LanGYM — Unit 5: Ethical business

1 — Reading: Our Reason for Being (Patagonia)

OUR REASON for being

Patagonia grew out of a small company that made tools for climbers. Mountain climbing is still at the heart of our business, but we also make clothes for skiing, snowboarding, surfing, fly fishing, paddling and trail running. All of these are silent sports. They don’t require a motor or the cheers of a crowd – the rewards come from connecting with nature.

Our values reflect a business that was started by a band of climbers and surfers who love wild and beautiful places. This means that we act responsibly and take an active part in the fight to repair the damage that is being done to the health of our planet.

We acknowledge that the wild world we love best is disappearing. That is why we share a strong commitment to protecting natural lands and waters. Caring for the environment is very important to us. We donate our time, services and at least 1% of our sales to hundreds of environmental groups all over the world who are working to protect and restore the environment.

But we also know that our business activity – from lighting our stores to dyeing our shirts – creates pollution as a by-product. So we work steadily to reduce the impact we have, and do more than simply comply with the regulations. We use recycled polyester in many of our clothes and only organic, rather than pesticide-intensive, cotton.

Staying true to our principles during thirty-plus years in business has helped us create a company we’re proud to run and work for.

Exercise 3 — Comprehension questions

2 — Match verbs to nouns

Match each verb (A column) to its correct noun phrase (B column) to make phrases used in the text. Click left then right.

3 — Listening 5.1

🔊 Listening 5.1: Radio interview with Shamsul Aziz, spokesperson for a gas and oil company

📁 br2_004_a5_1.mp3

📝 Open questions — share in class

1. How would you describe the interviewer’s style?

2. How does the spokesperson react to the questions?

3. What does the company do for: a) its staff, b) the environment, c) the local communities where it operates?

4. Do you think the company is doing enough for the environment and local community?

4 — Ethical or unethical?

Which nouns do you associate with an ethical company? Which with an unethical one? Some may fit both. Click a word to select it, then click a column to place it.

Ethical company

Unethical company

Both

5 — Noun to adjective

Complete the adjective column. Type each adjective form in the gap.

1 — Context

Hummingbird Teas focuses on speciality teas from countries such as China, India and South Africa. The unique selling point is its ethos. It sources teas from small, local farmers and supports fair trade. It has recently brought in Clare, a PR consultant, to help raise its profile. Clare has been organizing a trip for reporters from ethical consumer magazines to see Hummingbird’s operation. She is meeting with the reporters to give details of the trip.

2 — Listening 5.2

🔊 Listening 5.2: Clare’s meeting with the reporters (Part 1)

📁 br2_004_a5_2.mp3

📝 Open questions — share in class

1. Listen and correct any details that are wrong in the notes below:• Trip planned to China or South Africa (to be confirmed)• Five days travelling around different tea plantations• Opportunities for sightseeing will be provided• Two possible dates for trip: February and March• Two internal flights

3 — Complete the phrases (5.2)

Listen to 5.2 again. Complete each phrase Clare uses to explain plans and arrangements for the trip.

4 — Listening 5.3

🔊 Listening 5.3: Clare’s meeting (Part 2)

📁 br2_004_a5_3.mp3

📝 Open questions — share in class

1. What activities and visits can the reporters take part in?

2. What advice can Clare give about the guide?

5 — Complete the phrases (5.3)

Listen to 5.3 again and complete these phrases.

6 — Categorise the phrases

Sort the 10 phrases from Exercise 5 into the three categories. Click a chip to select it, then click a column.

Inviting

Recommending

Responding

7 — Key Expressions: Planning Arrangements

“We’ll email you the (final) itinerary.”
“We’re planning to …” “The idea is to …”
“You’ll get the opportunity to …”

Explain plans

Invite

“We’d like to invite you to …”
“You’re welcome to …”
“Alternatively, we’d be delighted to …”

“We strongly recommend you (stay) …”
“It would be a good idea to …”
“… is highly recommended.”

Recommend

Respond

“That would be great.”
“That sounds really interesting.”
“That’s not really what I’m looking for.”

1 — Listening 5.4

🔊 Listening 5.4: Five invitations and responses

📁 br2_004_a5_4.mp3

📝 Open questions — share in class

1. Listen and match each invitation (1–5) to how the other person responds: a) accepts, b) declines, c) partly accepts, d) partly declines, e) neither accepts nor declines

2. Listen again. Write down any useful phrases the speaker uses in the responses.

2 — Match invitation to response type

After listening, match each invitation number to the correct response type.

1 — Grammar Hint

Talking about the future

will + infinitive: predictions / decisions made at the moment of speaking / facts
I’ll call back later. / It’ll be a great trip.

be going to + infinitive: plans already decided / predictions based on evidence
We’re going to arrange two dates. / He’s going to be annoyed.

Present continuous: appointments / arrangements (time/place usually given)
She’s coming in later this morning to speak with you.

Present simple: timetables / schedules
The first morning flight leaves at 7.15.

2 — Identify the tense

What tense is used in each sentence (a–e)? Label each one: will, going to, present continuous, or present simple.

3 — Match sentence to situation

Match each sentence (a–e) to the Language point situation (1–5) that explains which future form is used and why.

4 — Choose the correct future form

Click the best option in each sentence.

📖 Working with Words

1 — Match 1–7 to a–g

Match each sentence starter (1–7) to its correct ending (a–g).

2 — Complete with correct adjective forms

Complete the text with the correct form of the word in brackets.

💬 Business Communication

3 — Number the conversation in the correct order (1–10)

Jana from Events4U is meeting Xavier from RCI. Drag lines into the correct order. Line c is already in position 1.

4 — Word order sentences

Put the words in the correct order to make sentences. Click the words to build each sentence, then click the answer bar to remove a word.

⚙️ Language at Work

5 — Cross out the incorrect future form

In each situation, one option is incorrect. Click to mark it wrong — the other two are acceptable.

6 — Complete with future forms

Complete these dialogues with the best form of the verbs in brackets (sometimes more than one form is possible).