Breaking News English

one in four / discriminated against / survey / giving birth / waste of time / career / opinions / maternity leave / committed / women's talents / avoiding the issues / sand

Good for Mum

Bad for Mum

Good for boss

Bad for boss

Before birth

After birth

Salary

Creche

Office mail

Work at home

  • manage companies

  • drive

  • cook

  • give good advice

  • be creative

  • debate

  • give advice

  • be fair

a.

Half of British mothers face discrimination at work.

T / F

b.

A legal firm interviewed 19,750 working mothers.

T / F

c.

Most of those interviewed had never complained about discrimination.

T / F

d.

Mothers complained about their opinions being less valuable.

T / F

e.

Employers and business leaders agreed with the survey's findings.

T / F

f.

A business leader said maternity leave is better than ever before.

T / F

g.

A lawyer isn't surprised women do not speak out about discrimination.

T / F

h.

The lawyer said employers bury their heads in the sand.

T / F

1.

conducted

a.

acknowledge

2.

suspected

b.

opinions

3.

grievances

c.

differ from

4.

points of view

d.

carried out

5.

colleagues

e.

all over

6.

contrast

f.

thought

7.

recognise

g.

dodging

8.

committed

h.

complaints

9.

throughout

i.

coworkers

10.

avoiding

j.

dedicated

1.

More than one in

a.

their career prospects

2.

women had never filed

b.

considered less worthy

3.

more detrimental to

c.

to the shop floor

4.

progressing faster

d.

any kind of complaint

5.

their points of view being

e.

managing maternity leave

6.

businesses are better than ever at

f.

four British mothers

7.

make the best use

g.

few women speak out

8.

from boardroom

h.

in the sand

9.

It is shocking that so

i.

of women's talents

10.

burying their heads

j.

up the career ladder

More than one in four British mothers who have returned to work feel discriminated (1) ____________. This is according to a survey conducted by the legal (2) ____________ Slater and Gordon (S&G). Researchers questioned 1,975 women about their experiences in the workplace before and after (3) ____________ birth. Most of the women had never filed any kind of complaint as they suspected it would be a waste of time and be even more (4) ____________ to their career prospects. Grievances aired in the survey included mothers being (5) ____________ for promotion, and more junior employees progressing faster up the career (6) ____________. Another common (7) ____________ was their points of view being considered less (8) ____________ than those of colleagues without children.

gripe
giving
overlooked
against
worthy
firm
ladder
detrimental

The findings (9) ____________ with the opinions of managers and employers. A director at Britain's Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said: "We don't recognise the (10) ____________ painted here. Our experience is that…businesses are better than ever at managing maternity leave and (11) ____________ mothers on their return." The UK's employment minister Jo Swinson said: "The government is (12) ____________ to making sure that more businesses make the best use of women's talents (13) ____________ the organisation, from boardroom to the shop floor." S&G lawyer Kiran Daurka said: "It is shocking that so (14) ____________ women speak out when they (15) ____________ discrimination." She accused employers of avoiding the issues and of "burying their (16) ____________ in the sand".

few
heads
picture
committed
suffer
contrast
throughout
reintegrating

1)

More than one in four British mothers who have returned to work ______

a.  feel discriminated again
b.  feel discriminated against
c.  feel discriminated aghast
d.  feel discriminated a gangster

2)

Most of the women had never filed any ______

a.  kind of compliant
b.  kind of complainant
c.  kind of complaint
d.  kind of complaints

3)

Grievances aired in the survey included mothers being ______

a.  overbooked for promotion
b.  overly looked for promotion
c.  over looking for promotion
d.  overlooked for promotion

4)

more junior employees progressing faster up ______

a.  the career ladder
b.  the career larder
c.  the career bladder
d.  the career ladders

5)

their points of view being considered less worthy than ______

a.  those of colleague
b.  those of colleges
c.  those of colleagues
d.  those of colleague

6)

The findings contrast with the opinions of ______

a.  managers and employer
b.  managers and employees
c.  managers and employers
d.  managers and employs

7)

businesses are better than ever at managing maternity leave and ______

a.  reintegrating mothers
b.  reintegration mothers
c.  reintegrated mothers
d.  reintegrates mothers

8)

committed to making sure that more businesses make the best use ______

a.  of women's talons
b.  of women's talents
c.  of women's talent
d.  of women's talented

9)

It is shocking that so few women speak out when they ______

a.  suffers discrimination
b.  suffered discrimination
c.  suffering discrimination
d.  suffer discrimination

10)

avoiding the issues and of "burying their ______"

a.  heads in the sand
b.  heads in the sandy
c.  head in the sand
d.  heads on the sand

1.

