Unit 1

Lesson 1: Page 6

career confident continuous contribute essential

fascinate focus invest manuscript numeracy
oral performance quality skill sponsor

Lesson 2: Page 15

business comment competition contact facsimile

form obtain option quote receive
recycle reply review transmittal urgent

Lesson 3: Page 24

attitude diplomat dramatics encourage environment

gossip initiative key mutual organization
positive professional reliable success support

Lesson 4: Page 33

apply asset available balance candidate

confirm excess fare flexible fluent
knowledge offer orientation reservation statutory

Unit Review: Crossword Puzzle Page 42

Office of Literacy and Essential Skills | 5

Vocabulary Definitions Lesson 1
career n. a job held over a long period of time that usually requires education
or training
• Maria completed a nursing program at college and is looking
forward to starting her new career as a nurse.

confident adj. sure of yourself or having a strong belief or trust in another person
or thing
• Grace was more confident about asking for a promotion after she
earned her diploma.
Also n. confidence; adv. confidently
continuous adj. going on or carrying on for a period of time without a break;
constant, non-stop
• I didn’t have time to restock the shelves because there was a
continuous stream of people coming into the store all day.
Also n. continuation; v. continue; adv. continuously
contribute v. to give ideas, time, money, articles or help towards a common
purpose
• Are you going to contribute money to the social committee this
year?
Also n. contribution
essential adj. 1. necessary, very important
2. relating to the basic nature of something
• 1. Knowing how to use a computer is an essential skill for today’s
workplace.
2. The essential oils found in some herbs are available at health food
stores.
Also n. essence; adv. essentially
fascinate v. to attract and hold someone’s attention, interest or curiosity
• The children were fascinated by the magician’s tricks.
Also n. fascination; adj. fascinating

6 | Vocabulary Building Workbook: Unit 1

focus v. 1. to pay attention to a particular point
2. to adjust to make an image clearer
• 1. Ahmed needed to write memos at work, so he focused on
improving his grammar and spelling.
2. Lena focused the overhead projector to make the words on the
screen clearer.
Also n. focus; adj. focal
invest v. to put up money, capital or time for profit or gain
• It could be risky to invest your money in the stock market.
Also n. investment, investor
manuscript n. a document that contains a story, article or other piece of writing that
is being prepared for publication
● Aaron submitted the manuscript of his biography to the publisher for
approval.
numeracy n. ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide and to apply calculations
to various tasks
• Board games that include play money help children improve their
numeracy.
Also n. numeral; adj. numerical; adv. numerically
oral adj. 1. spoken
2. concerning the mouth
• 1. Bob is expected to give an oral presentation on the importance of
keeping the work area clean and safe.
2. The dentist explained that oral hygiene is important to prevent
cavities.
Also adv. orally
performance n. 1. the carrying out of a task or duty
2. a dramatic or musical show

• 1. Improved workplace performance leads to greater productivity

and safety.
2. Her performance at the ballet recital was excellent.

Also n. performer; v. perform

Office of Literacy and Essential Skills | 7

quality n. 1. the level of excellence of a product or service
2. a characteristic of a person or thing
• 1. Controlling quality in a factory involves making sure there are no
flaws in the final product.
2. Reliability is a good quality to have.

Also adj. qualitative; adj. qualitatively

skill n. the special knowledge and ability to do a type of activity, often
requiring special training
• When the employer asked her what skills she could bring to the job,
Marylou told him that she had excellent computer skills and was very
good at writing.
Also adj. skilled, skillful; adv. skillfully
sponsor v. to help to start and/or pay the costs for an activity or a person, group
or business
• The company sponsors a lunch-hour program for employees who
want to improve their writing skills.
Also n. sponsor, sponsorship

8 | Vocabulary Building Workbook: Unit 1

A/ Matching Meanings Lesson 1

Match the vocabulary words below to their meanings. Use each word once.

contribute quality continuous confident investing

manuscript essential performance focused fascinated

1. carrying on for a certain period of time _____________________________

2. not easily distracted _____________________________

3. author’s document _____________________________

4. physical or behavioural characteristic _____________________________

5. using time or money for possible gain _____________________________

6. to share your ideas _____________________________

7. concert _____________________________

8. very important _____________________________

9. self-assured _____________________________

10. very interested _____________________________

Score /10

Office of Literacy and Essential Skills | 9

B/ Using the Right Word Lesson 1

Read the text and fill in the blanks using the vocabulary words listed below. Use each word
once.

career focused confident fascinated oral

skills sponsored quality performance numeracy

Jason has been working in the stockroom of a large athletic store since high school; however
his goal is to have a (1) ____________ in sales. Fortunately, Jason has a pleasant manner,
which is an important (2) ________________ for a salesperson.

