(Выполняется студентами, фамилии которых начинаются с букв М – Я).

I. Vocabulary and Grammar Exercises.

1.1. (16 x 1point)   Supply the articles where necessary. Write your answers ( a, an, the or ‘−’)  in the boxes.

a)        ___(1)___University of Leeds is one of ___(2)___biggest in ___(3)___England. It is also ___(4)___ important center for ___(5)___ medical studies.

b)        ___(6)___ butter is ___(7)___ major agricultural product in ___(8)___ European Union. Another is ___(9)___ rape seed oil. Most of ___(10)___ butter is consumed by ___(11)___ EU countries.

c)        ___(12)___ Super Motor Company makes ___(13)___ range of ___(14)___ high-performance cars, including ___(15)___ Luxurious Grosso 55XT. This is ___(16)___ perfect example of automotive engineering.

1.2. (10 x 1point) Read this magazine article about office workers and their bosses. Choose the correct word to fill each gap, from А, В or С below. Write your answers (letters a, b or c) in the boxes.

MOST OFFICE WORKERS DON’T LIKE THE BOSS!

Last year, a survey of office workers' attitudes was carried out. In particular, the researchers wanted to know __(1)__ employees felt about the company they worked for. The researchers were not surprised to find that most people wanted __(2)__ money, shorter working hours, longer holidays and so on, __(3)__ they were amazed to find out that nearly 75% of employees __(4)__ a very poor opinion of their boss. Office workers had __(5)__ to say about the President or Chairman of the company, but they had very strong feelings about their immediate superior: their office manager or supervisor. The three most usual criticisms of these middle managers were that they were not very good __(6)__ their jobs; that they always blamed somebody else when things __(7)__ wrong; that they seemed to spend a lot of time __(8)__ from one office to another instead of getting on with __(9)__ own work. In fact, most employees thought that they could do their boss's job __(10)__ better.

1.3. (8 x 1 point) Are the following sentences right or wrong? If wrong, correct them.

1. I haven't told somebody yet about the new contract.

2. Any of the new employees would be able to tell you the exact figure.

3. Does anyone have any questions?

4. They asked how much money did we need.

5. He asked us to don't reveal the figures to anyone else.

6. I was working for an international headhunting agency, when Manpower was recruiting me.

7. When have you joined Manpower?

8. If the dates of the assessment centres will be changed, I would let you know immediately.

1.4. (4 x 2points) Read the sentences given here and decide which of the given meanings is the correct one. Write your answers (letters a, b or c) in the boxes.

1.   During development, we stopped to think about the difficulties.

1. We stopped thinking about the difficulties and we don't think about them now.
2. For a short time, during the development, we did not think about the difficulties.
3. We did think about the difficulties during the development phase.

2.   I was trying to contact Acorn last week.

1. I attempted to call Acorn last week.
2. I succeeded in contacting Acorn last week.
3. I did not attempt to call Acorn last week.

3.   I remembered to include our price list with the letter.

1. I recall putting the price list in the envelope.
2. I sent the price list with the letter.
3. I forgot to send the letter.

4. We'd like to have a meeting.

1. We enjoy meetings.
2. We want a meeting.
3. It's good to have meetings.

1.5. (8 x 1point) Match each verb on the left with a noun on the right to form common partnerships. Use each word once only. Write your answers (letters a, b … or h) in the boxes.

1.6. (8 x 1 point) Complete each sentence with the opposite of the word in brackets. Choose from the following list. Use each word once only.

1. The new complaints procedure has been a ____ success. (COMPLETE)

2. Have you got the ____ sales figures? (EXACT)

3. There's a lot of ____ industry in the area. (HEAVY)

4. Wearing a tie was ____ in his office. (OPTIONAL)

5. Wages have risen more slowly in the    ____sector. (PUBLIC)

6. The company has a ____      management structure. (SIMPLE)

7. There was a ____ improvement in efficiency. (SLIGHT)

8. He's got himself a ____ job as a mechanic. (TEMPORARY)

1.7. (8 x 1point) Choose the correct word for each sentence. Write the words in the boxes.

1. She works for an advertisement/advertising agency.

2. How will the increase in interest rates affect/effect your sales?

3. My bank manager has agreed to borrow/lend me another $2,000.

4. We've had to cancel/postpone the meeting until next Monday.

5. My plane was delayed/postponed by an hour due to computer failure.

6. Before coming here, I studied economics/economy at university.

7. I am interested/interesting in their new camera.

8. She applied for a job/work as a personnel officer.

1.8. (9 x 2points) Complete each sentence with the correct form of 'make' or 'do'. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1. There's a rumour going round that Pelly's are going to _____ a bid for Squash International.

2. Please _____ your best to get these typed before 5 o'clock.

3. Who shall I _____ the cheque out to?

4. If we don't get some orders soon we'll have to _____ some of our workers redundant.

5. I'm afraid you'll have to _____ without the other photocopier until we can get the part we need from the suppliers.

6. We've been _____ business with them for over thirty years now.

7. Considerable progress has been _____ and we hope to put some concrete proposals to our members tomorrow afternoon.

8. The bank has decided to_____ extra provision against bad debts this year.

9. They've been _____ a roaring trade since they decided to advertise on local television.

2. Business Communication. Telephoning and Business Letters.

2.1. (6 x 2points) Choose the best responses. Write your answers in the boxes.

