Meetings
Task 1:
The following
expressions and idioms relate to participating in a meeting. Guess or look up
their meanings and complete the sentences below with the appropriate one.
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get to the
point
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talk it over
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(talk) off the
top of my head
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get together
|
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have a say
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(can’t) get a
word in edgewise
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1. The
supervisor wants us to get together for a short meeting.
2. I think she
will present a new policy and we will talk it over
3. Marianna
talks a lot! During our last meeting nobody could get a word in edgewise.
4. It’s hard for
me to (talk) off the top of my head I need time to think before I
respond.
5. I don’t need
a long detailed explanation. Could you please just get to the point
6. I'm glad
we are having this meeting. This way everyone in the department can have a
say.
Task 2:
Read the
scenario. Then use the sentences to write opinions for or against
the proposal described in the scenario. Use appropriate logical connectors. The
first one is done for you.
Scenario: You are
attending a community meeting to discuss a proposal to build three high-rise
apartment buildings (30 stories each) in your neighbourhood. Residents are
divided. Many are opposed to the proposal because they feel high-rise
apartments will increase traffic congestion and crime. Others feel it will
attract small businesses and bring valuable development to the area.
Logical Connectors:
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• for example
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• even though
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• also
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• therefore
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• however
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• although
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• since
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• but
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• such as
|
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• because
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•despite the
fact that
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• furthermore
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1. There are
already too many high-rise apartment buildings in this area.
We need more
rental housing; however there are already too many high-rise apartment
buildings.
2. High-rise
apartments increase traffic congestion.
However, it can make our community looked
more modern
3. There is not
enough affordable housing in this neighbourhood.
Therefore we need to discuss a proposal
to build more high-rise apartment buildings.
4. A higher
population could lead to increased crime in our neighbourhood.
Despite the fact that a higher
population could lead to increased crime but we should not consider things in a
narrow way, some positive aspect can also been brought accordingly.
. Having more
people in the area will help small businesses.
Furthermore, a higher population
can cause more quick development here and result in more job opportunity.
Task 3:
Use these
expressions together with the logical connectors and then put them in sentences
from your own. Ask one or two of your peers to edit them for you.
All our team members get together to hold the project execution
review meeting at every end of month. At first stage of the meeting everyone
can have a say. It’s interesting we
can find that some people have completely opposite style. For example, someone can
tell a good story and then get to the
point at exactly time, someone is too wordy on the contrary and it makes
others can’t get a word in edgewise….It’s
hard for me to (talk) off the top of my
head, I need time to think before I respond. At last stage, the project
manager put forward the next month’s target and we talk it over to make sure all team members have a good
understanding about the following work contents.