Last month, the store management evaluated Jason’s job (3) _________________, giving him
an excellent report. When Jason mentioned that he was (4) _______________ by sales, his
supervisor told him about a store- (5) __________________ program involving essential (6)
______________ training. Jason would need to improve his (7) _________________ skills in
order to work with money. Because part of Jason’s job would be to greet customers and build
relationships with clients, he would also need to work on his (8) ______________
communication and thinking skills.

Jason is very dedicated and (9) ______________on his training. After he completes the
essential skills training, Jason is (10) _________________ that he will be better equipped to
work as a salesperson.

Score /10

10 | Vocabulary Building Workbook: Unit 1

C/ Relating Meanings Lesson 1

Select the letter that corresponds to the best answer. There is only one correct answer for
each question.

1. Which of the following items is least essential on a cold, rainy day?

a) coat c) umbrella
b) boots d) belt

2. Which of the following is not another word for skill?

a) ability c) expertise
b) talent d) happiness

3. Which of the following is most likely to make a person feel fascinated?

a) brushing teeth c) eating cereal
b) reading an interesting book d) mowing the lawn

4. Which word is the least similar in meaning to contribute?

a) perform c) invest
b) offer d) sponsor

5. Which one is not an example of a quality?

a) confidence c) honesty
b) friendliness d) one hundred percent

6. Which of the following would most likely require oral communication?

a) a manual c) a meeting
b) a document d) a memo

7. Which of the following situations is most likely to build someone's confidence?

a) giving a presentation that everyone criticizes c) making a mistake at work
b) taking a self-improvement course d) changing duties at work abruptly

8. Which of the following is the least likely to be a manuscript?

a) a grocery list c) a collection of poems
b) a novel d) a magazine article

9. What is not an example of a career?

a) quality control technician c) cousin
b) pastry chef d) administrative clerk

10. What is opposite in meaning to the word continuous?

a) ongoing c) broken
b) non-stop d) unbroken

Score /10

Office of Literacy and Essential Skills | 11

D/ Analyzing and Comparing Words Lesson 1

An analogy is a comparison between two things that are alike, opposite or related in some
way. Complete the analogies using the vocabulary words listed below. The first one is done
for you.

fascinated continuous career essential skills

confident numeracy focused oral sponsor

1. routine is to habit as job is to career

2. useless is to productive as interrupted is to _______________________________

3. difficult is to hard as self-assured is to _______________________________

4. report is to written as presentation is to _______________________________

5. stale is to fresh as uninterested is to _______________________________

6. gym class is to fitness as math class is to _______________________________

7. refresh is to update as vital is to _______________________________

8. capable is to competent as attentive is to _______________________________

9. instruct is to teach as support is to _______________________________

10. peaches and pears are to fruit as reading and
writing are to _______________________________

Score /10

12 | Vocabulary Building Workbook: Unit 1

E/ Comprehension Lesson 1

Read the following article and answer the questions below in complete sentences.

An Essential Skills Success Story

Essential Skills help people to carry out different tasks, provide a starting point for learning other skills
and help them adjust to change. There are nine Essential Skills:

• reading • writing • thinking

• document use • oral communication • computer use
• numeracy • working with others • continuous learning

Here is one worker’s story of how upgrading her Essential Skills contributed to improvements in job
performance and career choices.

Anne McKenna’s Story

While I was working on a production line at a canning factory, I found my key to success. Essential
Skills training opened new doors for me and my career.

I left high school after Grade 10 and went to work on a production line at a local canning company.
After a few years, I applied for a job in quality control. The manager let me try it out to see if I could
do it. Based on my experience and the fact that I’m a quick learner, I got the job. But in order to keep
it, I had to work on my Essential Skills.

Fortunately, the company sponsored a continuous learning program. I earned my high school diploma
through the General Educational Development (GED) program. Like many people who have been out
of school for a long time, I was scared of going back to the books. Even so, I knew that I was ready and
once I got started, I really enjoyed it.

After graduating, I focused on improving the skills that were important in my job. I took a night course
at a local college to improve my reading, numeracy and oral communication skills and earned a
certificate from the American Society for Quality. I felt more confident and better prepared when
talking to union representatives and Head Office.

Having improved some of my Essential Skills, I had a good understanding of what I was good at. I
have always loved history and was fascinated by stories about the old building where I worked. I
began working with a local writer and historian to find out more about the building and put my writing
skills to work. We eventually finished a manuscript which many of my co-workers enjoyed reading.

Today, I have a new job with a major food company. I’m here because I got over my fear and opened
doors for myself by investing in Essential Skills training. I look forward to the future and know my life
will always be full of learning.

