General English Reading Passage With Answer

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General English Reading Passage With Answer

Passage 1.
Employee Relations Committee Meeting Summary by Chris Gonzalez, Ombudsman

• The Employee Relations Committee meeting was held on Thursday. The union representatives for the six area offices and the company managers from those same regions were present at the meeting. I sent out a copy of the agenda before the meeting. We discussed all the items on the agenda. I am writing this summary in my official role as the company ombudsman.
  The meeting went well. We discussed the employees’ concerns at length. Here is a list of the issues and the points of consensus that we reached. These are the ideas the committee would like to put forward:
• Employees know that healthcare costs are rising. Management agrees to provide more day-care options for employees’ children if employees pay a higher percentage of healthcare costs.
• Employees know that no merit raises are possible at this time. Management agrees to a 3% cost-of-living increase across the board.
• Management agrees to work with employees to develop more schedule options. These will include the 40-hour, 4-day work week. Job sharing might also be possible if two employees can work out a weekly schedule between them.

Questions
1 ) The person who wrote this report ________.
A : is very worried about the company’s future
B : thinks that the union is being unreasonable
C : represents one of the six regional offices
D : is pleased with the outcome of the meeting
2 ) In the report above, the word minutes means ________.
A : a unit of time (60 seconds)
B : a written record of a meeting
C : time passing in a meeting
D : a written agenda for a meeting

Answer : D & B

Passage 2. Layoffs May Be Looming!
Are you feeling worried? Anxious? Even overwhelmed? Are you concerned that you may be laid off? What if the rumors about a takeover are true?
Well your worries may be justified. Statistics show that even well-trained, senior workers can’t count on guaranteed employment these days. The corporate world is volatile- even cut-throat. Downsizing is rampant. Says Mitch Jones, head of Future Alternatives, inc., “Workforces everywhere are being reduced. Even skilled employees run the risk of losing their jobs, and possible their careers, if they are not flexible.”
Could this happen to you? If you are over 30, you are a prime target for being laid off. If you haven’t been keeping your skills current, you also could be in serious danger.
Questions
1. According to this article, employees should _____________.
A. be cut-throat on the job.
B. be flexible in job choices.
C. cash their paychecks.
D. pursue one career option
2. In this article, the word this refers to ________ .
A. not being flexible at work
B. Workers losing their jobs
C. Continued Employment
D. getting a good education.&

Answer : B & B

Passage 3. What Makes a Company Successful? by Elizabeth Franks
We asked fifteen of the most innovative and well-known leaders in business today about what made their companies so successful. They all agreed that a truly competitive and fast-growing company must have the following qualities.

• Leadership: No one person today is smart enough to be in total control of all the parts of a company. The role of today’s company leaders is to teach, encourage creativity, and help produce other leaders in each level of an organization.
• Innovation: The ability to invent new products, processes, and possibilities is what innovation is all about. In an economy led by change and speed, every company needs leaders who can motivate workers to be innovative.
• Learning: Competition today means that the knowledge an organization gathers is more important than the number of branch offices it opens. If a company wants to grow quickly, it needs people who can keep learning quickly.
  The industry leaders whom we spoke with stressed that it is not only the upper management, but also the employees, who help develop these essential qualities. must work together to build a successful business.

Questions
Why is learning an important part of a successful company?
(A) It will develop essential qualities in management personnel.
(B) It will give the employees in a company a chance to change jobs more quickly.
(C) It will help a company to open new branch offices.
(D) It will help a company to grow quickly in a competitive world.
Look at the word in the article. What or who does refer to?
(A) those in management and the employees of the company
(B) the essential and successful qualities of business
(C) the various companies in business today
(D) the organization and its branch offices
Answer : D & C

Passage 4. Come to Hawaai for your business conerence this year Join us at the Royal Luau Resort on Maui
Can you think of a better place to have a conference? Your employees can let their imaginations sail away on the blue waters, clean beaches, and soft winds. We will take special care of them from the time our shuttle bus picks them up at the airport to the day we send them home.
In addition to the natural beauty and relaxing environment, our modern conference facilities provide our guests with important equipment and services. “these” include multi-system VCRs, movie projectors, computer presentation modules, electronic copier screens, excellent sound systems, and teleconferencing services. Hotel employees are available to help maintain and operate these systems at no extra charge.
Each room at our beachfront hotel gives your employees a view of the ocean. Each is equipped with computer desks and modem connections. The hotel is a five-minute drive from the many shopping areas in downtown Kihei.
When the work is finished, your employees can relax at one of our six restaurants, four bars, or our famous Hana Hula Nightclub located inside the hotel.
This is the perfect place to work and play.

