BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
(STUDENT BOOK WITH EXERCISES)
TOMORI PAL COLLEGE
KÉSZÜLT:
A TÁMOP-4.1.2.D-12/1/KONV-2012-0012 AZONOSÍTÓ SZÁMÚ, A TOMORI PÁL
FŐISKOLA IDEGEN NYELVI OKTATÁSÁNAK ÁTFOGÓ FEJLESZTÉSE CÍMŰ
PÁLYÁZAT KERETÉBEN
KÉSZÍTETTE: RÉDEI CSABA
SZAKMAI VEZETŐ: RÉDEI CSABA
PROJEKTMENEDZSER: SÜGE CSONGOR
Kalocsa, 2014.
CONTENTS
SECTION I ................................................................................................................................. 3
WRITING BUSINESS LETTERS............................................................................................. 3
ENGLISH CORRESPONDENCE ............................................................................................. 3
SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO CONSIDER
WHEN WRITING A BUSINESS LETTER .............................................................................. 3
HOW TO WRITE BUSINESS LETTERS ................................................................................ 4
LAYOUT OF A BUSINESS LETTER ...................................................................................... 4
HOW TO WRITE INFORMAL LETTERS .............................................................................. 5
SPECIAL FEATURES OF EMAILS ........................................................................................ 7
APPLICATION LETTERS SAMPLES..................................................................................... 8
REQUEST LETTERS SAMPLES ........................................................................................... 10
REFERENCE LETTERS SAMPLES ...................................................................................... 13
ORDER LETTERS SAMPLES ............................................................................................... 14
ADJUSTMENT LETTERS SAMPLES................................................................................... 16
COMPLAINT LETTERS SAMPLES ..................................................................................... 17
APOLOGY LETTERS SAMPLES .......................................................................................... 20
REJECTION LETTERS SAMPLES ....................................................................................... 22
LETTER WRITING EXERCISES .......................................................................................... 26
SECTION II ............................................................................................................................. 31
COMPUTER TERMS .............................................................................................................. 31
SECTION III ............................................................................................................................ 40
CLOZE DELETION TESTS ................................................................................................... 40
SECTION IV ............................................................................................................................ 50
READING COMPREHENSION EXERCISES ....................................................................... 50
Section I
Writing Business Letters
English correspondence
Correspondence actually means an exchange of written communication. This
communication usually takes place in the form of letters, emails, text messages, notes,
postcards etc. Correspondence can be divided into two forms: personal correspondence and
business correspondence. In business correspondence we usually use business letters or
emails as main means of communication. To know how to write a good business letter, first
you should understand what a letter is regarding its form and the objective of writing.
A letter is written or printed means of communication addressed to a person or organization.
This form of communication is used to deliver messages which can be a good news, report,
offer, demands, requests, claims, information, instructions, etc. There has been a drastic
development in this form of communication recently. The traditional business letter has
changed into electronic mail or letter which is usually called e-mail. Though most people have
used e-mails, the traditional form of a letter is still widely used specially for formal,
business and official use in the electronic communication.
A business letter is a letter written in formal language, generally used to deliver
messages from one business organization to another, or for correspondence between such
organizations and their partners, customers or clients. A good business letter should be
concise, simple, and polite.
Some important information to consider for writing a business
letter
Business letters vary according to the branch of commerce. However, there are some accepted
rules everybody has to follow. When you write a business letter, you should be very careful to
consider the following aspects:
-
Language and style should always be simple, direct and clear;
The information you give in the letter should always be accurate;
Make sure the factual information and figures are always correct;
Use a new paragpraph for each new topic;
Be brief as in business no one wants to read long irrelevant passages;
Be polite otherwise you may seriously risk the success of your business.
For planning a letter, do the following:
-
assemble the facts first;
decide what to say;
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-
decide how to say;
plan the beginning, middle and end;
it is a good idea to write a first draft.
Finally, the following things need to be avoided when writing a business letter!
-
using slang;
using flowery language;
being too formal or too informal;
using words that you do not understand yourself.
How to write business letters
Writing good business letters is one of the most important factors of success in English
business correspondence. The following section intends to give you guidance on how to
write business letters. At the end of the section, you will also find a lot of business letter
samples and a few exercises on how to write business letters correctly. To be able to write a
good business letter you must know the various parts of business letters and the expressions
that are usually found in business letters that follow the proper standards. These expressions
are used as a kind of frame and introduction to the content of business letters.
A good business letter usually consists of eight major parts. Some business letters consists of
three additional elements of letters. These additional parts are called identification initials,
enclosure reference, and attention line. Such additional elements of letters are used in certain
situations. You will find a short description of the various (obligatory and optional) elements
of business letters below to see them in detail. Each part of business letters has its own
characteristic and its own function.
Layout of a business letter
1. Letter Head: Most companies print their letter head on the top of the papers they are
going to use. It usually consists of the company's name, logo and its address, website
address, etc. You can type it if your company does not print its letter head. If you write
a personal letter, you usually put your own name and address.
2. Date Line: Below the letter head or your name and address, you should put the date of
the letter. Make sure you write the form that is really clear to every one.
3. Inside Address: After you put the date of the letter, you should put the name of a
person or organization you are writing to. Do not forget to put the complete address on
the letter so that it is surely delivered to its right destination. In British English, your
address and telephone number appear on the right-hand side at the top of the page,
with the date underneath. In American English, it is common to write it on the lefthand side of the page, above the name and address of the person that you are writing
to. However, this might be different, if the letter is written on headed paper.
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4. Attention Line (optional): If you like, you can put attention line after the organization
address. With this attention line, the letter will be sent directly to the person or
division you write on this line. For example: Attention: Mr. Theodor Smith.
5. Salutation: After you write the inside address, you should put a salutation beginning
with "Dear". In case you know the correct name of the person you are writing to, begin
your letter: Dear Mr Black, Dear Ms White. If you do not know his or her name, begin
your letter: Dear Sir (you know you are writing to a man)/Dear Madam (you know you
are writing to a woman)/Dear Sir or Madam (you do not know the gender). In British
English, there is usually no punctuation after salutation, although comma is possible.
In American English, a colon should be used.
6. Subject/Reference: Just before the first paragraph of the body of the letter, you can
put a subject or reference. For example: Subject: Your Order Confirmation.
7. Body of The Letter: After subject line, you can start writing the body of the letter. It
usually consists of the opening paragraph, the content paragraph, the closing
paragraph.
8. Complimentary Closing: Just before you put your signature, it is a good idea to use
the complementary closing such as: Yours sincerely, Sincerely, Sincerely yours, Yours
truly, Best regards, Kind regards, Regards. If you do not know the person (the
representative of the company, etc.) by name, you may use "Yours faithfully" as well.
9. Signature Line: You should put your signature here.
10. Identification Initials (optional): It is usually used by a large organization or
company. Identification initials are usually the initials of the typists.
11. Enclosure Reference: When we have one or two attachments, we state it at this part
of a letter so that the recipient could be aware of this.
How to write informal letters
Compared to business letters, there are fewer rules you have to follow when writing an
informal letter. In an informal letter you usually do not write your prompt address but you
write the date. The style of these letters is very much like regular speech. It also means that
you can use short forms such as didn’t. Pay attention that in a business letter you would not
use these short forms.
A sample informal letter:
Dear Imre,
Thanks for your email. I'm glad to hear that everything is going well. Sorry I'm a bit late
replying, but I've been really busy working in my new job and I haven't had time to check my
private mail for days.
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Thank you so much for inviting me to stay with you in Budapest. I'd love to spend all my
vacation with you. I'll really need a break after working so much. I have to restart work at the
end of June. Is it OK if I come on Monday 8th June and leave on Tuesday 23th? I am afraid I
have an important meeting to attend on my workplace on 24th June. If these dates sound
good to you, let me know and I'll go ahead and book the flight.
I need to ask you a few questions about the weather in Hungary in the winter. What kind of
clothes should I bring? You see, I've never been to Europe at this time of the year. I would
like to bring some presents to your parents. What do you think about some Brazilian
slippers? They could use them in the summer when they go to the beach.
Finally, you asked me what I'd like to do when I get there. Well, I guess the first few days
we'll be busy getting ready for the wedding. After that, though, there are one or two things I'd
like to do. You know I'm a huge fan of modern art and I heard that there were some good
museums of fine art in Budapest. Do you think we could go there one day? Of course, a day
sightseeing in Budapest would be great, too. Anyway, I'll leave it up to you.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Take care
Carol
PS By the way, could you please tell your mother that she shouldn’t bother much about my
visit. I don’t really want to interfere with your normal life.
Here you can find some common phrases used in formal and informal letters:
FORMAL
I am writing to inform you that...
I am pleased to inform you that...
I regret to inform you that...
Thank you for your letter of...
I hope this information has been of use.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
I’m writing to say that...
I’m writing to ask about...
I’m pleased to say that...
I’m sorry to tell you that...
Thank you for your letter about...
I hope this has been useful.
Hope to hear from you soon.
INFORMAL
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Special features of emails
Instead of long business letters people often write emails to business partners in the same way
they speak so it is less formal. There are some special forms that you should consider when
writing business letters or emails. The forms appear in emails only:
-
Cc: the email address of the person you want to copy your email
Bcc:
attached: other computer files which you are sending together with the email
common ways of salutation: If you know the other person well, you can start your
email without writing anybody’s name. You can simply start with Hello or Hi.
use of capitals means that you are shouting. It is better not to use it.
to emphasise something you can use *asterisks*: “Please note there is *no* meeting
today.”
‘smileys’ and symbols are often used in emails just as in text messages
SAMPLE EMAIL:
Hi Mary
We have arrived in Germany and have just booked into a motel for tonight. Tomorrow we
will travel on to Calais where we get the Eurotunnel. At the moment we are feeling shattered;
it’s been a long day! The dogs have been very good so far though!
Just before we left we popped over to the office to check the post. There was a letter there
from Berry Bank, and it would seem as though we owe them some money. Would you mind
contacting the Manager for us to check whether it is the case?
Thanks very much!
Will speak again soon.
Eva Foster
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I.
Application Letters Samples
Source: Letter samples have been adapted from the free-to-use business letter samples
available at inglet.com.
1. Marketing Manager Application Letter
245 Norris Road, Manchester
August 20, 2013
Mr. Samuel Martin
Recruitment Manager
Primary Goods Inc.
Dear Sir,
I would like to apply for the job of 'Marketing Manager' that I saw advertised in The
Independent, February 18, 2006. I am 28 years old and I have a master degree in economics
and some work experience in the field of finance.
I would be grateful if you could send me the details of the job description and the salary that
you will offer. I would be available for an interview any time next week.
Sincerely yours,
Sam Hawking
2. A Financial Research Assistant Application Letter
Prague, IN 47401
January 15, 2012
Ms. Laura Sachson
Personnel Manager
Action, Inc
80 Nelson Road
Liverpool, MO 62130
Dear Ms. Sachson,
I am seeking a responsible position as a financial research assistant in which I may use my
training and exprience to solve financial problems. I would be interested in exploring the
possibility of obtaining such a position within your firm. I would very much appreciate if you
could inform me on any possible vacancies at your company.
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I
expect
to
receive
a
Bachelor
of
Business
Administration degree in finance from the University of Prague in June. Since September
2005, I have been participating, through the university, in the Professional Training Program
at Logistical Systems International, in Birmingham. In the program I was assigned, on
rotating basis, to several staff sections in apprentice positions. Most recently, I have been a
financial trainee in the Accounting Department and have gained a great deal of experience.
Please find eclosed the detail of the academic course I have taken in the enclosed resume.
I look forward to meeting you soon in an interview.
Sincerely yours,
Vaclav Grebij
3. A Waiter Application Letter
Raul Kabayan
12 Hector Street
Plymouth, CA 94120
August 19, 2013
Mexico Restaurant
124 South Street
Plymouth, CA 94120
Dear Sir,
I saw your advertisement in today's local newspaper that you need more experienced waiters
for your restaurant. Since I have educational and experience background in the food and
hospitality industry, I am enthusiastically ready to work for your company.
For the last five years, I have been working for a Mexican Restaurant where I have overcome
working under pressure and got a lot of practical knowledge and practice on every aspect of
food service, including taking order, waiting customer's dinner and lunch, handling the cash
register, dealing with takeaway boxes and performing daily inventory reports.
