Vocabulary exercises. I. Complete the sentences with the correct preposition.

I. Complete the sentences with the correct preposition.

1. Consistent and authentic communication will work wonders ….. stopping the gossip. 2. Regular communication minimizes the influence and need ….. gossip, because everyone is " in-the-know." 3. The recipient believed that the gossiper also spread negative information …… him. 4. Our manager instructs employees ….. using company email networks for gossip every month. 5. Gossip is one of the greatest causes ….. distrust and consequently under-performance in any business. 6. Workplace gossip can be looked ….. as either a gift or a weapon.

Keys: about, at, for, in, against, of.

II. Find in the above text sentences containing the passive forms of a predicate, write them out and translate.

III. Ask all types of questions to the following sentence:

Employers should be advised to instruct employees against using company email networks for gossip.

IV. Complete the following sentences using the words from the box:

over gossiper resigned handbook restricting working aware

1. The gossip hurt him and he ….. from his job despite it enjoyed him. 2. The gossiper had significant power ….. the recipient. 3. Our company had formal policies ….. gossip in its employee handbook. 4. The policy did not limit employees’ right to talk about wages, hours or ….. conditions. 5. A ….. told negative information about our supervisor and she was sacked from her position. 6. I told the offender that I was ….. of his behavior. 7. The company’s employee ….. was aimed at gossip about non-work-related issues.

Unit VI Gossip________________________________________________________________

SPEAKING:

I. Discuss the arguments for the following problem. Make use of the vocabulary of the topic.

Some negative consequences of workplace gossip may include: lost productivity and wasted time, erosion of trust and morale, increased anxiety among employees as rumors circulate without any clear information as to what is fact and what isn’t, growing divisiveness among employees as people “take sides", hurt

feelings and reputations, jeopardized chances for the gossipers' advancement as they are perceived as unprofessional, and attrition as good employees leave the company due to the unhealthy work atmosphere.

(By Harcourt, Richerson & Wattier)

II. Express your opinion on the following points of view.

1. Some people see gossip as trivial, hurtful and socially and/or intellectually unproductive.

2. How does workplace gossip affect your relationships with others? How would like to respond when someone starts talking to you about another person?

TEXT 3