Linguaskill Business Reading & Listening

Write your name: LISTENINGPart 11) For this question, choose the correct answer. Read the question first. You can listen twice. A B C 2) For this question, choose the correct answer. Read the question first. You can listen twice. A B C Part 2For questions 3-8, write A, B or C on the line next to the question.Write capital letters. You will hear an interview with Don Demolina, the founder of Taste, a US-owned international sandwich bar franchise.3) Taste's first franchise outside the USA was started by someone from CA Canada.B Hong Kong.C Italy.4) The company's plans for international expansion focus on BA markets with a young population.B rapidly growing markets.C markets which already have Taste outlets.5) Expansion abroad has been achieved by AA using different types of locations.B developing new partnerships.C opening larger units.6) Don thinks Taste has won the 'Franchiser of the Year' award because of CA the efforts of its franchisees.B the size of its operations.C the nature of its product.7) Taste maintains standards across its international retail outlets through BA strict checks on franchisees.B the involvement of franchisees in quality controlC regular training programmes for franchisees.8) Why does Don think the Taste franchise model is so successful? AA It provides incentives for franchisees to expand.B It targets people with previous franchise experience.C It offers a medium-risk business opportunity. READINGPart 19) For this question, choose the correct answer. If you have a connecting flight, allow at least 24 hours before trying to check in. There are certain restrictions on tickets which have been booked over theinternet. The deadline for checking in over the internet is earlier than in person at theairport. 10) For this question, choose the correct answer. Answer the survey questions on-line. Send information about your business needs. Email us about your experiences. 11) For this question, choose the correct answer. Only 30 people can have a holiday at the same time. The longest holiday it is possible to take is 10 days. You need to book your holiday 12 days in advance. 12) For this question, choose the correct answer. You must post Super Express Service items before 9am. Super Express Service parcels cost a maximum of €100. Send letters using Super Express Service before 3.30pm. 13) Which information is correct? Industrial roofing accounts for about a third of revenue while domestic roofingand car-parks are the main source of revenue. Car-parks is the smallest source of revenue, slightly less than industrialroofing and half of domestic roofing. Domestic roofing generates half the group's revenue, with industrial roofingand car-parks equally contributing the remainder. 14) What does Jody Kars want to do? change a meeting to a later date talk about working with a new manager design a different advertising campaign 15) For this question, choose the correct answer. WLW is considering floating its North American part of the business. WLW is planning to leave the North American house-building industry. WLW is concerned that its North American business is failing. Part 2Choose the word which best completes each sentence.For questions 16-21, choose one letter A, B, C or D.16) Hard-working managers often prefer to do an MBA _ distance learning. across over per via 17) The price quoted _ room, breakfast and local taxes. includes consists involves contains 18) The CEO admitted that results had fallen _ of his expectations. short low small little 19) The survey will be used as the _ for deciding whether or not to re-brand. origin root foundation basis 20) Celco's dynamic chairman, Jason Symes, is leaving _ only 18 months. during after since already 21) Investors remain _ about the new company formed by the recent merger. decisively deciding undecided decision 22) Troubled Covar plc is _ off hostile bids from more than one direction. struggling attacking fighting resisting 23) Shares in WXD have _ from favourable reviews of their new model. benefited helped supported aided 24) Unfortunately, there is a serious _ of interest with our normal agency. opposite contrast difference conflict 25) We were surprised to see that our main competitor has _ their wholeproduction site up for sale this week. done made put had 26) Outsourcing the assembly process has given us a _ of approximately 20%. margin saving refund gap 27) The best way to motivate staff is _ them that their hard work is noticed andappreciated. seeing displaying showing demonstrating 28) The Signet Group is one of the region's leading industrial service groups, with _ firms operating right across the area. auxiliary subsidiary ancillary supplementary 29) The Middleham Film Festival, held in July, significantly _ the town's touristindustry. pushed inflated heightened boosted Part 3Read this article about working from home.Choose the best word to fill each space from the words below.Write the letters A, B, C, or D on the lines in the text.Write capital letters.30) A) overturn B) overtake C) overgrow D) overcome31) A) swap B) tide C) shift D) exchange32) A) aim B) focus C) target D) point33) A) occurring B) emerging C) happening D) becoming34) A) expect B) rely C) suppose D) presume IS THIS THE END OF COMMUTING?"Staying home" is likely to be the new "going to work" in our region as a new generation of workers (30) A the traditional shape of the workplace by establishing their office at home, according to research by Runtertons Bank and Finance.Their report