In Company Upper Intermediate second edition

Name __________________________________ Date ___________

QUICK PROGRESS TEST 4 (UNITS 15 - 18)

Section 1: Grammar and Lexis
Part A
Re-write the sentences beginning with the words given.

I cant believe that they are asking for as much as this.

The boss said that he _______________________________________________

How about offering them something else?

She wondered if it would be a good idea________________________________

Id like to know something about your current position.

The HR manager began the interview by asking him_______________________
_________________________________________________________________

We need an agreement from you today.

Wed been hoping for some kind______________________________________

What we want is a guarantee for two years.

Im afraid we have to insist___________________________________________

Part B
Complete the discussion below with the verbs in the box. Change the form of the
verbs if necessary.
fill

run

keep

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grind

help

come

shut

back

be

work

In Company Upper Intermediate second edition

Gabor:

Ok, so were just waiting for Omar. He does know where the meeting is,
doesnt he?

Petr:

Yes. The traffic was bad this morning so maybe hes just
(6) _______________ late.

Gabor:

Right lets start. Petr, could you first of all just (7) _______________ us in
on whats going on at the Brno plant?

Petr:

Well, its difficult to say precisely at the moment but yesterday production
(8) _______________ to a halt and by the end of the day the whole plant
(9) _______________ down. The head technician is calling this morning
to give me an update. Im already (10) _______________ on how we can
keep our key customers happy.

Gabor:

Is there any point in us buying in traded goods? Just for the time (11)
_______________ I mean.

Petr:

Well, we are going to have to do something about the backlog of orders.

Well soon have lorries (12) _______________ up all the way to Prague.
Marton: Er, can I (13) _______________ in on that? Ive already been on
to a company in Slovakia who originally contacted us about some kind of
partnership arrangement. They may be able to (14) _______________ us
out sooner than we thought.

Gabor:

Interesting. Can you get me more details and (15) _______________ me

posted on how that progresses? Now, where is Omar?

Part C
Complete the unfinished word in the sentences. The first few letters are given to help
you.
16

With what theyve offered, theres very little room for man__________.

17

Would you be willing to meet us half__________?

18

Its a rather bleak out__________, Im afraid.

19

All the early indi__________ are that interest rates will rise again.

20

I wonder what lies in st__________ for us next year.

Quick Progress Test 4

In Company Upper Intermediate second edition

Section 2: Reading
Read the texts on three of the worlds greatest business leaders and read the unlikely
quotes (2125). Match the leader to the quote he would never say.
Ricardo Semler is president of the Brazilian marine and food-processing machinery
manufacturer Semco, an environmental activist and author of the best-selling Maverick!
He has created the worlds most unusual workplace. At Semco its the workers who
choose and evaluate their bosses. Everyone has access to financial records and 30% of
employees set their own salaries. His strategy is to involve employees in decisions,
eliminate hierarchies, ignore conventional wisdom, turn the company upside down and to
reward talent.
Michael Dell is the founder and CEO of the Dell Corporation, the direct-sale computer
business that has taken the PC world by storm. By bypassing retail stores, cutting out the
middleman and offering customers tailor-made systems at low prices, Dell has become
the biggest in the business, and with its successful entry into the vast Chinese market, the
company looks virtually unstoppable.
Though head of the huge Virgin empire, Richard Branson prefers to play the underdog.
By competing with the likes of British Airways and Coca-Cola, he has earned a
reputation for stealing business off complacent market leaders and doing it in style. A
skilled self-publicist, there seems to nothing he wouldnt do to promote the vibrant Virgin
brand.
21

You know this suggestion that I leap out of a balloon and open a parachute with
the company logo on I dont really fancy it to be honest.
____________________

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In Company Upper Intermediate second edition

22

OK, lets agree on this at the board meeting and then can you send out a memo to
everyone telling them what the board have decided.
____________________

23

I was thinking of opening a new chain of shops. It might help sales this year.
____________________

24

My feeling is that this part of the market is too competitive people like Pepsi
already have all the business. Theyre much too big for us.
____________________

25

I dont like this idea of asking everyone for feedback. Well have secretaries
telling their managers that they should run their departments differently. And then
where would we be?
____________________

Section 3: Listening
(Class Audio CD4 tracks 20-24)
Listen to five speakers talking about negotiating. Decide if the following statements
are true (T) or false (F) for each speakers view.

26

Speaker 1
You need to know exactly what you are prepared to lose before the negotiation in
order to make sure you get the deal you want.
T/F

27

Speaker 2
The tougher you are the more likely you are to achieve a deal satisfactory to both
sides.
T/F

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In Company Upper Intermediate second edition

28

Speaker 3
Dont let the other side know what you can and cant afford and let them do all
the talking.
T/F

29

Speaker 4
Find out exactly why the other side is negotiating. Ask them about their position
and establish what they hope to achieve. Everyone needs to feel that they are right
in order for the negotiation to proceed.
T/F

30

Speaker 5
Ask questions.
T/F

Section 4: Speaking (31 35)

Prepare a short presentation. Your company needs a new CEO. The three applicants
for the job are the three business leaders described in the reading section of this test.
In your presentation:
- explain what your company does and the type of CEO that it needs to lead it
- introduce Ricardo Semler and discuss how suitable he might be for the job
- introduce Michael Dell and discuss how suitable he might be for the job
- introduce Richard Branson and discuss how suitable he might be for the job
- conclude by explaining which applicant would be the best choice
Your partner or teacher will be the other person and give you one mark for each of
the following:
Did the presenter
introduce his/her company and they type of CEO needed?
describe Semlers suitability?
describe Dells suitability?
describe Bransons suitability?
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Tick

Marks
1
1
1
1
5

In Company Upper Intermediate second edition

conclude by explaining the best choice?
TOTAL MARKS =

Quick Progress Test 4