English Refresher · CEFR B2 · Unit 7

Work & Careers

Report what people said with reported speech. Practice, check your answers, and study the flashcards.

Level B2 No login Free Works on your phone

Speaking

Talk About Work

What to do: Work in pairs. Talk about jobs and careers. There is no score — just speak and listen.

Audio 1Listen to an example

Listen to someone describe their career so far, then describe yours.

Talk about it

What's your dream job, and what skillset does it need?
Do a quick mock interview, then report it: "She asked me…, I told her…"
What matters more to you — salary, work-life balance, or climbing the career ladder?

Featured Reading

The Four-Day Week

Read the full interactive article on the four-day week and do the comprehension quiz.

Read it →

Reading

The Big Experiment

What to do: Read this short extract from the unit article. Then answer the questions and tap Check Answers. (Read the full article using the link above!)

In 2025, researchers followed almost 2,900 employees across 141 companies. They reported that workers were happier, less stressed, and felt just as productive as before. When the trial ended, 90% of the companies decided to keep the four-day week.

An earlier UK trial told a similar story: burnout fell by 71%, and many workers said they would give up part of their salary rather than lose a four-day week.

1. What share of companies decided to keep the four-day week?

2. In the UK trial, by how much did burnout fall?

3. What did researchers report about the workers?

they were less productive and unhappy they were happier and felt just as productive they wanted to work six days

Listening

After the Interview

What to do: Listen two times. Then complete the sentences and answer the questions.

Audio 2Sara tells Ben about her interview

Ben: How did your interview go?

Sara: Really well! The manager said the team was growing fast.

Ben: Nice. Did they ask hard questions?

Sara: She asked me why I wanted the job, and she asked if I could start in June.

Ben: What did you say?

Sara: I told her I was available immediately. She said they would call me next week.

Ben: Did they mention the salary?

Sara: She told me the salary was competitive and that I would get training.

Ben: That sounds promising. I'm sure you'll land it!

1. The manager said the team ______ growing fast. (reported "is")

2. She said they ______ call Sara next week. (reported "will")

3. The manager told Sara the salary ______ competitive.

4. What did the interviewer ask Sara?

where she lived why she wanted the job how old she was

5. When will the company call Sara?

in June tomorrow next week

Grammar

Reported Speech

What to do: Complete the reported sentence with one word. Remember the backshift (is→was, will→would, can→could) and say/tell.

1. "I am very busy." → She said she ______ very busy.

2. "I will start on Monday." → He said he ______ start on Monday.

3. "We can help you." → They said they ______ help us.

4. "Do you want the job?" → He asked me ______ I wanted the job.

5. "Send your CV." → She told ______ to send my CV.

Word Order

Build the Reported Sentence

What to do: Tap the words in the correct order. Tap a word in your answer to put it back. Then tap Check Answers.

Writing

Reporting an Interview

What to do: Write a message to a friend (about 80–100 words) reporting what happened in a job interview (real or imagined). Use reported speech. There is no automatic score — use the checklist.

Example: "Hi! I just had my interview and it went well. The manager said the team was growing fast and asked why I wanted the job. I told her I loved the company. She asked if I could start in June, and I said I was free immediately. She told me the salary was competitive and promised they would call me next week. She even said it was the strongest interview of the day! Fingers crossed I land it."

0 words

Did you include…

reported statements (She said (that)…)
a reported question (She asked if / why…)
correct backshift (is→was, will→would)
work vocabulary (interview, salary, the team…)
a clear, friendly ending

Vocabulary

Flashcards

What to do: Tap a card to reveal the meaning and an example. These are the key words for this unit and the reading.

a CV (résumé)nountap to reveal

a document listing your experience and skills"I updated my CV before applying."

a cover letternountap to reveal

a letter sent with a CV to explain your interest"Her cover letter was excellent."

to apply for a jobphrasetap to reveal

to formally ask for a job"I applied for three jobs this week."

to land a jobidiomtap to reveal

to succeed in getting a job"She landed her dream job."

the career laddernountap to reveal

the series of steps upward in a career"He's climbing the career ladder fast."

a promotionnountap to reveal

a move to a higher, better job"She got a promotion last year."

a skillsetnountap to reveal

the range of skills a person has"The job needs a broad skillset."

a colleaguenountap to reveal

a person you work with"My colleagues are very friendly."

work-life balancenountap to reveal

the balance between work and personal life"A four-day week improves work-life balance."

a deadlinenountap to reveal

the time by which work must be finished"The deadline is Friday."

Tap to see your final score, then show your teacher on your phone.

Score

Your Result

Show this screen to your teacher.