In the same restaurant, I also succeeded in performing front office duties for a year. I gained a
lot of experiences in hospitality practice and fulfilling all the customer's demands.
I strongly believe that I could be of great help to you in your restaurant. Should you need to
contact me, please call me at this number 1234567 or reply to me at this email.
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Yours sincerely,
Tim Collinghan
II.
Request Letters Samples
1. Job Request Letter
George Harrison
123 South Street, Toronto
April 05, 2013
Telecommunications of Canada Ltd.
1 Main Street, Victoria
Edmonton
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am trying to find out a possible career in Telecommunications Department. I am specially
interested in Technology Engineering.
By the end of this year I will have graduated from University of Toronto majoring in
Information Technology. Therefore, I would like to know if in the near future there will be a
vacant position in your company. I have already worked for several companies in the field of
IT while I was a student. We did programming of various Java applications.
Would you kindly send me information on the requirements I have to fulfill and any other
things related to this.
I would appreciate your assistance in this matter. I hope to hear from you. Thank you very
much.
Yours faithfully,
George Harrison
2. Request Letter for Information
Office Equipment Suppliers
123 Main Street, London, UK 73008
September 15, 2013
10
Thomson Real Estate Agency
333 Poet Street, London
UK 34592
Dear Sir:
We are a large real estate company that has built several office buildings recently across the
UK. Now we are about to furnish our new facilities. I am currently trying to locate
information on office furniture called „Starsky”, which we intend to choose to be the furniture
in all of our new company offices. As far as I know, you are the major distributor of this type
of office furniture in the UK.
According to our database, we will need 15 office chairs, 14 desks and 20 office closets of
this trademark as soon as possible.
Therefore, could you please give us some information on your products available and the
prices? As we intend to purchase the products in a bulk, we are expecting a reasonable price.
Please indicate if you could do the delivery as well. Most of our offices are in London, with a
few more in Oxford and Cambridge.
We will call you as soon as possible. We are looking forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely yours,
Catherine Hamilton
3. Request Letter for Recommendation
123 Long Road, Kingston
November 03, 2012
Timothy Cartwright
Hotel of Bermuda
14 Second Street
Hamilton, Bermuda
Dear Mr Cartwright:
My name is John Muggleton. I worked in Hotel of Bermuda for about 9 years, starting from
September 10, 1998. I resigned from the hotel for my career advancement in Nebraska,
United States. I started to work in your establishment as a Restaurant Manager and my last
position was a Front Office Manager. I still keep in touch with most of the former colleagues.
I humbly request for a recommendation letter from you to support my chances of working in
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Hilton Hotel in USA. I contacted the hotel and I am currently applying for a job in one of the
hotels in Nebraska and they have asked me to present some references. I would be very
grateful if you could send me some references to support my application. I thank you very
much for all your assistance in this matter.
Yours sincerely,
John Muggleton
4. Request Letter for Salary Adjustment
John Williams
Sales Department
12 South Road
Liverpool-56789
Phone (248) 1234567
March 25, 2013
Brian Ford
HR Manager
Knit Master
12 Main Road
Liverpool-56789
Dear Mr. Ford:
For the last two years, since I was assigned more responsibilities in this department I notice
that our sales have been increasing quite significantly. Consequently, the load of work has
stepped up a lot. Although we have more customers to serve and more challenges to deal
with, I have been successful in fulfilling their demands and expectations. As you know, I have
received a lot of compliment letters from our customers due to their satisfaction with my
service.
Recenty I have been approached by another company that offered me a job with similar duties
to do at their company. The renumeration they offered is highly exhilarating. However, I
would like to continue working for you because I do think that it is more in line with my longterm career plans.
Considering all the mentioned-above conditions, I humbly request a salary adjustment for my
work. I am confident that this salary adjustment will not only motivate me to work harder and
smarter with better dedication to this company, but also will motivate other personnel to work
better. At the end it will increase our customers' satisfaction and our sales.
12
Thank you for considering my salary adjustment, I look forward to hearing from you.
Cordially
John Williams
III.
Reference Letters Samples
1. Employee Reference Letter
Dickson's Bookshop
30 Silverstone Avenue
New York V2A 8B1
Tel:250-429-0002
September 21, 2010
Mr. Robert White
15 Main St.
New York
V2A 7B5
Subject: Reference For Mr. Ted Wilson
Dear Mr. Robert White:
In reply to your reference letter request on Mr. Ted Wilson, we may advise you that Mr
Ben Wilson is one of our most highly dedicated staff. He worked for the company for about
6 years. While working with our company, he was always carrying out his duties well and
he was always assisting his subordinates in carrying out various activities of the office so
that he succeeded in creating a harmonious working atmosphere. Besides, he always
appreciated and respected the customers so that our customers felt satisfied with our
services.
He resigned from our company for his own request to develop his career. We granted his
request because we realize that in our company, his career will not grow again.
Kindly inform us if you need more information regarding his performance.
Best regards,
Dick Ashley
Director
2. Employment Reference Letter
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Excellent Shopping
135 Church Street
PO BOX 123 Phoenix, AZ 85080
November 25, 2010
Ms. Carol Humphrey
Amazing Shopping Center
Chicago, IL 60560
Dear Ms. Carol Humphrey:
As her employer, I am happy to have the opportunity to give more information about Susan
Doherty who applied to your company for the position of sales representative. She has worked
here for ten years.
Susan could quickly develop her skills in selling. She also had extraordinary capability in
building customer loyalty. She had a very good relationship with all her colleagues. Besides,
she also received a lot of letters of appreciation from these people for her services.
I believe Susan would make excellent contribution to the development of your business.
Sincerely yours,
Rachel Webster
President Director
IV.
Order Letters Samples
1. Personal Purchase Order Letter
154 Green Avenue
Newyork, USA
January 5, 2010
Ms. K. Hutchinson
Beller Company, Inc.
424 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10021
Dear Ms. Hutchinson,
Thank you for sending your catalog so promptly. It arrived within a few days of my request.
Please send me the following items by parcel post:
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1 copy of the Homler book,
High School Physics $7.50
25 copies of Pinehurst $ 210.00
Algebra $8.75
Total $ 226.25
I am enclosing a money order for $ 226.25. If there are additional charges, please let me
know.
Please mail the books to the address given above. By which date do you think I will receive
the parcel?
Regards,
Brandon Michael
2. Company Purchase Order Letter
Purchase Order
Ricky Martin
11 Main Street
San Fransisco, USA
ZIP CODE 91234
Attention: Miss Kim Hurley
Dear Miss Hurley
Please accept this purchase order for the following:
No.
1
2
Product
Single
Industrial
Vacuum
Cleaner
400
Extractor
BX 121
Quantity Unit Price
Total
4
$ 3,000
$ 12,000
4
$ 1,500
$ 6,000
Total
$ 18,000
We require shipment by August 17, 2013 to:
PT Pama
No. 1 Jl. Cileungsi,
Bogor, Indonesia
Post Code 40156
I hope delivering in August is no problem for you. Should you need more information, please
15
contact me at 62-22-756756 at your earliest convenience or email me at
order@company.com.
Sincerely,
Dede Prana
Purchasing Manager
V.
Adjustment Letters Samples
1. Late Order Delivery
Trigger Household Appliances, Inc.
Columbus, Nevada 45453
October 19, 2013
Mr. James Wilson
Royalty Houseware, Inc.
P.O. Box 3132
Austin, TX 78703
Dear Mr. Wilson:
Subject: October 14 letter about Late Order
We have just received your October 14 letter about your order which did not arrive on time.
We are extremely sorry that we have not been able to deliver your order as scheduled. We
really regret to inform you that the delay was caused by the late arrival of some of the raw
materials.
However, we managed to deliver all the equipment you ordered a few days ago. We believe it
will reach you in two days. We hope you receive the products in due time.
Once again, Please allow us to express our sincere apology for the delay and the
inconvenience it has caused you. It was really due to the fact that is beyond our control.
We will struggle to prevent this incident from happening again in future and hope we
can continue our business as usual. Should you need to contact us, please reply to the email or
you can reach me by phone at 12/1234-5678.
Sincerely Yours,
Dick Williams
Customer Relation Manager
16
2. Adjustment of Order Letter
Dorothy Eastwood, Purchasing Manager
Baby Cosmetics
35 Main Street, London 23745
Herps Warehouse and Distribution Centre
22 Stronghold Avenue, London 48549
Harry Bishop Distribution Manager
Ref. No. JM 34558/1234
Subject: Change with our last order
Dear Mr. Bishop,
I am writing to you to advise you that some mistakes have been made in relation to our latest
order (see the reference number above).
We have a new colleague. She mistakenly ordered 2,500 bottles of smoothing bath and 100
bottles of foam bath from your company on 12 August. In fact, she confused the numbers. We
actually need 100 bottles of smoothing bath and 2,500 bottles of foam bath.
I am terribly sorry about this change. I hope it does not cause much of inconvenience to you
and you could meet our correct order. All the other parameters should be unchanged. We
require delivery by 15 September at the latest and wish to pay by bank transfer upon receipt of
the products. Please, accept our apologies.
Kind regards,
Dorothy Eastwood
VI.
Complaint Letters Samples
1. Complaint Letter for Damaged Goods
Bestbuy Textile Ltd
123 Main Street
Springfield, HI 23456
September 17, 2013
17
Tissue Textile, Inc
3245 North 22nd Street
New York, Y 10234
Subject: complaints
Dear Sir,
We hereby inform you that we have received the goods we ordered in a timely manner.
However, there are serious problems with the quality of the goods you sent. After checking,
we found several items that are not in accordance with our order, not to mention the fact that
some other products were seriously damaged. This causes delays in delivery of goods to our
customers so that they feel disappointed with the delay and possibly switch to another
company. This is totally unacceptable. You are about to considerably damage our reputation.
Therefore, we hope that you are willing to re-examine the products that were delivered and
immediately replace the damaged goods. We do not want this incident to happen again to
avoid disappointment to all parties in the future.
We look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Thomas Black
Purchasing Manager
2. Complaint Letter for Delayed Order
Bestbuy Textile Ltd
123 Main Street
Springfield, HI 23456
September 17, 2013
Tissue Textile, Inc
3245 North 22nd Street
New York, Y 10234
Subject: complaints
Dear Sir,
18
We hereby inform you that we have not received yet our order in spite of the fact that more
than 3 weeks have already passed. Consequently, many of our customers feel disappointed
with this delay and may go to another company. This is absolutely unacceptable! You have
considerably damaged our reputation.
I hope that you will immediately deal with this matter and find out what happened. See to it
that the goods are promptly dispatched to our warehouse.
We do not want this incident to happen again to avoid disappointment to all parties in the
future.
We look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Thomas Black
Purchasing Manager
3. Consumer Complaint Letter
Telecommunications Services
501 Main Street
Springfield, OH 45321
(513) 683-8100
September 29, 2010
Digital Eqipment, Inc
5321 West 23rd Street
New York, 10062
Dear Sir
On May I ordered five TV tuners for your model MK-15 color receiver. The tuner
part number was BA-5771-3. On June 5th I received the tuners labeled BA-413-7. I
immediately returned these tuners with a note indicating the mistake had been made and ask
for a replacement of the products. However, not only have I failed to receive the tuner
ordered, but I have also been billed repeatedly.
Please either send me the tuners I ordered or cancel my order. I have enclosed a copy of my
original order and the most recent bill.
Sincerely,
Robert Springfield
19
VII.
Apology Letters Samples
1. Apology Letter for Late Delivery
Marvellous Shopping
111 Waverly Drive
Los Angeles, CA 94706
September 12, 2013
Mr. Poe Newman
358 Norris Road
Los Angeles, CA 94706
Dear Mr. Newman:
We apologize for the late delivery of your order. We have just implemented a new delivery
system that still has a few items to be accomplished, but we made sure your order fixed and
sent it out this morning. We definitely regard these modifications as an investment into our
better service for the future. With this new delivery system, I guarantee that we can handle
your order faster and better from next time on. For your trouble, we have enclosed a $30 gift
certificate which can be used at any of our stores until Decembery 31. We would like to
apologize for the delay of your order and any inconveniences this must have caused you.
