Skype Translator

Skype Translator now available for everyone, offering live translation in video chats

            Skype users can now have their conversations translated in real time. The programme began with early looks in December, but has now been rolled out for everybody who wants it.

            The Translator feature, which analyses voice and then sends it to another user during the conversation, was first rolled out in an early version in December to select users. But Microsoft has now removed the limits on the sign-up process, letting anyone with the right hardware join up.

            Any computer or tablet on Windows 8.1 or the Windows 10 preview can try out the software. Skype Translator comes as a separate preview application that can be downloaded in the Windows Store.

            At the moment, the voice tool can only translate with English, to and from Mandarin Chinese, Italian and Spanish. The text translation works with 50 different languages. The company says that the goal is “to translate as many languages as possible on relevant platforms”.

            The software has improved since it was rolled out in December. Translation services tend to rely on real life use to refine their translations, relying on testing and user input to make the software more accurate and natural.

            As with when Skype rolled out the version in December, Microsoft took the opportunity to show how the live translation tool can be used for good. It released a special video of early adopters from a non-profit organisation in New York.

Are these statements TRUE or FALSE?

1.- The programme was released for everybody from the beginning.

2.- You need certain programmes installed in your computer to use the Translator.

3.- The programme is already installed in most new devices.

4.- The programme can translate written messages.

5.- There are new versions of the programme.

6.- There's a tutorial to explain how the programme works.

Can you find synonyms for these words in the text?

1.- to release (par.1)

2.- to eliminate (par.2)

3.- to test (par.3)

4.- to make better (par. 5)

5.- data (par. 5)

6.- precise (par. 5)

7.- chance (par. 6)

KEY

True or false?

1.- False “ Programme [...] has now been rolled out for everybody who wants it”

2.- True “ letting anyone with the right hardware join up”

3.- False “ a separate preview application that can be downloaded”

4.- True “ The text translation works with 50 different languages”

5.- True “ The software has improved since it was rolled out in December”

6.- True “ Microsoft took the opportunity to show how the live translation tool can be used for good. It released a special video”

Vocabulary

1.- to roll out

2.- to remove

3.- to try out

4.- to improve

5.- input

6.- accurate

7.- opportunity

Rephrasing 6

Rewrite the sentences with the words in brackets. Do not change the original meaning of the sentences. 

1.   I feel terrible that I didn’t score a goal in the game yesterday. (if only)

     .................................................................................................................

2.   I woke up late, so I won’t get to school on time this morning. (if)

     .................................................................................................................

3.   It’s too bad they didn’t offer us a lift home. (I wish)

     .................................................................................................................

4.   You won’t get the best selection if you don’t go to the first day of the big sale. (unless)

     .................................................................................................................

5.   I didn’t pass my driving test because I was so nervous. (if)

     .................................................................................................................

1. If only I had scored a goal (in the game yesterday).

2.   If I hadn’t woken up late, I would have got to school on time (this morning). / I would have got to school on time (this morning) if I hadn’t woken up late.

3.   I wish they had offered us a lift home.

4.   Unless you go to the first day of the big sale, you won’t get the best selection. / You won’t get the best selection unless you go to the first day of the big sale.

5.   If I hadn’t been so nervous, I would have passed my driving test. / I would have passed my driving test if I hadn’t been so nervous.

Child labour

Global firms behind popular brands use palm oil produced by child workers in dangerous conditions, Amnesty International has claimed. The human rights organisation traced a range of well-known products back to the palm oil company Wilmar, which it alleged employs children to do back-breaking physical labour on refineries in Indonesia.

            In a 110-page report accompanied by a video, Amnesty alleged products sold by those companies were “tainted by appalling human rights abuses ... with children as young as eight working in hazardous conditions”. It called on the companies implicated to tell customers whether the palm oil in individual products were made using child labour.

            “These findings will shock any consumer who thinks they are making ethical choices in the supermarket when they buy products that claim to use sustainable palm oil,” said the senior Amnesty investigator Meghna Abraham. “There is nothing sustainable about palm oil that is produced using child labour and forced labour. Something is wrong when nine companies turning over a combined revenue of £260bn in 2015 are unable to do anything about the atrocious treatment of palm oil workers earning a pittance.” She said allegations of child labour at Wilmar were not “isolated incidents but are systemic and a predictable result of the way Wilmar does business”.

