What lies behind the offer?
Read for meaning first. Select a highlighted word if you want a closer look.
A repair workshop depended on volunteers whose altruism led them to give time without expecting a personal reward. The treasurer demonstrated integrity by reporting a payment error that nobody else had noticed. A scheduling coordinator, however, practiced duplicity: he privately promised two different groups exclusive use of the same room, hoping each would continue supplying equipment before discovering the conflict.
The volunteers' altruism did not make clear agreements unnecessary. When the conflicting promises emerged, the treasurer showed integrity by sharing the records and acknowledging what the committee had failed to check. The coordinator's duplicity had encouraged both groups to rely on incompatible assurances. The workshop arranged a joint discussion so each group could understand what had happened and choose how to proceed.
Before you move on
Look away from the passage. Can you explain each focus word in your own words?
Original fictional passages for vocabulary practice.