The Four-Day Trial
Suggested lesson sequence
Warm up (2 minutes), read for gist, read again for detail, compare answers with evidence, complete vocabulary, discuss and write. Adapt timing to the learner. Score comprehension separately from vocabulary; neither score establishes a CEFR level.
Answer key
- B. Moving unfinished work into weekends
The team explicitly wanted to prevent work spilling into the weekend. Evidence: paragraph 1.
- C. Keeping project information in one place
Central project information helped avoid answering the same questions repeatedly. Evidence: paragraph 2.
- C. They weakened the promised day off.
Working on Friday undermined the purpose of the reduced schedule. Evidence: paragraph 3.
- C. Extend the trial before a permanent decision
It chose another three months of observation. Evidence: paragraph 5.
- A. One workplace’s experience may not fit others.
The text stresses different needs across types of workplace. Evidence: paragraph 5.
Vocabulary key
- trial
- interruptions
- boundaries
Speaking and writing guidance
Accept different opinions when supported with reasons. Assess task completion, clarity, vocabulary and sentence control separately. For B2, look for a supported position, a relevant counterargument and a response. Do not score political or philosophical agreement.
All stories and country scenarios in this series are original fictional teaching texts. Defne is a recurring fictional adult from İzmir, living in İstanbul and working as a flight attendant. New stories do not establish her exact age, employer or a job change.