            In the report, Amnesty alleged that children aged from eight to 14 were carrying out dangerous work without safety equipment, were exposed to toxic pesticides and regularly carried sacks of palm fruit weighing 25kg. One 10-year-old boy, who claims he started working for a Wilmar supplier aged eight, said he gets up at 6am to gather fruit and works every day but Sunday. “I don’t go to school ... I carry the sacks with the loose fruit by myself but can only carry it half full. My hands hurt and my body aches,” he said.

            When approached by Amnesty, seven of nine companies admitted that they use palm oil from Wilmar’s Indonesian supply network but only two offered any detail about which products were affected. The two companies cited “traceability” as a factor in why they had not been aware of abuses at the plantations supplying them palm oil through Wilmar.

            “Using mealy mouthed excuses about ‘traceability’ is a total cop-out from those companies,” said Amnesty’s business and human rights programme director, Peter Frankental. “You can be sure that if one of these companies’ products were contaminated and had to be taken off the shelves of supermarkets, they would ensure that they could trace the source to specific plantations.”

            Wilmar said it was aware of allegations about labour rights abuses before it was contacted by Amnesty and was already taking steps to remedy any failings.  “Wilmar has put a lot of effort and systems in place to deal with labour and social issues in our operations and supply chain,” the company said. “We acknowledge that there are ongoing labour issues in the palm oil industry, and these issues could affect any palm company operating in Indonesia.

“The focus on Wilmar, as the largest processor and merchandiser of palm and lauric oils worldwide, is often used to draw attention to problems in the wider palm oil industry.”

Question 1 (2 points) Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

a. A ten-year-old boy couldn’t carry a 25 kg palm fruit sack.

b. The companies investigated helped Amnesty.

c. Wilmar was trying to solve the problem before Amnesty’s report appeared.

d. Wilmar is only the tip of the iceberg.

Question 2 (2 points) Answer the following questions in your own words.

a. Why could some customers be shocked?

b. Does Mr Frankental accept the companies excuses for using Wilmar’s products? Why?

Question 3 (1.5 points) Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.

a. dangerous, risky (p.2)                       b. do, fulfil (p.4)                                   c. collect (p. 4)

d. certain (p. 6)                         e. know (p. 7)

Question 4 (1.5 points) Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a. Wilmar employs children to do back-breaking physical labour.

            Children…

b. There is nothing sustainable about palm oil that is produced using child labour and forced labour.

            There isn’t...

c. The company said: “We acknowledge that there are ongoing labour issues in the palm oil industry, and these issues could affect any palm company operating in Indonesia.

            The company said that...

Question 5 (3 points) Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:

Living in the “first world” has many advantages.

Companies do not pay attention to human rights.

Rephrasing 7

Rewrite the sentences using the words in brackets. Do not change the original meaning.

      1.   There’s a possibility that we’re going to check out a day earlier. (might)

             .............................................................................................................................

      2.   Smoking in the hotel is forbidden. (mustn’t)

             .............................................................................................................................

      3.   They had tickets to the concert, but decided not to go. (could have)

             .............................................................................................................................

      4.   Does she know how to drive? (can)

             .............................................................................................................................

      5.   It’s impossible that his story is true. (can’t)

             .............................................................................................................................

      6.   I’m certain that’s my luggage. (must)

             .............................................................................................................................

      7.   I suggest you book in advance. (should)

             .............................................................................................................................

      8.   It wasn’t polite that you didn’t thank them for their hospitality. (should have)

             .............................................................................................................................

      1.   We might check out a day earlier.

      2.   You mustn’t smoke in the hotel.

      3.   They could have gone to the concert, but they decided not to go.

      4.   Can she drive?

      5.   His story can’t be true.

      6.   That must be my luggage.

      7.   You should book in advance.

      8.   You should have thanked them for their hospitality.

Child labour

Question 1

a) TRUE. I carry the sacks with the loose fruit by myself but can only carry it half full. My hands hurt and my body aches

b) FALSE. but only two offered any detail about which products were affected.

c) TRUE. Wilmar said it was aware of allegations about labour rights abuses before it was contacted by Amnesty and was already taking steps to remedy any failings

d) TRUE. The focus on Wilmar is often used to draw attention to problems in the wider palm oil industry.”

