department. In the past four years, you have had four (4) _
promotions __ in this department, all based on the many (5) __ merits _ of your work in developing
our image in new markets. In addition, your (6) _ loyalty __ to the department is (7) _ obvious __ to
all. Many of your co-workers mention that they (😎 _ look to __ you for advice. Your supervisor
praised your high (9) _ productivity __.

The Keeler Award acknowledges an employee’s (10) _ value __ with a $1,000 bonus. We (11) _ look
forward __ to the opportunity to (12) __ dedicate _ a rosebush in the company garden in each
recipient’s name.

The awards ceremony will be held on August 7 on the front lawn at 10:30 am. Again, congratulations.

Part 5 Incomplete Sentences

Choose the word that best completes the sentence.

10.When he thought about his long career, he realized that his biggest ___ was in developing the new
leaders of the company.

(A) achiever

(C) achievement

(😎 achieved

(D) achieves

11.She has ___ so much time and energy to the project that her name should appear on the award.

(A) contributes

(😎 contribution
(C) contributed

(D) contributor

12.Hard work and ___ will help you move up the corporate ladder.

(A) dedicated

(C) dedication

(😎 dedicates

(D) dedicated

13.There is no reason to question her ___ to our company.

(A) loyal

(C) loyalty

(😎 loyally

(D) laurels

14.These microchips are ___ faster and more cheaply in Asia.

(A) produce

(😎 produced

(C) product
(D) production

15. Because you are a valued and dedicated employee, we are ___ you to director of the department.

(A) promoting

(😎 promote

(C) promotion

(D) promoter

Part 6 Text Completion

Dear Harry,

We are pleased to inform you of your promotion within our company. Starting the first of next
month, you will begin in your new position as manager of the Fulfilment Department. During your
years as a member of the Fulfilment Department staff, you have made many ___ (16) to the
productivity and smooth operation of the department. We have always valued your dedication to
your job, and now we are pleased to be able ___ (17) your hard work and fine skills with this
promotion. We know you will do a wonderful job. The Personnel Department will contact you seen
regarding the changes in your salary and benefits. We ___ (18) welcoming you to your new position
next month.

Sincerely,
Madeline Kovacs

President

16.

(😎 contributes

(C) contributors

(D) contributions

17.

(A) recognize

(😎 to recognize

(C) recognizing

(D) will recognize

18.
(A) look forward to

(😎 look in on

(C) look for

(D) look to