Copyright © Macmillan Education Publishers Ltd 2009- this page has been downloaded from
www.macmillanenglish.com/italy
PHOTOCOPIABLE
Area
Grammar focus
:
:
CEF Level A1/A2
business
present simple & continuous / imperatives
Leadership skills: Ernest Shackleton
Every company runs training courses for employees and for managers, the topic is often leadership
skills – companies need good managers to lead their staff and make the business efficient and
profitable. A perfect example of leadership skills is the story of Ernest Shackleton, an explorer and an
adventurer who, in extremely difficult conditions, saved his men from death.
This is the story: “Early 1915 and Shackleton with his crew of 27 men is guiding his sailing–ship, the
Endurance, through the Weddell Sea towards the South Pole. The weather is very cold with snow
storms and on reaching the ice-pack, the ship begins to cut through the ice, but it is too thick. The ice
traps the ship and later crushes the Endurance into pieces. The wind is blowing at 100 km/ph and
the temperature is -18 ºC.
“We’re taking the small boats, “says Shackleton, “and we’re sailing until we find land”. The crew are
now preparing for their journey and using wood and supplies from the Endurance.
One week later : “Finally we find land, Elephant Island and the men are so happy, they are jumping
and singing”, writes Shackleton; “but we are leaving soon for the whaling station* in South Georgia –
our only hope of survival”. South Georgia lies over 1000km away. “Listen men”, begins Shackleton,
“six of us are continuing to South Georgia, the rest of you are staying here. I will come back for you.”
Two weeks later : “Look ! Land!!!”. Shackleton and his five man crew are now approaching South
Georgia. The whaling station is only 25km away…..but on the other side of the island!
“To reach the whaling station”, says Shackleton, “We must cross mountains and glaciers. ”You two
are too weak for this trip”, pointing to a couple of the men., “You are staying here and MacArthy is
looking after you” , he continues.
Next day 7.00p.m – 6.00 a.m. : The three men are climbing a mountain and reach 1500 metres. Soon
they are crossing more glaciers and mountains and then suddenly they hear the sound of a whistle.
“It is the whistle calling the workers at the whaling station, come on!”
Same day : “Do you see the workers?”, shouts Shackleton. “Look, there is a boat entering the
harbour”. The men realise that they are now safe.
* stazione di caccia alla balena
Copyright © Macmillan Education Publishers Ltd 2009- this page has been downloaded from
www.macmillanenglish.com/italy
1.
Comprehension
TRUE / FALSE. Indicate which statements are true (√) and which are false (_).
(i)
Shackleton travels in a steamboat to the South Pole.
(ii)
The Endurance has a total of 28 people aboard.
(iii)
The Endurance becomes trapped in the ice.
(iv)
It takes 21 days to reach South Georgia from Elephant Island.
(v)
When they see the workers at the whaling station, they know they are secure.
2.
Grammar I. Choose the word with the same meaning as that in the text.
(i)
Every company runs training courses for employees and for managers….
a. do
(ii)
c. rejoining
b. starts
c. tries
………“six of us are continuing to South Georgia,……”
a. are sailing on
(v)
b. arrival at
…… the ship begins to cut through the ice
a. attempts
(iv)
c. holds
The weather is very cold with snow storms and on reaching the ice-pack.
a. approaching
(iii)
b. gestates
b. are flying
c. are going back to
“Look, there is a boat entering the harbour”..
a. leaving
b. coming into
c. sinking in
Copyright © Macmillan Education Publishers Ltd 2009- this page has been downloaded from
www.macmillanenglish.com/italy
3.
Grammar II. Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verb.
(i)
We usually (go) ________________ to school at 8.30 a.m.
(ii)
What (you / do) _____________________? I (repair) ________________my bike.
(iii)
She normally (eat) _________________ salad for lunch.
(iv)
(he / smoke) ________________________? No he (do / not) ________________.
(v)
How (she / get) _________________ here?
- It’s amazing, she (come) ________________ in a private jet!
4.
Writing task
In what ways does Ernest Shackleton inspire modern day managers?