Exam in english for business communication - School of Foreign Languages

University of Economics, HCMC
School of Foreign Languages
Division of English for General Purposes
End of Unit Test.U5.M2
EXAM IN ENGLISH FOR BUSINESS COMMUNICATION (75 minutes) 
Read the instruction carefully. RECORD your answers on your answer sheets.
Section 1: Language knowledge (40 marks)
I. Choose the words that best fit the gaps in the following passage. 
Minutes
Lighting 
Staff are complaining about the poor lighting in the main office. The secretary of the committee recently obtained quotes (1)  new lighting, (2)  we passed to the management board. The committee is (3)  waiting for (4)  decision. We are hoping the board will let us (5)  within the next few weeks.
New Drinks Machine
Of the three types of machine we looked at, Maxcup appeared to be the best option. The committee now has to find a new (6) , as our current machine causes problems near the fire exit (7)  several people use the machine at the same time. It was decided to put off taking the decision, and we expect to have enough information (8)  the end of the month.
Conference Attendance
John (9)  to be away at the conference from 1st to 8th of next month. Rebecca has agreed to assist us in his (10)  . John has a useful list of contacts in order to help her research safety equipment.
Next committee meeting: 16th March.
A. from	B. of	 C. for	 D. with
A. what	B. when	 C. which	 D. that
A. still	B. yet	 C. already	 D. never
A. your	B. our	 C. their	 D. his
A. know	B. known	 C. knowing	 D. know
A. location 	B. size	 C. pattern	 	 D. design
A. whether	 B. if	 C. unless	 D. although
A. while	B. until	 C. on	 D. by
A. expects	B. believes	 	 C. approves	 	 D. thinks
A. leave	B. absence	 C. departure	 D. time
II. Choose the best answer
11. A key way to protect your mental health against the potential detrimental effects of work related stress is to ensure you have a  work-life balance.
A. healthy	B. unhealthy	C. bad	D. neglected 
12. The problem is that what one person finds really  and it excites them to be able to do their job well, somebody else might find really stressful.
A. demotivating	B. motivating	C. boring	D. tiring
13. A  is someone who constantly thinks about work, and without work feels anxious and depressed. 
A. social worker	B. office worker	C. employee	D. workaholic
14. If you’re using alcohol or substances to cope with the  of work, seek out a drug and alcohol specialist.
A. pressures	B. flexitime	C. quality	D. lifestyle
15. He also told them about the new incentive plan that he had  with Alpha for achieving the current plan.
A. consulted	B. dealt	C. negotiated	D. taken part
16. An employee may  more importance on personal elements such as their work-life balance.
A. put	B. install	C. place	D. play
17. Our taxi was  in traffic and I thought I would never get to the airport on time.
A. stuck	B. hidden	C. travelled	D. had
18. All employees and students should have the right to a clean and safe working  .
A. hour	 	B. class	C. day	D. environment
19. Recently, profits  sharply because of strong competition.
A. fall	B. have fallen	C. were falling	D. will fall
20. I knew Bill when I  at college.
A. will be	 	B. am	C. have been 	D. was
21. Our company  just  flexitime and everyone’s delighted.
A. has / introduced	 	B. had / introduced	C. was / introducing	D. is / introducing
22. He  in film industry for many years before joining the government.
A. work	 	B. worked	C. is working	D. will be working
23. I have been in computers for five years now. I  a degree in computing at MIT and then I joined Microsoft as a programmer.
A. do	 	B. did	C. has done	D. will have done
24. They treat their employees  well  nobody ever wants to leave.
A. such / that	 	B. so / and	C. so / that	D. such / then
25.  we are facing a poor economic climate, our sales have held up.
A. Although	B. As a result of	 	C. While	D. Nevertheless
26. They should go the sports center  they want to be fit and in good health.
A. although	 	B. because	C. in spite of	D. besides
27. The Mental Health Foundation is concerned that a sizeable group of people are neglecting the factors in their lives  make them resistant or resilient to mental health problems.