Questions
Which item below is NOT offered at the Royal Luau Resort?
(A) rooms with a beautiful ocean view
(B) a well-known nightclub
(C) airport pick-up service
(D) a variety of places to shop
Look at the word “these” in the advertisement. What does refer to?
(A) the conference
(B) the beauty of Maui, a calm environment, and additional rooms
(C) important equipment and services
(D) extra room service offered by hotel employees

Answer is D & C



Passage 5. Don’t Let Your Computer Send You to the Doctor by Samuel Berger
Doctors report that the number of computer-related health problems continue to increase. Computer users frequently suffer from finger, hand, forearm, eye, neck, and back problems. Let’s discuss a few ways to avoid some of these problems.
The good news is that there are ways to stop the pain of using a computer. Here are some easy things you can do. Every fifteen to twenty minutes, you should look away from the computer screen. Focus your eyes on something far away for a minute or two. You can also lessen eye stress by closing your eyes and using your fingers to press gently on your eyelids for five seconds.
To relieve stress in your back and neck, get up and stretch your body. Lift your hands and arms up and reach for the sky! Try to get up and walk around for five minutes every hour.
If your eyes, neck, or back continue to hurt, may provide the answer. The field of ergonomics refers to the effect that the design of equipment, like computers or furniture, has on job performance. For example, you can experiment with raising or lowering your chair or moving the computer screen to a higher or lower position to relieve pain.
These suggestions may not stop all the aches and pain you have, but try them before you call the doctor.

Questions
The article discusses how to avoid problems with which of the following parts of the body?
(A) fingers, head, and legs
(B) eyes, neck, and back
(C) hand, wrist, eyes, and neck
(D) eyes, neck, back, and legs
Look at the word in the article. Which phrase means the same thing as ?
(A) the study of redesigning or moving equipment
(B) the study of medical problems
(C) the study of computer movement and design
(D) the study of how equipment design affects people’s ability to work

Answer B & A

Passage 6. Eighty-Year-Old Entrepreneur
Some people believe that senior citizens should retire, enjoy their free time, make baby clothes for their grandchildren, and play mah-jong or checkers in the park. If you’re eighty years old, you’ve certainly earned the right to relax and do nothing.
Well, don’t tell that to Nathaniel Hendersen. This octogenarian has more energy than a team of adolescent soccer players. And he has been in on the ground floor of more than 200 important inventions in the plastics industry.
What’s the secret of his success?
Janice Aldridge, head of Luxury Lifestyles, a customized office furnishings company based in Manhattan, says Hendersen’s genius resides in his innovative designs. “Nathaniel is a pioneer in plastics,” she reported. “He once told me that he loved imagining solutions to problems and challenges and then making them happen in his design studio.”
Hendersen’s long-time business partner, Olivier Despuits, would agree. He says Hendersen’s contributions to plastics design stem from his unique ability to think outside the box. “Nathaniel is one of the most innovative, creative thinkers I have ever known. His designs for ergonomic keyboards transformed the industry almost overnight.”
K.L. Wong is a venture capitalist who had the foresight to invest millions in Hendersen’s ideas. From his corner office on the thirty-second floor, Wong gazes out the window and contemplates the far-reaching impact of Hendersen’s inventions. “You asked me what makes Nathaniel so special. Look out there. He has influenced daily life in thousands of offices. Millions of employees are using equipment for which Nathaniel holds the patent.” It was Wong who supplied the infusion of seed capital that catapulted Hendersen’s designs into the global spotlight.
What does Hendersen himself think? For him, fame and financial success are almost irrelevant. What matters to him is doing what he enjoys. “I love thinking freely!” he exclaims. “My talent is looking at a product that people use on the job and figuring out how to improve it. Fortunately for me,” he adds, “that’s a talent with wide applicability. And it’s fun!”
With his white hair and bristling eyebrows, the diminutive Hendersen is more energetic than many people half his age. Whatever his secret, he is a vital self-starter whose mission in life is to solve problems through innovative designs. You certainly won’t find this creative eighty-year-old playing checkers in the park.

