UNISEMINAR
Prüfungsskript
Business English 2
Winterthur, März 2013
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Einleitung ......................................................................................................................................................... 1
Exam FS 2012 ................................................................................................................................................. 3
Exercises FS 2012 .................................................................................................................................... 3
Solutions FS 2012...................................................................................................................................15
Exam HS 2011 ..............................................................................................................................................30 Exercises HS 2012..................................................................................................................................30
Solutions HS 2011 ..................................................................................................................................43
Exam FS 2011 ...............................................................................................................................................57 Exercises FS 2011 ..................................................................................................................................57
Solutions FS 2011...................................................................................................................................70
Exam HS 2010 ..............................................................................................................................................85 Exercises HS 2010..................................................................................................................................85
Solutions HS 2010 ..................................................................................................................................95
Exam FS 2010 ............................................................................................................................................ 106 Exercises FS 2010 ............................................................................................................................... 106 Solutions FS 2010................................................................................................................................ 114
Exam HS 2009 ........................................................................................................................................... 124 Exercises HS 2009............................................................................................................................... 124
Solutions HS 2009 ............................................................................................................................... 134
Exam FS 2008 ............................................................................................................................................ 145 Exercises FS 2008 ............................................................................................................................... 145 Solutions FS 2008................................................................................................................................ 153
Exam HS 2007 ........................................................................................................................................... 162 Exercises HS 2007............................................................................................................................... 162
Solutions HS 2007 ............................................................................................................................... 171
Solutions HS 2009
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Solutions HS 2009
Points Distribution 1. Writing 2. Language in Use 3. Vocabulary
1.
20 points 20 points 20 points
Writing
Short business letter
You are the sales manager of Vending Machines Incorporated, Manchester, England. You recently attended a marketing conference in London. Here you made contact with a representative of TM Breweries, a company interested in using your refrigerated vending machines to sell beer and soft drinks. Write a letter to Teresa Winch, sales director of TM Breweries, London. Include the following points: •
Make reference to meeting at recent conference
•
Make reference to quantity discount
•
Suggest follow-up meeting
•
• •
Supply price details (buying and renting)
Enclose brochure of latest products End with a positive close
Referring to the notes above, write your formal letter (max. 120 - 140 words) in the space provided. Do not include addresses. Start with date and subject line. 17 May 2013
Details on VMI’s vending machines Dear Ms Winch,
As we discussed at the XYZ conference in Paris, I am writing to give you details on our refrigerated vending machines. - 134 -
Solutions HS 2009
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At Vending Machines Incorporated, an average-sized machine costs $W.XYZ to buy and $XY a month to rent. There are quantity discounts available for 20, 50, or over 100 machines. For more information on our latest products and their exact prices, please see the attached brochure.
I will be in London for the last week of May and would be happy to meet up with you then to discuss this further. Please let me know what date and time would suit you. I hope you enjoyed the rest of your stay in Paris and I look forward to hearing from you. Best regards,
FirstName LastName
- 135 -
Solutions HS 2009
2.
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Language in Use
2.1 Conditional sentences (0.5 points for each correct solution, total 4 points)
Complete the following sentences logically by putting the verbs in brackets into the correct tense. If necessary, use the passive. Write your solutions into the table below. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
If they increase their prices again, we will have (have) to find another supplier.
It's a pity Jennifer missed the train. We could start the meeting now if she had not / hadn’t missed (not miss) it.
If we had realised that our customer needs were changing, we would have adapted (adapt) our marketing strategy. If I'd had the chance when I was 18, I would have learned (learn) another foreign language.
If sales don't improve by the end of the year, we will have to make (make) cuts in the workforce. I will be promoted soon (promote) soon unless they decide to recruit externally.
I'd happily take a year off work providing I were able to (be able to) have my job back later.
If only she had taken (take) early retirement, she might not have had that nervous breakdown.
1
will have
3
would have adapted
2 4 5 6 7 8
had not / hadn’t missed it would have learned will have to make
will be promoted soon were able to had taken
- 136 -
Solutions HS 2009 2.2
Modals (0.5 points for each correct solution, total 4 points)
1.
