&8226;Look at the graph below which shows the changes of the profits made by three chain s

?Read the article below about new products and services offered by hotels and airlines.

?In most of the lines 41-52 there is one extra word. It is either grammatically incorrect or does not fit in with the meaning of the text. Some lines, however, are correct.

?If a line is correct, write CORRECT on your Answer Sheet.

?If there is an extra word in the line, write the extra word in CAPITAL LETTERS on your Answer Sheet.

If it wasn't one thing, it was another one. For almost four years, the travel world was turned upside down and once-peripatetic business travelers were chained to

41 their desks. But as the economy picks up and that the general business climate

42 improves for this year, corporate travelers are heading back to airports and hotels

43 around the world. What they'll find is a vastly different environment for business

44 travel. After years of retrenchment, major airlines are growing up again,

45 resuming with service on important business-travel, mutes and rebuilding

46 in-flight services. Alternate carriers are stronger than ever and hurriedly adding

47 business-class services to appeal to the corporate traveler. New hotels are

48 opening in major business centers around the world and hoteliers who

49 are tweaking their properties with better spas, better beds, better food and

50 crisper, more being focused service. And miraculously, prices are down, too. If a

51 chorus of "Happy Days Are Here Again" isn't quite appropriate, at least other

52 business travelers can hit the road in coming months confident that is, finally, things are getting a little better all the time.

(41)

?Read the article below about ways to motivate employees.

?Choose the best sentence from the opposite page to fill each of the gaps.

?For each gap 9-14, mark one letter (A-H) on your Answer Sheet.

?Do not use any letter more than once.

Let Workers Work

In these difficult economic times, lots of companies are cutting benefits to maintain profits. So when Fortune magazine recently published its list of the "100 best companies to work for," I couldn't help but notice that lots of these companies are maintaining or even improving benefits such as medical care, onsite child care, fitness facilities, and so forth. Moreover, it turns out that firms that have made the list in the past have on average also done well in the stock market. So they must be doing something right. Are those on the list compiled by Fortune simply examples of successful companies that can afford to be nice? Or is there some link between generous benefits and an organization's performance?

Obviously, there is a link. (9) For starters, it seems perfectly sensible that companies with generous benefits and employee-friendly policies attract a more motivated, higher-quality workforce. (10) .

Consider health care and health insurance. (11) For example, Definity Health, a recent entrant in the health-care-plan in business, supplies consumers with loads of information that it claims "empowers employees with greater control over health and wellness decisions," thus limiting costs to employers. The typical Definity Health plan, in fact, carries a high deductible to encourage patients to become cost-conscious health-care shoppers.

What's wrong with greater employee involvement and cost-consciousness? (12) Having individual employees more actively manage their medical benefits — and, for that matter, 401 (k) and even flexible spending accounts — overlooks the advantages of specialization and the division of labor. Do you really want your people to spend their time becoming medical or financial experts, all while they're also engaged in a constant hunt to find quality child care? Wouldn't it be nice — and maybe even efficient — if someone with both knowledge and your employees' best interests in mind relieved them of those burdens? (13) Health Advocate, a firm that hunched in January 2002, charges companies about $2 a month per employee to help their people deal with their health insurers. It has already signed up 122 firms.

Companies that successfully capture the motivation and energy of their workers operate under a simple premise: (14) When their folks are at work, they want them to focus their energy on being productive.

A In an effort to control rising medical costs, many companies are experimenting with insurance plans that make employees more "cost-conscious" by having them take an active role in their health care.

B Clearly, some companies are beginning to realize that this is a problem. However, most CEOs and top executives don't have a clue how important that connection is.

D Here's a novel thought: Most employees want the same thing.

E Remove from employees as many extraneous burdens and worries as possible.

F But there is another, more important issue here: We're working our employees to the bone with all sorts of tasks unrelated to their jobs.

G Nothing, unless you think about the inevitable trade-offs in a worker's time and attention.

H Moreover, it turns out that firms that have made the list in the past have on average also done well in the stock market.

(9)

&8226;Look at the statements below and the five introductions for goods.

&8226;Which introduction A, B, C, D or E does each statement 1-8 refer to?

&8226;For each statement 1-8, mark one letter A, B, C, D or E.

&8226;You will need to use some of these letters more than once.

A.

