From:

Date:

Unit 2 |
Subject:
Understanding reasons and difficulties
Identifying reasons
Test questions may ask about the reason for an action. Words like because or
SPOTLIGHT ON TESTING

reason may be clues. Also, remember who is speaking or writing. The identity
may be a clue to the reason.

1 Understanding reasons
A. Read the e-mail.

To: Kyle Peters <petersk@seebolt.com> CC: Heather Fortin <fortin@seebolt.org>

From: Debra Bannas
Date: January 15
Subject: Toy Quality

Hi Kyle,
I just talked to Jim Decker at the San Francisco office. The issue is a shipment of toys now on the docks in
S.F. Apparently, we’ve got three shipping containers there, but Jim doesn’t want to sign for them because
there’s a problem with the paperwork. The shipper did not send a certification that the toys are lead-
free. As you know, Seebolt policy is really strict about that, and Jim doesn’t want to take a chance. We
definitely don’t want to sell any toys with lead in them. We could land in court, and more importantly, we
would never, ever want to sell dangerous toys.
However, NOT signing could have serious costs. We’ve never had any trouble with this manufacturer—
never any lead, always good quality, etc. If we refuse the shipment, we could lose a good supplier. If the
shipment is really OK and we let it stay on dock for a long time, we’d have to pay storage fees at $800
per day! Jim has been trying for a whole day to reach the supplier but can’t get through to anyone in
management. Apparently, he can’t even get through to anyone who speaks English. I told Jim I’d bring it
up to you. What’s your advice? Should he risk it and sign? Thanks in advance for your help.
Debra

B. Check (✓) the reason for each action or situation.

1. Why Jim Decker called:
to get advice about what to do to complain about the supplier to say he accepted the shipment

2. Why the company could land in court:

selling toys that contain lead getting certification from the supplier using another supplier

3. Why signing might be good:

making sure the shipment does not get stolen helping Jim Decker keep his job
not having to pay $800 a day

4. Why Jim could not solve the problem:

dangerous materials inside the shipment not being able to reach an English speaker
the large size of the shipment

4 Spotlight on Testing • Unit 2

Strategies for taking the: TOEFL® Test TOEIC® Test IELTS™ Test
Understanding statements of difficulty
On tests, reading and listening passages often mention difficulties. Questions
may ask what is difficult and how the difficulty might be overcome.

2 Understanding difficulties
Read the e-mail again. Write T for true or F for false.
1. Three containers of toys did not arrive on time.
2. The supplier did not send some necessary papers.
3. The supplier has made many similar mistakes in the past.
4. Jim Decker cannot speak English.

3 Understanding difficulties in listening

AUDIO FILE Listen to the TV program. Circle the letter of the correct answer.
1. Why couldn’t gold seekers travel to California by train?
a. The trains in 1849 could not travel through mountainous areas.
b. Trains drew more Indian attacks than other forms of transportation.
c. There was no train service from the East to California until 1868.
2. Which is NOT mentioned in the program as a difficulty faced by gold seekers traveling to California by land?
a. diseases
b. snow
c. Indian attacks
3. What is mentioned in the program as a difficulty faced by many gold seekers traveling to California by sea?
a. They had to travel through storms at the southern tip of South America.
b. They had to cross high mountains after reaching San Francisco.
c. They had to pay high prices for their trip.
4. Why, according to the program, did some 49ers arrive “too sick and weak to go looking for gold?”
a. They had to work hard on the ships that carried them to California.
b. They had caught malaria or yellow fever in Panama.
c. The sea trip to California took eight months.

4 Skills in review
Look again at Exercise 8 on p. 14 of the Workbook. Now read the e-mail (above) about
Seebolt. Underline the prepositions in the e-mail.

It’s sometimes hard

to hear to in speech. Some
“purpose” clues are verbs like
try, want, and hope.

Spotlight on Testing • Unit 2 5