BBC Life in the modern office

Choose the best word to complete this sentence:

Most modern offices include large spaces without internal walls dividing them ..........

• up

• of

• at

• out

Choose the correct option to complete this sentence:

The idea is to create a sense of togetherness, but many employees prefer ....

• having their own space.

• to having their own space.

• of having their own space.

• have their own space.

Choose the correct option to complete this sentence:

What did British workers vote the worst thing ...........working in an office?

• for

• at

• about

• on

Choose the correct option to complete this sentence:

Maybe he should look ............. another job and quit the nine-to-five.

• on

• at

• after

• for

Choose the correct option to complete this sentence:

As the Covid pandemic slows ............., more and more people are returning to work in the office.

• up

• off

• down

• out

Read this short paragraph. According to the text, which option is TRUE ?

'As you know, I’m not an office lover. Besides disappearing pens, workers have plenty of other complaints about office life, from co-workers who never do the washing up, to fighting over spaces in the car park.'

• office workers like to make pens disappear.

• employees who work in offices fight in the car park.

• it's difficult to do your job in an office where there are no pens.

• there are many reasons why life in the office can be annoying.

Read this short paragraph. According to the text, which option is TRUE ?

'Nowadays most modern offices are open-plan, large spaces without internal walls dividing them up. The idea is to create a sense of togetherness, but many employees prefer having their own space, and use all types of objects to mark out their own personal territory.'

• open-plan offices create a sense of belonging.

• people like to use their own objects to bring the office walls down.

• employees use walls to mark out their own personal territory.

• personalizing open-plan offices creates a sense of togetherness.

Read this short paragraph. According to the text, which option is TRUE ?

'Harriet had created this sort of montage on this strip of paper – and she would take it to whatever desk she was working at and would pin it up to a set of low-level desk divider and to have some sense of familiarity.'

• Harriet created the montage to feel closer to her co-workers.

• Harriet displayed the montage to make the office feel like home.

• Harried put the montage up in her office to mark out her personal space.

• Harriet created the montage to divide herself from her co-workers.

Choose the correct option to complete this sentence:

Her photo montage ............ her of the people and places she loved outside of work.

• remembrance

• remembered

• reminded

• was reminded

Choose the correct answer:

When something is worn out from overuse, it’s ............

• very old or damaged

• old but in good condition.

• quite new and can still be used.

• it's discolored and broken.