Shopping goods aren't bought very often, are bought only after the consumer has compared their features with those of competing brands, and are found in only a few stores in one area. These goods usually have a higher unit price than convenience goods, and an individual salesperson, rather than a cashier, may be needed to sell them. Examples of shopping goods are automobiles, furniture, men's suits, ladies' wear, shoes, and major appliances.

B.

Specialty goods like prestige automobiles, photographic equipment, fine jewelry, and high-fashion clothing and furniture are bought by consumers after a special shopping effort. They are bought infrequently and are generally available only in exclusive outlets. They're usually high-priced, but price isn't the main consideration of a consumer buying them. A consumer is often willing to go out of the way to find a certain brand.

Specialty goods prove the point that goods are often considered not just for their physical qualities but also for the economic utility, ego enhancement, status, and satisfaction they carry with them. For example, when people buy a new car, they may want it not just for basic transportation but also for recognition, status, or prestige.

You've probably figured out that this classification of consumer goods is far from rigid. It may differ according to buyers' intent or wishes. As consumers' incomes and buying habits change, or as prices drop, goods shift from one classification to another. Usually they shift downward, from the specialty to the shopping, or from the shopping to the convenience goods category. Television sets became shopping goods years ago. When microwave ovens first came on the market, they were regarded by many as an expensive new toy a kind of specialty goods-for the rich. Now they're considered indispensable shopping goods by working couples and single people who buy them to save cooking time.

C.

Durable goods can be further classified as either consumer goods or industrial goods, each of which requires a different set of marketing strategies. Consumer goods are used by the consumer or household that buys them and come in a ready-to-use form. that calls for no further industrial or commercial processing. On the basis of how much effort a consumer takes to obtain them, consumer goods can be further subdivided into (1) convenience goods, (2) shopping goods, and (3) specialty goods.

D.

Durable goods have physical qualities and uses that permit them to last a relatively long time, even while being used. They're designed to be used up over an extended period of time and are made of materials that will take considerable wear and tear. For example, you probably own such durable goods as a car, tape deck, cassette player, TV set, or stereo that should remain usable for several years—or at least until the warranty runs out. Houses are built to last thirty to fifty years or more. Refrigerators and mattresses both have a life expectancy of about twenty years, and quality jewelry, silverware, china, and furniture are frequently handed down from one generation to the next.

The fact that a product is durable influences its whole marketing strategy. Obviously, goods like these are packaged differently, sold more personally and aggressively, and priced higher than a tube of toothpaste or a bottle of shampoo.

E.

Instead of being bought by the ultimate consumer, industrial goods are used by businesses to produce other goods or to provide services to consumers. These goods are usually bought by institutions such as manufacturers, utilities, government agencies, contractors, wholesale

?Read the text below about the US Banking System.

?For each question (31-40), write one word in CAPITAL LETTERS on your Answer Sheet.

The US Banking System

The US banking system is not as tightly centralized As European systems. At its head we find the Federal Reserve Board (the "FED"), which works through twelve regional Federal Reserve banks. The Board, (31) responsibility is directly to the Congress, is an independent agency, not subject to the orders of the President. But of course, a large amount of cooperation does exist (32) the White House and the Treasury on the one hand, and the Board on the (33) .

Credit cards are issued by banks or certain organizations and may be used by the (34) to have purchases (goods or services such as meals, accommodation and travel) charged to a bank account. The account is (35) for the corresponding amount and the card holder is sent monthly statements of account.

Some credit cards are (36) internationally by many stores, hotels and restaurants. Cards holders may also obtain cash (37) presenting their card in a local bank, or by using automatic cash machine.

Credit cards are issued by banks to their clients and guarantee the solvency of the holders (38) they pay by checks.

In the USA. it is frequent for stores to (39) charge accounts for their customers. Instead of paying in cash the buyer only has to (40) a numbered card for the purchase to be charged to his account.

(31)

?Read the article below about insurance.

?For each question 31-40, write one word in CAPITAL LETTERS on your Answer Sheet.

Premiums You Can Retrieve

For those who see term life insurance as a losing proposition, an old insurance product is back. Called Return of Premium (ROP) (31) Money-Back Term, these policies refund (32) penny paid in premiums if you outlive the 15-, 20-, or 30-year term of the policy.

