Phrasal Verbs (Solving Problems)

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Talking about problems

Tom: " What's the matter? Why are you looking so worried?"
Robert: " I've got a few problems at work and I don't know what to do about them."
Tom: "Well, why don't we talk them over together? That might help you to sort yourself out."
Robert: "Ok, thanks. Well, first of all, Mario was going to give a very important presentation tomorrow, but he says he's ill and isn't going to be able to do it. I think he's just bottled out as it's for such an important client. Feeling a bit ill was just the perfect let-out for him. I'd do it myself but I'm busy with meetings all day."
Tom: "Well, that calls for quick action if the presentation is tomorrow. You'd better do it yourself if it's so important. Just cancel your other meetings."
Robert: "I guess I'll have to. The next problem is that personal belongings have been going missing from people's desks during the day."
Tom: "Oh dear. You should deal with that problem as quick as possible. Let's make a list of possible suspects..."


 1. Try to guess the meaning of the words in bold related with problems:






Finding a solution

Robert faced up to the fact that he would have to do the important presentation himself, so he immediately contacted his personal assistant to ask her to see about postponing his meetings for the next day. As for the thefts, she realised that the solution to finding the office thief lay in working out exactly who could have been in the office when each of the thefts took place. So he came up with a plan that enabled her to check who had been there at each of the times concerned. That narrowed down the suspects to two people. He questioned them both and the guilty one soon confessed.


2. Try to guess the meaning of the words in bold related with solutions:






3. Match the newspaper headlines with the stories below:

NEW POLICE SQUAD TO DEAL WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS


Garcia bottles out of contest with Paterson





POLICE NARROW DOWN SUSPECTS IN MURDER CASE
Education Minister to talk over problem with teaching unions
GOVERNMENT SEEKS LET-OUT ON ELECTION PROMISE
a) Three men are to be interviewed in the Oxford area, following new information. Up to now there has been no real...

b) If possible, ministers would like to be able to drop the pledge without angering the public...

c) The team will be stationed at ports of entry and will have to task of checking anyone suspected of having arrived...

d) The fight was arranged for September in Las Vegas, but now it will not take place. A spokesman for the 28-year-old...

e) The minister said she would go  into the discussion with an open mind, and that all the issues...


4. Time for writing and speaking!
Now you can practice with your teacher and talk about your problems.  
If you prefer, you can also do a writing about your problems or write different examples for these phrasal verbs. 

Comments

  1. Romona Vimazel27 October 2020 at 13:38

    Very informative and enlightening! This has really motivated me. Your training has definitely helped me in understanding the concept of Simple complex and compound sentences . Have found these tips to be of great guideline. Wish you good luck for your future work.

    ReplyDelete

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