Question 2

a) Because when they buy a product they think it is ethically produced.

b) No, if the companies wanted, they’d find out how the products were collected.

Question 3

a)   Hazardous

b)   Carry out

c)   Gather

d)   Sure

e)   Be aware of

Question 4

a) Children… are employed to do back-breaking physical labour by Wilmar

b) There isn’t... anything sustainable about palm oil that is produced using child labour and forced labour.

c. The company said that...They acknowledged that there were ongoing labour issues in the palm oil industry, and those issues could affect any palm company operating in Indonesia.

Biggest Lego store just opened in Leicester Square

Match these figures to the facts they refer to:

a) 200,000                               1) different items that can be purchased in the store

b) 2,280                                   2) height of Big Ben replica

c) 6.5                                       3) hours to complete Big Ben replica

d) 14                                        4) Lego bricks for life-size London tube train

e) 800                                      5) Lego bricks to build Big Ben replica

f) 400                                       6) price of one of the most expensive items that can be purchased

g) 600,000                               7) Lego stores in the UK

KEY

a) 200,000 Lego bricks to build Big Ben replica

b) 2,280 hours to complete Big Ben replica

c) 6,5 height of Big Ben replica

d) 14 Lego stores in the UK

e) 800 different items that can be purchased in the store

f) 400 price of one of the most expensive items that can be purchased

g) 600,000 Lego bricks for life-size London tube train

Don't wear white shirts or brown shoes if you want City job

Graduates who wear brown shoes and white shirts are missing out on top jobs at investment banks in the City, new research has found.

            A new study by the government’s social mobility watchdog found that employers are still using unspoken dress codes to weed out the wrong sort of person in City job interviews. Bright working class candidates are often rejected for jobs as they are unaware of the "opaque" dress codes that richer children grow up with, experts found.

            Firms also often select recruits who display “polish” and place as much importance on a person’s speech, accent, dress, behaviour and skills as on their skills and qualifications, researchers said.

            "Relatively opaque codes of conduct also extend to dress,” the report said. "To provide one example, for men, the wearing of brown shoes with a business suit is generally, though not always, considered unacceptable by and for British bankers within the investment banking, corporate finance division."

            A candidate from a non-privileged background was told at one bank that while he was “clearly quite sharp”, he was “not quite the right fit” and that his tie was “too loud”.

            One anonymous banker admitted that such discrimination was commonplace: “In corporate finance, if you've got the wrong cut of suit, if you are wearing the wrong shoes, or tie, or you look awkward in a suit, you're done before you start."

            The report also found that banks mostly hire from a handful of universities including Oxbridge and the London School of Economics (LSE)

            Alan Milburn, the Commission's chairman, said: "Bright working-class kids are being systematically locked out of top jobs in investment banking because they may not attend a small handful of elite universities or understand arcane culture rules. While there are some banks doing excellent work in reducing these barriers, there are still too many that need to wake-up and realise that it makes sound business sense to recruit people from all backgrounds.

Question 1 (2 points) Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

a. Candidates are aware of the best way to dress to be recruited.

b. The more qualifications you have, the better to get a job in the City.

c. This way to choose a candidate is widely accepted among employers.

d. This way of recruiting employess is starting to change.

Question 2 (2 points) Answer the following question in your own words.

a. What aspects do companies take into consideration when recruiting?

b. Why was a candidate discriminated for a post in a bank?

Question 3 (1.5 points) Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.

a. hidden (par.2) b. enigmatic (par.4)  c. ordinary (par.6) d. smart (par.8)  e. a few (par.8)

Question 4 (1.5 points) Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a.  Graduates who wear brown shoes and white shirts are missing out on top jobs at investment banks in the City.

            If graduates...

b.  Bright working-class kids are being systematically locked out of top jobs.

