[originaltext]W: Now I’ve got your background. Let’s talk about the management

W: Now I’ve got your background. Let’s talk about the management trainee scheme. What exactly do you think a manager does?
M: I don’t know a great deal about the work.
W: But have you got any ideas about it? You must have thought about it.
M: Well, er, I suppose he has a lot of, er, what is called, policy making to do. And, um, he’d have to know how to work with people and all about the company.
W: Um.
M: Yes, I, er, should think a manager must know, er, something about all aspects of the work.
W: Yes, that’s right. We like our executive staff to undergo a thorough training. Young men on our trainee scheme have to work through every branch in the company.
M: Well, if I had to do it, I suppose. But I was thinking that my French and German would mean that I could specialize in overseas work. I’d like to be some sort of an export salesman and travel abroad.
W: You know the charm of traveling abroad disappears when you’ve got to work hard. It’s not all fun and game.
M: Oh, yes, I realize that. It’s just that my knowledge of languages would be useful.
W: Now, Mr. Smith, is there anything you want to ask me?
M: Well, there’s one or two things. I’d like to know if I’d have to sign a contract, what the salary is and what the prospects are.
W: With our scheme, Mr. Smith, there is no contract involved. Your progress is kept under constant review. If we, at any time, decide we don’t like you, then that’s that! We reserve the right to dismiss you. Of course, you have the same choice about us. As for salary, you’d be on our fixed scale starting at 870 pounds. For the successful trainee, the prospects are very good.
Questions 23 to 25 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
23. How does Mr. Smith sound when asked what a manager’s role is?
24. What does Mr. Smith say he would like to be?
25. What can we learn about the management trainee scheme?