Progress Test 2 (Units 5–8)

LISTENING
Track 6
A Listen to Martin McNaughton summarizing two companies’ performances over the past year.
Complete the notes below with the figures you hear. You will hear the presentation twice.

Profits’ at Simpson’s Profits’ at Litty

• increased at the main Highfield branch • in March: £ _______________________3
________________1percent since last year
• in September: £ ____________________4
• current year’s profit’s: £ ________________2 • predicted for the last quarter:
£ __________________5

B Listen to a TV presenter speaking about five people who have been nominated for a business
award. Match the descriptions (a–e) to the names below. You will hear the presentation twice.

6 Catherine Roper a) has taken over another company

7 Deepak Patel b) has a number of overseas branches
8 Ricky Rand c) went to university
9 Gary Bell d) recently moved into a different area of business
10 Melanie Rogers e) has always worked for the family business

LANGUAGE
C Complete the gaps in the sentences using one of these words.

at / by / from / in / of / to

11 Sales increased nine percent ________ €1.2m ________ €1.4m.

12 Profits have grown ________ ten percent in only eight months.
13 Employee numbers reached a peak ________ 1,049 in the year 2002.
14 There has been a general increase ________sales over the last quarter.
15 Last month turnover stood ________ $2.9m.

D Write these trend words into the three categories below:

soar / plummet / halve / level off / rocket / decline

17 __increase_____ ________________ _______________
18 _______________
21 _______________ _______________ _______________
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E Read about an advertising agency. One article is missing in each of the lines. Write a/an or the
as shown in the example.

Our advertising agency was set up in the nineteen eighties the

22 when companies were spending fortune on publicity ______
23 campaigns and when advertising budget might equal twenty ______
24 per cent of even smallest company’s annual turnover. ______
25 We began by targeting some of big companies in the country but ______
26 found out that this market was saturated. Instead, there were lot ______
27 of small businesses which had never considered benefits ______
28 of using the Internet, for example, as advertising tool. ______

F Rewrite the underlined phrases with the correct alternatives.

29 I recommend that you don’t talk about money.

You _________________ (shouldn’t / don’t have to) talk about money.
30 It’s essential that we order the new stationery supplies today.
We _________________ (must / should) order the new stationery supplies today.
31 It isn’t necessary for you to attend the meeting.
You _________________ (mustn’t / don’t have to) attend the meeting.
32 Where I work it’s necessary for everyone to start work at 9.00.
Where I work everyone __________________ (should / has to) start work at 9.00.
33 I advise you to take plenty of business cards with you on your next trip.
You __________________ (have to / should) take plenty of business cards with you on your
next trip.

G Each question or statement includes one extra and incorrect word. Remove it.

34 Could you tell me what is your salary is?

35 I’m not sure when does the interview finishes.
36 Could you tell to me why she left?
37 I am wonder whether they’ll apply.
38 I’d like to know how would your current boss would describe you.
39 Do you mind if can I ask what your weaknesses are?

H Rewrite these as direct or indirect questions and statements.

40 What’s your job?

I was wondering ______________________________________.

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41 What time does the first one arrive?
I’d like to know_______________________________________.
42 Why did he leave so early?
Could you tell me______________________________________?
43 Do you know where the interview room is?
Where_______________________________________________?
44 Do you happen to know if they’ve finished the report?
Have________________________________________________?
45 I have no idea who she is.
Who________________________________________________?

VOCABULARY
I Who receives what?

a dividends
b taxes
c revenue
d a loan
e interest

46 a business from selling goods or services ________________

47 the government ________________
48 shareholders ________________
49 a bank when it lends money ________________
50 a customer who borrows ________________

J Choose the best alternative to complete each sentence.

51 Please could you submit the ________________ form by 22 August?

a) offer b) application c) covering d) probationary
52 We’re looking for someone with excellent communication________________
a) education b) qualifications c) skills d) experience
53 There are over a hundred references to ________________
a) shortlist b) enable c) make d) check
54 Could you type up the ________________ after the meeting?
a) agenda b) minutes c) AOB d) items

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55 I’ve just started a new job and have been thrown in the ________________ end.
a) big b) wide c) deep d) long
56 Six months is the standard ________________ period.
a) psychometric b) interview c) head hunter d) probationary
57 I always find that a quick _______________ with my staff raises morale.
a) conference b) pep talk c) panel d) presentation
58 My boss has no ________________ and really embarrassed himself at lunch yesterday.
a) traditions b) customs c) greetings d) manners
59 We need to come up with a new marketing ________________
a) exhibition b) campaign c) mailshot d) commercial

K Replace the underlined words in sentences with these idioms. Write your answers in the
blanks. There is one extra idiom that will not be used.

a hot water
b see eye to eye
c like a house on fire
d eye-opener
e like a fish out of water
f break the ice
g put my foot in my mouth

