Resources 3

Grammar: Exercise 1

1. As it is great fun, many students spend hours each day on the Internet.

2. Although he wasn’t feeling very well, David was determined to take part in the interuniversity athletics meet.

3. Kelly managed to pass the Putonghua examination despite the fact that / even though she hadn’t spoken the language for over two months.

4. Despite having the best qualifications among all the applicants, Justin was not offered the job.

5. Fifteen years ago very few people used the Internet because its use was limited to the military.

6. Even though it is very popular, many older people do not know how to use the Internet.

7. Because of its fast download speed, Broadband has many advantages.

8. While acknowledging the benefits of learning English for academic or employment purposes, many scholars are concerned that some students learn English at the expense of their first language.

9. Sally performed creditably in the final examination despite suffering from a heavy cold.

10. Albert studied mathematics for two semesters, albeit / although with little enthusiasm.

Grammar: Exercise 2

1. Although the job market was quite tight last summer, Bill was still able to get a job soon after graduating.

2. Clara’s aunt worked for HSBC so she was able to learn a lot about the company before attending the interview.

3. Because of the positive impression she made during her internship, Faye was promised a permanent job when she graduated.

4. Tom was offered a second interview despite having little first-hand experience.

5. Since Jessica’s command of Putonghua was somewhat elementary she wasn’t offered interviews with mainland companies.

6. Mandy knew that she had a considerable amount of relevant experience but the job surprisingly went to a junior colleague.

7. In spite of impressing the interviewers with his qualifications and enthusiasm, Bob’s lack of practical experience counted against him and he wasn’t offered the job.

Grammar: Exercise 3

This survey aimed at investigating the effectiveness of the appraisal system in our company. The survey was conducted last month. The data were collected by means of a questionnaire survey and three focus group interviews. In the questionnaire, respondents were asked ten questions regarding the current appraisal system. It was found that the respondents were generally quite satisfied with the system, but about half of them stated that it should be carried out less frequently. In the focus group interviews, the respondents were given the opportunity to discuss the system openly. Some respondents complained that the appraiser knew too little about them to give detailed and objective comments. The findings indicate that the rationale for conducting the appraisal exercise should be explained more clearly to our staff.