first day
The First Day
Vocabulary
| hurry | watch (2) | traffic jam |
| due to | press | button |
| dash | sign (2) | hallway |
| cease | knock | again |
| voice | layout | identical |
| pastry | insurance | stand around |
| erupt | serious | other side |
| stack | approach | take a seat |
| area | interview | reception |
Hurry! Hurry!
Nancy looked at her watch as she hurried into a large, office building. It was 8:45.
Her bus had arrived in the city center 15 minutes later than usual due to a traffic jam.
Elevators
Inside the building, Nancy dashed to the elevator — however the door closed just as she reached it. So she went to the other elevator and pressed button number 13…
When she reached the thirteenth floor, Nancy walk down the hallway while looking at the signs on the doors.
Towards the end she saw one that read, “Claybourne Insurance”.
Nancy stopped. She just stood there looking at the sign, then up and down the hallway.
Knock, knock
Finally after about two minutes, she knocked on the door.
There was no reply.
She knocked again, but still nothing happened.
From the inside, Nancy could hear voices. So she carefully opened the door — and entered.
Difference
“Oops! I’ve got the wrong place…Am I in the same company where I was three days ago when I came for the job interview?” thought Nancy.
The office layout, desks and furnishings were identical; however unlike the first time she came, now all the employees were standing around, talking, joking, drinking coffee, and eating pastries.
Laughter
Then from the other side of the office hall, a group of employee erupted in laughter.
“Huh? Why are they laughing? Are they laughing at me?” thought Nancy. But no one was looking at her.
This went on for several more minutes.
Suddenly
Then suddenly, all chatting and laughter ceased.
With serious looks on their faces, they all went back to their desks, and cleaned and organized them.
In about 15 seconds, everybody was busily working.
Nancy approached the desk of a man who was looking through a stack of documents (a minute earlier he was telling jokes).
The Wait
She explained to him that it was her first day on the job here. He then told her to take a seat at the reception area until Mr. Foxx came.
A minute later, at 8:55, the front door opened, and the person who had interviewed Nancy walked in.
Questions
1. Nancy was in a hurry. True or false? Why was she in a hurry?
2. Did she feel frustrated at the elevator? Why was she frustrated?
3. What was the name of the company?
4. Nancy wanted to buy insurance. Is this correct or wrong?
5. Was Nancy surprised by what she saw? What did she see?
6. Did this behavior continue all day? What happened?
7. Who was Mr. Foxx?
A. Is this similar to your or your parents’ workplace?
B. Approximately what percent of the time do employees work and what percent do they not work?
C. Do employees like to chat, gossip, drink coffee and socialize at work, during working hours?
D. Are some employees always busy and working, while others are sometimes busy, sometimes goofing off?
E. What does the boss, manager, CEO or president do about this?
F. What will work be like in the future?
