Why your coworkers hate you – B1 English Reading Test

B1 English Reading Test

Read a text about reasons why some people are not popular with their coworkers. For questions 1 to 7, choose the correct missing sentences. There is ONE extra sentence you DO NOT need to use.

Why your coworkers hate you

Humans are sociable animals. Most of us need to feel like we belong—to be part of a group. For example, family, friends, a football team, a music club, or a workplace are some of the groups that make our lives feel important and organized. 1 __. That’s why having good relationships with the people around us is so necessary. But what happens when things go wrong? What happens when your coworkers don’t like you? It’s probably time to take a closer look at your habits. You could be doing something—without knowing—that makes people dislike you.

Time and personal space are very important to most people, especially at work. Just like you wouldn’t want someone to interrupt you all the time when you’re busy, you shouldn’t take up too much of their time with long chats. Outside work, don’t send messages late at night or expect instant replies. 2 __. Not standing too close or looking at their screen shows that you understand and respect their need for privacy.

3 __. Do you sometimes tell people what to do instead of asking them? This can make you seem rude. Also, try not to act like you always know more than everyone else. 4 __. Even if you have a lot of experience and always want to make things better, try to be a good team player by listening carefully to other people’s opinions, even when they are different from your own.

Keeping things clean and tidy, both in your workspace and for yourself, helps everyone work better together. Nobody likes to work with someone messy. 5 __. Everyone should feel comfortable to use shared spaces–like kitchens and meeting rooms–so remember to clean up after yourself. 6 __. You don’t need to be perfect, but things like bad breath or dirty clothes can make colleagues want to avoid you.

But sometimes, the problem isn’t you at all. Some coworkers dislike people who are popular or successful because they want to be just like you. They might even worry about losing their job because they aren’t as good as you. 7 __.

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Page 1 of 7

1 Gap 1

A. Unfortunately, you can’t control how others feel—but you can stay kind and professional.

B. Another way to show the people you work with that you care depends on how you speak to them.

C. It can be unpleasant for others if your desk is always full of papers, dirty coffee cups, or old food.

D. We spend most of our time in them, especially at work.

E. In the same way, keeping yourself clean is important.

F. Strong smells, like food warmed in the microwave, can also bother people.

G. In a similar way, try to stay away from other people’s physical space.

H. This is because being “the smartest person in the room” can make others feel bad.

Page 2 of 7

2 Gap 2

A. Unfortunately, you can’t control how others feel—but you can stay kind and professional.

B. Another way to show the people you work with that you care depends on how you speak to them.

C. It can be unpleasant for others if your desk is always full of papers, dirty coffee cups, or old food.

D. We spend most of our time in them, especially at work.

E. In the same way, keeping yourself clean is important.

F. Strong smells, like food warmed in the microwave, can also bother people.

G. In a similar way, try to stay away from other people’s physical space.

H. This is because being “the smartest person in the room” can make others feel bad.

Page 3 of 7

3 Gap 3

A. Unfortunately, you can’t control how others feel—but you can stay kind and professional.

B. Another way to show the people you work with that you care depends on how you speak to them.

C. It can be unpleasant for others if your desk is always full of papers, dirty coffee cups, or old food.

D. We spend most of our time in them, especially at work.

E. In the same way, keeping yourself clean is important.

F. Strong smells, like food warmed in the microwave, can also bother people.

G. In a similar way, try to stay away from other people’s physical space.

H. This is because being “the smartest person in the room” can make others feel bad.

Page 4 of 7

4 Gap 4

A. Unfortunately, you can’t control how others feel—but you can stay kind and professional.

B. Another way to show the people you work with that you care depends on how you speak to them.

C. It can be unpleasant for others if your desk is always full of papers, dirty coffee cups, or old food.

D. We spend most of our time in them, especially at work.

E. In the same way, keeping yourself clean is important.

F. Strong smells, like food warmed in the microwave, can also bother people.

G. In a similar way, try to stay away from other people’s physical space.

H. This is because being “the smartest person in the room” can make others feel bad.

Page 5 of 7

5 Gap 5

A. Unfortunately, you can’t control how others feel—but you can stay kind and professional.

B. Another way to show the people you work with that you care depends on how you speak to them.

C. It can be unpleasant for others if your desk is always full of papers, dirty coffee cups, or old food.

D. We spend most of our time in them, especially at work.

E. In the same way, keeping yourself clean is important.

F. Strong smells, like food warmed in the microwave, can also bother people.

G. In a similar way, try to stay away from other people’s physical space.

H. This is because being “the smartest person in the room” can make others feel bad.

Page 6 of 7

6 Gap 6

A. Unfortunately, you can’t control how others feel—but you can stay kind and professional.

B. Another way to show the people you work with that you care depends on how you speak to them.

C. It can be unpleasant for others if your desk is always full of papers, dirty coffee cups, or old food.

D. We spend most of our time in them, especially at work.

E. In the same way, keeping yourself clean is important.

F. Strong smells, like food warmed in the microwave, can also bother people.

G. In a similar way, try to stay away from other people’s physical space.

H. This is because being “the smartest person in the room” can make others feel bad.

Page 7 of 7

7 Gap 7

A. Unfortunately, you can’t control how others feel—but you can stay kind and professional.

B. Another way to show the people you work with that you care depends on how you speak to them.

C. It can be unpleasant for others if your desk is always full of papers, dirty coffee cups, or old food.

D. We spend most of our time in them, especially at work.

E. In the same way, keeping yourself clean is important.

F. Strong smells, like food warmed in the microwave, can also bother people.

G. In a similar way, try to stay away from other people’s physical space.

H. This is because being “the smartest person in the room” can make others feel bad.

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Explanation

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