Source: [Link]

Office of Literacy and Essential Skills | 13

Questions Lesson 1

1. Name three things that Essential Skills can help people with.
___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

2. After her upgrading, Anne worked on a project she found very interesting. What
was the project?
___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

3. What kind of company does Anne work for now?

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

4. What two programs did Anne McKenna complete?

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

5. Why did the manager give Anne the job in quality control?
___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

Score /10

Total Score 0 /50

14 | Vocabulary Building Workbook: Unit 1

Vocabulary Definitions Lesson 2
business n. 1. the act of manufacturing, buying or selling goods and services
2. a person, partnership or company that operates to make money
• 1. As purchasing manager for a large retail store, Danuta prefers to do
business with Canadian companies.
2. My father is selling our meat packing business to a larger company.

Also n. businessperson, businessman, businesswoman; adj. businesslike

comment v. to give an opinion, observation or explanation about something
• Please read the rough copy of the newsletter and comment on the
things you like or do not like about it.
Also n. comment, commentary
competition n. 1. a business or person trying to achieve the same goal as you
2. the act of trying to do better than someone else
3. a contest

• 1. To win first place, you must run faster than your competition.
2. Competition among the children in a family is quite common.
3. Rahmah won the sales competition because she sold more
chocolate bars than any of the other students.
Also n. competitor; v. compete; adj. competitive; adv. competitively
contact v. to write, call or meet with someone
• To avoid having your hydro service cut off, please contact the
collections office before 5:00 p.m. on Thursday.
Also n. contact
facsimile n. an exact copy of a document sent or received electronically
(fax)
• Please send a facsimile of the conference schedule to the office in
Moncton.
Also v. fax

Office of Literacy and Essential Skills | 15

form n. 1. a sheet of paper that has questions and gives spaces to fill in the
answers
2. the shape of something

• 1. The application form must be completed and attached to your

cover letter.
2. The garden was in the form of a star.

v. to create or give shape to

• Several employees decided to form a choir and perform at the
company party.
obtain v. to get something by asking or making an effort
• I had to obtain a building permit from the city to build a deck in our
yard.
Also adj. obtainable
option n. a choice between two or more things
• A graduating high school student has the option of entering the
workplace or attending a post-secondary school.
Also v. opt; adj. optional; adv. optionally
quote n. 1. the stated price of a product or service
2. a repetition of someone's exact words
• 1. The company provided a quote for the total cost of installing the
pool.
2. In his article, the journalist included a quote from the mayor’s
speech.
Also n. quotation
receive v. 1. to get something, such as a letter, a phone call, information or
visitors
2. to pick up electronic signals and convert them to sound or pictures

• 1. You will receive a notice in the mail about the next meeting.
2. Her satellite radio receives signals from around the world.

Also n. receiver, recipient, reception, receipt; adj. receivable

16 | Vocabulary Building Workbook: Unit 1

recycle v. to reuse something by converting it into something else
• Every year Canadians recycle 75,000 tons of old fabric into raw
materials for the automotive, furniture, mattress, paper and other
industries.
Also n. recycling; adj. recyclable
reply v. to say or write an answer in response to what someone else has said
or written
• We must reply to the wedding invitation by the end of the month.
Also n. reply
review v. 1. to look over and possibly suggest improvements
2. to study or check something again

• 1. The teacher will review the first draft of my essay with me before I
start the second draft.
2. I need to review my report one more time before I give it to the
manager.
Also n. review, reviewer
transmittal n. the act or process of sending a signal, information or something else
from one place to another
• Transmittal of the fax was interrupted when the power went out.
Also n. transmission, transmitter; v. transmit
urgent adj. very important and needing attention right away
• Karen received an urgent message that her son had broken his leg.
Also n. urgency; adv. urgently

Office of Literacy and Essential Skills | 17

A/ Matching Meanings Lesson 2

Match the phrases in Column A with those in Column B to make complete sentences. Put
the correct letters on the lines provided. Use each phrase once.

Column A Column B

1. __ To obtain a goal is to a. look it over carefully.

b. state what the total cost of a product

2. __ To engage in competition is to
will be.

c. an image that is sent through the phone

3. __ To make contact is to
lines.

d. respond to someone who has asked you

4. __ To review something is to
something.

e. sending a document from one person to

5. __ A form is
another.

6. __ An option is f. a choice between two things.

A facsimile refers to g. achieve it, usually through hard work

7. __
and persistence.

8. __ To quote a price is to h. try to win or do better than others.

9. __ Transmittal describes i. communicate with someone.

To reply is to j. a sheet of paper that asks for details

10. __
about someone or something.