A. what	 	B. that	 	C. whom	D. whose
28. Sometimes I wonder  they want me to leave and bring in someone younger.
A. while	 	B. unless 	 C. if	D. although 
29. She’s never been  pressure in her work since she joined the agency.
A. during	B. throughout	 	C. at	D. under 
30. Women have many more sources of pressure in their life and therefore are more likely to feel stressed  that.
A. within	B. because of	C. on	D. at
31. He is stressed because he is often interrupted  work by visits from other members of staff.
A. on	B. for	 	C. at	D. to
32. I’ve got a Master’s  advertising, but it doesn’t seem to impress her.
A. from	B. by	C. in	D. on 
33. Agencies compete to win new contracts or take clients  their rivals.
A. from	B. in	C. at	 	D. on	
34. In today's busy world, prioritizing  your work and your personal life can be a huge challenge.
A. by	B. as	 	C. between	D. with	
35. Advertising staff are well  , but they work long hours.
A. paid 	B. pay	C. payment	 	D. payable	
36. Most of the  ideas in the agency come from me.
A. creativity	B. creatively	C. create	 	D. creative	 
37. Studies show that a poor work-life balance can result in unhealthy levels of stress, unhappiness, and even reduced  .
A. produce	B. product	C. productivity 	 	D. productive	
38. Both employers and employees must take responsibility for making the program work  .
A. effect	B. affect	C. effective	 	D. effectively 
39. The human costs of  work related stress extends far beyond this.
A. unmanaged	B. manage	 	C. management	 	D. manager
40. It is estimated that nearly three in every ten  will experience a mental health problem in any one year.
A. employment	B. unemployed	C. employees 	 	D. employ	
Section 2: Language use
I. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow: 
THE EFFECTS OF STRESS
There are numerous physical effects of stress. Stress can affect the heart. It can increase the pulse rate, make the heart miss beats, and can cause high blood pressure. Stress can affect the respiratory system. It can lead to asthma. It can cause a person to breathe too fast, resulting in a loss of important carbon dioxide. Stress can affect the stomach. It can cause stomach aches and problems digesting food. These are only a few examples of the wide range of illnesses and symptoms resulting from stress.
Emotions are also easily affected by stress. People suffering from stress often feel anxious. They may have panic attacks. They may feel tired all the time. When people are under stress, they often overreact to little problems. For example, a normally gentle parent under a lot of stress at work may yell at a child for dropping a glass of juice. Stress can make people angry, moody, or nervous.
Long-term stress can lead to a variety of serious mental illnesses. Depression, an extreme feeling of sadness and hopelessness, can be the result of continued and increasing stress. Alcoholism and other addictions often develop as a result of overuse of alcohol or drugs to try to relieve stress. Eating disorders, such as anorexia, are sometimes caused by stress and are often made worse by stress. If stress is allowed to continue, then one's mental health is put at risk.
Choose the best answer.
1. Which of the following is not a common problem caused by stress?
A. physical problems
B. anecdotal problems
C. mental problems
D. emotional problems
2. According to the essay, which of the following parts of the body does not have physical problems caused by stress?
A. the arms
B. the stomach
C. the lungs
D. the heart
3. Choose the best answer to explain how alcoholism is caused by stress.
A. Alcohol is used to relieve stress.
B. Alcohol is popular.
C. Alcohol is a chemical.
D. Alcohol is similar to medicine.
What does each of the following underlined words/ phrases refer to?
4. “It can increase the pulse rate” (Paragraph 1)
5. “one’s mental health is put at risk.” (Paragraph 3)
Which words/ phrases in the passage mean the following?
6. connected with breathing: 
7. changes in your body or mind that show that you are not healthy: 
8. shout loudly, for example because you are angry, frightened or in pain: 
Fill in each blank with one suitable word from the passage. Put it in its correct form or tense if necessary.
9. An  of graphics in reports can be an unwelcome distraction.
10. The way she was treated at work caused her  emotional distress.
II. Writing
From the following notes, write a letter to accept the invitation to speak at a conference.
+ conference: inaugural Researchers’ Conference, 04.11.20XX 
+ topic: “Innovations in Agricultural Research Strategies”
+ event: 10:00 a.m., but required to arrive by 09:00 a.m.
+ send detailed information on the venue of the conference
Dear Hillary,
I am indeed honored ..
. .