Questions
The author of this article probably believes that Nathaniel Hendersen __________.
(A) should take more time to rest and relax
(B) is proud of his fame and financial success
(C) has not significantly affected office workers
(D) has made a good decision to keep working
In this article, the word them refers to __________.
(A) solutions
(B) challenges
(C) problems
(D) designs
Answer – B & D

Passage 7. Memo – Subject: Departmental Restructuring 
From: President Hiram Beeker
To: All members of the Department of Information Technology and Management
Subject: Departmental Restructuring
It is with great regret that I announce the retirement of the department’s dean, Dr. Martin Johnston. He has served the department with great distinction for 25 years and we will always remember his vast contributions.
Based on suggestions from department members, we will be restructuring the Department of Information Technology and Management. Dr. Herbert Laveson, currently a senior professor of information management, will assume the post of dean. Dr. Laveson will now oversee the splitting of the department into two major divisions: the education branch, under its new director, Dr. M.S. Ahn; and a new research and development branch, under the internationally known researcher, Dr. C.S. Choudhury, whom we have recruited from the Institute of Technology of Bangalore. Dr. Choudhury’s area of expertise is the development of new technological platforms that enable businesses to handle larger amounts of data more efficiently. Aiding businesses in their quest to handle information is an area which we hope will prove to be a lucrative source of funding for our educational mission.
Details of our new department structure are provided in the chart below. For the near future, we will maintain our existing structure in the education branch. In the coming year, however, Dr. Laveson will be soliciting recommendations for departmental evolution that will allow us to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Organizational Chart: University of the Cascades
Department of Information Technology and Management

Questions
According to the memo and organizational chart, which people will be changing positions?
(A) Dr. Choudhury, Dr. Ahn, and Dr. Laveson
(B) Dr. Johnston, Dr. Beeker, and Dr. Wang
(C) Dr. Takacs, Dr. Lopez, and Dr. Laveson
(D) Dr. Wang, Dr. Takacs, and Dr. Lopez
Based on the memo and organizational chart, which of the following statements is true?
(A) Dr. Choudhury is currently a professor in the department.
(B) A new program has been created in the education branch.
(C) Dr. Laveson is replacing Dr. Johnston as department dean.
(D) The education branch will be working with businesses.
Answer – A & C

Passage 8. My Trip to San Francisco
To: Geraldo Limon, San Francisco Office
From: Jasmine Farhady, London Office
Re: My Trip to San Francisco
Number of pages (including this one): 1
Geraldo,As you know,
I am coming to San Francisco on the 21st or 22nd to meet with the sales team. I would rather arrive on the 21st so I can recover from jet lag before the meeting. Would that be possible, given your schedule? If so, please make a reservation for me at any convenient hotel. I don’t want to rent a car or take public transportation, so I’d prefer to have a hotel within walking distance of the office. Thanks.
I’d like to prepare you a bit for the meeting itself. I am extremely frustrated with the slow sales so far this year. We need to expand our markets globally in order to increase our profits. This means that we must persuade the sales team to take some initiative and move into new international markets. We can’t diversify the product line now, so we have to increase sales for the existing products.
I am relying on you to prepare the sales team for this meeting. The bottom line is that if sales don’t turn around, we will have to look into replacing some of the members of our sales team, starting at the top. I don’t want to interfere with how you manage your office, but the situation is critical. You must find a way to energize the sales team. We must avoid another quarter of poor sales.