Sincerely,
Anthony Maloney
Customer Service Manager
2. Apology Letter for Sending Wrong Goods
Clayton Items, Inc
Purchasing Agent
Columbus Shoe Street Columbus, MI 48002
September 29, 2010
Leopold Johnson
555 West 23rd Street
New York, 10062
Dear Mr Johnson:
Your complaint letter about the items that are not in accordance with your order has been
received and we understand its contents. We have recognized our mistake. We apologize for
the error and we will immediately withdraw the item and replace it with the goods you order.
20
We guarantee that it will not happen again in future. We appreciate your understanding and
hope we have corrected our mistake to your satisfaction.
Sincerely,
James Bailey
3. Apology Letter for Delaying Payment
Best Sales Shopping
Purchasing Agent
Niagara Waterfall Street
Columbus, MI 48002
September 29, 2010
Helen Rumsfeld
Credit Department
Shoes Incorporated
222 Plainfield Road
Syracuse, NY 13212
Dear Mrs. Helen Rumsfeld:
We do apologize for delaying payment of our account. We really do not want to make a
longer time for our payment but presently, we have quite a few problems to solve in our
company. Therefore, we must settle these problems first so that we will be able to continue
our business with you in the future. I will contact the Financial Department and ask them to
settle your invoice as soon as possible. I am convinced that you will receive our payment until
the end of the current week.
Once again, please accept our most sincere apologies for the delay. Thank you for your
patience.
Sincerely yours,
Vicky Ball
Purchasing Manager
21
4. Apology Letter for Order Cancellation
Charleston Shopping Mall
789 Waverly Drive
Los Angeles, CA 94706
May 18, 2013
Prince Clothing Factory
358 Norris Road
Mulhouse, CA 94702
Attention: Mr. Michael Boston
Dear Mr. Boston:
We herewith would like to inform you that we cancel our order. We have just ordered all the
items we need from another factory because you cannot deliver our order in time. We hope
that you can handle our order faster and better in future. We would like to apologize for any
inconveniences this must have caused you.
Sincerely,
Anthony Englet
Purchasing Manager
VIII. Rejection Letters Samples
1. Administrative Assistant Rejection Letter
127 Winding Road
Boston, MA 02173
February 14, 2008
Ms. Clara Tyler
Director, Personnel Department
Manchester Iron Works, Inc
1258 Harley Avenue
Manchester, MA 02181
Dear Ms. Tyler:
I was pleased to receive your offer of employment as an Administrative Assistant in the
Executive Office. I was very impressed with your company and with the position as you
described.
22
Since interviewing with you, however, I have been offered another position that is even more
in line with my long-range goals, and I have accepted that position. I hope that I do not cause
any inconvenience to you with my decision. Maybe it is early enough to choose the secon best
candidate.
Thank you for your time consideration. I enjoyed meeting with your staff.
Yours sincerely,
Jason Woodstock
2. Rejection Letter for Invitation
123 Southern Road
Essex, MA 02173
October 23, 2010
Dr. James William
Director, Personnel Department
London Health Centre
2222 Main Street
London
Dear Dr. William:
I am very pleased that you invite me to give a seminar in London. However, I regret to say
that I will not be able to accept any seminar invitation until the end of January next year due
to my tight schedule.
Nevertheless, should you still need me to give a seminar at the beginning of next year, I
would be very pleased to accept it. Please let me know the most convenient time for the
seminar.
I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Yours cordially,
Dr. Sarah Parker
23
3. Rejection of Complaint Letter
Ms. Wattson
Copy Stars
123 Heathrow Road
Wellington 23456
New Zealand
Subject: Reply to your Complaint
Dear Ms Wattson,
We have received your complaint of September, 17 about the malfunctioning of our new
printers that were delivered to you at the end of July.
Our technician has examined the printers on September 21. I am afraid that there is nothing
wrong with the quality of the printers. He found that the errors were due to your negligence in
use. You have installed the machines in your kitchen and the machines contacted some sort of
liquid that has probably been poured over the printers by mistake. As it is stated in the
instructions, the printers may not contact water or any other liquid.
On the basis of the findings of our technician, we have to reject your complaint and demand
for a replacement. I hope you will understand our point. We can either replace or repair the
printers at your own cost.
Best regards,
Samuel Jackson
Managing Director
4. Termination of Employment Letter
Guardian Stationery
17. Herald Street
Oxford
45181333355
October 18th, 2013
24
Archibald Louis
222 Black Street
London
Dear Mr Louis,
After careful review of your job performance
during the last three months, we never see any advancement neither in your
discipline area nor your quality in performing any duties given to you, we regret to inform
you that we cannot continue to employ you in our company.
We believe you will be able to get more opportunities in the near future as long as you can
immediately improve your performance by correcting your weaknesses in those two
areas mentioned above.
You are entitled to two week's severance pay, which will be paid in full on your next salary.
Thank you for your understanding in this matter.
Sincerely yours,
Jack Willis
Owner
25
IX.
Letter writing exercises
Intermediate English Test for Business Letter Writing
Practice 1
You will have 60 minutes to complete the test.
You are
George/Helen Longwood, purchasing manager of Hodgson Furnishment, 35
Main Street, London W 12345
Your new assistant has made some mistakes in an order to
Captain Warehouse and Distribution Centre
28 Fritzgerald Street, London W 23344
Harry Boston Distribution Manager
Ref. No. JK 234/08345
Date: 03/06/13
Write a letter of 150-200 words in which you
-
explain the situation
modify the original order of 36 office chairs „Season” and 24 office desks
„Burton”
indicate a delivery date
specify the terms of payment
apologize for the mistake
26
Intermediate English Test for Business Letter Writing
Practice 2
You will have 60 minutes to complete the test.
You are
Robert/Sarah Hawkins, sales director of „Reliable Cars”, small car rental
company
35 Main Street, London W 12345
You want to get corporate clients on a permanent basis. Write a letter of 150-200 words to
send to a potential customer:
Thomson Book Distribution
18 Nelson Road, London W 23344
Julia Panovich Managing Director
Date: 02/11/13
Point out your competitive edge, e.g.
-
reliablility
range/quality of service
type of cars available
conditions offered
discount available on corporate fleets
27
Intermediate English Test for Business Letter Writing
Practice 3
You will have 60 minutes to complete the test.
You are
Ted/Sarah Parker, purchasing manager of Jones Fashions, 165 Nelson Road,
London SW 12345
Jones Fashions is a large chain of retailers selling high quality clothes in England. You are
looking for suppliers from all over the world. You visited the International Fair in Milan
where you saw a stand displaying high quality garments. This is the information about the
company:
Mr. Salvatore Giovanotti
Via Garibaldi 16
Milano
Italy
Write a letter of 150-200 words in which you
-
present your company and explain what you are looking for
indicate how you obtained information about the company in Italy
point out that there is great demand for good quality clothes in England and
prices are relatively high
ask for the latest catalogue and price list
express your hope for cooperation
28
Intermediate English Test for Business Letter Writing
Practice 4
You will have 60 minutes to complete the test.
You are
John/Susan Doe and you work for the computer company „IT Solutions”, 23
Huckleberry Road, London KW 82345
Your company manufactures computers, scanners, printers and other office equipment. You
have received an email of inquiry about your products from another company that wants to
buy all kind of hardware to its offices througout the whole country. You got the email from
this company:
Allen Goodwill
„Salon Esteem”
14 Hafford Street
Plymouth
UK
Write a letter of 150-200 words in which you
-
say thank you for their inquiry
give the official website of the company where anyone can find all the
necessary information about your products
specify the expected delivery date for orders
inform on the policy of discounts in case of a large order
specify the terms of payment
29
Intermediate English Test for Business Letter Writing
Practice 5
You will have 60 minutes to complete the test.
You are
Jack/Gina Russel, purchasing manager of Hilton Hotel, 12 Gatwick Road,
Birmingham SA 12345
You have ordered some decorations (tableclothes, napkins, pictures, etc.) for your restaurant
in the hotel from one of your regular suppliers. However, you found that the goods delivered
were damaged and some of them were lost during delivery. You are about to write a letter of
complaint to your supplier:
Mark Twain
„Restaurant Decoration”
17 Stafford Avenue
Birmingham
Write a letter of 150-200 words in which you
-
tell what happened
ask for an explanation
indicate that you are deeply disappointed since you had no problems with
the goods delivered before
emphasize that you cannot accept the goods delivered
ask for possible solution to this problem
30
Section II
Computer Terms
Many words and expressions in connection with computers have become an important part of
our daily and also business language use. The following exercises offer you excellent practice
opportunity to learn the most common computer-related words in English and better
understand the meanings.
Source of definitions: Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary (free online version)
monitor: a television screen used to show particular kinds of information; a screen that shows
information from a computer.
The details of today's flights are displayed on the monitor.
I have got a PC with a 17-inch color monitor.
screen: the flat surface at the front of a television, computer, or other electronic device, on
which you see pictures or information.
Move your cursor to the top of the screen.
desktop: a screen on a computer which shows the icons of the programs that can be used
desktop computer: a computer with a keyboard, screen and main processing unit, that fits on a
desk
keyboard: the set of keys for operating a computer or typewriter.
keypad: a small set of buttons with numbers on used to operate a telephone, television, etc;
the buttons on the right of a computer keyboard
battery: a device that is placed inside a car engine, clock, radio, phone, etc. and that produces
the electricity that makes it work.
31
to replace the batteries
a rechargeable battery
charger: a piece of equipment for loading a battery with electricity.
mouse: a small device that is moved by hand across a surface to control the movement of the
cursor on a computer screen.
Click the left mouse button twice to highlight the program.
Use the mouse to drag the icon to a new position.
laptop=notebook: a small computer that can work with a battery and be easily carried
netbook: a small laptop computer, designed especially for using the Internet and email
PC (abbreviation of personal computer): a small computer that is designed for one person to
use at work or at home.
plug:
1. a small plastic object with two or three metal pins, that connects a piece of electrical
equipment to the main supply of electricity
a three-pin plug
I'll have to change the plug on my hairdryer.
2. a small opening in a wall, by which you connect a piece of electrical equipment to the main
supply of electricity
enter: write information = to put names, numbers, details, etc. in a list, book or computer
Enter your name and occupation in the boxes (= on a form).
to enter data into a computer
to enter figures on a spreadsheet
32
PIN: the abbreviation for ‘personal identification number’ (a number given to you, for
example by a bank, so that you can use a plastic card to take out money from a cash machine)
Password (computing): a series of letters or numbers that you must type into a computer or
computer system in order to be able to use it
Enter a username and password to get into the system.
icon (computing): a small symbol on a computer screen that represents a program or a file
Click on the printer icon with the mouse.
program/IT or computer programs: a set of instructions in code that control the operations or
functions of a computer.
Load the program into the computer.
software: the programs, etc. used to operate a computer (application/system software)
Will the software run on my machine?
hardware: the machinery and electronic parts of a computer system
window (computing): an area within a frame on a computer screen, in which a particular
program is operating or in which information of a particular type is shown.
to create/open a window
install/apply programs: to put a new program into a computer
I'll need some help installing the software.
hard disk: a disk inside a computer that stores data and programs
33
floppy disk/floppy/floppies/diskette: a flat disk inside a plastic cover, that is used to store data
in the form that a computer can read, and that can be removed from the computer
document (computing): a computer file that contains text that has a name that identifies it
Save the document before closing.
file: a collection of information stored together in a computer, under a particular name
Every file on the same disk must have a different name.
folder: (in some computer systems) a way of organizing and storing computer files
type (verb): to write something using a computer or typewriter
How fast can you type?
typing errors
click on an icon: to choose a particular function or item on a computer screen, etc, by pressing
one of the buttons on a mouse or touch pad.
Click the OK button to start. (click something)
I clicked on the link to the next page of the website. (click on something)
To run a window, just double-click on the icon.
Click here to add your opinion to the survey.
website: a place connected to the Internet, where a company or an organization, or an
individual person, puts information
I found this information on their website.