            Employers are...

c.  “There are some banks doing excellent work in reducing these barriers, there are still too many that need to wake-up”, he said.

            He said that...

Question 5 (3 points) Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:

Appearance is highly considered these days. What do you think?

Rephrasing 5

Complete the sentences without changing the meaning of the original sentences.

      1.   The lecture was boring, so we didn’t stay.

             If the lecture ....................................................................................................  .

      2.   I think you should accept the job.

             If I ......................................................................................................................  .

      3.   Unfortunately, we forgot about the meeting.

             If only ...............................................................................................................  .

      4.   You must remind me or I’ll forget.

            Unless .............................................................................................................  .

      5.   I would love to visit a rainforest one day.

             I wish ................................................................................................................  .

      6.   He regrets getting rid of his bike.

             He wishes .......................................................................................................  .

Key 

      1.   hadn’t been boring, we would have stayed

      2.   were you, I would accept the job

      3.   we hadn’t forgotten about the meeting

      4.   you remind me, I’ll forget

      5.   I could visit a rainforest one day.  
      6.   he hadn’t got rid of his bike.

Rewrite the sentences with the words in brackets. Do not change the original meaning.

      1.   You must like spicy food to enjoy this traditional dish. (unless)

             .............................................................................................................................

      2.   Kit is ill, so he can’t go to the party. (weren’t)

             .............................................................................................................................

      3.   I missed the tour because I didn’t wake up on time. (wouldn’t)

             .............................................................................................................................

      4.   I haven’t got enough money, so I’m not going to Paris. (if)

             .............................................................................................................................

Key

1. Unless you like spicy food, you won’t enjoy this traditional dish. / You won’t enjoy this traditional dish unless you like spicy food.

2.   If Kit weren’t ill he could go to the party. / Kit could go to the party if he weren’t ill.

3.   I wouldn’t have missed the tour if I had woken up on time. / If I had woken up on time, I wouldn’t have missed the tour.

4.   If I had enough money, I would go to Paris. / I would go to Paris if I had enough money.

Rephraising 4

Complete the sentences. Use a suitable modal or modal perfect. Do not change the original meaning of the sentences. 

1.  Perhaps I can help you find a place to stay.

     I ........................................................................................................................  .

2.  Phone Evan immediately!

     You ...................................................................................................................  .

3.  It isn’t necessary for Simon to attend the meeting.

     Simon ...............................................................................................................  .

4.  I don’t believe this bag is an imitation – it’s too expensive.

     This bag ...........................................................................................................  .

5.  Perhaps Penelope Cruz starred in that film – I don’t remember.

     Penelope Cruz .................................................................................................  .

6.  I know that it was wrong of me not to phone you.

     I ........................................................................................................................  .

Key

1. I might / may be able to help you find a place to stay.

2. You must / have to phone Evan immediately!

3. Simon doesn’t have to / needn’t attend the meeting.

4. This bag can’t be an imitation – it’s too expensive.

5. Penelope Cruz might / may have starred in that film – I don’t remember.

6. I should have / ought to have phoned you.

Don't wear white shirts or brown shoes if you want City job

Question 1

a) FALSE “employers are still using unspoken dress codes to weed out the wrong sort of person in City job interviews”

b) FALSE “Firms [...] place as much importance on a person’s speech, accent, dress, behaviour and skills as on their skills and qualifications”

c) TRUE “ One anonymous banker admitted that such discrimination was commonplace“

d) TRUE  “ there are some banks doing excellent work in reducing these barriers“

Question 2

a) Companies usually consider aspects such as the way they speak and dress and how they behave. They also consider if candidates qualify for the post.

b) This candidate was discriminated, despite being quite smart, because he did not come from the approppriate background and because he was not wearing the right clothes, especially his tie.

           

Question 3 a) unspoken b) opaque c) commonplace d) bright e) handful

Question 4

a) If graduates did not wear brown shoes and white shirts, they would not be missing out on top jobs at investment banks in the City.

b) Employers are systematically locking out bright working-class kids of top jobs.

c) He said that  there were some banks doing excellent work in reducing those barriers and that there were still too many that needed to wake-up.