60 They don’t agree with each other on this issue. _______

61 She got into trouble for not wearing her uniform. _______
62 When I interview people I try to relax them and get them talking with a joke. ______
63 I was very uncomfortable when I first started managing this department. ______
64 My first visit to China was a real learning experience. ______
65 Kevin said something really inapropriate during dinner with our clients yesterday. ______

L Complete the gaps with words from the box.

bankruptcy / recession / statement / refund

66 Would you like to receive your bank _______________ monthly or annually?

67 The company can’t pay its debts – I think it’s heading for _______________
68 The economy’s still doing badly. The country’s been in a _______________ for years and I can’t
see the situation improving.
69 I returned the faulty goods to the wholesalers and they gave me a full _______________

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M Complete the gaps with the appropriate forms of the words in parentheses.

70 What do you think is the best way of ________________ (promote) our latest credit card – a
commercial or leaflets?
71 Celebrity ________________ (endorse) is a very effective advertising technique.
72 Shall we attend the Munich _________________ (exhibit) this year?
73 Nike experimented unsuccessfully with its ________________ (expand) into non-athletic shoes.
74 Bad ________________ (publicise) is often considered better than none at all.

SKILLS
N Put the sentences (a–f) into a logical order to introduce a presentation.

a) This morning I’m going to outline the company’s performance over the last year.
b) If you have any questions please do not hesitate to interrupt me.
c) I’ll start with the predicted turnover and profits.
d) I’ve divided my talk into two parts.
e) Then I’ll move to look at what the actual figures were.
f) On behalf of FonBell I’d like to welcome you here today. My name’s Sally James.

75 _______________
76 _______________
77 _______________
78 _______________
79 _______________
80 _______________

O Complete the short dialogues with expressions (a-j)

81 A: I’ve got a new job!

B: That’s great. _______________
82 A: Have you been to London before?
B: No I haven't. _______________
83 A: _______________
B: I agree. We know far too little about what the market needs.
84 A: Is everyone here?
B: _______________ Barbara is running a little late.
85 A: How long are you staying?
B: _______________

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86 A: Would you like to meet for lunch?
B: _______________ I’ve got a meeting with a client.
87 A: Quiet please, everyone.
B: Thanks Dave. _______________
88 A: _______________
B: I’m not very keen actually.
89 A: Here’s your wine.
B: Thanks. _______________
90 A: Do you mind if I have another coffee?
B: Go ahead. __________________

a) I’m afraid I can’t.

b) Congratulations!
c) Cheers!
d) It’s my first trip.
e) Just until tomorrow.
f) Help yourself.
g) We need to look into this in more detail.
h) Could you just hang on for a minute?
i) Let’s get down to business.
j) How do you feel about that?

READING
P Match each of these statements about conversations with one of the paragraphs (i–v).

91 A brief conversation led to important changes for one company.

92 Perhaps we should learn from our European neighbours.
93 Good conversation can help to motivate staff.
94 Talking to colleagues is a good way of dealing with problems at work.
95 Effective conversation is important in your private and work life.

Q Now complete the gaps in the article with the sentences (a–e) below.

a) This is because it enables people to discuss issues and solve everyday work difficulties.
b) It’s about listening to the other person and responding.
c) It may come as a surprise to some what people can learn from casual conversation.
d) However, this is something British businesses are only starting to realise.
e) In addition, conversation enables colleagues to work better as a team.
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i) As many European cultures have already known for years, being good at conversation is a key
skill – both socially and in business. ____________________ 96.These companies are gradually
recognising that good conversation is more than just making sure the person you’re speaking to
has got your message. ____________________97. This two-way interaction generates idea after
idea.
ii) Mark Satchell of TDR International says, ‘Managers used to see their staff chatting as a sign of
them wasting their time or not having enough to do. What managers failed to see was the way
conversation builds relationships – between employees and between staff and their managers.
98
____________________ . This in turn aids company loyalty, staff retention and, ultimately,
productivity!’
99
iii) ____________________ . The office cleaner of a large London organisation, for instance, was
chatting to the MD early in the morning and happened to mention that staff regularly left their
windows open. Nothing more than that! But, within a week staff had been reminded by the MD to
close their windows before going home, office security improved and the heating bill was
reduced!
iv) Face-to-face conversation puts people in touch with each other, rather than distancing them, as e-
mails are often said to do. This kind of communication can reduce stress in the workplace.
____________________100. If employees can’t sort out problems among themselves, they can
grow into something much bigger!
v) So, as Malcolm Rogers of the Mallory Business School says, ‘I think it would be a good idea to do
the same things our Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese colleagues do – greet everyone in the
morning, have a coffee together, enjoy an extended lunch and, most importantly, engage in some
good old-fashioned conversation.’