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• ☐ ☐ ☐ work out [phv] - succeed, be okay
• ☐ ☐ ☐ It’s no big deal. [exp] - It’s not important.
• ☐ ☐ ☐ be selective [exp] - careful about choosing
• ☐ ☐ ☐ a theme [n] - the main idea or topic
• ☐ ☐ ☐ It happens. [exp] - It is normal.
• ☐ ☐ ☐ get in [phv] - be accepted or allowed in
• ☐ ☐ ☐ Put it behind you. [exp] - Forget it and stop worrying.
• ☐ ☐ ☐ move on [phv] - continue with life
• ☐ ☐ ☐ impress [v] - make someone admire you
• ☐ ☐ ☐ miss out on [phv] - lose the chance to do something
• ☐ ☐ ☐ a pitch [n] - a presentation to sell an idea or product
• ☐ ☐ ☐ clients [n] - people you do business with
• ☐ ☐ ☐ face to face [adv] - in person, directly

[n] - noun,  [v] - verb,  [phv] - phrasal verb,  [adj] - adjective,  [exp] - expression

Jasmine	Alex

• They work for an HR consultancy firm based in Dublin, Ireland
• Alex and Jasmine are consultants.
• Jasmine recently applied to speak at a conference but was rejected.

1. Who told Alex about Jasmine's bad news?
   Thiago
   Shaun
   Orla
   Azra
   
   
2. Why did the conference reject Jasmine?
   She didn't have enough presentation experience.
   Her topic didn’t match the conference theme.
   She submitted her application too late.
   Her topic was not interesting.
   
   
3. What advice does Alex give Jasmine?
   Ask Orla to help her apply for the presentation.
   Go to the conference in Miami as a participant.
   Keep trying and move on from this experience.
   Try to apply for a different conference.
   
   
4. What personal experience does Alex share?
   One of his clients refused to work with him.
   He once missed an important presentation.
   He failed to get into engineering school.
   He was fired from his first job.
   
   
5. What does Jasmine say she was hoping to do?
   Start teaching junior associates
   Get some exprerience presenting
   Get a job in Miami
   Impress Orla
   
   
6. What does Alex say about Jasmine’s future?
   She is ready to start working with clients directly.
   She should focus on what she already does well.
   She needs to still not ready to present.
   She will be promoted very soon.
   
   
7. What is the Ferguson pitch?
   A business presentation.
   A conference event.
   A new job position.
   The name of a bar.
   
   

1. Alex says, "Don’t try to run before you can walk." What does he mean? Is there a similar expression in your language? Do you agree with this idea?
2. Have you ever failed to achieve something you really wanted? How did you deal with it?
3. Do you think rejection can be helpful in some situations? Why or why not?
4. Do you often have to give presentations in front of people? Do you have any tips?
5. What do you think is more stressful: giving a presentation to a large gorup or talking to clients face to face? Why?