Score /10

18 | Vocabulary Building Workbook: Unit 1

B/ Using the Right Word Lesson 2

Read the text and fill in the blanks using the vocabulary words listed below. Use each word
once.

quote competition option facsimile review

contact recycle business reply urgent

I have an (1)_________________ matter that requires your immediate attention. It is no longer

an (2)__________________ to throw out our plastic waste products. We need to

(3)_________________ the plastic for environmental and financial reasons. I have made

(4)_________________ with a (5)____________________, the Renewal Company, which

processes and reuses plastic cheaper than its (6)___________________________. I received a

(7)__________________ on how much it would cost us. Please (8)___________________ the

enclosed (9)_______________________ so I can (10)__________________ to the Renewal

Company as soon as possible.

Score /10

Office of Literacy and Essential Skills | 19

C/ Relating Meanings Lesson 2

A synonym is a word that means the same or almost the same as another word.
Match the vocabulary word with its synonym.

business comment facsimile option review

1. copy ________________________

2. examine again ________________________

3. give an opinion ________________________

4. choice ________________________

5. company ________________________

An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another word.

Match the vocabulary word with its antonym.

obtain receive urgent reply contact

6. ask ________________________

7. lose ________________________

8. unimportant ________________________

9. avoid ________________________

10. send ________________________

Score /10

20 | Vocabulary Building Workbook: Unit 1

D/ Analysing and Comparing Words Lesson 2

The letters “re” can be used as a prefix to mean “again.”

1. Refocus means to pay attention to something again.

2. Reinvest means to spend time or money on something again.
3. Reconnect means to connect something again.
4. Review means to look at something again.
5. Recycle means to use or process something again.

Choose the correct word to fill in the blanks. Use each word once.

refocus reinvest reconnect review recycle

1. The sponsor has been asked to _____________________ in the project because the
public fundraising campaign fell short.

2. Before a test, it is important to __________________ your notes.

3. The sound of laughter caused the tired man to _____________________ on the

speaker.

4. Trees can be saved if people _______________ paper.

5. When your telephone bill has been paid in full, we will _________________________
your service.

Score /5

Office of Literacy and Essential Skills | 21

E/ Comprehension Lesson 2

Read the fax transmittal form below and answer the questions that follow in complete
sentences.

Magic Forms Inc.

Facsimile Transmittal

To: From:
Bob Davis George Hanna
Company: Date:
A Paper Company February 14, 2009
Fax Number: Total No. of Pages Including Cover Sheet:
514.333.3333 2

Phone Number: Subject:

514.444.4444 Quote obtained from your competition

 URGENT  PLEASE REVIEW  PLEASE COMMENT  PLEASE REPLY  PLEASE RECYCLE

Good Morning Bob,

We received a very good quote for paper from your competition yesterday. As we have been
happy doing business with your company, we thought that we would give you the option of
competing with this quote. Please contact us as soon as possible.

George
1663 Prairie Avenue, Montreal, Quebec H3P 8R5
[Link]
Phone: 514-555-5555 Fax: 514-555-5556

22 | Vocabulary Building Workbook: Unit 1

Questions Lesson 2

1. How many pages are being sent in this fax?

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

2. From whom did George receive a quote?

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

3. If George wanted an immediate response, how would he request it on the fax

transmittal form?
___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

4. Who is the facsimile being sent to?

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

5. What box should George have check marked?

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

Score /10

Total Score 0 /45

Office of Literacy and Essential Skills | 23

Vocabulary Definitions Lesson 3
attitude n. feelings or opinions that can often be seen in a person’s behaviour
• Gina’s positive attitude improved team morale.

Also adj. attitudinal

diplomat n. 1. a person who deals with others in a tactful manner
2. a government official who discusses affairs with another country in
a professional manner
• 1. You can be a diplomat in the workplace by getting along with
others and helping to solve conflicts.
2. Canadian diplomats promote and defend Canadian values and
interests around the world.
Also n. diplomacy; adj. diplomatic; adv. diplomatically
dramatics n. 1. an exaggerated display of emotion to get attention or to influence
someone
2. putting on a performance, usually non-professional theatre

• 1. The other employees are tired of Ray’s dramatics every time the
computer breaks down.
2. Creative dramatics, such as puppet plays, are used in the
classroom to teach young children.
Also n. drama; v. dramatize; adj. dramatic; adv. dramatically
encourage v. to inspire, support or give someone confidence
• The company set aside paid time to encourage its employees to
participate in training activities.
Also n. encouragement; adj. encouraging
environment n. [Link] physical world, social relationships and events that surround
people and affect their lives; surroundings
2. the air, water and land around us; the earth

• [Link] who are skilled at working with others create a pleasant and
productive work environment.
2. Air pollution is a threat to the environment.

