Introducing the Iceman
One of the most interesting people in history is probably someone you have never heard of.
We will call him "Iceman" because his body was frozen in ice for several thousand years.
His body was discovered in 1991 by two hikers in the mountains near the border of Austria and Italy.
The lower part of his body was still frozen in ice, but the upper part was uncovered and visible.
Once the body was extracted from the ice, it was taken in for examination.
Upon examination, scientists determined that the Iceman lived around 5,300 (fifty-three hundred) years ago.
This was at the end of the Stone Age, nearly 1,000 years before the great pyramids were built.
This made him the oldest mummy ever found.
Iceman's body was in good condition when it was found.
People believed that the body was one of many hikers who had been lost in recent years.
Nobody suspected that the body was as old as it was.
It had been preserved by the ice for thousands of years.
Given its good condition, studying it was like opening a window in time.
Scientists could learn a lot about how people lived 5,000 years ago.
The Iceman lived at the end of the Stone Age, a time of great change in human history.
Hunting was still a major source of food, but people were beginning to farm.
People were settling down and forming communities.
These communities were claiming territory and setting up boundaries.
As a result, sometimes they had to fight to defend their territory from outsiders.
The village where the Iceman lived was probably not far from where he died.
Perhaps he was killed in a battle with outsiders.
Iceman was about 45 years old when he died.
He was 1.60 meters tall and weighed about 50 kilograms when he was alive.
Along with the body were some other objects.
These included some weapons, including a bow and arrow, a knife and an ax.
He was still wearing one of his shoes and he had a backpack with a wooden frame.
He also had some plants that may have been used for medical purposes.
Further examination of the body showed that he was well fed, with a diet of meat, bread and fruit.
In fact, he had eaten several meals within a few hours of his death.
From all the evidence, he probably had a good life.
Perhaps he was hunting for food when he was caught in a sudden storm.
For several years after the discovery of the body, scientists believed that he died from the cold.
Weather is unpredictable in the area where he was found, so perhaps he was caught in an unexpected storm.
However, ten years after his body was found, new evidence pointed to a new cause of death.
In 2001, examiners x-rayed the body and found an arrowhead deep in the Iceman's chest.
Further analysis revealed that the Iceman had been shot from behind.
The arrow had cut through an artery and had caused severe bleeding.
Clearly, it was a case of murder, the oldest case of murder ever discovered.
Regulations in Company
To sue : to take someone to court in a legal disagreement.
They broke our contract and didn't pay, so we sued them and won.
She sued her employer for firing her, but she lost because they had the right to fire her.
To restrict : to put limits on something.
This is a restricted area, so stay away.
We need to restrict them from talking to anyone about our project.
To negotiate : to deal with or bargain with others to reach an agreement.
Instead of starting a war, we should negotiate and find a way to compromise.
We are trying to negotiate a better deal, but it isn't easy.
Responsible for or responsible to: to be responsible for something means to have the job of getting it done or taking care of.
If you are responsible to someone, it means that you are working under their control.
Oversee or supervise : to control or direct a process or project.
One of his responsibilities was to supervise the rescue operations and keep things under control.
As product manager, she oversees the work of several departments.
Business Terms
To merge : to combine or come together.
Those two companies used to be competitors, but now they have merged into one company.
When the two companies merged, many people were laid off.
To acquire : to buy or take possession.
Some big companies grow by acquiring other companies.
One way to protect your business is to acquire your competitors.
An agenda : a plan or list of items to be discussed at a meeting.
The agenda for the meeting is still unclear.
What are the main points on the agenda for the meeting?
A contract : a written document that defines the rules in a relationship.
A contract isn't usually useful until things begin to go badly in a relationship.
According to our contract, their first payment is due next week.
Assets and liabilities : assets are what you own and liabilities are what you owe.
Knowing the assets and liabilities of a company helps determine a company's value.
The company had more liabilities than assets so we decided not to invest.
Quitting a Job
M: Good morning, Lisa. What was it you wanted to see me about?
L: Eh, good morning. Thanks for seeing me on such short notice, I know it's a busy time for you.
M: That's okay, Lisa. I can see that you're upset about something. Is there something wrong?
L: Yes, actually there is, and I've been thinking about it a lot. To make it short, I've decided to leave the company.
M: You are going to leave?
L: Yes, I think it's best, I'm really not happy here anymore.
M: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Have you found another job?
L: No, it isn't that. My husband and I have just decided that I really don't need to work.
M: Well, I'm sorry to hear that you want to leave. But I really want you to reconsider. You've only been here for a year. That isn't very long, and it won't help your resume if you decide to look for a job in the future.
L: Yes, that may be true, but staying here is really stressful. You may not be aware of it, but I have real problems with my supervisor , Bill.
M: Oh, what kind of problems?
L: He takes on projects and assigns them to me with no regard from my other responsibilities. It's just too much. Then he takes all the credit for my work. Maybe I'm just too sensitive.
M: Yes, I know he can't act that way and I have told him it's an area he needs to improve. Anyway, there are people like that in every organization.
M: I know it's difficult, but you need to learn how to deal with people like him.
L: Well, I don't know. It's really stressful. It isn't easy for me that talk to him.
M: Listen, Lisa. You have great potential and I don't want to lose you. If you already had a job offer, I wouldn't stand in your way. But since you don't, I really want you to stay.
L: I appreciate your saying that. It means a lot.
M: So will you please reconsider your decision?
L: Yes, I'll talk to my husband.
M: As for Bill, please try to work with him for a bit longer. This is a part of your learning experience.
L: Thanks, I really appreciate your advice. You are a great sales person. I'm feeling better already.
M: You are welcome, Lisa. I need you to stay. Please give it at least another year.