How many British mothers feel discriminated against at work?

2.

How many women took part in a survey?

3.

What had most women never complained?

4.

Who is getting promoted ahead of working mothers?

5.

What do working mothers thing isn't being valued?

6.

Whose opinions are different to those found in the survey?

7.

What did a director say was better than ever?

8.

What does the UK government want to exploit?

9.

How does Kiran Daurka feel about women not speaking out?

10.

What are employers doing with their heads?

1.

How many British mothers feel discriminated against at work?

6.

Whose opinions are different to those found in the survey?

a) over 25%
b) 1,975
c) all of them
d) millions

a) mothers
b) lawyers
c) researchers
d) employers and companies

2.

How many women took part in a survey?

7.

What did a director say was better than ever?

a) half
b) over 25%
c) 1,975
d) millions

a) prospects for promotion
b) pay
c) maternity leave
d) integration of viewpoints

3.

What had most women never complained?

8.

What does the UK government want to exploit?

a) a tax return
b) letters
c) their nails
d) a complaint

a) women
b) women's talents
c) working mothers
d) businesses

4.

Who is getting promoted ahead of working mothers?

9.

How does Kiran Daurka feel about women not speaking out?

a) older women
b) junior workers
c) part-time workers
d) working fathers

a) neutral
b) amazed
c) shocked
d) numbness

5.

What do working mothers thing isn't being valued?

10.

What are employers doing with their heads?

a) their opinions
b) company shares
c) loyalty
d) babies and children

a) massaging them
b) burying then in the sand
c) getting them tested
d) banging them against a wall

Role  A – Longer maternity leave

You think longer maternity leave is most important for new working mothers. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): better creche facilities, working from home or financial support for baby.

Role  B – Better creche facilities

You think better creche facilities is new working mothers. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): longer maternity leave, working from home or financial support for baby.

Role  C – Working from home

You think working from home is new working mothers. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): better creche facilities, longer maternity leave or financial support for baby.

Role  D – Financial support for baby

You think financial support for baby is new working mothers. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): better creche facilities, working from home or longer maternity leave.

work

place

• four
• questioned
• birth
• waste
• junior
• worthy

• contrast
• picture
• leave
• sure
• floor
• sand

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

Q.2.

Q.3.

Q.4.

Q.5.

a)

What did you think when you read the headline?

b)

What springs to mind when you hear the word 'discrimination'?

c)

What do you think about working mothers being discriminated against?

d)

Should women complain more to bosses about discrimination?

e)

Why are working mothers discriminated against?

f)

Why would complaining be bad for a working mother's career?

g)

Should employers do more for working mothers?

h)

What do you think of people who say mothers should stay at home?

i)

Why would people devalue the opinions of a female colleague with a baby?

j)

Should childless colleagues stand up more for working mothers?

a)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

b)

Why does discrimination happen?

c)

What do working mothers need?

d)

Why do managers and employers not agree with the survey?

e)

What is the worst kind of discrimination?

f)

What is maternity (and paternity) leave like in your country?

g)

How long should maternity leave be?

h)

Have you ever been discriminated against?

i)

Why do managers bury their heads in the sand? Do you ever do this?

j)

What questions would you like to ask the director of Britain's CBI?

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

1.

(a)

through

(b)

out

(c)

in

(d)

by

2.

(a)

to

(b)

of

(c)

by

(d)

at

3.

(a)

giving

(b)

gives

(c)

gave

(d)

given

4.

(a)

detrimental

(b)

determined

(c)

deferential

(d)

diabolical

5.

(a)

overworked

(b)

overlooked

(c)

overcooked

(d)

overbooked

6.

(a)

worthless

(b)

worthiness

(c)

worth

(d)

worthy

7.

(a)

bargains

(b)

inventions

(c)

findings

(d)

locations

8.

(a)

portrait

(b)

painting

(c)

sketch

(d)

picture

9.

(a)

return

(b)

departure

(c)

homecoming

(d)

yield

10.

(a)

at

(b)

to

(c)

of

(d)

for

11.

(a)

little

(b)

few

(c)

less

(d)

dearth

12.

(a)

dune

(b)

beach

(c)

sand

(d)

shore

Paragraph 1

1.

coadnrcig to a survey

2.

tdlieaertmn to their career prospects

3.

vcearsegni aired in the survey

4.

being overlooked for irooopnmt

5.

being considered less hryotw

6.

geoescllau without children

Paragraph 2

7.