Also adj. environmental; adv. environmentally

24 | Vocabulary Building Workbook: Unit 1

gossip v. to talk about the personal lives of other people (generally considered
a negative activity)
• Sheila likes to gossip about her coach to other members of the team.
Also n. gossip; adj. gossipy
initiative n. [Link] ability to make a decision or do something on your own
without being told by others
2. something undertaken

• [Link] like employees who show initiative because they are

natural leaders who don’t have to constantly be told what to do.
2. The class organized a fund-raising initiative to support the school.

Also n. initiator; v. initiate

key adj. most important
• The key reason Terry moved back to Alberta was to be closer to his
family.
Also n. key
mutual adj. shared, common
• A mutual goal of the employer and the employees is to have positive
workplace morale.
Also adv. mutually
organization n. an official body of people that is arranged or structured for a purpose
such as business, politics, charity or recreation
• The organization hired several hundred new employees to manage
the increase in sales.
Also v. organize; adj. organizational
positive adj. focused on what is good
• Learning new skills gives employees a more positive view of what
they are capable of accomplishing in the workplace.
Also adv. positively

Office of Literacy and Essential Skills | 25

professional adj. 1. appropriate in the workplace; businesslike
2. expert, skilled, qualified
• 1. Improving your oral communication skills may help you to express
yourself in a more professional manner.
2. Maria will be a professional chef once she has finished her
in-school and on-the-job training.
n. a person who has special training, follows high standards and is paid
for what he or she does
• Doctors and dentists are healthcare professionals.
Also n. profession, professionalism; adv. professionally
reliable adj. accurate, honest and dependable
• Fred was a reliable employee who always came to work on time.
Also n. reliability; v. rely; adv. reliably
success n. a favourable end result; achieving a goal and being rewarded by
personal satisfaction, wealth, health, honour, position, etc.
• Janine’s success as a writer was the result of hard work,
determination and talent.
Also n. successfulness; v. succeed; adj. successful; adv. successfully
support v. to take care of, provide for, or agree with; to keep something going;
to help
• Employers need to support efforts to build Essential Skills in the
workplace.
Also n. support, supporter; adj. supportive; adv. supportively

26 | Vocabulary Building Workbook: Unit 1

A/ Matching Meanings Lesson 3

Match the vocabulary words below to their meanings. Use the circled letters to solve the
mystery word below.

support mutual positive organization success

diplomat attitude gossip dramatics professional

1.
positive or negative
outlook on life ___ ___ ___  ___ ___ ___ ___
2. business or charity ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

3. respected career ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___  ___ ___ ___ ___
person

4. to offer help ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 

5. chatty person ___ ___ ___ ___  ___

6. shared ___ ___ ___ ___  ___

7. exaggerated display of ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
feelings

8. polite peacemaker ___  ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

9. upbeat and optimistic ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___  ___

10. rewarding result ___ ___ ___ ___  ___ ___

Mystery Word: _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____

Score /10

Office of Literacy and Essential Skills | 27

B/ Using the Right Word Lesson 3

Replace the underlined word(s) with a vocabulary word that has a similar meaning. Put the
correct answer in the space provided. Use each word once.

diplomat environment mutual positive encourage

support key reliable attitude initiative

1. A crucial part of growth is learning. 1.________________

2. Recycling is one way to protect our natural world. 2.________________

3. A responsible worker manages time wisely and honestly. 3.________________

4. The employee completed the training and is feeling good about 4.________________
his chances for promotion.

5. The company believes it is important to promote skills 5.________________

upgrading.

6. The employee showed independent judgment in solving the 6.________________

problem.

7. When a sensitive issue arises between two people, a polite and 7.________________
respectful person is needed to keep the peace.

8. After completing a course on money management, Sheila 8.________________

changed her thoughts on the benefits of having a budget.

9. The decision to restrict overtime hours was agreed upon by the 9.________________
company and its employees.

10. The lead worker must be ready to offer backup if there is a 10.________________
problem.

Score /10

28 | Vocabulary Building Workbook: Unit 1

C/ Relating Meanings Lesson 3

Select the letter that corresponds to the best answer. There is only one correct answer for
each question.

1. What is an example of something that is not an attitude?

a) snobbish c) exercise
b) sincere d) persistent
2. Which of the following is not a positive quality?
a) reliable c) cheerful
b) dependent d) encouraging
3. Which of the following is most likely to make a person feel encouraged?
a) gossip c) dramatics
b) support d) criticism
4. Which word is the least similar in meaning to key?
a) main c) important
b) crucial d) usual
5. Which one is not an example of an organization?
a) university c) group of friends
b) hospital d) corporation
6. Which of the following is not usually mutual?
a) business partnership c) trade agreement
b) marriage d) different opinions
7. What is an example of something that is professional?
a) gossip c) ripped t-shirt
b) negative attitude d) respect
8. Which word does not describe a diplomat?
a) even-tempered c) rude
b) tactful d) resourceful
9. Which is not a description of someone with initiative?
a) reluctant c) innovative
b) independent d) bold
10. Which is not an example of success?
a) positive self-esteem c) a raise
b) inactivity d) a diploma