I have checked 
.. .
Thank you once more .
 .
Yours sincerely,
Lena Bohm
III. Listening
PART ONE: Listen to the conversations twice and choose the appropriate answer to each question
Conversation1: Questions 1 – 2
1. What is broken?
 A. The air conditioner
B. The photocopier
C. The telephone
D. The light
2. When will the repairperson arrive?
 A. At noon
B. Next week
C. Right away 
D. This afternoon 
Conversation2: Questions 3 – 5
3. Why can’t the man meet with the woman this week?
 A. He has to meet with another person.
 B. He needs to rest this week.
C. He’ll be away on a trip.
D. His office won’t be open.
4. What does the woman want to discuss?
 A. Conference plans
B. A letter
C. Money
D. A class
5. What time will the woman be at the man’s office?
 A. 9:00
B. 10:00
C. 11:00
D. 1:00
PART TWO: Listen to the recording and complete the notes. The recording will be played twice
Health experts recommend 45 minutes of (6)   a day for healthy adults: No need to spend three quarters of an hour everyday at the gym + much easier to (7)  small  of exercise into work day. Examples: 
+ If driving to work, park a few blocks from the office, then walk. 
+ Don’t take the (8)  . Use the  instead. 
+ While working, take a break every so often. Get up from your desk and walk around the room or down the hall for 5 or 10 minutes. 
If you (9)   like these, you may well have done more than the (10)   of exercise recommended.
The End
KEYS - EOU TEST.U5.M2
Section 1
I.	
1. C
2. C
3. A
4. C
5. A
6. A
7. B
8. D
9. A
10. B
II.
11. A
12. B
13. D
14. A
15. C
16. C
17. A
18. D
19. B
20. D
21. A
22. B
23. B
24. C
25. A
26. B
27. B
28. C
29. D
30. B
31. C
32. C
33. A
34. C
35. A
36. D
37. C
38. D
39. A
40. C
Section 2
I. Reading
1. B
2. A
3. A
4. stress
5. a (stressed) person
6. respiratory
7. symptoms
8. yell
9. overuse
10. extreme
II. Writing:	SUGGESTED ANSWER
Dear Hillary,
I am indeed honored by your kind invitation to deliver a speech at the inaugural Researchers’ Conference on November 4, 20XX. I would be delighted to speak on the topic “Innovations in Agricultural Research Strategies”.
I have checked my schedule, and the date and time are just perfect. I understand that the event will begin at 10:00 am but I am required to arrive by 09:00 a.m. . Please send me detailed information on the venue of the conference.
Thank you once more for your invitation. I look forward to seeing you on November 4.
Yours sincerely,
Lena Bohm
III. Listening
Part one:
1. B
2. A
3. C
4. A
5. D
Part two:
6. moderate exercise
7. incorporate  amounts
8. elevator, stairs
9. develop habits
10. minimum amount
AUDIO SCRIPT – END OF UNIT TEST U5 (PRE INTER)
PART ONE:
1. Woman: I’m so tired of this old photocopier. Did you realize it’s broken again? The copies come out too light now.
Man: I’m going to report this right away. I have to get these copies made.
Woman: I already called the company. A repair person will be here at noon.
Man: Great. Well, I guess I’ll read my e-mail while I’m waiting.
2. Woman: We have to discuss the conference plans soon. Can we meet this week?
Man: Sorry, I’ll be away on a business trip for the rest of this week.
Woman: How about next Monday then? I’ll see you in your office at 11.
Man: Monday’s fine, but let’s make it at one. I have a morning class.
PART TWO:
These days, health experts are recommending forty-five minutes of moderate exercise a day for healthy adults. That may seem like a lot, but it’s actually easier than you think. You don’t have to spend three quarters of an hour everyday at the gym. It’s much easier to incorporate small amounts of exercise into your work day. For example, if you drive to work, park a few blocks from your office, then walk the rest of the way. When you arrive, don’t take the elevator up to your office. Use the stairs instead. While you are working, take a break every so often. Get up from your desk and walk around the room or down the hall for five or ten minutes. If you develop habits like these, you’ll find that by the end of the afternoon you may well have done more than the minimum amount of exercise recommended.