The Apprentice: you're fired!

BBC Learning English
News about Britain
April 2009
The Apprentice: you're fired!


News about Britain © British Broadcasting Corporation 2009
Page 1 of 6
bbclearningenglish.com

One of Britain’s most popular reality TV programmes has returned to our screens for a fifth series.
The Apprentice sees 16 ambitious individuals competing for a job with electronics tycoon Sir Alan
Sugar.

With endless talk of credit-crunches, redundancies and cut-backs, it may come as no surprise that
thousands of plucky hopefuls applied for the show. The chosen 16 will compete in a series of business
tasks and do their best to escape elimination. Not one of them wants to hear the fateful words: you’re
fired.

It should also be noted that this year’s budding apprentices are not going to be allowed to forget the
grim economic climate quite so easily. At the launch of this year’s TV show, Sir Alan announced that
some episodes have been "specifically made towards recognition of what difficult times we are in".
The tasks will as usual be gruelling tests of business acumen, team-working and leadership skill.
They will also make for some hilarious viewing. British viewers will be shaking their heads in
disbelief at the crazy decisions of the wannabe apprentices.

But perhaps the most entertaining feature of the show will be watching the hopefuls squirm and
squabble in the boardroom. It is here they will have to explain just why they have failed each task so
badly.

What drives people to take part in the show is difficult to say. Some are clearly motivated by the
promise of a six-figure salary and some claim they want the experience of working with a successful
businessman such as Sir Alan. One thing is for sure, the contestants will all gain some level of
celebrity. The show is a regular ratings winner.

And to date, there has been one big winner and that is the show’s creator, Mark Burnett. Originating in
the US, The Apprentice’s winning format has been copied all over the world and with the hype
surrounding this latest series, it looks as though the show will have success for many years to come.

News about Britain © British Broadcasting Corporation 2009
Page 2 of 6
bbclearningenglish.com



Glossary

reality TV – television programmes which
don't use scripts and show what's actually
happening to the people taking part; a reality
TV show usually features a competition
ambitious – having strong desire for success
tycoon – someone who has succeeded in
business or industry and has become very
wealthy and powerful
plucky – brave (informal)
to escape elimination – here, to stay in the
show, not to get rejected
fateful – that have serious consequences
(here, hearing these words means for a
contestant that he or she is no longer in the
show)
budding – beginning to develop or show
signs of future success
gruelling – extremely tiring and difficult,
demanding great effort and determination
business acumen – a person's knowledge and
ability to make profitable business decisions
wannabe – somebody who tries to be like
somebody else (informal)
squirm and squabble – move and argue
nervously
a six-figure salary – money that you get for
the work you've done that is at least £100,000
is a regular ratings winner – is seen by
many people every time it's shown; is always
very popular
hype – a lot of publicity intended to excite
public interest


Read and listen to the story online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/newsaboutbritain/2009/04/090421_nab_apprentice.shtml




News about Britain © British Broadcasting Corporation 2009
Page 3 of 6
bbclearningenglish.com





1. Reading Quiz


Are these sentences true or false? Or is the answer not given in the text? Circle the correct
answer.


1. The Apprentice is a TV game show. True / False / Not given

2. Sir Alan Sugar is a successful businessman in the UK. True / False / Not given

3. The weekly tasks test how well the potential apprentices work together. True / False /
Not given

4. The winner of The Apprentice will get a job with an annual salary of at least £100,000.
True / False / Not given

5. The winner of The Apprentice will get Sir Alan Sugar’s job. True / False / Not gicen




News about Britain © British Broadcasting Corporation 2009
Page 4 of 6
bbclearningenglish.com


2. Business idioms

Look at the idioms below. Each one is connected to business.
Try to match the idiom to its definition.


a. get off the ground

1. to be serious about something
b. get a break

2. to successfully start something
c. make a go of

3. to give someone a job
d. mean business

4. to get a good opportunity
e. take on

5. to do something well


Now complete the sentences below by using one of the idioms above:

1. I really think I deserve a promotion. When will I ?

2. We are going to outsell all of our competitors this month. I .

3. We are understaffed. I think we need to another administrator.

4. We have a great team and excellent products. I think we can really
this business.

5. Starting a new business is very difficult. You need a lot of support to
.


News about Britain © British Broadcasting Corporation 2009
Page 5 of 6
bbclearningenglish.com


3. Wordsearch

Try to find the words associated with business in the puzzle below.

There are ten words to find. Words can be written horizontally (g), vertically (i) or
diagonally (m)


a m a r k e t i n g a g o
d a e r e s e a r c h f p
m x v p e r s o n n e l e
i p r o d u c t i o n f r
n o f h f s a l e s a g a
i g f m a r k e t u g h t
s d i a d m i n i s t r i
t e n p u r c h a s i n o
r f a c i l i t i e s s n
a e n o f f e f s o s f s
t t c a a e i c e e n b s
i j e s a s t h u r s e e
o d p u r c h a s i n g s
n n h e f u h p u r c h a


marketing sales finance
personnel operations administration
production facilities purchasing
research


News about Britain © British Broadcasting Corporation 2009
Page 6 of 6
bbclearningenglish.com


Answers

1. Reading Quiz

1. The Apprentice is a TV game show. True

2. Sir Alan Sugar is a successful businessman in the UK. True

3. The weekly tasks test how well the potential apprentices work
together. True

4. The winner of the Apprentice will get a job with an annual
salary of at least £100,000. True

5. The winner of the Apprentice will get Sir Alan Sugar’s job.
False



2. Business Idioms


a. get off the ground

2. to successfully start
something
b. get a break

4. to get a good opportunity

c. make a go of

5. to do something well

d. mean business

1. to be serious about
something

e. take on

3. to give someone a job


1. I really think I deserve a promotion. When will I get a break?

2. We are going to outsell all of our competitors this month. I
mean business.

3. We are understaffed. I think we need to take on another
administrator.

4. We have a great team and excellent products. I think we can
really make a go of this business.

5. Starting a new business is very difficult. You need a lot of
support to get off the ground.


3. Wordsearch


a m a r k e t i n g o
d r e s e a r c h p
m p e r s o n n e l e
i p r o d u c t i o n r
n s a l e s a
i f t
s i i
t n o
r f a c i l i t i e s n
a n s
t c
i e
o p u r c h a s i n g
n