Score /10

Office of Literacy and Essential Skills | 29

D/ Analyzing and Comparing Words Lesson 3

An analogy is a comparison between two things that are alike, opposite or related in some
way. Complete the analogies using the vocabulary words listed below.

key initiative support reliable organization

success mutual dramatics attitude gossip

1. look is to stare as talk is to _______________________________

2. house is to residence as business is to _______________________________

3. negative is to positive as irresponsible is to _______________________________

4. happiness is to joy as independence is to _______________________________

5. counsellor is to advice as sponsor is to _______________________________

6. kindness is to quality as confidence is to _______________________________

7. rude is to polite as unimportant is to _______________________________

8. celebration is to party as tantrum is to _______________________________

9. finish is to start as failure is to _______________________________

10. rejected is to refused as shared is to _______________________________

Score /10

30 | Vocabulary Building Workbook: Unit 1

E/ Comprehension Lesson 3

Read the article below and answer the questions that follow in complete sentences.

Be a Star Employee!
It's up to you to prove to your employer that hiring you was the right move.

• Be positive.

• Treat everyone with respect. Mutual respect is key to a healthy working

environment.

• Support your co-workers. Encourage others. Be a team player.

• Never gossip, even if others do.

• Be a diplomat. Be calm when discussing problems and use tact.

• Show initiative. Don't always wait to be told. If you see something that needs to be
done, offer!

• Be reliable. If you say you'll do something, do it.

• Dress for success. Take the lead from your supervisor and co-workers.

• Manage your emotions. Out-of-control anger or over-the-top dramatics are not

professional and could cost you your job.

• Speak well of the organization you work for even when you're away from it. Your
positive attitude will show in everything you do.

Adapted from Service Canada website: [Link]

For more information, please visit: [Link]

Office of Literacy and Essential Skills | 31

Questions Lesson 3

1. How does someone show initiative?

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

2. What is key to a healthy work environment, and why?

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

3. What are two ways that you can be a team player?

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

4. What does it mean to be reliable in the workplace?

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

5. Describe how you can be a diplomat in the workplace.

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

Score /10

Total Score 0 /50

32 | Vocabulary Building Workbook: Unit 1

Vocabulary Definitions Lesson 4
apply v. 1. to put something on something else
2. to ask to be considered for something
3. to use for some purpose
4. to be relevant

• 1. Marie’s job is to apply varnish to the kitchen cabinets.

2. I would like to apply for the human resources job.
3. Chris was able to apply his knowledge of computers to solve the
problem.
4. Josh was not in on the prank, so the punishment did not apply to
him.
Also n. applicant, application, applicator; adj. applicable
asset n. 1. someone or something that is useful and contributes to the success
of a person or organization
2. a valuable item owned by a person or organization

• 1. An employee who is helpful and polite is an asset to any business.

2. On the application for a loan, Greg listed his house as an asset.
available adj. easy to get and ready to use
• Computer training is available to the employees at lunch and after
work.
Also n. availability; v. avail (yourself of something)
balance v. 1. to compare and equalize the debits (money going out) and credits
(money coming in) for an account or statement
2. to find the point where things are equal in weight or importance

• 1. Their bookkeeper was unable to balance the bank statement.

2. People must balance their time between home and work.
n. 1. the amount of money in an account at a given time
2. stability of the mind or body
3. the amount left over; the rest

• 1. If you have a high balance in your account, the bank will charge
you lower fees.
2. Charles fell when he tripped over the rock and lost his balance.
3. That money has to last us for the balance of the month.

Also adj. balanced

Office of Literacy and Essential Skills | 33

candidate n. a person who is being considered for a position or honour
• We thought the first candidate would be the most suitable for the
job.
Also n. candidacy
confirm v. to prove that something you have been told or something you believe
is, in fact, true; to find out for certain
• To avoid being late, call to confirm the time and place of the
meeting.
Also n. confirmation; adj. confirmed
excess adj. over the limit
● Air travellers are charged extra for each piece of excess baggage.
Also n. excess; adj. excessive; adv. excessively
fare n. 1. payment for the transportation of a passenger
2. a passenger paying to travel
3. food or entertainment offered at a public place

• 1. The fare for the train was inexpensive.