examined the (31) Cin ways of working and living and the emergence of new kinds of workers and work practices. It predicts that the home will be the (32) Bof most people’s working lives and that "demuting" will be the next big trend, with 12 million people anticipated to be working from home by 2020.The report reveals that more than half (54.2%) of workers from the region see the home (33) Dthe new "hub" of work life. Approximately three quarters of people (73.2%) questioned for the survey (34) Ato spend significant sums of money creating or improving their home office. Part 4For questions 35 - 39, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space.Write only one word for each space. THE TASTE OF SUCCESSFormed in 2001, Knife+Fork Ltd is (35) one of the country’s largest independently owned restaurant chains. We now have branches right (36) in the centre of most major cities. Our recently extended menus offer a wide range of dishes, (37) fromoriginal pizzas to classic regional favourites. In the last 12 months, we are proud to (38) have completed a number of strategic initiatives, as announced in previous bulletins. Five new branches are already operating successfully, with (39) a further four approved for development. Improved staff training and new point-of-sale technology will mean improved customer experiences. For questions 40 - 44, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space.Write only one word for each space. CHANGE IS HERE TO STAYAlways remember that change is the biggest challenge (40) toyour business success. The days are gone (41) whena business could constantly grow by simply repeating what it had done successfully in the past - or even recently. Aggressive, innovative competitors and rapidly changing technology make it impossible.Expect change and prepare for it. Don’t wait (42) untilyour income has declined to take action. Develop the habit of looking for early signs that something is changing. Then confront it before you start losing business. Insulate yourself against the impact of change(43) byincreasing the number of products and services you offer. Use a variety (44) ofdifferent marketing methods. Never stand still. Part 5Read the article below about starting an internet business and answer questions 45 - 50.Choose the correct option. If you’ve ever had an idea for a product or service that you think could net you afortune, you may well have considered setting up an internet business with the aim ofsitting back and watching the money roll in. The internet has certainly revolutionisedthe way we live our lives, and offers a place where individuals can compete with globalorganisations. But just how easy is it to get started?The starting point for any new business is to create a business plan. Jeffrey Macklinfrom FDU, a company that provides part-time finance directors to start-upbusinesses, says that the objective of the business plan is to tell a simple yetcompelling story that leaves the reader wanting to meet the management team andfind out more about the proposition. "It should be as succinct and accessible aspossible, and around 20 pages at most," he says.There are many different financing options available to aspiring entrepreneurs. Forsensible businesses, raising funds will involve several sources. Bank finance in theform of a loan or overdraft is usually cheaper than selling shares or equity in yourbusiness, but equity investment is ideal for those businesses that do not want toincrease their level of borrowing, or are unable to provide the necessary security.If you’re considering equity investment, two options are so-called "business angels"and venture capitalists. Business angels are wealthy individuals who look to invest ingrowing companies wanting to raise between £10,000 and £250,000. They will alsooffer contacts and advice. Venture capitalists will only invest - usually a minimum of£2m - if they can see a significant return in three years, say.One important area where internet businesses often fail is marketing, according toLisa Richards, a partner at accountants Smith Cooper. "Too many people fall into thetrap of developing their product or service and then expecting orders to comeracing in," she says. "But with no shop window through which to promote yourself, (line 25)how are potential customers going to find you?" However, if properly worked out,while starting up an internet business can be one of the toughest things you ever do,it can also be the most rewarding. 45) What point is made in the first paragraph? Most people’s ideas for internet businesses are unrealistic. The way business operates has been changed by the internet. Profit levels tend to be very high for internet businesses. 46) What does Jeffrey Macklin say about start-up internet businesses? They think their first business plans are fully effective. They need to produce brief explanations of their ideas. They only employ finance directors on a part-time basis. 47) What is encouraged in the third paragraph? reducing amounts borrowed from banks ensuring the security of loan funds combining finance from various places 48) According to the fourth paragraph, business angels provide other forms of support as well as investing money. expect quick results from the companies they invest in. set a high minimum level of investment. 49) What is meant by "racing in" in line 25? beating the competition arriving in large quantities being quick to deal with 50) What would be the best title for the article? Don’t Aim Too High Check Every Detail Think Before You Jump