For current prices please visit our website.
home page:
34
1. the main page created by a company, an organization, etc. on the Internet from which
connections to other pages can be made
2. a page on the Internet that you choose to appear first on your screen whenever you
make a connection to the Internet
the Internet (formal)/the Net (informal): an international computer network connecting other
networks and computers from companies, universities, etc
I looked it up on the Internet.
You can buy our goods over the Internet.
All the rooms have access to the Internet/Internet access.
an Internet service provider(= a company that provides you with an Internet connection and
services such as email, etc.)
web pages/sites: a document that is connected to the World Wide Web and that anyone with
an Internet connection can see, usually forming part of a website
We learned how to create and register a new web page.
modem: a device that connects one computer system to another using a telephone line so that
data can be sent
browser (computing): a program that lets you look at or read documents on the Internet
a Web browser
URL: the abbreviation for a uniform/universal resource locator (the address of a World Wide
Web page)
search engine: a computer program that searches the Internet for information, especially by
looking for documents containing a particular word or group of words
menu (computing): a list of possible choices that are shown on a computer screen
a pull-down menu
35
link (computing): a place in an electronic document that is connected to another electronic
document or to another part of the same document
To visit similar websites to this one, click on the links at the bottom of the page.
download something (computing): to move data to a smaller computer system from a larger
one
virus: instructions that are hidden within a computer program and are designed to cause faults
or destroy data
The virus in the software was programmed to corrupt the hard disk.
text message (sometimes called SMS = short messaging services, its often called “sms” in
Hungarian): a written message that you send using a mobile/cell phone
Send a text message to this number to vote.
chat room: an area on the Internet where people can communicate with each other, usually
about one particular topic
abbreviation: a short form of a word, etc
emoticon(s)/‘smiley(s)’: a short set of keyboard symbols that represents the expression on
somebody's face, used in email, etc. to show the feelings of the person sending the message.
For example :-) represents a smiling face (when you look at it sideways).
symbol(s) for something: a sign, number, letter, etc. that has a fixed meaning, especially in
science, mathematics and music
What is the chemical symbol for copper?
A list of symbols used on the map is given in the index.
36
email/electronic mail (formal): a way of sending messages and data to other people by means
of computers connected together in a network
to send a message by email
smart phone (in British English), Smartphone (in American English): a mobile phone/cell
phone that also has some of the functions of a computer
You can use your smart phone to access the Internet.
The smart phone supports Wi-Fi networking.
handset: a mobile/cell phone or a smart phone, especially the main part of the phone not
including the battery or SIM card (mobile handsets)
iPod: a small piece of equipment that can store information taken from the Internet and that
you carry with you, for example so that you can listen to music
The iPod plays audio for up to 20 hours.
There are downloadable subway maps for your iPod available on the Internet.
tablet/tablet PC: a small computer that is easy to carry, with a large touch screen and
sometimes without a physical keyboard:
gadget: a small tool or device that does something useful
device: an object or a piece of equipment that has been designed to do a particular job
This device enables deaf people to communicate by typing messages instead of speaking.
mobile device: any small computing device that will fit into your pocket, such as a PDA or
smart phone
37
MID: the abbreviation for ‘mobile Internet device’ (a small computer that you can hold in
your hand, larger than a smart phone but smaller than a tablet PC. MIDs offer Internet-based
services mainly for personal rather than business use.)
PDA: the abbreviation for ‘personal digital assistant’ which is a very small computer that is
used for storing personal information and creating documents, and that may include other
functions such as telephone, fax, connection to the Internet, etc.)
mobile/mobile phone/cell phone/cellular phone/cell: a telephone that does not have wires and
works by radio, that you can carry with you and use anywhere
Please make sure all mobile phones are switched off during the performance.
GSM: Global System/Standard for Mobile Communication(s) (an international system for
digital communication by mobile/cell phone)
gaming: playing computer games
camcorder: a video camera that records pictures and sound and that can be carried around
app: the abbreviation for application which is a program designed to do a particular job; a
piece of software
a database application
to download an app
telephone: a system for talking to somebody else over long distances, using wires or radio; a
machine used for this
The telephone rang and Pat answered it.
You can reserve seats over the telephone.
I need to make a telephone call.
telephone lines/networks/services
38
headset: a pair of headphones, especially one with a microphone attached to it
printer: a machine for printing text on paper, especially one connected to a computer
a color/laser printer
copy information
paste information:
save information:
to access/copy/create/delete/download/save a file
39
Section III
Cloze Deletion Tests
The following section contains cloze deletion text exercises. Cloze deletion tests (or cloze
tests) mean portions of texts with certain words removed. The texts are based on news from
the business columns of British or American newspapers and news portals. They are either the
full texts of the news or cut versions.
Words in the following texts have been removed selectively. It means that the missing words
may involve all the elements of the language (from articles or pronouns to business terms).
The removed words might be terms related to business, grammatical expression or anything
that makes sense in the given context. Each blank contains one removed word only. The
missing words are given below.
You are not allowed to use a dictionary to do the exercises. However, it is advisable to check
the meaning of all the unknown expressions in the text after you have filled in the blanks.
Checking unknown words will help you better understand the texts.
40
3 May 2012, last updated at 17:58 GMT, bbc.co.uk, cut version
Africa's share of foreign direct investment largest ever
Africa received its largest ever share of global foreign direct investment (FDI) last year, an
Ernst and Young survey has said. FDI projects .............................. by 27% in 2011, pushing
Africa's share of the world's investment to almost a .............................. . FDI inflows, now
about $80bn (£50bn), should reach $150bn by 2015, .............................. to the global
consultants.
But .............................. investors still see Africa as "the least attractive" ..............................,
the report finds. Investment is .............................. to levels last seen before the financial crisis,
the firm said in its 2012 Africa Attractiveness .............................. . There have been
significant inflows into the .............................., infrastructure-related and services sectors.
Ernst and Young found there was a "stark .............................." between those who had already
.............................. in Africa and those who had not, with the latter .............................. about
corruption and political instability.
In their .............................. they said Zambia saw a 93% .............................. in investments
over the past year - a result of a .............................. economy and a peaceful handover of
power. Ghana, Botswana, Tanzania, Cape Verde and Mauritius also .............................. high
FDI inflows. Africa itself is also helping to .............................. up investments. "Intra-African
investment has grown substantially, more so than any other category in the last four years,
being led by South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria," Mr Lolar said.
according
contrast
manufacturing
report
attracted
destination
potential
rise
close
grew
push
Survey
concerned
invested
quarter
well-managed
41
8 August 2011 Last updated at 17:24 GMT, BBC News
AIG sues Bank of America for $10bn bad debt losses
Insurance group AIG is suing Bank of America (BoA) for $10bn (£6.1bn), accusing the
lender of carrying out a "massive fraud" on bad mortgage debt.
AIG alleges that BoA ………………………… the quality of the $28bn worth
………………………… mortgage-backed investment products it bought from the bank prior
to the 2008 turmoil in the ………………………… markets. BoA has rejected AIG's
………………………… .
Last month, BoA reported ………………………… it had agreed to pay $8.5bn to
………………………… other claims related to bad mortgage debt. AIG,
………………………… remains majority owned by the US government after it required
$182.3bn of bail-out funds ………………………… to its exposure to bad US mortgage debt,
said BoA was "engaged in a massive scheme to ………………………… and deceive
investors". Its lawsuit also names BoA subsidiaries Countrywide …………………………
Merrill Lynch.
BoA spokesman Lawrence Di Rita said: "AIG ………………………… chased high yields
and profits throughout the mortgage and structured finance markets."
BoA made a ………………………… of $8.8bn in the three months to the
………………………… of June, largely as a result of the $8.5bn settlement to investors and
other ………………………… related to bad mortgage debts. It was bad US
………………………… debt that sparked the 2008 credit crunch and resulting turmoil
………………………… the global financial markets.
allegations
exaggerated
loss
recklessly
and
financial
manipulate
settle
due
in
mortgage
that
end
insurers
of
which
42
29 November 2011 Last updated at 07:01 GMT, BBC
Hong Kong to extradite New Zealand bank error
fugitive
Hong Kong may soon extradite a New Zealand man suspected of withdrawing millions of
dollars that were mistakenly deposited in his account.
Hui Gao was ………………………… in Hong Kong in September after two
………………………… on the run. The ………………………… for extradition was granted
on 27 October, an official at Hong Kong's Judiciary told the BBC, without giving
………………………… details. Mr Gao, a New Zealander of Chinese origin, is wanted on
theft and money laundering ………………………… .
A New Zealand police ………………………… told the South China Morning Post that Mr
Gao was in ………………………… in Hong Kong and the extradition process was
………………………… but there was no time frame for his return. Mr Gao had consented
………………………… be extradited, the report added.
In 2009, Mr Gao asked Westpac Bank ………………………… an overdraft of 100,000 New
Zealand dollars ($77,000). But the bank ………………………… put NZ$10m into his
account. The bank discovered its error ………………………… days but, by then, more than
NZ$6m had allegedly been ………………………… to other accounts. Police stopped Mr
Gao ………………………… he entered Hong Kong from China in late September.
His ………………………… girlfriend, Kara Hurring, who left New Zealand with him in
2009, returned voluntarily to her home country in February. She will …………………………
trial next year on charges of stealing theft and money laundering.
Before going on the run, the pair, who have become known as New Zealand's "accidental
millionaires", ran a petrol station in the scenic town of Rotorua.
application
custody
further
transferred
arrested
face
mistakenly
underway
as
for
spokesman
within
charges
former
to
years
43
21 September 2011 Last updated at 02:25 GMT, BBC News
Car fumes 'raise heart attack risk for six-hour window'
Breathing in heavy traffic fumes can trigger a heart attack, say UK experts. Heart attack risk
is raised for about six hours post-exposure and goes down again after that, researchers found.
They say in the British Medical Journal that ......................... probably hastens rather than
directly cause attacks.
But ......................... exposure is still bad for health, they say, substantially ......................... life
expectancy, and so the advice to people ......................... the same - avoid as far as is possible.
Prof Jeremy Pearson, associate medical director ......................... the British Heart Foundation,
......................... co-funded the study, said: "This large-scale study shows conclusively that
your risk of ......................... a heart attack goes up temporarily, for ......................... six hours,
after breathing in higher levels of ......................... exhaust. "We know that pollution can have
a ......................... effect on your heart health, possibly because it can 'thicken' the blood to
make it more ......................... to clot, putting you at higher risk of a heart attack.” He said.
"Our advice to ......................... remains the same - if you've been ......................... with heart
disease, try to avoid spending ......................... periods outside in areas where there are likely
to be high traffic pollution ........................., such as on or near busy roads."
Prof Pearson from the BHF .........................: "Unhealthy diets and smoking etc. are much
bigger heart attack risk factors, but car fumes are the cream on the cake that can tip you over."
adds
having
major
repeated
around
levels
patients
shortening
at
likely
pollution
vehicle
diagnosed
long
remains
which
44
14 February 2012 Last updated at 06:04 GMT, BBC news, cut version
China bans foreign TV shows during prime time
China's TV broadcasting regulator has announced that foreign TV shows will no longer be
aired during prime time, state media report.
The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) says these shows cannot
.............................. aired from 19:30 to 22:00. The series also cannot run longer than 50
.............................. and should comprise "no more than 25% of programming each day".
According to the China Daily newspaper, the ".............................. is to improve the quality of
.............................. TV programmes".
Foreign shows also have to be .............................. before they are aired and cannot have
.............................. or vulgar content. Stations that violate the new rules ..............................
"severe punishments", the newspaper reports. Most foreign TV shows broadcast in China
.............................. from Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Thailand.
The move comes .............................. President Hu Jintao told members of the Communist
Party last month that officials .............................. remain vigilant against Western cultural
influences. The new rules .............................. a series of new regulations on TV programming.
In November, China ordered a ban .............................. advertisements during TV dramas as
part of its reform of cultural activities. It also clamped down on light ..............................
shows, limiting the number satellite channels were .............................. to show.
