Name ___________________________

Last Name:__________________________

Exit Test
LISTENING
Track 8

1 Listen to a radio interview with Scott Duran, CEO of the US firm Charters Inc. Take notes and
then answer these questions.
1
What type of company is Charters?
______________________________
2

Where is its main location?

______________________________

How long has the company been outperforming its rivals?

______________________________

Scott outlines three main targets. What are they?

4
________________________________________
5

________________________________________

________________________________________

What percentage of the companys sales are currently outside the US?
______________________________

Where are the companys best prospects for sales in ten years time?
______________________________

2 Now listen again and choose the best answer to each of these questions.
9
Scott believes it is important for the company
a) to restructure its organisation.
b) to increase productivity.
c) to keep looking for ways to improve.
10

Why is dialogue with customers important for Charters?

a) To involve them in developing new products
b) To be able to deal more effectively with their problems
c) To improve services

11

What will happen when old plants are closed?

a) Many people will be made redundant.
b) Most workers will have left before the closures.
c) Most workers will be transferred to other jobs within the company.

12

What reason does Scott give for building plants in Asia?

a) Manufacturing in the UK is in decline.

Date:______________ 2011

Name ___________________________

Last Name:__________________________

b) Production costs are lower in Asia.

c) The potential market is enormous.
13

How does Scott describe his strategy for expanding into Asia?
a) Buy up existing plant.
b) Form partnerships with local companies.
c) Build new plants and operate them independently.

14

Why is it better to send older managers to work in plants overseas?

a) Older managers are more highly regarded in Asia.
b) Young people dont have the right experience.
c) Young people are less motivated.

15

Which of these statements best reflects Scotts view of business?

a) You get the best leadership by offering high bonuses.
b) Success depends on having an ethical approach to management.
c) It is important to look to the long term.

LANGUAGE
A

BUSINESS IDIOMS

Three consultants have set up a new partnership together. Complete the gaps in this extract from a
meeting between them with an appropriate idiom from the list. There are two you do not need.
a long shot
get a toehold
get off the ground
go on a big spending spree
heading down the wrong track
jumping on the bandwagon
kick around
kick off
on the shelf
stick to the point
Consultant 1 Weve got excellent skills, but were still relatively unknown. We need to find some ways
to promote ourselves so that we can ______________________________16 in the market. Ive asked you
to come this morning so that we can ______________________________17 a few ideas.
Date:______________ 2011

Name ___________________________

Last Name:__________________________

Consultant 2 Well, perhaps I can ______________________________18 with this: why dont we

consider advertising?
Consultant 3 That might work, but the chances are wed spend a lot of money and not get any business
out of it. Its ______________________________19.
Consultant 2 But our business will never ______________________________20 unless were willing
to invest in promoting ourselves. Im not suggesting we ______________________________21. We
could afford some small ads in one of the professional journals, for example.
Consultant 3 The trouble is, theres such a lot of competition out there. I know the demand for
consultancy is high at present, but too many other people are ______________________________22
right now.
Consultant 1 I dont think thats relevant to the present discussion. Can we please
______________________________23?
B

MULTIWORD VERBS

Complete the sentences below with the correct word from the box.
against

away

into

off

on

out

through

up

24

If we dont start reining in costs very soon, were likely to go __________ of business.

25

If we want to maintain growth, we need to tap __________ new sources of revenue.

26

The R&D department has come __________ with some highly innovative ideas.

27

If we go ahead with this product, were going to come up __________ some stiff competition.

28

An over-complicated ordering system could put many customers __________

29

There must be a solution we can both agree on: why dont we talk things __________ ?

30

This project is going nowhere. I think we should give up __________ it.

31

There was a lot of resistance to the idea, so weve now backed __________ from it.

