End of Semester Exam

English Test

I. READING COMPREHENSION (30p.):

I.1. Read the following text and decide whether the statements are True (T) or False (F). Write the correct answer when you find it is wrong (10p.)

THE CELLULAR BUSINESS OF THE FUTURE

by Gerard Fairtlough

The age of the large hierarchical organisation is coming to an end. If big companies are to flourish, they will need to be reorganised in a series of interlinked creative compartments--ideally of about 100 people each. Fairtlough uses the living cell as a metaphor for the creative compartment.

Also, there are striking similarities in the 'ecological' balance between companies and that of animal species, where predator and prey populations co-evolve, each needing the other. In Japan and China, fierce competition often exist between companies in the same sector, but there is also much co-operation, particularly when one is also a sub-contractor to another, or where two or more companies might be investing in core research that would be too costly to carry out otherwise.

As the hollowing-out of large firms continues, we may expect them to become co-ordinators rather than primary operators, concerned with big objectives but only doing some of them in-house. Benetton, the Italian fashion house, is a successful example of this structure. It has several thousand retail franchises which contract to sell only Benetton products but remain separate firms. Again, on the manufacturing side, it is parcelled out among more than 200 companies, small independent firms and even individual home-workers, mostly in northern Italy.

This cellularisation process raises questions whether parent group directors will be as important as they once were, and, if not, should they continue to merit the pay differentials that they have traditionally enjoyed.

a) According to the author of the text, companies do not need any kind of interlinked creative compartment.

b) In certain countries, such as Japan and China, there is no co-operation between companies belonging to the same sector.

c) Large firms tend to remain primary operators rather than becoming co-ordinators.

d) The cellularisation process seems to cause no problems at all for the parent groups.

I.2. Match the two columns (10p.):

1. hand over a) group of people with an interest in or

claim on a firm

2. implement b) everything a company owns which could

be sold, if necessary, to pay debts

3. capitalism c) a distinct part of an economy, society or

sphere of activity, sector

4. stakeholder d) offer goods or services at a lower price

than a competitor

5. to undercut e) a set of different things of the same

general type; selection or series

6. division f) pass something to the next person

7. assets g) an economic and political system in

which a country’s economy and trade

are controlled by private owners for

profit rather than by the state

8. shares h) put into practice

9. subsidiary i) controlled by a holding or parent

company

10. range j) a part or portion of a larger amount which is divided

among or contributed by a number of people

I.3. Fill in with the correct word (10):

a) heavy f) overlooked

b) point g) exceeded

c) headquarters h) appointed

d) patent i) recession

e) welfare capitalism j) comprises

1. During the 1920’s, many large companies introduced………………………as a way of creating favourable public opinion.

2. The company’s Board of Directors was …………………by the Minister.

3. The Coillte Company……………… a range of smaller businesses.

4. In 2000, the combined sales of the firm……………………. 3 billion pounds.

5. As a result of the period of………………….., we had to reduce the amount of money spent on research and development.

6. Due to the …………………..investments in technology, the company developed many successful products.

7. The……………….. of the company are in London.

8. In order to make or sell an invention you need a …………………

9. Full and complete computer training of the staff is a condition which, unfortunatly, is very often …………….. by employers.

10. When economists try to explain why the Internet is more popular in certain countries they……………….. to factors such as education and financial situation.

II. GRAMMAR and VOCABULARY (40p.)

II.1. (30p.)

Colloquial Pair Phrases 1 - Advanced Level Vocabulary Quiz

Choose the appropriate colloquial 'pair-phrase' to complete the sentences.

prim and proper to and fro odds and ends hard and fast tooth and nail by and large pros and cons down and out length and breadth safe and sound

1. She's very ______about everything. Make sure you don't use any swear words around her!

prim and proper

2. You can find quality beers throughout the ______of Ireland.

length and breadth

3. She believes that, ______, there is nothing we can do to change anything.

by and large

4. I'm afraid these rules are ______. We can't make any exceptions.

hard and fast

5. Now, you'll have to fight ______to win this game.

tooth and nail

6. We just had ______for dinner.

odds and ends

7. I'm afraid that John is ______. I saw him begging the other day.

down and out

8. Their parents were relieved when they arrived ______from their hiking trip.

safe and sound

9. I've been running ______all day long. I'm exhausted!

to and fro

10. You need to consider the ______before you make a decision.

pros and cons

Colloquial Pairs 2 - Advanced Level Vocabulary Quiz

Choose the appropriate 'pair phrase' to complete the sentence.

ins and outs cloak and dagger spick and span up and about ups and downs song and dance collar and tie pins and needles sick and tired bits and bobs

1. I love reading suspensful ______novels.

cloak and dagger

2. When I called the computer company all I got was a ______. The problem wasn't resolved.

song and dance

3. She's ______of her boss. I think she's looking for a new job.

sick and tired

4. As soon as you learn the ______of the business, you'll be very successful.

ins and outs

5. I keep all the ______in that drawer over there.

bits and bobs

6. Don't worry, you'll be ______within 10 days.

up and about

7. It's a formal dinner, very much a ______affair.

collar and tie

8. He likes to keep his house ______.

spick and span

9. Of course all marriages have their ______, but they are worth the effort.

ups and downs

10. I'm sitting on ______about this job interview next week. I'm so nervous!

pins and needles

II.2. Explain the following words and make up appropriate sentences (10p):

a) interlinked

b) prey

c) hollowing-out

d) retail

e) in-house

III. ? WRITING SKILLS (40p.)

Explain the role of the tourism industry in the progress of a country:

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………