Officials also told a .............................. commercial station to stop broadcasting a popular
talent contest called Super Girl. They said it was too long, but others .............................. the
show's huge popularity was a reason. The move comes at a time when the Communist Party is
seen as trying to get a firmer grip on Chinese culture.
after
are
face
should
aim
be
follow
successful
allowed
entertainment
imported
suspected
approved
episodes
on
violent
45
BBC News, Aug. 13. 2011, Nick Bryant, Sidney
Australia's Great Barrier Reef 'at risk from pesticide'
Agricultural pesticides are causing significant damage to the Great Barrier Reef, according to
a new Australian government report on water quality at the site. The report says some farmers
must be more careful ………………………… their chemicals. It found that
………………………… one-quarter of horticulture producers and 12% of pastoral farmers
………………………… using practices deemed ………………………… by the industry.
The Great Barrier Reef is a World Heritage-listed natural ………………………… .
Pesticides have been found up to 60km (38 miles) inside the reef at toxic concentrations
known to ………………………… coral. The report said many horticulture
………………………… were using practices considered unacceptable, and that the sugar
cane industry in the wet tropics ………………………… northern Queensland was
particularly to blame. However, the agriculture industry has said the findings are based on
………………………… data, and that there has been a significant change.
The government ………………………… that farmers have been using more environmentally
………………………… methods, but says those improvements had been undermined by
Cyclone Yasi, a storm that hit the region ………………………… in the year. There have
………………………… calls from conservationists to ………………………… the use of
pesticides and to ban ………………………… weed killers. But sugar cane producers have
argued that there are ………………………… alternatives to adequately protect their crops.
agrees
friendly
no
unacceptable
been
harm
of
were
certain
limit
old
with
earlier
nearly
producers
wonder
46
7 October 2013 Last updated at 12:28 GMT, BBC, a cut version
Greece forecasts it will emerge from recession in 2014
Greece has .............................. that it will emerge from its six-year long recession next year, in
a sign it may be finally recovering from its .............................. crisis. The Greek government
made the forecast in a first draft of its 2014 budget, which predicted 0.6% growth. "We
foresee the end of .............................. in 2014," vice finance minister Christos Staikouras said.
Greece .............................. submit a final budget in November.
Greece's economy has shrunk .............................. 23% since 2008, and it has been dependent
on rescue loans from other European Union .............................. and the International
Monetary Fund since 2010. So .............................., it has received 240bn euros (£206bn) in
loans from the "troika" of international .............................. - the European Commission,
European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
In .............................., its economy has been strictly supervised by the troika and the
government has been forced to impose .............................. cuts, tax rises, and labour market
and pension reforms. The troika will also have to approve Greece's budget for next year
before it can be .............................. .
Greece's budget prediction reflects signs of optimism .............................. the Greek economy.
Tourism is .............................. up, leading to a rise in seasonal employment. Manufacturing is
also showing some signs of recovery, while retail sales .............................. to decline, but at a
slower pace than previously.
However, analysts remain .............................. . The unemployment rate stands at a record of
almost 28%, and threats of further job cuts have .............................. to strikes and civil unrest,
that economists worry could jeopardise further economic recovery.
around
countries
finalised
predicted
by
debt
led
recession
cautious
drastic
lenders
return
continue
far
picking
will
47
5 December 2011 Last updated at 10:23 GMT, BBC, cut version
Wage inequality 'getting worse' in leading economies
The divide between the wages of the rich and the poor is growing in nearly all of the world's
leading economies, according to the OECD.
Researchers .............................. 22 countries and found that inequality grew in 17 of them
.............................. the 1980s and the financial crisis of 2008. Chile, Mexico, Turkey and the
United States .............................. the most unequal nations. .............................. rose fastest in
the UK - it peaked in 2000, then fell, but is now rising .............................. .
Even traditionally egalitarian countries .............................. as Germany, Denmark and Sweden
.............................. experienced a growing wealth gap in recent .............................. . The
OECD found that globally, the richest 10% of the .............................. earns nine times more
than the poorest 10%. In the UK, the richest 1% has seen their incomes double
.............................. the 1970s.
The OECD say that changes in the .............................. market over the last 30 years are to
blame. They claim that technology has .............................. the highest paid while poorer
workers have been forced .............................. take jobs that are temporary, part-time or badly
paid. Self-employed workers .............................. tend to earn less. Similar trends were
observed in periods of growth and .............................. recessions.
The organisation .............................. that governments around the world invest to create better
quality jobs and to improve the skills of workers.
Mr Gurria, the author of the report said: "Our report clearly indicates that upskilling of the
workforce is by far the most powerful instrument to counter rising inequality."
again
decades
inequality
since
also
during
labour
such
benefited
examined
population
to
between
have
recommends
were
48
1 July 2011 Last updated at 07:27 GMT, BBC News
India: Rajasthan in 'cars for sterilisation' drive
Health officials in the Indian state of Rajasthan are launching a new campaign to try reduce
the high population growth in the area. They are ………………………… men and women to
volunteer for sterilisation, and in ………………………… are offering a car and other prizes
………………………… those who come forward.
Among the rewards on ………………………… is the Indian-made Tata Nano - the world's
………………………… car. Many in the government ………………………… worried
about the ………………………… of India's population. It is expected to overtake
………………………… of China by 2030.
Sitaram Sharma, the head doctor of Jhunjunu in ………………………… India, is hopeful
that the chance to win a car ………………………… be just enough to tempt at least 20,000
men ………………………… women to undergo sterilisation. He is also offering
motorcycles, televisions and ………………………… blenders. The offer is open to all
Indians and not just ………………………… of his drought-prone region.
Other regions have also offered incentives for couples ………………………… for
sterilisation. A nationwide campaign was ………………………… in the 1970s, however,
after complaints that ………………………… of men and women were forced into having the
operation.
abandoned
encouraging
offer
that
and
food
residents
thousands
are
for
return
volunteering
cheapest
might
size
western
49
Section IV
Reading Comprehension Exercises
The following section contains reading comprehension exercises. Each text is based on the
articles from the business columns of British or American newspapers or newsportals.
For each article you will find four types of exercises: true or false statements, questions that
need to be answered briefly, multiple-choice questions, and finding synonyms in the texts.
The exercises might contain some tricky questions, so be careful!
You are not allowed to use a dictionary to do the exercises. However, it is advisable to check
the meaning of all the unknown expressions in the text after you have completed the
exercises. Checking unknown words will help you better understand the texts.
50
The Guardian, Monday 26 September 2011 16.34 BST
Iran, India, Pakistan and Mongolia have most polluted
cities in the world
Cities in Iran, India, Pakistan and Mongolia are among the worst on the planet for air
pollution, while those in the US and Canada are among the best, according to the first global
survey.
The Iranian city of Ahvaz had the distinction of the highest measured level of airborne
particles smaller than 10 micrometres, according to the UN's World Health Organisation
(WHO) survey.
Outdoor air pollution causes an estimated 1.34 million premature deaths a year, said WHO.
Investments to lower pollution levels quickly pay off owing to lower disease rates and,
therefore, lower healthcare costs, it said.
The list, which relies on country-reported data over several years, measures the levels of
airborne particles smaller than 10 micrometres – so-called PM10s – for almost 1,100 cities.
WHO recommends an upper limit of 20 micrograms for PM10s, which can cause serious
respiratory problems in humans. They are mostly sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide from
power plants, vehicle exhausts and industry.
Ahvaz's annual average of PM10s was 372 micrograms per cubic metre. The study found that
the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator had an annual average PM10s density of 279 micrograms
per cubic metre, followed by another Iranian city, Sanandaj, with 254 micrograms. Cities in
Pakistan and India, such as Quetta and Kanpur, as well as Botswana's capital, Gaborone, also
ranked high on the pollution scale.
WHO said the reasons for the high levels varied but that often rapid industrialisation and the
use of poor quality fuels for transport and electricity generation are to blame.
At the other end of the list are cities in Canada and the US, which benefit from lower
population density, favourable climates and stricter air pollution regulation. Yukon territory's
capital, Whitehorse, had a yearly average of just 3 micrograms of PM10s per cubic metre,
while Santa Fe, New Mexico, measured 6 micrograms. Washington had a level of 18
micrograms, Tokyo measured 23 micrograms, and Paris had 38 micrograms of PM10s per
cubic metre.
51
I. On the basis of the text are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Mark your
answers.
1. A city in Iran is the most affected by water pollution.
2. More than 1 million people die annually as a consequence of air pollution worldwide.
3. WHO thinks cities with more than 20 micrograms of airborne particles (smaller than
10 micrometres) per cubic metre can cause health-related problems to their residents.
4. Most of air pollution comes from transport and industrial activities.
5. Cities like Paris have a healthy level of PM10s.
II. Answer the questions briefly on the basis of the text. Full sentences are not required.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What do we know about air pollution in Ahvaz in Iran?
Why is investing in lower pollution levels a “good business”?
What are the main reasons for a high level of air pollution according to WHO?
Why do cities in the US and Canada have a better ranking regarding air pollution?
What does the figure 1,100 in the text refer to?
III. Finish the sentences with one of the given alternatives.
1. Investments should be made to lower the level of air pollution because
A. it leads to lower health-care costs as people will live longer.
B. it leads to lower health-care costs as fewer people will be ill.
C. people will escape from the cities with a high level of air pollution.
2. The list of the cities with the highest level of air pollution
A. includes cities with the highest level of all airborne particles.
B. contains information provided by the states in question.
C. was prepared by international organizations in environmental protection.
3. Air pollution is dangerous because …
A. it kills a lot of old people.
B. it is extremely costly to cure diseases caused by air pollution.
C. it causes serious problems to organs responsible for breathing.
4. WTO maintains that the high level of air pollution is mainly caused by …
A. electricity production.
B. the insufficient network of public transport.
C. various industries and vehicles using poor quality fuels.
5. The US and Canada are less affected by air pollution because …
A. industrial operation and transport in the cities are regulated by strict rules.
B. these countries have a small population.
C. these countires have a favourable climate and the climate is the most important
factor regarding air pollution.
IV. Find words in the text with a similar meaning.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
is well worth doing
research
is based on sth
gas emissions
quick
52
Rt.com, published time: September 25, 2013 20:04
Appeals court halves Pirate Bay co-founder prison
sentence
The Pirate Bay co-founder, Gottfrid Svartholm Warg, saw his jail sentence on hacking
charges halved from two years to one by the appeals court in Sweden on Wednesday. But he
now faces extradition to Denmark for a trial on illegal data access charges.
The Court of Appeal cleared Warg of hacking into the mainframe of Sweden’s Nordea bank,
but upheld the guilty verdict of illegally accessing the information from the Logica ITcompany’s mainframe, which stored the Swedish tax authority's census data, according to
TorrentFreak’s Wednesday report.
Warg had been convicted of Internet piracy back in 2009, and was extradited from Cambodia
to Sweden in 2012 to begin his one-year jail sentence. He was then charged by authorities in
the separate Nordea and Logica hacking investigation. Despite denying his involvement in the
crimes, the 28-year-old computer specialist was found guilty in both cases, with his violations
including
hacking,
aggravated
fraud
and
attempted
aggravated
fraud.
In June 2013, Sweden’s Nacka District Court sentenced Warg to two years behind bars. Warg
wasn’t satisfied with the verdict, claiming that the judges didn’t examine the available
evidence thoroughly enough. In July, he announced his plans to appeal the District Court’s
decision, with the re-trial in the Court of Appeal beginning earlier in September.
The testimony of Jacob Appelbaum, the developer of Tor online anonymity software and
former WikiLeaks spokesman, has become one of the highlights of the process. He confirmed
Svartholm’s theory that his computer had been taken over and abused remotely.
But Warg, also known under the online nickname ‘anakata’, may face the further trail in
neighboring Denmark where he’s wanted for hacking into outsourcing group CSC's servers to
access files belonging to the police.
“We already have an arrest warrant and a request for extradition on the Swedish man, and he
will be extradited to Denmark within a few days,” Copenhagen Police Commissioner, Hans
Erik Raben, told Danish tabloid Ekstra Bladet on Wednesday. He added that an alleged
accomplice to Warg, a 20-year-old man, is already in custody.
The popular file-sharing website The Pirate Bay was founded in Sweden in 2003 by Warg,
Fredrik Neij and Peter Sunde to allow the users do download music, films and video games
for free. The website later moved its domain to .sx, which is registered in Sint Maarten, a
Dutch territory in the Caribbean, due to frequent attempts by the Swedish authorities to shut it
down.