COLLOCATIONS

In each of the following sentences, the underlined words have been put in the wrong sentences. Write the
correct word for each sentence.
32
Things are looking bad the economy is slowing and we now bridge an enormous challenge to
survive. __________
Date:______________ 2011

Name ___________________________

Last Name:__________________________

33
There are a number of problems we need to assess: how to increase revenues and balance the
books, for example. __________
34
We have a high turnover of staff, and some of our best people are leaving we need to find ways
to recoup them. __________
35

We have to start making a profit if we want to retain our investment in this business. __________

36

One way to cut costs would be to tackle cleaning services. __________

37
We are spending a lot on product development, but it will be some time before it brings in any
revenue. How can we raise more funds to repair the gap? __________
38
By failing to deliver the required product, we have greatly upset one of our key customers. Its
going to take a lot of effort to pay the damage to that relationship. __________
39
Perhaps it would help if you offered to face compensation to the client for his loss of business.
__________
40
You sold your client the wrong product. If you want your customer to be satisfied, you have to
implement their needs very carefully. __________
41
Thank you for your recommendations. Now we need to decide how to outsource them.
__________

PREFIXES

6 Choose a word from the box and then add the correct prefix to match each definition.
competent / funded / leading / perfect / phrase / relevant / scrupulous / used / verbal
42

Communication without words __________

43

Not belonging to the matter in hand __________

44

Likely to make someone believe that something isnt true __________

45

Not having the necessary skills to do a job __________

46

Behaving in a dishonest way __________

47

Explain something again using different words __________

48

Exploited too much __________

49

Not completely correct __________

Date:______________ 2011

Name ___________________________
50

Not provided with enough money __________

SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION

Last Name:__________________________

7 Rewrite the underlined parts of the sentences below using the words in brackets.
51

Were hoping to interest a number of sponsors in this project. (get)

__________________________________________________

52

Before we can answer that question, there are several factors we need to consider. (taken)
__________________________________________________

53

It took a long time for both parties to agree. (agreement)

__________________________________________________

54

So in my presentation today, Id like to update you on progress. (bring)

__________________________________________________

55

Can we now conclude this discussion? (bring)

__________________________________________________

56

The consultants recommended cutting back on staff. (made)

__________________________________________________

57

Would you be able to estimate the cost? (give)

__________________________________________________

Date:______________ 2011

Name ___________________________

Last Name:__________________________

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
8 A Find a suitable word to complete each gap
Dear Sirs
With __________58 to our invoice 4567 for 1,800, __________59 26th July, we write to point out that we
have not yet received any payment from you.
We would like to __________60 you that our payment __________61 are 30 days from the date of invoice
and that your payment is now more than 20 days
__________62.
We therefore request that you __________63 this invoice in full as soon as possible. Unless we receive
settlement within the next ten days, we regret that we will be unable to credit any further orders to your
__________64.
Yours truly

9B

Write a word in each gap to complete each dialogue in a polite way.

65

A Can I give you a lift to the station?

B If its not too __________ __________

66

A Do you think youll be able to meet the Friday deadline?

B Its looking __________, Im __________

67

A Good morning. My names Sinead ODonaghue.

B Would you mind __________ that?

68

A I was wondering what __________ __________ __________ the new management policy.
B I think it will be effective, given time.

69

A It could prove difficult to come within the budget requirement that was established earlier.
B Let me see if I follow you. Youre __________ __________ youre going to go over budget?

70

A __________ you were to offer us a five-per-cent discount?

71

B We cant do that. But what __________ __________ __________ to two-per-cent?

