The art of the deal - Unit 6
C2 Proficiency · Multiple Choice Reading · Close-up C2 Workbook, National Geographic Learning
You are going to read an extract from a novel about corporate greed. For questions 1–6, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
Jack was the golden boy at his investment firm – young, handsome, optimistic, friendly, intelligent and hard-working. Jack arrived at work every morning with hope in his heart and the thirst rising in his patent leather shoes, strength – and in his finer moments – there was nothing that could stand in the way of him getting that ring – not failure, nor fear – and all will were soon to see, neither his honest upbringing in a working-class family, nor morality or even the law. Such is what high-stakes investment banking can do to a man: corrupt the incorruptible, shade bone born in the light, make the unbelievable credible. Having slaved away on the phones for months, nibbling on scraps instead of the seven-course meal that he wished for, Jack finally had a stroke of luck: he was assigned to mentor one of the most powerful brokers in Chicago, Dwayne Hills, as a client of the firm. Known as the 'Kennel', Dwayne made his money by taking advantage, however legal the means, of every vulnerable company he set his sights on, which often resulted in many unfortunate employees getting the 'axe' from their jobs. Mercy was not a word in his vocabulary; nonetheless, he was every bit as respected as he was reviled and feared because, in short, he was a winner. With an office decked out in extravagant Italian marble and a view of Lake Michigan, and the most exclusive real estate in downtown Chicago, Dwayne was not accustomed to meeting with small fish. But someone who makes millions of dollars a week, or even in a single transaction, it would take a miracle for someone from Jack's world to get a sit-down. But as impatient as Jack was to snag a call with his new client, as his entreaties, he bided his time and used his gifted imagination to cook up a plan, just waiting for the right moment. Knowing Dwayne's penchant for fine art, Jack decided to give Dwayne an original Jean Miró sculpture that his late uncle had willed to him – an object whose value was equal to a year and a half's salary. Small but extremely well-crafted and remarkable to behold, Jack had it encased in an oak box with a viewing window. He knew that such a powerful, influential and infamous power broker would never enter through the main entrance, so at the crack of dawn on the 23rd of September, with the box in both hands, he waited hopefully around the back of Dwayne's office building for him to arrive. A sleek black town car pulled into the alley and stopped. The driver exited the vehicle and proceeded to open the passenger door. Dwayne stepped out, with his polished black patent leather shoes, tailored suit and slicked-back light brown hair. He looked ready to be; like a man made of money. Jack's eyes lit up. Instinctively, he stepped forward without hesitating for a second, and beaming, said 'Happy Birthday, Mr Hills'. The corners of Dwayne's mouth turned up slightly and his eyes softened, for he saw what was inside the small wooden box with the delicate red bow, and he instantly knew the considerable sum that had gone into the gift, the selection of the meeting place and the timing – even though it wasn't his birthday – and he couldn't help but feel enamoured of this impressive whippersnapper. Dwayne stood in front of Jack, paused with a growing grin and said, 'You've got two minutes to tell me something that I don't already know and is going to make me a million bucks by sundown.' Jack knew this was his one and only chance to impress Dwayne. He rattled off a bunch of half-baked ideas that Dwayne shot down like clay pigeons at a shooting range. Dwayne's phone rang with Jack in mid-sentence and Jack knew his chance was slipping away, yet he tried to think big, and fast. He knew his mother's publicly-traded company was facing a very damning inspection overview, which was to be published in a week's time. As soon as Dwayne's call ended, Jack mentioned him to invest in Diamond Arms – a suggestion which Dwayne scoffed at. 'This is a call. If this is a call, you've got for me!' Jack, knowing that he had just breached laws against insider trading, gave Dwayne a sharp, almost devious look that, in his decades of business dealings, was immediately recognised as suggesting a sure-fire thing whose origins are best left unknown.
how he was raised
his viewpoint on life
how he treats others
his determination to succeed
What aspect of Jack's identity revealed in the first paragraph seems to contradict his readiness to break the law?
He is simply despised and feared by all.
He is viewed as a corrupt and ruthless man.
He is known for turning ailing businesses around.
He is held in very high regard by his peers.
What kind of reputation does Dwayne Hills have?
as an uncalculated stab in the dark
as an exercise in self-sacrifice
as a lucky roll of the dice
as an exercise in trial and error
How does the author characterise Jack's efforts to meet with Dwayne?
someone tipped Jack off about Dwayne's habits.
Jack must have seen Dwayne's vehicle pull up around the back.
most people know where Dwayne usually enters his buildings.
Jack is well-aware of powerful men's routines.
Considering how and where Jack waited for Dwayne, we can infer that
His ambush was inappropriate and pitiful.
His look was that of a well-informed man.
His worth needed to be proved.
His ingenuity had him sold.
What did Dwayne feel about Jack upon meeting him?
the moment he saw Dwayne
during Dwayne's call
upon hearing Dwayne's reaction
while he was pitching ideas
At what point did Jack abandon his morals?
The art of the deal
Available as a free printable PDF worksheet with an optional answer key.
More C2 Proficiency Multiple Choice Reading practice · All C2 Proficiency practice