Preparing for a Deadline
Listen to the following audio
Answer the following questions
What does the expression “crunch time” mean in this story?
How did the team stay organized while working under pressure?
Why did the manager ask everyone to focus only on the most important tasks?
What helped the team handle the stress of the approaching deadline?
What result did teamwork have on their overall progress?
Read the transcript if needed
“Our team has a major report due on Friday. Everyone is busy because it’s crunch time, the final hours before the deadline. The manager asked us to focus only on the most important tasks so we could carry out the plan efficiently. We divided responsibilities, checked progress, and stayed late to finish. It was stressful, but teamwork helped us make real progress.”
How would you use the follow expressions?
Idiom: Crunch time – We use this idiom when there is a short, intense period of work before a deadline.
Examples to use:
“It’s crunch time — the project is due tomorrow.”
“Students know finals week is always crunch time.”
“The team scored quickly during crunch time.”
Phrasal Verb: Carry out – We use this phrasal verb when completing or performing a task.
Examples to use:
Present: “They always carry out their work carefully.”
Past: “The scientists carried out an important study.”
Continuous: “We are carrying out the plan now.”
Future: “The company will carry out changes soon.”
