Progress test 1 (Units 1–3)

LISTENING
Listen to a short speech by Henry Becker, CEO of Hendix Corporation. Choose the best word
or phrase – a, b or c – to complete the sentences.
Track 3

1 Mr Becker is talking to _______ .

a) new employees b) new customers c) regional managers

2 He begins the speech by _______ .

a) apologising b) explaining the day’s schedule

c) saying what he’s going to talk about

3 He congratulates the audience because they have _______ .

a) won an award b) been successful c) got a pay increase

4 He says that he expects employees to _______ .

a) always arrive on time b) improve the company c) work hard

5 ‘Honesty, quality and innovation’ is the company’s _______ .

a) motto b) latest advertising slogan

c) mission statement

6 He says that he expects employees to _______ .

a) make a profit b) be highly competitive c) be fair

7 He says that the company is known for its _______ .

a) good products b) low prices c) quick delivery

8 The company _______ innovation.

a) wants to avoid b) encourages c) won’t reward

9 Becker says that Hendix is a _______ .

a) multinational giant b) strong competitor c) good employer

10 He says that Hendix gives workers the right _______ to produce quality work.

a) equipment and training b) management structure c) bonus system

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11 Hendix helps its employees choose the right direction in their _______ .

a) personal life b) working life c) further education

12 Becker says that employees’ ideas are _______ .

a) valuable b) expensive c) unusual

VOCABULARY
A Complete the text with words from the box.
a living a subsidiary company ladder move office
opportunities parent company
Fawaz makes (13)___ a living _________ as an accountant in the Finance Department of a
multinational engineering (14)__company_________ . Every business needs accountants so
there are a lot of career (15)___ opportunities _____ for Fawaz. ‘I’m climbing the career
(16)_____ladder_________,’ he says. ‘I want to be a manager.’ Right now, he works in
(17)________a subsidiary _______ in Bahrain. He works hard because he wants a promotion. ‘I need
more experience’ he says. He’s hoping for a big career (18)_____move_________ : a job in
the UK. ‘The (19)______ parent company _____ has its head (20)___office_______ in London,’
he says. ‘I study English every day because I want a job there.’

B Choose the correct word to complete the sentences.

21 When a company announces good results, often its (share / turnover) price increases.

22 Our (return / net) profit is lower this year because sales are down.

23 We’re offering interest-free (stock / credit) this month for first-time buyers.

24 We give customers a full (guarantee / refund) if they return an unused product within 30 days.

25 Can you give me a 10 per cent (discount / delivery) if I buy in bulk?

26 There’s usually a 14-day cooling-off (period / supplier) for financial products.

27 Most supermarkets offer a (warehouse / loyalty card) scheme with reward points.

28 Give me your credit card (details / manufacturer) and I’ll send your order today.

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SKILLS
A Complete the dialogue with words and phrases from the box.
Can Can I leave Could I speak I can transfer I get This is
She seems to be
A (29)_____ Could I speak _______ with Mary Yim, please?

B Who’s calling, please?

A (30)____ This is _________ Simon Starkey from Head Office.

B (31)______ Can ____________ you hold?

A Sure.

B (32)__ She seems to be ________________ with someone right now. Can

(33)______I get____________ her to call you?

A I’m leaving the office now. (34)______ Can I leave ____________ a message, please?

B (35)____ I can transfer ______________ you to her voice mail.

A Great. Thanks.

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B Complete the first part of the conversation with the responses (a–c).
a) €3.00 each could be all right, as long as you order 3,000 or more drives.
b) We can do that. We can offer you a price of €3.50 each.
c) OK, for 3,000 I can do €2.95.

A We’re interested in ordering some flash drives with our company logo on them.

B How many drives do you want?

A 2,500.

B (36)____ b) We can do that. We can offer you a price of €3.50 each.______________

A I think that’s too much. We can get them from KL Drives for €3.00 each.

B (37)____ a) €3.00 each could be all right, as long as you order 3,000 or more drives.
A If you give them to us for €2.90 each, we’ll increase the order to 3,000.

B (38)___ c) OK, for 3,000 I can do €2.95._______________

A Right. That’s reasonable.