The policies cost more -- perhaps 30% to 50% more for a 30-year policy -- than traditional term life. A healthy 35-year-old man might pay ＄550 annually for a basic ＄500,000, 30-year term policy, vs. ＄810 for one (33) the ROP feature. You can get policies for a shorter term, (34) they cost so much more that they are not advised. Then does an POP policy make sense? That depends on (35) answer to two questions: Would you earn more buying a cheaper term policy and investing the savings? Are you likely to cancel before the 30 (or however many) years are up?

In the example above, the ROP would cost ＄260 more each year than regular term insurance but (36) return ＄24,300 in premiums at the end of 30 years. That mounts (37) an annualized return of 6.6%, and it's tax-free because you're just getting back your own money, For someone looking for a conservative investment, (38) policy could make sense. But remember, you get that return only if you pay the premiums for the entire 30 years. If you drop the policy before, you'll get less, or perhaps nothing, in return (39) those higher premiums. A company generally counts on people dropping the policies -- in order to pay the money to those who (40) .

(31)

?Read the text below about IT training.

?In most of the lines (41-52) there is one extra word. It is either grammatically incorrect or does not fit in with the sense of the text. Some lines, however, are correct.

?If a line is correct, write CORRECT on your Answer Sheet.

?If there is an extra word in the line, write the extra word in CAPITAL LETTERS on your Answer Sheet.

IN-HOUSE IT TRAINING

One of the most important things you should consider before implementing an IT training program is whether that the content is current, accurate

41 and easily be understood by trainees. In general, you should look

42 for a training program that has done an affiliation with industry

43 leaders. For example, a course on Windows 2000 should at least

44 be approved by Microsoft. A course that has been co-developed in

45 this way ensures so that trainees will study relevant and correct

46 information. Also, take into your account the availability of practical

47 exercises. Many off-site, instructor-led programs which provide learning

48 labs for trainee practice, but take good on-site training courses can

49 include hands-on simulations that resemble to an actual networking

50 or desktop environment. This supply allows trainees to interact with

51 the programs without crashing down a live system. It also means that

52 trainees can study while at work so that less time is going missed, and production schedules are not interrupted.

(41)

&8226;Read this text from an article about job references.

&8226;Choose the best sentence from the opposite page to fill each of the gaps.

&8226;For each gap 9-14, mark one letter (A-H) on your Answer Sheet.

&8226;Do not use any letter more than once.

&8226;There is an example at the beginning, (0).

REFERENCES CANNOT ALWAYS BE TRUSTED BY

POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS

Dull, but reliable, will make a good parent' - so said a head teacher's reference which I was once sent for a school-leaver. (0) H

Most references are unreliable, although recruiters usually ask for them. Few ask for character references today, as these have proved useless. (9) However, these cannot always be trusted. A few may be biased. (10) This can also occur if there has been friction between boss and subordinate over personal or business matters.

On the other hand, there can also be positive bias. An employer who wants to get rid of someone may fail to mention any relevant failings or even give a glowing report to help the individual go quickly. (11) But if they do, the law in Britain says they owe a duty of care to both the employer to whom it is supplied and to the individual to whom it refers.

Most written references are unreliable because they are not specific enough. So how do you, and a potential employer, ensure that any reference given on your behalf is genuinely helpful? (12) Employers normally expect two: one, your immediate superior in your current or most recent job; the other, your boss in the post before, so long as it was in the last five years or so. For a senior post, more may be required.

For their part, no prospective employer should approach your current employer until you have an offer 'subject to references' and you have given permission. (13)

Once you get the offer, and before giving permission to make contact, tell your boss and explain that the prospective employer will be asking for a reference. Do this face-to-face and during the meeting describe the job for which you have applied. If you can provide a job description or the relevant job advertisements, even better. (14)

Even if your referee does express some doubts about your fitness for the post, don't worry, employers often prefer to back their own judgement.

A. It would also be wrong for anyone to contact your penultimate firm before then because word may reach your current employer on the grapevine.

B. In fact, employers do not have to give references at all.

C. These might include your boss's immediate senior and someone at the same level as your boss who is familiar with your work.

D. Your boss can then match the reference needs to the needs of the job.

E. What they seek are references from previous employers.

F. Some managers think it an act of disloyalty if an employee applies for a job elsewhere and will give poor references or only weak praise.

G. Firstly, as an employee, make sure you choose the right referees.

H. It amused me at the time, but said more about the referee than the candidate.

(9)