We don't csgeireno (UK) / egcrznioe (USA) the picture

8.

metianyrt leave

9.

naietgrteignr mothers on their return

10.

The government is omictmdte to making sure…

11.

she accused employers of givoaidn the issues

12.

ynibgru their heads in the sand

(    )

The findings contrast with the opinions of managers and employers. A director at Britain's Confederation

(  1  )

More than one in four British mothers who have returned to work feel discriminated

(    )

talents throughout the organisation, from boardroom to the shop floor." S&G lawyer Kiran Daurka

(    )

of British Industry (CBI) said: "We don't recognise the picture painted here. Our experience is that…businesses are better than

(    )

minister Jo Swinson said: "The government is committed to making sure that more businesses make the best use of women's

(    )

never filed any kind of complaint as they suspected it would be a waste of time and be even more

(    )

said: "It is shocking that so few women speak out when they suffer discrimination." She accused

(    )

against. This is according to a survey conducted by the legal firm Slater and Gordon (S&G). Researchers

(    )

detrimental to their career prospects. Grievances aired in the survey included mothers being overlooked

(    )

questioned 1,975 women about their experiences in the workplace before and after giving birth. Most of the women had

(    )

gripe was their points of view being considered less worthy than those of colleagues without children.

(    )

ever at managing maternity leave and reintegrating mothers on their return." The UK's employment

(    )

for promotion, and more junior employees progressing faster up the career ladder. Another common

(    )

employers of avoiding the issues and of "burying their heads in the sand".

1.

before   in    birth    and   the   after    workplace   Experiences .  giving

2.

The     never     kind     had     any     complaint     women     filed    of.    

3.

career     their     to     detrimental     more     Even     prospects.    

4.

employees   career    progressing    ladder   faster     up    Junior    the.    

5.

those     of     Less     colleagues     worthy    without    than    children.    

6.

contrast     managers     with     the     The     opinions     findings     of.    

7.

experience    businesses    than    Our    that    better    is    are    ever.    

8.

leave     reintegrating     maternity     and     mothers     Managing.    

9.

women's     the     talents     best     use     Businesses     of     make.    

10.

so     speak     It     that     women     shocking     few     out     is.    

MorethanoneinfourBritishmotherswhohavereturnedtoworkfeeldiscrimin
atedagainst.ThisisaccordingtoasurveyconductedbythelegalfirmSlateran
dGordon(S&G).Researchersquestioned1,975womenabouttheirexperienc
esintheworkplacebeforeandaftergivingbirth.Mostofthewomenhadneverfi
ledanykindofcomplaintastheysuspecteditwouldbeawasteoftimeandbeev
enmoredetrimentaltotheircareerprospects.Grievancesairedinthesurveyi
ncludedmothersbeingoverlookedforpromotion,andmorejunioremployees
progressingfasterupthecareerladder.Anothercommongripewastheirpoint
sofviewbeingconsideredlessworthythanthoseofcolleagueswithoutchildre
n.Thefindingscontrastwiththeopinionsofmanagersandemployers.Adirect
oratBritain'sConfederationofBritishIndustry(CBI)said:"Wedon'trecognis
ethepicturepaintedhere.Ourexperienceisthat…businessesarebetterthane
veratmanagingmaternityleaveandreintegratingmothersontheirreturn."T
heUK'semploymentministerJoSwinsonsaid:"Thegovernmentiscommitted
tomakingsurethatmorebusinessesmakethebestuseofwomen'stalentsthr
oughouttheorganisation,fromboardroomtotheshopfloor."S&GlawyerKira
nDaurkasaid:"Itisshockingthatsofewwomenspeakoutwhentheysufferdisc
rimination."Sheaccusedemployersofavoidingtheissuesandof"buryingthei
rheadsinthesand".

a

F

b

F

c

T

d

T

e

F

f

T

g

F

h

T

1.

conducted

a.

carried out

2.

suspected

b.

thought

3.

grievances

c.

complaints

4.

points of view

d.

opinions

5.

colleagues

e.

coworkers

6.

contrast

f.

differ from

7.

recognise

g.

acknowledge

8.

committed

h.

dedicated

9.

throughout

i.

all over

10.

avoiding

j.

dodging

1.

One in four

2.

1,975

3.

A complaint (against discrimination)

4.

Junior employees

5.

Their opinions

6.

Employers and managers

7.

Companies managing maternity leave

8.

Women's talents

9.

Shocked

10.

Burying them in the sand

1.

a

2.

c

3.

d

4.

b

5.

a

6.

d

7.

c

8.

b

9.

c

10.

b