2. The taxi driver picked up a fare at the hotel.
3. The fare at the restaurant was superb because of the new chef.

flexible adj. able to bend or change easily

• The salesman said he could meet us anytime as his hours are very
flexible.
Also n. flexibility; v. flex; adv. flexibly
fluent adj. able to speak, read or write a language easily, smoothly and correctly
• My sister is fluent in English and French.
Also n. fluency; adv. fluently
knowledge n. information and understanding gained through observation,
experience or study
• You will need to apply the knowledge you acquired in school to the
workplace.
Also v. know; adj. knowledgeable; adv. knowledgeably

34 | Vocabulary Building Workbook: Unit 1

offer v. 1. to make a suggestion that will be either accepted or rejected by
others
2. to provide a product or service

• 1. Zoe offered to give her friend a ride home.

2. The company offers an excellent healthcare package to its
employees.
Also n. offer
orientation n. an informative meeting for new employees, students or members
• The factory had an orientation to familiarize new workers with the
machines and safety practices.
Also v. orient, orientate; adj. oriented
reservation n. 1. an arrangement to set aside or hold a time or place (e.g., a hotel
room, a table at a restaurant or a seat on an airplane)
2. uncertainty that something is right, causing approval to be held
back
• 1. The reservation for the hotel was made six months in advance.
2. The staff has reservations about moving the office across town.
Also v. reserve; adj. reserved
statutory adj. required by law
• New Year’s Day is a statutory holiday.
Also n. statute; adv. statutorily

Office of Literacy and Essential Skills | 35

A/ Matching Meanings Lesson 4

Match the vocabulary words below to their meanings.

confirm asset orientation excess knowledge

statutory fare available reservation fluent

1. to find out for sure ________________________________

2. over the limit ________________________________

3. easy to obtain or use ________________________________

4. positive quality that is an advantage ________________________________

5. arrangement or booking for a certain time ________________________________

6. familiarization with something new ________________________________

7. written in law ________________________________

8. payment for travel ________________________________

9. facts or information learned ________________________________

10. speaking or writing easily ________________________________

Score /10

36 | Vocabulary Building Workbook: Unit 1

B/ Using the Right Word Lesson 4

Read the text and fill in the blanks using the vocabulary words listed below. Use each word
once.

candidate offer flexible asset available

knowledge orientation fluent confirm apply

When William saw the job listing for a parts manager, he was eager to (1)____________. He

had been unemployed for several weeks, so he was (2)_______________ to start work right

away. William had worked in the parts and service department of a car dealership before. His

previous employment would be a tremendous (3)____________ because of the

(4)_______________ he had gained through experience.

A few days after he had applied for the job, William received an email regarding an interview.

He called to (5)______________ the time and location of the meeting. During the interview,

William emphasized that he was (6)_____________ and could work evenings and weekends.

William’s (7)_____________ answers convinced the interviewers that he would be good at

oral communication with customers. The company considered William to be the best qualified

(8)__________________; the manager made William an (9)______________ and William

accepted the job. This week he attended an (10)______________________ to become familiar

with the company’s procedures.

Score /10

Office of Literacy and Essential Skills | 37

C/ Relating Meanings Lesson 4

Select the letters that correspond to the best match(es) in each case. There may be more
than one correct answer.

1. a flexible person
a) easy-going c) available
b) resistant to change d) stubborn
2. a fluent speaker
a) completely bilingual c) expressive
b) effortless speech d) limited vocabulary
3. excess
a) leftovers c) thanking someone for a gift
b) excusing yourself from the table d) driving over the speed limit
4. a good balance
a) time management c) equal employment opportunities
b) Canada’s Food Guide d) video game addict
5. an asset
a) high school diploma c) truck
b) computer knowledge d) savings bond
6. an available employee
a) willing to work overtime c) hard to reach by phone
b) often absent d) takes numerous breaks
7. confirm
a) print an email reservation c) repeat details
b) call to verify information d) ignore a phone message
8. candidate
a) campaigning politician c) job applicant
b) mother d) computer hacker
9. offer
a) contract bid c) marriage proposal
b) donation d) invitation
10. apply
a) use new technology to solve a problem c) admire others
b) put on face paint d) fill out an application

Score /10

38 | Vocabulary Building Workbook: Unit 1

D/ Analyzing and Comparing Words Lesson 4

Use the vocabulary list to complete the following exercises.

A suffix is an element added at the end of a word to create a new word. Suffixes such as ion,
tion and sion change a verb to a noun. Complete the following analogies by adding suffixes.

1. realize is to realization as organize is to _______________________________

2. initiate is to initiation as orient is to _______________________________

3. conserve is to conservation as reserve is to _______________________________

4. inform is to information as confirm is to _______________________________

5. satisfy is to satisfaction as apply is to _______________________________

Anagrams are words that are made up of the same letters but have the letters arranged in a
different order. For example, the letters in “reset" can be rearranged to spell “steer”.
Complete the following anagrams.