53
I. On the basis of the text are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Mark your
answers.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Mr. Warg as a co-founder of Pirate Bay has to face several trials.
He was staying in Cambodia when he was first convicted in 2009.
He has been a computer specialist for nearly 30 years.
It is very likely that Warg’s computer was taken over and abused remotely.
Warg had the nick name “anakata” on Facebook.
II. Answer the questions briefly on the basis of the text. Full sentences are not required.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What were the charges of which he was found guilty by the court?
What charges was he cleared of?
What was his appeal based on?
How did the sentence change?
What are some of the things users can download from the Pirate Bay website?
III. Finish the sentences with one of the given alternatives.
1. Gottfrid Svartholm Warg was sentenced in Sweden for …
D. hacking into the mainframe of Nordea Bank.
E. tax evasion.
F. for stealing information from the Swedish tax authority.
2. Which of the following statement is true?
a. Warg did not admit committing crimes in either the Nordea or the Logica case.
b. The bank Nordea Bank and the company Logica joined forces to launch a
lawsuit against Warg.
c. He was fleeing to the Far East to escape prison.
3. When he was sentenced to two years prison, Warg …
a. was dissatisfied because he claimed he did not do anything against the law.
b. was dissatisfied because he thought some evidence was ignored by the court.
c. was willing to accept the sentence.
4. Now the website is operated from an island in the Caribbean ...
a. because founders were inspired very much by the pirates of the Caribbean.
b. the Swedish authorities shut down the former site.
c. to escape from the Swedish authorities.
5. The Pirate Bay is a website …
a. which sells illegal content to users.
b. which buys illegal content from users.
c. where users can share their files with each other.
IV. Find words in the text with a similar meaning.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
verdict
in prison (two words)
stating
reinforced
owing to
54
3. October, 2011 6:01PM, forbes.com
The Best Countries for Business
During the run-up to every U.S. presidential election, countless Americans threaten to move
to Canada if their preferred candidate does not emerge victorious. Of course, few follow
through with a move north. Maybe it is time to reconsider.
Canada ranks No. 1 in our annual look at the Best Countries for Business. While the U.S. is
paralyzed by fears of a double-dip recession and Europe struggles with sovereign debt issues,
Canada’s economy has held up better than most. The $1.6 trillion economy is the ninth
biggest in the world and grew 3.1% last year. It is expected to expand 2.4% in 2011,
according to the Royal Bank of Canada.
Canada skirted the banking meltdown that plagued the U.S. and Europe. Banks like Royal
Bank of Canada, Bank of Nova Scotia and Bank of Montreal avoided bailouts and were
profitable during the financial crises that started in 2007. Canadian banks emerged from the
tumult among the strongest in the world thanks to their conservative lending practices.
Canada is the only country that ranks in the top 20 in 10 metrics that we considered to
determine the Best Countries for Business (we factored in 11 overall). It ranks in the top five
for both investor protection as well as lack of red tape, which measures how easy it is to start
a business.
Canada leans on the U.S. economy heavily: it’s the biggest oil supplier to Uncle Sam and
three-quarters of its exports end up in the U.S. each year. Yet while U.S. unemployment has
stayed above 9%, it’s only 7.3% in Canada compared to the 25-year average of 8.5%. The
eurozone unemployment rate is 10%.
We determined the Best Countries for Business by looking at 11 different factors for 134
countries. We considered property rights, innovation, taxes, technology, corruption, freedom
(personal, trade and monetary), red tape, investor protection and stock market performance.
Denmark dropped from the top spot in 2010 to No. 5 this year as its relative monetary
freedom declined as measured by the Heritage Foundation. Denmark’s stock market also fell
14%, which was the worst performance of any of our top 10 countries. Four other European
countries in last year’s top 20 also dropped in the rankings, with Finland sliding to No. 13, the
Netherlands to No. 15 Netherlands, Germany to No. 21 and Iceland to No. 23.
The U.S. ranked No. 10, down from No. 9 in 2010. What hurts the U.S. is its heavy tax
burden. This year it surpassed Japan to have the highest corporate tax rate among developed
countries. The U.S. also gets dinged for a poor showing on monetary freedom as measured by
the Heritage Foundation. Heritage gauges price stability and price controls and the U.S. ranks
No. 50 out of 134 countries.
55
I. On the basis of the text are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Mark your
answers.
1. A lot of Americans move to Canada at the time of US presidential elections.
2. The best country in the list is chosen on the basis of 11 factors including economic
growth.
3. Comparing Canada, the US and the eurozone, Canada has the lowest rate of
unemployment.
4. Germany could improve its position in the list of countries.
5. Regarding the control over prices, the US has a relatively poor ranking.
II. Answer the questions briefly on the basis of the text. Full sentences are not required.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What threatens economic development in the US and the European Union?
How could the Canadian banks stay profitable during the economic crisis?
Why is the US an important commercial partner for Canada?
What was the main reason for Denmark’s dropping in the list?
What is the main problem the US and Japan share according to the article?
III. Finish the sentences with one of the given alternatives.
1. The author of the article thinks …
a. a lot of Americans are dissatisfied with the economic development of the US
after elections.
b. a lot of Americans will emigrate to Canada.
c. poor American families should emigrate to Canada.
2. Banks have been very successful in Canada recently because ...
a. they received financial support from the state.
b. they were cautious with offering bankloans.
c. they offered bankloans to wealthy corporations and rich individuals.
3. Which of the following factors were considered for the ranking of the countries?
a. unemployment rate
b. bureaucratic obstacles of setting up a business
c. level of economic independence
4. The Canadian economy depends on the US economy because ...
a. the US exports a lot of products to Canada.
b. Canada imports oil from the US.
c. they are important trade partners.
5. The US dropped from No. 9 position because …
a. it has the highest tax rate for businesses among the developed countries.
b. the consumer confidence index is decreasing in the country.
c. there is a relatively high rate of inflation.
IV. Find words in the text with a similar meaning.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
plenty of
avoided
dropped, fell
depends on sth
took into account
56
02/07/2012, forbes.com, cut version
Jobs Outlook 2012: Careers Headed for the Dustbin
After years of bad news, recent U.S. job reports suggest market stabilization. Employment
rose by 243,000 in January, and the unemployment rate decreased by 0.2% to 8.3%. However,
as the economy reorganizes, some once-steady career paths are being outsourced, replaced or
eliminated. Based on new projections by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic (BLS), we
examined the 20 fastest-declining jobs through 2020. The list is dominated by agricultural,
production, and administrative support occupations.
The biggest projected losers are farmers, ranchers and other agricultural managers. The
occupation tops the list with an expected decline of 96,100 jobs, or 8%, by 2020. In fact, the
agricultural industry has been steadily eroding for years. Between 2000 and 2010, the sector
(including agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting) contracted by 260,700 jobs.
“What we’re seeing now is global specialization, with the U.S. economy shifting towards
services and technology,” says Godhwani, chief executive of SimplyHired.com, a job search
engine with 17 million monthly users. “Anything where the U.S. is not going to be the best,
you’ll see the jobs leaving. We can now import food from all over the world.” The new global
economy also means that unskilled manufacturing jobs that require little to no education are
also being displaced to other parts of the globe. Sewing machine operators (No. 3) are
projected to decline by 42,100 jobs, or 26%. Meanwhile, electrical and electronic equipment
assemblers (No. 11) will fall by 6% and prepress technicians and workers (No. 13) by 16%.
Broader changes in technology are also wreaking havoc in the ranks of federal government,
home to three of the 20 industries declining the quickest. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the largest
job losses (182,000 jobs) are projected for the U.S. Postal Service. Some functions, like mail
sorting, will contract by nearly 50%. “This is a segment where we’re seeing the impact of the
digital revolution,” Godhwani says. Office and administrative workers will also be hit hard in
the coming years. Technology advances have enabled modern professionals to take charge of
their own typing, filing and phone calls. Thus, switchboard operators (No. 4) will decrease by
23%, data entry keyers (No. 7) by 7%, word processors and typists (No. 8) by 12%, and file
clerks (No. 12) by 5%.
Most of the 20 disappearing jobs—including yet unmentioned fast food cooks (No. 5), doorto-door salespeople (No. 9) and florists (No. 18)—require only a high school degree or its
equivalent. However, occupations that require post-secondary education are expected to grow
the fastest, with jobs needing a master’s degree projected to increase by 22%, a doctoral or
professional degree by 20%, and associate’s degree by 18%. According to Godhwani,
displaced workers should consider pursuing more education if able, noting that certificates
and associates degree will provide the best value. He also suggests searching for work based
on skills rather than job titles in high-growth industries.
The BLS projects health care services, personal care and social assistance, and construction
will experience the fastest growth through 2020. (Construction is rebuilding to pre-recession
levels but is not expected to regain all jobs lost.) The fastest-growing occupations include
registered nurses, retail salespeople and home health aides.
57
I. On the basis of the text are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Mark your
answers.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
A lot of jobs in production will be cut through 2020 due to the recession.
Agriculture is the section that will be most hit by job losses in the coming years.
According to Godhwani, job specialization will continue in the US.
About half of the jobs will be lost in some postal services.
Jobs in construction will grow to a level that is higher than it was before the crises.
II. Answer the questions briefly on the basis of the text. Full sentences are not required.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Describe briefly the recent trends of employment in the US.
What does Godhwani mean about shifting towards services and technology?
What is the main reason for job cuts at the U.S. Postal Service?
What does Godhwani advise to jobless people?
According to the BLS, which sectors of the economy will see a rising number of jobs
in the future?
III. Finish the sentences with one of the given alternatives.
1. Some jobs that were once very secure in the US will disappear because ...
a. the economy is in recession.
b. there is no need for farmers and agricultural managers in the country.
c. these jobs will be outsourced to other parts of the world.
2. As a consequence of global specialization ...
a. a lot of manufacturing jobs in high-tech industries will be cut in America.
b. jobs in services will have a larger share in the labour market.
c. the total number of US jobs will decrease as the technological revolution
proceeds.
3. According to Godhwani, ...
a. the trend of decline in unskilled jobs will continue in the US.
b. exports of American agricultural goods will increase.
c. the rate of unemployment will grow in America.
4. Godhwani thinks that ...
a. fast-food restaurants will lose their popularity.
b. obtaining a high school degree is the key for finding a good job.
c. job seekers should look for jobs that require skills instead of chasing job titles.
5. The forecasts of the BLS show that ...
a. construction will be the top segment regarding growth.
b. there will be more need for people in service jobs such as registered nurses or
retail salespeople.
c. the economy will experience a fast growth through 2020.
IV. Find words in the text with a similar meaning.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
professions
continuously
decreasing
demand (v.)
allowed
58
Van Badham, theguardian.com, Thursday 19 December 2013 03.06 GMT
Losing your job is not a 'liberation', Tony Abbott
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has told the sacked workers at Holden that the pieces of
lives and careers that they're holding in their hands are actually "liberation". Let me explain to
the prime minister of this country just what that "liberation" feels like to a family who is
living through the sudden event of unemployment. When I was 13, my dad left one job after
he had been offered another one – and the new job fell through. My parents had only just
taken out a mortgage, and now dad was unemployed.
We were working-class people, and so were my parents' friends. When you're a
working-class person who loses a job, there's no liquid capital on hand to buy your way into
retraining or consider a business opportunity. There's no powerful network of privileged
mates who can offer you a consultancy, a designed position, a sinecure*, or maybe offer up a
$300k a year job just because they like you. And the best your friends can do for you in that
situation is not, actually, to talk about it.
People who only value money can perhaps understand that unemployment is
horrifying because there are bills to pay. But the horrific stress of unemployment is not only
trying to keep them paid, but to get a new job at the same level as soon as possible. What
people who only value money can't or won't imagine is the soul-shattering destruction of pride
that goes with unemployment. This is why your real friends stay silent: because patronising
offers or condolences** do more damage than a beating with a blunt bat. It's an easy protocol
for everyone to accommodate. And in case Abbott doesn't know it's also why, when
unemployed, you don't socialise much.
