Getting Meaning from Context

Look at each underlined word in context and try to figure out its meaning. Write the possible meaning in the box.

1		Conference calls (calls involving more than two people) may sometimes last up to an hour and involve several participants in different locations. A conference call is _____.
2		Face-to-face meetings are not as important as they are in Latin America, Europe, or Asia, where business is conducted in person and the phone is used mainly to set up appointments. Face-to-face means ___.
3		After some preliminary "small talk"—about the weather, the flight, sports, etc., a U.S. executive will get right down to business. Small talk is __.
4		Even on the phone, it is not uncommon to make oral agreements which will later be followed by written statements. Oral means __.
5		At the end of a conference call or meeting, be prepared for specific follow-up steps, such as arranging a phone call or a meeting, sending and reviewing a proposal, or signing final agreements. A follow-up step is __.
6		Punctuality is very important in the United States. If you set up a conference call or face-to-face meeting at a specific time, you should be available at that time. Punctuality is ___.