6. fear _______________________________

7. seats _______________________________

Homonyms are words that sound the same, but have different meanings and spellings. For
example, “deer” (the animal) and “dear” (as in “my dear”) sound the same but are spelled
differently. Complete the following homonym.

8. fair _______________________________

Adjectives are words that describe a person, place or thing. Fill in each of the blanks below
with an adjective from the vocabulary list for this lesson.

9. The company avails itself of its employees.

The employees are _______________________________.
10. The mechanic managed to flex the hose under
the hood to reach the rusted bolt. The hose is _______________________________.

Score /10

Office of Literacy and Essential Skills | 39

E/ Comprehension Lesson 4

Read the job advertisement below and answer the questions that follow in complete
sentences.
Counter Sales Agents
Workplace:
Halifax, Moncton, Montréal, Toronto (downtown), Winnipeg, Vancouver and other VIA stations across
Canada

Days and hours of work:

Various: days, evenings, weekends, statutory holidays

Description

You must offer excellent customer service at one of the VIA ticket counters. Your responsibilities
include providing train and fare information to the public, selling tickets and confirming reservations,
balancing daily ticket sales, applying storage tags and storing excess baggage.

You must be able to work different shifts. Furthermore, each candidate must complete five weeks of
training successfully.

Minimal qualifications

• Fluently bilingual (English and French)

• Must have high school diploma
• Two or more years of experience in the customer service industry
• Excellent oral communication skills
• Excellent customer service orientation
• Must be able to lift up to 18 kg
• Enjoy shift work and dealing with the public
• Excellent knowledge of computers (Windows)
• Good knowledge of Canadian geography is a definite asset
• Must be flexible with days and hours of work and available to work on weekends and statutory
holidays

Adapted from VIA Rail website: [Link]

40 | Vocabulary Building Workbook: Unit 1

Questions Lesson 4

1. How much weight must a counter agent be able to lift?

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

2. What education is required to be hired as a counter agent with VIA Rail?

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

3. Name three job duties that are the responsibility of a VIA Rail counter agent.
___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

4. How long is the training program for new employees?

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

5. What two languages are required for a position as a counter agent with VIA Rail?
___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

Score /10

Total Score 0 /50

Office of Literacy and Essential Skills | 41

 Vocabulary Review: Unit 1
Complete the crossword puzzle using vocabulary words from the lessons in this unit.
1

3 4 5
C A R E E R
N
6 7 8 9
C
O
10 11 12 13
U
14 15
R
16
A
G
17
E
18 19 20

21

22

23 24

25

ACROSS DOWN

3. life’s work 1. surroundings

5. athlete who plays for money 2. supported by a backer
6. to show to be true 4. to build up someone's confidence
8. centred on a particular purpose 7. self-driven action
14. information session and/or tour 9. prolonged for a period of time
16. to make sure the financial figures match 10. positive or negative characteristic
18. antonym for “uncertain” 11. antonym for “failure”
21. enchanted, interested 12. tactful ambassador
23. requiring immediate attention 13. to supply or donate
24. crucial; necessary 15. accessible, ready
25. facts, figures or data that have been 17. to give an opinion
learned 19. more than what is needed
20. fundamental; chief, main
22. aloud

42 | Vocabulary Building Workbook: Unit 1

 Unit 1 Vocabulary List
These are the vocabulary words from Unit 1. The number beside each word
indicates the lesson in which it was studied.

1. apply (4) 31. invest (1)

2. asset (4) 32. key (3)
3. attitude (3) 33. knowledge (4)
4. available (4) 34. manuscript (1)
5. balance (4) 35. mutual (3)
6. business (2) 36. numeracy (1)
7. candidate (4) 37. obtain (2)
8. career (1) 38. offer (4)
9. comment (2) 39. option (2)
10. competition (2) 40. oral (1)
11. confident (1) 41. organization (3)
12. confirm (4) 42. orientation (4)
13. contact (2) 43. performance (1)
14. continuous (1) 44. positive (3)
15. contribute (1) 45. professional (3)
16. diplomat (3) 46. quality (1)
17. dramatics (3) 47. quote (2)
18. encourage (3) 48. receive (2)
19. environment (3) 49. recycle (2)
20. essential (1) 50. reliable (3)
21. excess (4) 51. reply (2)
22. facsimile (2) 52. reservation (4)
23. fare (4) 53. review (2)
24. fascinate (1) 54. skill (1)
25. flexible (4) 55. sponsor (1)
26. fluent (4) 56. statutory (4)
27. focus (1) 57. success (3)
28. form (2) 58. support (3)
29. gossip (3) 59. transmittal (2)
30. initiative (3) 60. urgent (2)

Office of Literacy and Essential Skills | 43