Date:______________ 2011

Name ___________________________

Last Name:__________________________

READING
10 Read the article about employee share ownership. Then answer the questions below.
Alternatives to harsh negotiations
Karl Marx was right about one thing: capital and labour are engaged in a seemingly endless struggle over
who should get the spoils when things go well and who should take the pain when things turn sour. You
can see it in the news as companies ask workers to take deep cuts in pay and pensions. If labour declines
to co-operate? Downsizing, bankruptcy or liquidation looms.
To be sure, companies have to cut costs to regain competitiveness. Investors will not provide capital
unless they believe they can earn a decent return. Yet the gun to the head negotiating style adopted by
most management teams in these circumstances shows a startling lack of imagination. Playing Marxian
Roulette with the workers may result in a lower cost structure, but you have to wonder what it will do to
the human side of the enterprise morale, culture and trust.
There is an alternative. Instead of asking employees to sacrifice future benefits or else, offer them a
meaningful stake in the business.
The arguments in favour of such equity-for-concessions deals are twofold. First, it is a question of justice.
Workers who signed employment contracts many years ago had no idea that the pension promises made
by the company were contingent. If these promises are now to be broken, recompense is due.
Second, employee share ownership could become a source of competitive advantage for at least one of
these troubled companies. A constructive relationship between labour and capital would make it easier to
explore new technology and working practices. It might even increase the value of the company.
Sceptics respond that employee share ownership in the US has been tried many times before and found
wanting. Look across the US corporate landscape today and you see few large companies in which
workers own a significant stake. Neither is there statistical evidence that this handful has outperformed
the rest.
Not surprising, say economists. They point to any number of reasons why employee ownership will not
work. For example, since every employee shareholder shares in the financial upside of a companys
success, there is a strong incentive to let others do the work. Then there is the problem of how to deal
with new employees. If newcomers are granted stock when they are hired, old-timers will see their stake
in the enterprise gradually diluted. If newcomers are excluded from stock ownership, a two-tier system
results.
There is also the very real issue of investment risk. Do employees really want the great majority of their
personal financial assets tied up in the company on which they already depend for wages? The complex
truth is that all forms of corporate ownership have strengths and weaknesses. The trick is designing a
system of governance that compensates for the shortcomings.

Date:______________ 2011

Name ___________________________
72

Last Name:__________________________

What, according to the article, do many companies do when faced with economic problems?
a) Raise more capital from investors.
b) Cut back senior managers benefits.
c) Force workers to accept lower salaries.
d) Find other ways to make savings.

73 What is the negotiating style management teams often use with their workers when times are bad?
a) creative
74

b) sympathetic

c) coercive

d) collaborative

Why does the author criticise this method of negotiating?

a) It is not effective.
b) It does not help to cut costs.
c) It does not lead to a long-term solution.
d) It could lead to low motivation and poor employee relations.

75 The author gives two reasons to support the idea of offering workers a stake in the business. Tick
them.
a) Workers would be less likely to strike.
b) It would improve morale.
c) It is fair to compensate for any reduction in benefits.
d) It would attract high-quality people to work in the company.
e) The company as a whole would benefit.
f) Experience has proved that it is effective.
76

Large US companies where employees own a lot of shares are

a) uncommon.
b) numerous.
c) more successful than other companies.
d) facing financial difficulties.

77 The disadvantages of employee share ownership which are mentioned in the article are (tick all
correct answers):
a) Employees prefer not to be tied to closely to the company.
b) Employees could become lazy.
c) It doesnt work if people change jobs frequently.
d) It is difficult to decide how to allocate shares fairly.
e) Workers dont like owning shares.
f) Employees could lose out financially.
78

The authors opinion of employee share ownership is:

Date:______________ 2011

Name ___________________________

Last Name:__________________________

a) there are ways to overcome the problems.

b) the problems outweigh the benefits.
c) it is too complicated to be sure.
d) it is undoubtedly the best way forward.

WRITING
11 A proposal for market research
You represent a firm of market research consultants. Your firm is proposing to carry out research into
mobile-phone use in Africa for a mobile-phone producer (the client company). Look at the informal notes
below and draw up the first part of a proposal in three paragraphs, with subheadings as shown. You do not
need to specify details such as costs and deadlines for the work. You should write 200250 words.
Background
Growing mobile use in Africa.
Reasons:
1) limited phone networks (many have no access to landlines);
2) more local businesses in some areas;
3) more people with income to buy phones.
Client requests analysis of each country to develop strategic marketing plan
Aims
Client needs: clear understanding of African market + factors influencing demand;
forecast for next 5 years;
which countries most important? compile database for each.
Methods
Collect quantitative + qualitative data establish current patterns, future trends. Use several different
analysis techniques to draw up profile of existing users, how they use phones. Provide basis for strategic
model help client develop marketing plans, target potential users.

Date:______________ 2011