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C Complete the second part of the conversation with the responses (a–e).
a) Fine. If you pay 50 per cent now and 50 per cent on the 20th, we’ve got a deal.
b) I’m sorry, we can’t agree to that. We need more time.
c) If you pay in advance, we can deliver on the 20th of September.
d) That might be OK if you can pay in full on the day of delivery.
e) Let’s talk about the schedule.

A What else do we need to talk about?

B (39)___ e) Let’s talk about the schedule._______________

A OK. We’d like to have the stock in our warehouse by the 15th of September.

B (40)_ b) I’m sorry, we can’t agree to that. We need more time._________________

A Then when can you deliver?

B (41)___ c) If you pay in advance, we can deliver on the 20th of September.

A I’m sorry, we can’t agree to that. It’s against company policy. We can make a 50 per cent
down payment but no more.

B (42)__ d) That might be OK if you can pay in full on the day of delivery.

A We can do that, providing you deliver on time, on the 20th of September.

B (43)___ a) Fine. If you pay 50 per cent now and 50 per cent on the 20th, we’ve got a deal

A Great.

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LANGUAGE
A Choose the correct word or phrase to complete the sentences.
44 (Would / Could) you like something to eat?

45 Listen! Is that Alicia playing? She (would / can) play the piano very well!

46 (Could / Can) you speak Spanish before you lived in Argentina?

47 Hello, this is Darren speaking. (Would / Can) I help you?

48 It’s raining. (Can / Would) you like to borrow my umbrella?

49 This is the employees’ car park so don’t park here. Visitors (have to / shouldn’t) park in the
visitors’ car park.

50 You (should / shouldn’t) learn some Japanese if you’re going to do business in Japan.

51 We (don’t have to / mustn’t) be late for the meeting with the CEO!

52 My train leaves at 6:00 so I (mustn’t / don’t need to) be at the station before 5:50.

53 This is the emergency exit so we (shouldn’t / don’t have to) put a desk in front of it.

B Complete the sentences using the correct form (present simple or present continuous) of
the verb in brackets.
54 Mariela __________________(visit) a client this morning but she’ll be back in the office this
afternoon.

55 I always __________________(have) my mobile phone switched on.

56 Luke usually __________________(practise) a presentation several times before he gives it.

57 The photocopier in my office __________________(not work) today. Can I use yours?

58 The business is doing very well at the moment. We __________________(open) a new store
every month.

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READING
A Read the article and decide whether these statements are true or false.
59 Foxconn is a retailing company. False

60 The company is planning to use more robots in its factories in the future. True

61 Currently, salaries for workers in China are increasing. True

62 Local governments are against Foxconn’s expansion. False

63 It isn’t easy to install new robots in an old factory. True

64 Foxconn currently has 300,000 workers in Chengdu. False

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B Read the article again. Choose the best word or phrase to complete the sentences.
65 Using robots in a factory is an example of _______ .

a) marketing b) distribution c) automation

66 The Foxconn Group currently has _______ robots.

a) 10,000 b) 1m c) 300,000

67 Manufacturing companies in China are _______ because workers’ salaries are increasing.

a) moving overseas b) failing c) changing

68 _______ Chinese manufacturing companies are increasing automation.

a) Few b) Most c) All

69 Foxconn is building factories _______ of China.

a) in the central part b) outside c) near the borders

70 Foxconn is currently _______ its business.

a) expanding b) downsizing c) restructuring

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WRITING
Choose one of the following options. Write an e-mail (80–100 words).

Option 1
You are doing work experience in the sales and marketing department of City Hotels, an international
hotel chain. You want a trainee position in the department when you finish your university degree
next month. Write an e-mail to the department manager, Ms Green. You are now working closely
with her and you have a friendly, relaxed relationship. Explain what you can offer the company.
Include the subjects below. You can write real information about yourself or invent appropriate
information.
Write about:
• how you’re enjoying your work experience
• your desire for a trainee position in the department
• your current university course
• your languages
• your strengths.
Begin:
Dear Ms Green
I’m really enjoying my work experience in ...
End:
Please let me know if we can discuss this further.
Best regards,
(Name)

Option 2
You see this job advertisement. Write an e-mail to Simon Brown saying that you are interested in one
of the jobs (say which one). Give a brief explanation of the strengths you believe you could bring to
the job. Ask for more details and an application form.

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