The events which pushed dad into unemployment were entirely beyond his control –
just like Holden's collapse is not to blame on its workers – but he was humiliated by them
anyway. He was a man who defined himself by a willingness to work hard, and his ambitions
were simple: to look after my mother and provide his only child everything he could to realise
her dreams. When he became unemployed the two simple pillars of his character – his selfbelief and role as a provider – were annihilated by forces beyond his control.
I can now write about this openly only because my beloved father is dead. He was a
fantastically resilient man who never cried but with the sense of personal failure that
accompanied the disappearance of his income, he talked about killing himself. He raged at my
mother for staying with him. He raged at me and when I made him a cheese toastie as a peace
offering, he hurled it against the wall. I had failed to comprehend that my acts of charity were
corroding any self-esteem he had left.
How long did this family trauma go on for? A total of six weeks. Dad was lucky: he
found another job and life returned to normal. Mum gave him dispensation for acting like a
twit, the mortgage got paid. Unlike Holden workers, dad was in an industry that hadn't
collapsed and he wasn't one of many competing against one another for the scraps of
opportunities left behind.
There are indeed two kinds of liberations going on today, but they certainly don't
belong to the unemployed and their families; they both belong to Abbott. The first is his
liberation of language from meaning, given that the personal, palpable***, physical and
psychological horror of redundancy is now happily propagandised as "freedom". The second
is the prime minister liberating himself from the obligations of the most basic form of
protocol – that when a family has been kicked to the ground, you don't stand there smiling and
tell them to enjoy it.
*an easy job with a high salary
**expressing you sympathy
59
***obvious
I. On the basis of the text are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Mark your
answers.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The Prime Minister gave some useful tips to the dismissed workers at Holden.
The author’s father once quit his job for another one.
The family received some help from their friends when the father got unemployed.
Another problem with unemployment is that the people are losing their self-esteem.
The author’s father had a failed suicide attempt.
II. Answer the questions briefly on the basis of the text. Full sentences are not required.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What happened to the family of the author when she was 13?
Describe the financial background of the family.
How did the father react to the difficult situation?
What happened that saved the family in the end?
What does the author of the article think about the speech of the PM to the dismissed
workers?
III. Finish the sentences with one of the given alternatives.
1. The author’s father quit his job ...
a. because he wanted to start his own business.
b. because he thought he could find a better job soon.
c. to work in another job he was offered.
2. The situation was very difficult for the family because ...
a. they had some debt which they had to repay.
b. the author’s father had problems with his health.
c. the author’s parents wanted to divorce.
3. Which of the following adjectives best describe the personality of the father?
a. impulsive and raging
b. talkative and sociable
c. hardworking and ambitious
4. The author’s father got angry when she made him a cheese toastie because ...
a. he didn’t like it.
b. he felt useless by being offered something by her daughter.
c. he preferred his daughter not doing anything in the kitchen.
5. Compared to the dismissed workers at Holden, the author’s father was lucky ...
a. because there was less competition between unemployed people in the past.
b. because he lost his job at a time of economic boom.
c. he did not have loans to repay.
IV. Find words in the text with a similar meaning.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
dismissed, laid off
see friends or relatives
eliminated, abolished, cancelled
attacked sb, shouted at sb
understand
60
The Guardian, Tuesday 2 August 2011 21.12 BST
Barack Obama hints at tax rises after US debt bill goes
through Senate
Barack Obama came out fighting in an attempt to undo the damage to his reputation caused
by the long-running debt standoff, and pacify Democrats who feel betrayed by the deal that
will result in spending cuts totalling trillions of dollars.
The president, who turns 50 on Thursday, faces a tough re-election fight next year. He needs
not only to win back such disaffected Democrats, but also to get them out to campaign for
him and vote in their droves, as they did in 2008.
Speaking minutes after the Senate joined the House in approving the deal to prevent the US
going into default, Obama offered an olive branch by putting tax rises back on the table.
Republicans have insisted repeatedly over the last few days that the deal does not include tax
rises. But Obama, in a short statement in the Rose Garden, said the country's huge national
debt could only be reduced through a combination of spending cuts and tax rises, particularly
for the wealthy and big corporations such as those in the oil industry.
He then attempted to turn the debate away from the debt ceiling towards jobs and pay, the
issues that Democrats regard as the key to the 2012 election.
But despite hints at ending tax breaks introduced by George Bush, Obama may decide such a
strategy would be too risky so close to a presidential election.
He signed the debt bill after the Senate vote on Tuesday, just hours before the midnight
treasury deadline, which if not met could have caused the US to default on its debts, a national
humiliation likely to have had a huge impact on the markets and the global economy.
But his support for tax rises will resurrect the ideological battle when Congress returns next
month. As part of the deal, a bipartisan committee has been set up to look in detail at where
the cuts are to be made, reporting at the end of November.
Polls show voters increasingly frustrated and dismayed, not only with the president's
performance over the crisis but also with members of Congress from both sides. A CNN/Orc
poll published on Tuesday found only 17% said politicians in Washington had behaved as
responsible adults, while 77% believed they had behaved like spoiled children.
Obama's popularity dropped by 5% in the polls during the past week, with most putting him
around 45%; but a Gallup poll at the end of last week had support for him at just 40%.
Obama received a boost in the polls in May when Osama bin Laden was killed but this
quickly faded after the following month. One positive he may take from the debt row is that it
offers a campaign strategy for next year, portraying the Republicans as extremists at the
mercy of the Tea Party movement.
61
I. On the basis of the text are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Mark your
answers.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Obama has a very good chance of winning presidential election next year.
Republicans would rather prefer tax rises to spending cuts.
Democrats are mostly concerned with unemployment and wages.
Obama believes that both tax rises and spending cuts are necessary to solve the
economic problems.
5. Obama will definitely introduce tax rises.
II. Answer the questions briefly on the basis of the text. Full sentences are not required.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Why do Democrats feel betrayed by the deal?
What would have been the possible consequences if the bill had not been signed?
What does the figure 45% refer to?
What opinion do voters have about US politicians in general?
How did the killing of Osama Bin Laden influence the popularity of the President?
III. Finish the sentences with one of the given alternatives.
1. The next year’s re-election fight for the President looks …
a. easy to win.
b. like chances are varied: sometimes good, sometimes bad.
c. difficult to win.
2. Obama thinks that tax rises should mainly target …
a. rich individuals.
b. offshore companies.
c. wealthy corporations in blooming industries.
3. Obama may decide not to end tax breaks because ...
a. it could do him a lot of harm in the election fight.
b. these tax breaks were introduced by George Bush.
c. tax breaks support the economy.
4. … will decide where to make the spending cuts.
a. Obama
b. A Commission with members of both parties
c. The Congress
5. The debt row might help President Obama in his campaign because …
a. it delivers the image about the Republicans as being tough and ruthless.
b. he proved to be a good leader by being very strong in decision-making.
c. Democrats were basically satisfied with the deal signed by the President.
IV. Find words in the text with a similar meaning.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
tried to do something
disappointed by being let down
stop something to happen
the most important issue
giving consent to something
62
22 February 2012 Last updated at 18:26 GMT
Barack Obama seeks to change US corporate tax code
US President Barack Obama is proposing cutting the US corporate tax rate from 35% to 28%,
and closing loopholes, as part of a larger push for tax reform.
Announcing the plan, the US treasury secretary called the tax code loopholes "fundamentally
unfair". Republicans also propose lowering rates, but Mr Obama's plan is thought to have few
chances of becoming law. Correspondents say the president is using the plan to spark a debate
on tax reform in an election year. The plan does not include any overhaul of the individual tax
code.
"Our current corporate tax system is outdated, unfair, and inefficient," Mr Obama said in a
statement. "It is unnecessarily complicated and forces America's small businesses to spend
countless hours and dollars filing their taxes." Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner also
called the current system inefficient, describing it as bad for job-creation. He said the White
House and Treasury plan would make the tax system more globally competitive and eliminate
"fundamentally unfair" loopholes. "We want to restore a system in which American
businesses succeed or fail based on the products they make and the services they provide, not
on the creativity of their tax engineers or the lobbyists they hire."
The US currently has one of the top corporate tax rates in the world, but loopholes and other
subsidies mean many companies pay a much lower effective tax rate. According to the
Congressional Budget Office, total corporate federal taxes represented 12.1% of US profits in
2011.
Republican Representative Dave Camp and presidential hopeful Mitt Romney have proposed
a 25% rate, while other Republican candidates have suggested rates as low as 12.5%.
While both parties have expressed interest in removing tax loopholes, there is disagreement
on which subsidies will be needed to be cut in order to make up for revenues lost through
lowering the standard rate.
Removing the tax loopholes would be likely to raise tax revenues overall, with some
companies paying more or less under the current system. As part of the proposed plan, Mr
Obama has suggested lowering the tax rate to 25% for manufacturing businesses and
continuing research and development-based tax credits.
While the announcement fleshes out promises made in Mr Obama's January State of the
Union address, it leaves certain key details, like the percentage of a minimum tax on foreign
profits, up to Congress. Correspondents say that the tax proposal - and the deliberate lack of
detail in some areas - is a move by Mr Obama to shift responsibility to Congress. Republicans
in the House of Representatives have routinely opposed Mr Obama's legislative plans since
winning control of the chamber in the 2010 elections.
63
I. On the basis of the text are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Mark your
answers.
It is very likely that Mr Obama’s tax reform plans will become law.
The President thinks that the current tax system is not favourable to small businesses.
According to Mr Geithner, tax engineers and lobbyists are very creative in America.
Mr Obama wants to impose lower taxes for manufacturing firms than for companies in
other sectors.
5. Republicans usually support Mr Obama’s legislative plans.
1.
2.
3.
4.
II. Answer the questions briefly on the basis of the text. Full sentences are not required.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What does Mr Obama think about the current tax system of the US?
What is the aim of the tax reform according to Timothy Geithner?
What does the figure 12.1 in the text refer to?
Why should subsidies be cut in the future?
Why do correspondents think that Mr Obama wants to shift responsibility about the
tax reform to Congress?
III. Finish the sentences with one of the given alternatives.
1. Mr Obama proposes ...
a. cutting the income tax rate in America.
b. closing all the loopholes in the tax system.
c. a tax reform.
2. The President thinks that the current tax system in the US ...
a. is not fair.
b. forces small businesses to pay too much tax.
c. is though outdated but very efficient.
3. According to the Treasury Secretary, the problem with the current tax system is that ...
a. it does not encourage employers to create jobs.
b. people spend too much time filing their taxes.
c. it contains too many loopholes for foreign companies.
4. Republicans and Democrats …
a. would agree to support a corporate tax rise.
b. differ on their attitudes to loopholes.
c. do not agree on how to make up for revenues lost through tax cuts.
5. If the tax loopholes were removed, ...
a. most companies would have to pay more tax compared to what they pay in the
current tax system.
b. total tax revenues would probably increase.
c. tax credits would be cancelled too.
IV. Find words in the text with a similar meaning.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
suggest
discussion
cancel
decreased
companies
64
Patrick Cockburn, The Independent, Thursday 23 February 2012, cut version
Patrick Cockburn: Greece has an overgrown and
expensive state machine
Greece is like an Arab oil state without oil. It has an overgrown and expensive state machine
hard wired with webs of patronage and corruption. In the Middle East this is a crude, unfair
but partially effective way of distributing oil wealth and binding recipients to the state through
jobs and favours.
In Greece borrowing took the place of oil. Membership of the eurozone gave the country the
same triple AAA credit rating as Germany, enabling it to borrow what it wanted at cheap
rates. Euro membership, like oil wealth elsewhere, was a disincentive to political, economic
and social change because the money was there to pay off friends and foes.
Greece is very much a divided society and the divisions are different from the rest of Europe.
From the civil war in 1946 to the fall of the colonels in 1974, the country was dominated by
the right which looked after its own, from ship owners to small businessmen who paid few
taxes. From the eighties on, the centre left Pasok party was in the ascendant and expanded the
state, giving jobs and social welfare to its supporters. Everybody was happy until the money
ran out.
And the money really has gone. While the Troika (EU, IMF and European Central Bank)
devise elaborate schemes for reform, the government is often simply not paying its employees
or paying them very late. There is, in any case, something absurd about expecting a
dysfunctional state machine to reform itself at a fast pace under foreign supervision. The
political ice in Athens is even thinner than eurozone leaders imagine. For the moment, they
appear to have all the cards in their hands. The main Greek parties have signed up to the new
austerity deal in order to get the €130 billion loan and the €100 billion write off by private
bond holders.
