Unit 6 Progress test

Complete sentences 1–9 with appropriate prepositions. Complete 22–26 in the five conversations with the
adverbs from the list.
1 We’ve run big difficulties in our Far East
market. obviously   surprisingly   just   totally   actually
2 We should look the same old solutions and A You’ve never been there, have you?
try and find a really novel way of doing this. B 22
, I have. I went last year.
3 We thought the idea would really take off, but in the end
it just fell the wayside.
A So that was the situation at the end of the year.
4 One way companies try to stay the game is
by developing more advanced technology than their B Sorry, could you 23 run through the figures for
competitors. the last quarter again?
5 Let’s bounce a few ideas and see what we
come up with. A So what do you think?
6 It’s a great product, but without adequate marketing B Well, I can’t say I’m 24 enthusiastic about
support it’ll never get the ground. the idea.
7 The project manager’s been ill, but now he’s here I think
we’ll get track pretty quickly. A They didn’t ask a single question after my presentation.
8 It’s not easy to think the box when you’re B No, they didn’t, 25 . I wonder why.
surrounded by unimaginative people.
9 They’re trying to figure why the press A I thought he handled the negotiation very well.
conference went so badly.
B Yes, it’s 26 not the first time he’s done
something like that.
Match verbs from A to nouns in B to answer questions
10–14.
Complete 27–30 in the conversation with the phrases
A cause   ​tolerate   ​undergo   ​
control   ​outperform from the list.
B change   ​mistakes   ​
costs   ​the competition   ​a stir It’s difficult for me to explain really
10 What does a political scandal normally do? It just needs a bit more
11 What won’t a strict manager do? I’m trying to think how
12 If you are the best company in your field, what do you’re on the right track
you do?
About your proposal for how to make our company more
13 What’s the key to good financial management? innovative – I’d say 27
14 What don’t many employees like to do? and it’s definitely what we’re looking for, but
I disagree with some of the ideas you have.
Complete the missing words 15–21 in the conversation.
28
I could help you
– maybe you could talk to my partner, as he’s spent a lot
A It’s not 15c to me what you mean by ‘further of time on this. 29 ,
training’. but I feel you’ve focused too much on creative ideas.
B Well, I was thinking along the 16l of a course in 30
on technical
creative thinking for all managers. training really.
A That’s not such a bad idea. But I can’t help 17w
if it’s really going to be effective. Result __________/ 30 marks
B So you’re suggesting that some of our managers won't
benefit from it?
A Well, not exactly, but I’m 18c about how some
of our more senior managers will respond to that kind
of course.
B Well, 19s we were to offer a half-day seminar in
the company to start off with? Then we could evaluate
who is or isn’t responding well to the method.
A Yes, I quite like that idea. And there’d be nothing
20
s us from pulling the plug after that first
session, would there?
B Well, no, I guess not. It’s certainly 21w thinking
about.

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Unit 6 Speaking test

Role cards
Copy this page and cut out the role cards for the students. Students should do both role-plays. Then use the Speaking test
results forms to evaluate each student’s performance. You can then cut out the results and give them to the students.

Role-play 1
cut along this line
Student A Student B
You want to improve morale in your company and you Listen to Student A’s idea for your company.
think you could do this by improving employees’ health • Ask Student A to clarify the idea.
and fitness. • You like the idea.
• Put forward your idea to Student B. • Build on the idea – suggest that employees could finish
• Clarify your idea – you’d like to introduce healthy menus early on Fridays and sports activities could be organized,
in the canteen and put up posters with tips for healthy e.g. football games or running.
living in the offices.
• Evaluate your partner’s idea and give a positive or
negative reaction.

Role-play 2
cut along this line
Student A Student B
Listen to Student B’s idea for making the company more You’d like to make the company more innovative and bring
innovative. out the creative side of people in the company by offering
• Ask Student B to clarify the idea. them time during work to develop this.
• You like the idea. • Put forward your idea to Student A.
• Build on the idea – suggest that you offer creativity • Clarify your idea – you’d like to create a space or room
development seminars, or bonuses to employees who that’s brightly painted, with games, paper, pens, etc.
come up with interesting ideas for the company. Employees could go there and share creative ideas.
• Evaluate your partner’s idea and give a positive or
negative reaction.

Unit 6 Speaking test results

Use these forms to evaluate the students.
cut along this line

Yes, but Yes, did Yes, but Yes, did

Didn’t do Didn’t do
Student A with some this very Student B with some this very
this this
Can the student …? mistakes well Can the student …? mistakes well
(0 points) (0 points)
(1 point) (2 points) (1 point) (2 points)
put forward an put forward an
idea idea

ask for clarification ask for clarification

clarify an idea clarify an idea

build on an idea build on an idea

evaluate an idea evaluate an idea

Result  / ​10 marks Result  / ​10 marks

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