I suggest you go to the doctor.
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Replace the underlined phrase with the correct modal verb. Keep the meaning of the underlined phrase. Tick one box per question. You should go to the doctor. A) might 2.
B) mustn’t
You must call the CEO immediately. B) should
C) can
D) may
Perhaps you forgot to attach the document to the email. You mightn’t have attached the document to the email. B) shouldn't C) mightn't
D) can't
If you are from the EU, you are not required to have a visa to enter France. If you are from the EU, you don’t need to have a visa to enter France. A) don't need to
6.
C) shouldn't D) needn't
Go and call the CEO immediately.
A) needn't 5.
D) can
You needn’t fax me the documents today.
A) must 4.
C) should
It's not essential that you fax me the documents today. A) can't
3.
B) must
B) shouldn't C) oughtn't
D) can't
Would you like me to ring the restaurant and make a booking? Shall I ring the restaurant and make a booking? A) can
B) could
C) shall
- 137 -
D) must
Solutions HS 2009 7.
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There was not a single phone box in sight, so it wasn't possible to ring my boss to say that I would be 15 minutes late. I didn't find a phone box and therefore couldn’t ring my boss to say that I would be 15 minutes late. A) wasn't allowed to
8.
B) wouldn't
C) couldn't
D) mightn't
It's a lovely restaurant but it would be more appropriate if the staff were more friendly. It's a lovely restaurant but the staff ought to be more friendly. A) must
B) can
C) ought to
D) may
2.3.
Reported speech (1 point for each correct solution, total 4 points)
1.
"I won't be in next week."
2.
"Can you let me have the report by Friday, John?"
Put these sentences into reported speech. Change time expressions and pronouns accordingly. Write your solutions into the table below.
3. 4. 1 2 3 4
My boss mentioned _____________
The CFO wanted to know _____________
"Ladies and gentleman, make sure you don't enter this room without protective clothing!" The security guard warned _____________
"I'll give you a lift home, Donovan."
She offered _____________
My boss mentioned he wouldn’t be in next week / the following week.
The CFO wanted to know if John could let him have the report by Friday.
The security guard warned the visitors / guests / staff / (or similar) not to enter the room without protective clothing. She offered to give Donovan a lift home. - 138 -
Solutions HS 2009
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2.4.
Relative clauses (1 point for each correct solution, total 4 points)
1.
Our overseas client is very interested in our new exercise bikes. I spoke to him the other day.
Combine and rewrite the sentences using relative clauses. Add commas where necessary. Write your solutions into the table below.
2. 3. 4. 1 2 3 4 2.5.
The new advertising campaign is a great success. We launched it half a year ago. The new canteen looks great. It's got a new coffee machine and a huge fridge. A woman told me where to go. She welcomed me at the reception.
Our overseas client, whom I spoke to yesterday, is very interested in our new exercise bikes. The new advertising campaign, which we launched half a year ago, is a great success.
The new canteen, which has a new coffee machine and a huge fridge, looks great. The woman who told me where to go welcomed me at the reception. Mixed grammar problems: gap text (0.5 points for each gap, total 4
points)
Fill the gaps with the appropriate forms of the verb given or with relative pronouns. Write your solutions into the table below. The forced sale of Opel to Magna defies both industrial logic and European rules
In the run-up to this weekend's general election in Germany, both Chancellor Angela Merkel and her main rival, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, 1) took (take) credit for saving Opel from bankruptcy and its four factories in Germany from closure. They have nothing to be proud of, however. In fact, it is hard to find anything good to say about the deal 2) that was announced a fortnight ago. The deal which 3) was forced (force) through by the Germans was the worst of several options in terms of industrial logic, making it very likely that the loans spent on Magna and Sberbank 4) are never repayed / will never be repayed (never repay). And GM itself - 139 -
Solutions HS 2009
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is far from happy about 5) having been forced (force) to sell to Magna and its Russian partner.