There is no chance that Greece can be rendered sufficiently competitive by the new austerity
measures that it will be able to pay its debts. The country lacks natural resources,
manufacturing industry or an international service industry; wind mills and fish farms will not
be enough.
But the future of Greece may not be as bad as it looks. The mammoth efforts made by
European leaders to prevent a total default underline the fact that, for all their protestations to
the contrary, they dare not let Greece go publicly broke. The profound impact of the recent
financial negotiations on everything from the price of oil to shares on New York stock
exchange, show that Greece can still blackmail the rest of the eurozone by threatening to
totally renege on its debts.
There is a second possible benefit for Greece if the myth is maintained that it is doing what
the eurozone wants and this is likely to work. The international hysteria surrounding the dire
state of the Greek economy is self-fulfilling. It has frightened people into withdrawing their
bank deposits and refusing to invest. The Troika’s plans will almost certainly not work, but a
period of calm might at least end the present economic paralysis.
65
I. On the basis of the text are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Mark your
answers.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Greece is compared to an Arab state because it has oil.
Euro membership helped the Greek to get cheap loans for years.
The tax burden was relatively low in the country before 1974.
The author thinks that wind mills and fish farms will not solve the economic problems
of the country.
5. According to the author, Greece will definitely go publicly broke.
II. Answer the questions briefly on the basis of the text. Full sentences are not required.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
In what way is Greece similar to an Arab oil state, according to the author?
How did the economy policy change from 1974?
What does the author think about the reforms of the Greek state machine?
What is missing from Greece that could help their recovery?
What does the author mean under: “The international hysteria is self-fulfilling”?
III. Finish the sentences with one of the given alternatives.
1. The author thinks ...
a. the Greek state is just as corrupted as some Arab states.
b. the oil wealth is given to friends of the political elite in Greece.
c. Euro membership encouraged political, economic and social change.
2. The country used to have the same credit ratings as Germany because ...
a. international investors trusted the Greek government in the past.
b. both countries were members of the European Union.
c. both countries belonged to the eurozone.
3. The austerity measures in Greece ...
a. will help the country to become competitive.
b. are necessary to get new loans from abroad.
c. are welcomed by the population.
4. Greece might escape national bankruptcy as ...
a. the EU and the US make huge efforts to save the country.
b. more and more Greek people withdraw their deposits from the banks in
Greece.
c. European leaders do not want to let the country go publicly broke.
5. The author is ... about the future of Greece because ...
a. optimistic / foreign loans will help to get the country out of crisis.
b. pessimistic / Greece has very little chance of becoming economically strong.
c. pessimistic / European leaders will soon stop giving more loans to the country.
IV. Find words in the text with a similar meaning.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
probable
allowing
bankruptcy
tremendous, huge
difficult situation (two words)
66
guardian.co.uk, Monday 17 October 2011 16.58 BST, cut version
Behind Las Vegas glitz and glamour lies a dark city
marred by poverty
The dentists are back in town, 27,000 of them. Up and down the Las Vegas strip they are
fighting for cabs and bar space with rival conventioneers* and a united nations of Chinese,
German, Australian and British tourists. Beneath the two million crystals of the eponymous
Chandelier Bar at The Cosmopolitan hotel, everyone is getting loaded** on cut price
cocktails. Forget the hangover, Vegas is back. But not for most of the people who live here.
Of all US cities Las Vegas was the one hit hardest by the credit crunch. The city seemed
emblematic of the excesses of the easy credit era. A huge property boom led to overbuilding
as some people made fortunes from buying and selling homes they never intended to live in.
Huge abandoned casinos mar the north end of the strip like so many busted flushes. Now
things are looking up. Visitor numbers are rising, hotels have upped their room rates. Home
sales are set to hit a high this year – albeit at rock bottom prices. Houses that once sold for
$400,000 (£252,000) are being snapped up for $100,000 by cash buyers. But for those without
ready funds getting a home loan hasn't been this hard for years.
Once again Vegas is proving to be a reflection of the country's wider problems. This is a tale
of two cities.The world's rich have made Vegas their playground. On Mexican independence
day the super wealthy Mexicans come here to party, on Chinese new year, it's the Chinese.
For the rich – mostly from out of town – the good times are rolling. For those in coach***
they seem a long way off. Nevada has gone from having the lowest unemployment in the US
in 2006 at 4% to the highest now at 13.4%. US unemployment rate is 9.1% but Stephen
Brown, director of the University of Nevada Las Vegas's center for business and economic
research, reckons the real number in Las Vegas itself is closer to 24%. The poverty rate has
doubled since 2010, the state has the highest rate of children with unemployed parents,
according to a report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. About 13% of all children in Nevada
have been affected by their families being evicted from their homes.
Things are starting to improve across the board, the recovery is "not as strong as we would
like," but a recovery is underway. But what will Las Vegas look like after the dust settles? For
decades Las Vegas has been one of the fastest growing cities in the US. In the 1990s the
population was growing at 4.5% a year. Now it's flat. The construction boom that drove that
growth is over. JimMurren, chief executive of MGM Resorts, the towns biggest casino firm,
believes it will be a decade before any significant building project takes place in the city.
Locals say illegal immigrants who did much of the heavy lifting have disappeared, an
observation backed by a report from the Pew Hispanic Center last year that concluded the
number of illegal immigrants entering the United States plunged by almost two-thirds
between 2005 and 2009. Las Vegans are mowing their own lawns.
But Murren is optimistic. The middle classes will come back, he says. Vegas is a cheap city to
live in and the weather's always good, he says. "More than that people love coming here," he
says. But he says it will have to change profoundly if it is to avoid the mistakes of the past.
"We have to be very nimble," he says. The future for Vegas will not be one of big new casino
openings, it will be about doing more with less.
*conference participants
**getting drunk
67
***in economy class
I. On the basis of the text are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Mark your
answers.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Taxi drivers have little business to do in Las Vegas.
Compared to the figures of the previous years, home sales have increased recently.
The number of people in poverty has largely increased in just one year.
There are more and more illegal immigrants working in the gardens of local people.
Murren thinks the economy could be improved by opening bigger casinos in town.
II. Answer the questions briefly on the basis of the text. Full sentences are not required.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What do we know about recent tourism trends in Las Vegas?
What were some of the consequences of the credit crunch in the city?
What does this sentence about Las Vegas mean: “this is a tale of two cities”?
How has the population growth changed since the 1990s?
According to Murren, what could be the reasons for the middle class coming back to
Las Vegas in the future?
III. Finish the sentences with one of the given alternatives.
1. What are some of the signs of the recent recovery in Las Vegas?
a. There are more and more tourists from all parts of the US.
b. Property prices are growing.
c. Property sales have increased recently.
2. In the early years of the new millennium ...
a. the unemployment rate was under the national average in Las Vegas.
b. a lot of illegal immigrants worked in the casinos.
c. a lot of people were forced to leave their houses because they couldn’t pay
their loans.
3. The construction industry has declined in Las Vegas because
a. the illegal immigrants who worked in the industry have disappeared.
b. house prices are falling due to the credit crunch.
c. there are lots of unemployed people.
4. Regarding the future of Las Vegas, Jim Murren is optimistic because he thinks ...
a. healthcare services will improve with more and more dentists coming to live in
the city.
b. rich foreign tourists will give a boost to the economy.
c. middle class citizens from other parts of the US will move to the city.
5. Las Vegas might be a good place to live in because …
a. it has a favourable climate.
b. drinks at the bars are very cheap.
c. a huge economic development is underway.
IV. Find words in the text with a similar meaning.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
rapid economic growth
left, moved out from
to get better
fell, dropped, decreased
very low (prices), (two words)
68
10 September 2013 Last updated at 03:59 GMT, Tulip Mazumdar Global health reporter
Almost a quarter of men 'admit to rape in parts of Asia'
Almost a quarter of men surveyed in a UN report looking at violence against women
in parts of Asia have admitted to committing at least one rape. Rape was particularly common
within relationships. However, one in 10 men admitted raping a woman who was not their
partner. Ten thousand men from six countries took part in the survey.
It is the first multi-country study to examine how widespread violence against women
is and the reasons behind it. Of those who admitted rape, just under half said they had done so
more than once. The prevalence of rape varied between countries. In Papua New Guinea,
more than six out of 10 men surveyed admitted forcing a woman to have sex. It was least
common in urban areas of Bangladesh, where it was just under one in 10 and Sri Lanka where
it was just over one in 10. In Cambodia, China and Indonesia it ranged from one in five to
almost half of all men surveyed.
Part of the research has been published in The Lancet Global Health. The authors said
that the findings do not represent the whole Asia and Pacific region - but the survey
respondents do provide a good demographic match for the countries studied.
Men were asked questions like:
- Have you ever had sex with your partner when you knew she didn't want to but
you thought she should agree because she's your wife/ partner?
- Have you ever had sex with a woman or girl when she was too drunk or drugged to
say whether she wanted it or not?
They recorded their answers on hand-held computers while the interviewer left the
room.
Nearly three quarters of those who committed rape said they did so for reasons of
"sexual entitlement". Report author Dr Emma Fulu said: "They believed they had the right to
have sex with the woman regardless of consent. "The second most common motivation
reported was to rape as a form of entertainment, so for fun or because they were bored." That
was followed by using rape as a form of punishment or because the man was angry. "Perhaps
surprisingly, the least common motivation was alcohol." said Dr Fulu. Men who had
themselves suffered violence as children, especially childhood sexual abuse were more likely
to have committed rape.
"These data justifiably create global outrage, accentuated by horrific recent highprofile cases, including the brutal gang rape of a student in New Delhi," said Dr Michele
Decker from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore. "More than
half of non-partner rape perpetrators first did so as adolescents, which affirms that young
people are a crucial target population for prevention of rape.
"The challenge now is to turn evidence into action, to create a safer future for the next
generation of women and girls." Professor Rachel Jewkes, who led the research in Papua New
Guinea, said the area they surveyed - Bougainville - had a particularly turbulent history, with
an extraordinarily destructive civil conflict extending from the late 1980s to beyond 2005.
"It's an area where the conflict hasn't been absolutely resolved," she said.
"When we looked at mental health we saw particularly high prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder including uncontrollable aggression, the disruption of normal social
relations and relations in the family."
69
I. On the basis of the text are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Mark your
answers.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Rape is the most common crime in some parts of Asia.
The survey was representative for Asia and the Pacific region.
This type of crime seems to be the most common in Papua New Guinea.
Offenders reported on various motives for committing the crime in the survey.
The reason for conducting the survey was the gang rape of a student in New Delphi.
II. Answer the questions briefly on the basis of the text. Full sentences are not required.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What percentage of men admitted committing at least one rape in the survey?
Which area in Asia seems to be the most and the least affected by this crime?
What were the most typical motivations of committing the crime?
What do we know about the age of a typical offender?
According to Mr. Jewkes, what factors contribute to the high level of rapes in Papua
New Guinea?
III. Finish the sentences with one of the given alternatives.
1. The survey concluded that …
a. most cases of reported rapes occurred within relationships.
b. almost 25% of men in the survey regularly committed rapes.
c. this type of crime was one of the most serious problems in the whole region.
2. The prevalence of rape was ...
a. relatively low in Indonesia.
b. the lowest in the cities of Bangladesh.
c. higher in China than in Papua New Guinea.
3. The evidence of the survey revealed that …
a. most offenders had drunk alcohol before committing the crime.
b. most offenders believed that they had the right to have sex even if the partner
did not agree.
c. most offences were committed for fun or to fight boredom.
4. Which of the following statements is true?
a. Raping directly results from being a victim of childhood sexual abuse.
b. Most of non-partner rape offenders in the survey committed the first rape when
they were only teenagers.
c. Crime in most of the cases was committed as a form of punishment.
5. Looking at the mental health of rape offenders, we can see that they tend to
a. have problems with their own self-esteem.
b. have addictions.
c. have problems with their social relations.
IV. Find words in the text with a similar meaning.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
confessed
results (noun in plural)
independent of
offenders
clash between parties, e.g. clash of interests
70