READING ___20

Read the article below about domain names.

• Choose the best sentence from the opposite page to fill each of the gaps.
• For each gap 1 – 5, mark one letter (A – G).
• Do not use any letter more than once.

Domain names
Monica Porter meets a man who invests in website names
In the initial growth years of the internet Coakes believes it is impossible to
James overestimate the value to a business of a
Coakes received some shrewd advice from a good domain name. His own company uses
friend. teambuilding.co.uk, as it runs teambuilding
‘He told me the interest was going to be very events for corporate customers. ‘Nearly half
big,’ he recalls, ‘and that a lot of businesses our traffic comes to the site by prospective
would need good domain names for their clients putting the word “teambuilding”
websites and there would be a market in directly into their internet browser.
selling these. (0)............ So I bought a few (3)............ For us it equates to half a million
likely-sounding names for about £30 each.’ pounds worth of revenue each year.’
It was a good move. Before long, a number
of other people had switched on to this Coakes says, ‘It may be more difficult now
upcoming investment area, and by the mid- than it was in the boom years, but you can
90s, he says, the best names had still pick up for a few pounds a name that will
all gone. probably at some future point be worth
thousands. (4)............ You need to immerse
Coakes runs a corporate events company, yourself. Every day I look at domain names,
and initially the domain names he bought keep an eye on the registers and watch for
related to his own industry. Then he acquired renewal dates. There are many websites for
other generic business names, such as registering, buying and selling names and
auditing.co.uk and valeting.co.uk. ‘I bought you have to catch out someone who has
those some time ago and am still holding on forgotten to renew a good name, or grab one
to them. As a pair, they have to be worth fast enough from a company which has gone
£25,000 now.’ (1)............ He currently owns bust.’
around 100 names and sells a few each year
via a domain-name trading website, typically Coakes believes that if he sold all his domain
for about £5,000 each. names today, he would make more than £1m.
(5)............ ‘This market hasn’t yet matured.
‘I’m surprised more people don’t make There are only a handful of people trading in
offers for names that are already registered. it, getting into position ahead of the main
There are really good names available for wave.’
very reasonable prices. Once you own the
domain name, it’s an asset and I believe
prices will only ever go up.’ The .com
domain is the most sought-after and valuable,
but good names with that suffix are getting
harder to find, so new ones are constantly
cropping up. (2)............ ‘It’s a bit too trendy,’
he explains. ‘Whereas if your site has a .com
suffix, it says “we’re a serious business”.’

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A But as with any other sort of investment,
you can’t just wander into it and make
money.
B Choosing a domain name is a brand
awareness exercise for these companies.
C He estimates he has so far spent a similar
figure on his domain name portfolio,
including registration and annual renewal
fees.
D But he’s in no hurry to do so.
E This is how a lot of people locate services
nowadays.
F One such is .biz but, according to Coakes,
it hasn’t really become popular.
G He said they’d be worth a lot of money to
the right companies.
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Questions 6 – 20
• Read the article below about a company which has received an award for its HR record.
• Choose the best word or phrase to fill each gap from A, B, C or D on the opposite page.
• For each question 6 – 20, mark one letter (A, B, C or D).

Sectec among top 100 employers

Sectec, a major player in the Canadian security industry, has (0) ………… that it will appear
on the list of Top 100 Employers for the fourth consecutive year. This is in (6) ………… of
the fact that it offers employees an exceptional work environment. The annual award selects
employers on the (7) ………… of criteria such as physical workplace, professional (8)
………… , health and family benefits, performance management, and (9) ………… in the
community.

In order to be (10) ………… on the Top 100 list, a company is (11) ………… on how its
business strategies and corporate culture offer staff incentives which make working for it a
rewarding experience. Companies within the same industry and region with innovative
programmes that attract and (12) ………… on to valued employees are compared, in order to
select those that make a positive (13) ………… to offer a stimulating work environment. ‘Our
employees are very important to us,’ states Sectec’s HR manager, Susan Innings. ‘We are
constantly trying to (14) ………… new ways to show our appreciation for their hard work and
commitment. We are (15) ………… pleased to have received this award for the fourth year in
a row.’

Sectec is a global provider of world-class video surveillance to markets such as education, retail
and government. With sales offices and partnerships around the world, Sectec has (16)
………… itself as a top company by employing a considerable level of flexibility and forward
thinking in the development of its (17) ………… technology. Sectec’s workplace culture is an
(18) ………… of these business principles, (19) ………… the growth of a workforce that is
(20) ………… to the creation of cutting-edge solutions and to exceptional customer care.

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6 A acceptance B recognition C awareness D response
7 A foundation B occurrence C aspect D basis
8 A growth B extension C development D gain
9 A involvement B connection C incorporation D association
10 A laid B placed C located D positioned
11 A valued B controlled C calculated D evaluated
12 A keep B hold C take D stay
13 A effort B aim C point D design
14 A go ahead with B come across C come up with D go into
15 A surely B extremely C properly D absolutely
16 A established B fixed C created D set
17 A core B lead C centre D head
18 A upturn B extension C expansion D increase
19 A advancing B inciting C raising D encouraging
20 A committed B attached C enthusiastic D obliged

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WRITING ___/20

You see this announcement in your local tourist magazine.

Do you have a favourite restaurant, cafe or snack bar in town? If so, why not
write a review for our 'Free Time' section, telling us what your favourite place is
like and why recommend it to tourists.
The three best reviews will receive a prize of $200!

1 Write a plan for your review and make notes on what you will put in each paragraph. Here
are some things your can cover:

 Introduction: the name and type of place and where it

is situated
 Your overall opinion of the place
 Particular dishes the place serves (and your opinion of
them)
 The décor, the service, etc.
 Things you particularly like, such as the price
 A general recommendation

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LISTENING ___/10
Section One (Questions 1 – 5)

- You will hear five people advising how to identify a member of staff with management
potential.
- For each recording, decide what advice the speaker is giving.
- Write one letter (A – H) next to the number of the recording.
- Do not use any letter more than once.
- You will hear the five recordings twice.

A Listen to the views of the person’s colleagues

1 .................... B Notice how the person relates to their line manager.
2 .................... C Test the person out in a temporary position of responsibility.
3 .................... D Check the person’s loyalty to the company.
4 .................... E Take the person’s career goals into account.
5 .................... F Use objective tests to assess the person.
G Observe the person under pressure.
H Match the person to the skills necessary for the post.

Section Two (Questions 6 – 10)

- You will hear five people talking about customer service.

- For each recording, decide what advice the speaker gives on improving customer service.
- Write one letter (A – H) next to the number of the recording.
- Do not use any letter more than once.
- You will hear the five recordings twice.

A Encourage feedback from customers.

6 .................... B Respond appropriately to customer feedback.
7 .................... C Update customer information regularly.
8 .................... D Make use of information you already possess.
9 .................... E Set your staff targets for customer service.
10 .................... F Ensure communication between departments.
G Pay attention to your existing customers.
H Invest in a suitable computer package.

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