Question 11
ComprehensionJAMB 1987 Passage III: The untidy Conference Room
Manager: Mr. Mbu, I would not describe you as an inefficient worker; I therefore find it difficult to understand why the Conference Room is so untidy, in spite of the fact that I had reminded you of the meeting scheduled to take place there this afternoon.
Secretary: Sir, I did instruct the cleaner to tidy up the place before the meeting
Manager: Are you trying to hold the cleaner responsible for the untidy condition of the room?
Secretary: Partly, sir, I gave him an instruction which he failed to carry out. It is certainly my intention to make a formal complaint against him for dereliction of duty.
Manager: And would you wash your hands off any blame after that? Do you think that just making a formal complaint against the cleaner absolves you of all blame? When do you consider an assignment as properly executed: when the execution is properly supervised or not? Was it sufficient for you to give instructions to the cleaner without ensuring that he actually carried them out?
Secretary: Sir, I do not see what else I could have done, short of doing the job myself. The cleaner is a six-footer and I could not have intimidated him physically.
Manager: I see, I await your complaint against the cleaner, but I shall not forget that you allowed a board meeting to take place in an untidy Conference Room
Secretary: Sir, I did instruct the cleaner to tidy up the place before the meeting
Manager: Are you trying to hold the cleaner responsible for the untidy condition of the room?
Secretary: Partly, sir, I gave him an instruction which he failed to carry out. It is certainly my intention to make a formal complaint against him for dereliction of duty.
Manager: And would you wash your hands off any blame after that? Do you think that just making a formal complaint against the cleaner absolves you of all blame? When do you consider an assignment as properly executed: when the execution is properly supervised or not? Was it sufficient for you to give instructions to the cleaner without ensuring that he actually carried them out?
Secretary: Sir, I do not see what else I could have done, short of doing the job myself. The cleaner is a six-footer and I could not have intimidated him physically.
Manager: I see, I await your complaint against the cleaner, but I shall not forget that you allowed a board meeting to take place in an untidy Conference Room
The relationship between the manager and his secretary, as revealed in the passage, could be said to be
- A.strained
- B.charged
- C.personal
- D.cordial
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: A (strained)
Explanation
The manager questions and blames the secretary sharply and says he 'shall not forget' the lapse, so the relationship is tense, i.e. strained.