Ever since it became apparent that GM was heading for bankruptcy, the German government 6) has been (be) concerned with short-term political achievements rather than the interests of its taxpayers or the long-term health of the European car industry, 7) which is so vital to Germany.
Although Opel makes some quite good cars, it is burdened with twice as many factories as it needs. In recent years it 8) has lost (lose) market share to Volkswagen in Germany and Ford in Britain. [...] (from The Economist print edition, 24th September, 2009)
1
took
3
was forced
2 4 5 6 7 8
that
are never repaid / will never be repaid having been forced has been which
has lost
- 140 -
Solutions HS 2009
3.
3.1
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Vocabulary
Idioms (1 point for each correct solution, total 5 points)
Complete the phrasal verbs / idiomatic expressions. Use the initial letters given, and write your solutions into the table below. 1. 2.
3. 4. 5.
The company has not been meeting the targets set by management this year, and its revenues fell short of projections in the third quarter.
The decision to launch the software according to the original schedule, despite all the technical problems, has already been taken by management. The fact that the engineers would like more time is completely beside the point. They can argue all they like, management will not change its mind.
Frank has always been rather shy and nervous, and he hates public speaking. He's just not cut out for a job where you have to give high-level presentations to hundreds of people. Peter wants to sound you out on his latest ideas for making his department more efficient. When he does, make sure you don't tell him about our plans to reduce staff numbers. When Susanna came back to Europe after her posting in Hong Kong, she was rather out of touch with what had been happening at head office. It took several weeks before she was fully up to date with the latest developments.
1
fell short
3
cut out
2 4 5
beside the point sound you out out of touch
- 141 -
Solutions HS 2009
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3.2.
Synonyms (1 point for each gap, 5 points)
1.
As far as any future planning is concerned, the expenses for the current project are so small we do not need to consider them.
Provide a synonym for the underlined parts of the following definitions. Write your solutions into the table below.
2. 3. 4. 5.
As far as any future planning is concerned, the expenses for the current project are negligible. The factory workers' demand for higher wages received full support from their union. The factory workers' demand for higher wages got their unions full backing.
I think we should work out an action plan to counter the risk of going bankrupt. I think we should think up an action plan to counter the risk of going bankrupt.
The way the chairs and tables are set up in a meeting room has a direct impact on what happens during meetings. It can promote communication or impede it. Seating arrangements have a direct impact on what happens during meetings. Could you please provide me with the latest information on the project? Could you please fill me in on the project?
1
negligible
3
think
2 4 5
backing seating fill
- 142 -
Solutions HS 2009
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3.3.
Gaps (0.5 points for each gap, 5 points)
1.
A balance sheet is a financial statement which shows a company's assets and liabilities at a particular time. (two nouns)
Complete the gaps with an appropriate word or expression. Write your solutions into the table below. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Iraq is in danger of missing a one-year deadline to strike a deal with energy giant Royal Dutch Shell for a four-billion-dollar gas production deal in southern Iraq. (noun)
There is no point in trying to convince her of our proposal. She's totally opposed to it. (noun) I think our company should resist the temptation to merge with this competitor. The two companies' corporate cultures are so different that the merger may fail. (verb) MIM management and workers are about to settle a/an industrial dispute, which is a dispute between unions and management, over overtime arrangements. (adjective) I'll leave it up to you how to handle this problem. I'm sure you'll come up with a good solution. (preposition)
Please, don't ask me to help you. I'm up to my eyes in work at the moment and can't take on any other tasks. (noun)
A Taiwanese company has decided to establish a subsidiary in Northamptonshire, which will improve the local population's job prospects considerably in the next three years. (noun) I think we are getting sidetracked here. Let's stick to the agenda and discuss this matter at the end of the meeting if we have time. (adjective) My boss is really upset because I have missed my sales targets for the third time in a row. (verb)
1
balance sheet
6
up to
3
point
8
prospects
2 4 5
danger resist
industrial
7 9
10 - 143 -
eyes
sidetracked missed