1. Can you give me a quotation?

A. We haven't any more available.

B.  This price is very competitive.

C.  They cost $3.30 each.

2. Can we have a higher discount?

A. It depends on the number you order.

B.  The prices are our lowest.

C.  It's not so much.

3. We are thinking of buying your products.

A. Then take advantage of our introductory offer.

B.  Business is good at present.

C.  Share prices have been falling lately.

4. Can you offer the large size at the same price?

A. No, it's cheaper.

B.  No, it's more expensive.

C.  No, the price is unchanged.

5. Are the terms CIF?

A. No, no credit is allowed.

B.  Yes, goods are supplied only if cash is firm.

C.  Yes, goods are sent to the customer's place.

6. Are those your most favourable prices?

A. Yes, we have plenty available.

B.  Yes, we can't reduce them.

C.  Yes, they are very important.

2.2. (10 x 1point) Complete these two conversations with sentences from the list below. Use each sentence only once. Write your answers (letters A, B … or J) in the boxes.

Conversation 1

A.  I'll put you through to Order Inquiries.

B.  From about two this afternoon.

C. Yes, late this afternoon if that's convenient.

D. Yes, it is. Can I help you?

E.  I'm afraid he's out of the office at the moment.

F.  Garston Motors. Can I help you?

G. Right. Well, I'll have to check with the workshop.

H. Can you give me the order number?

I.     Order Inquiries. Can I help you?

J.   You're welcome. Goodbye.

2.3. (16 x 2points) Below you will see parts of three letters of enquiry. Put the correct word or phrase in each blank. Choose from the following list. Use each item once only. Write your answers (letters A, B … or P) in the boxes.

A.

__(1)__ Sir

I have seen your __(2)__  in the __(3)__   of 'Office Weekly' and am interested in your range of office stationery.

Could you please send me your __(4)__    and __(5)__ I look __(6)__to hearing from you.

Yours __(7)__.

B.

With __(8)__ to your advertisement in today's 'Times', could you please send me __(9)__     about your office furniture. I am __(10)__ interested in your adjustable typist's chairs.

C.

Some time ago we purchased from you some JF72 solar-powered pocket  calculators.

As this __(11)__       was so popular with our customers, we would like to know if it is __(12)__.    If so, would you kindly __(13)__     us of your terms of __(14)__ and any quantity __(15)__     available. Could you also include details of any new models in the same __(16)__.  

2.4. (14 points) Janet Brown, your boss, has called a meeting on Thursday, but you cannot attend because you will be away at a conference.

Write a short note to your boss

- apologising for your absence

- explaining why you will be away

- saying where the conference is.

Write about 15-20 words.

3. Reading.

3.1. (30 points) Read the text below about the financier Muriel Siebert. Translate the text  into Russian.

The First Woman of Finance

1.   Muriel Siebert was the first woman to have a seat on the New York Stock Exchange, and the first to head one of its member firms, Muriel Siebert & Co. She took leave in 1977 to serve as the first woman Superintendent of Banking for the State of New York. She often appears on talk shows, telling industry to make better use of women: 'Women executives can be a strong competitive force against other countries that still only employ males in executive positions.'

2.   Her favourite word is 'risk'. She says: The men at the top of industry and government should risk sharing leadership with women. In these fast changing times we need different viewpoints and experiences. The real risk lies in continuing to do things the way they've always been done.'

3.   Her best-known 'risk' was in 1967 when she applied to become the first woman member of the Stock Exchange. Many men on Wall Street were openly against her application. She was turned down by nine of the first ten men she asked to sponsor her application. Before considering her for membership, the Stock Exchange set a new condition: she needed a letter from a bank saying they would lend her $300,000 of the $445,000 seat price. But banks would not lend her the money until the Stock Exchange agreed to admit her! The problem was finally solved and she was elected to membership in December 1967. In December 1997 she celebrated her thirtieth anniversary by ringing the closing bell.

4.    Her next career move was to the post of Superintendent of New York State's Banking Department. In the 1970s, banks were facing many difficulties. Interest rates climbed steeply and bank failures became common everywhere. Siebert acted quickly to prevent bankruptcies in New York State. She forced banks to merge, persuading stronger institutions to help weaker ones, and demanded tough action, such as forcing one bank president to cut his salary in half.

5.   During this period, she had placed her company in a blind trust run by her employees, that is, a trust which managed a company for her while she held public office. It was a costly mistake: she discovered that three employees had left taking her customer lists with them. She rebuilt the company, and rejected offers to buy her company because: 'As the only woman owner of a Stock Exchange firm I feel an obligation to finish the job I started.'

3.2. (6 x 3 points) For questions 1-6, you have to chose the option (А, В, С or D) which best matches the information in the text. Give your reasons.

1.  Muriel Siebert was the first woman to

A.   own her own company.

B.   run a New York bank.

C.   join the Stock Exchange.

2.  According to Siebert, if more women get into senior positions, it will

A.   show that women are just as good as men.

B.   make American companies more competitive.

C.   encourage American companies to take risks.

3.  The worst risk, according to Siebert, is to

A.   do nothing.

B.   change things too quickly.

C.   employ more men than women.

4.  What did Siebert need to do in order to enter the Stock Exchange?

A.   find a sponsor and get a bank loan.

B.   send the completed application form to her bank.

C.   get a seat and ring the closing bell.

5.  In the late seventies, one problem faced by companies and financial institutions was that

A.   wages were too high.

B.   banks often refused to lend money.

C.   interest rates kept going up and up.

6.  What went wrong with her firm while it was in a blind trust?

A.   It lost most of its customers.

B.   Nobody would buy it.

C.   She still had to finish the job she had started.