Questions
1.Ms. Farhady wants Mr. Limon to ________.
(A) make a reservation for her airline ticket
(B) think about how to motivate the sales team
(C) make a reservation for her at a luxury hotel
(D) diversify the product line of the company
2.In this message, turn around means ________.
(A)revolve
(B)decrease
(C)improve
(D)happen
Answer – B & C

Passage 9. Women in the Business World
A Look into the Life of Helen Sinclair, CEO of Net Graphics
by Ronald Marks
Women hold only 83 of the top jobs in corporate America compared to 2,184 men who have jobs as chairmen, vice chairmen, CEOs, presidents, or executive vice presidents. So what kind of woman makes it to the top?
Meet Helen Sinclair. She is one of the most powerful CEOs in the business world. Ms. Sinclair speaks four languages, was educated at MIT’s Sloan School, and just set up a $3 billion stock sale.
Her average weekly schedule is so full, most people would get tired just thinking about . This week, she’s on a flight to Rome for lunch with an Italian graphic designer on Monday. On Tuesday, she is in Germany meeting with government officials who want to set up a Web site. By Wednesday, she will be on another plane to meet with a Japanese corporation that markets products on the Internet. If she is lucky, she will get to see her two children on Saturday.
“At first, it was difficult to leave my family so often. And it was also very hard to be a woman in my position. But I stayed positive, and as the company grew more successful, fewer people questioned my ability, as a woman, to do the job.”
Sometimes, just sometimes, there is a happy ending!

Questions
Look at the word “it” in the article. What or who does the word “it” refer to?
(A) all the graphic designers, government officials and corporate lawyers
(B) Ms. Sinclair’s typical job responsibilities from Monday to Friday
(C) the selling price of Net Graphic’s stock
(D) Ms. Sinclair’s powerful position within the corporation
Why is Ms. Sinclair “lucky” to see her children on the weekend?
(A) She travels a lot.
(B) She balances her work and family life easily.
(C) She gets to fly home every Saturday.
(D) They live in Italy.
Answer B & A



Passage 10. Interview for documentary
To: Mariam de Grange
From: Chris Wang
Subject: Interview for documentary
Hi! I just want to follow up on our plans to interview Jason Carrington for the documentary about craftsmanship. I think we can use some of the ideas below. Let me know what you think.
First of all, he is a very interesting character and my impression is that we could emphasize his distinctive work in the film. He is certainly on the cutting edge of furniture design, and he’s also a very charismatic person.
His furniture is sleek and sophisticated. Carrington seems to blend an unconventional approach with respect for Asian and Eastern European heritage in his designs. His skill and imagination flow from a certain nostalgia for the past, but he somehow manages to put a new twist on conventional concepts. He is not so much a revolutionary as a subtle innovator.
According to Carrington’s Web site, there has been a dramatic rise in the popularity of his designs. The distribution of the products–especially the living room ensembles and executive office suite furnishings–is primarily in the luxury market, but he caters more to businesses than to individuals buying furniture for their homes. In fact, several multinational companies have commissioned Carrington to design furniture for their major global offices. He says his primary goal is to blend form and function, using locally grown or produced materials to provide a distinctive style that respects the historical heritage of a culture while looking toward its future.
I wouldn’t say his furniture has universal appeal–it’s too unconventional for some tastes–but he is a pacesetter in the design world. A champagne company recently had Carrington design four sofas to be used in a marketing campaign. He showed me the mock-ups: Each photo features a woman with a champagne glass. The models are dressed in gowns that draw on the style of the couches. The overall impression is one of elegant simplicity.
This guy definitely thinks outside the box. I think his state-of-the art designs will impress our viewers, but I’d like to hear what you think before I schedule another appointment. In the meantime, he’s sending us the permission-to-film contract this week. He wanted to have his attorney review the specifics first.

Questions
According to this email, furniture designer Jason Carrington displays __________.
(A) a strong commitment to traditional local designs
(B) a blend of traditional and modern elements
(C) universal appeal in the design of his office suites
(D) a totally futuristic design sense in his furniture
In the email above, the word pacesetter means that Carrington __________.
(A) is on the cutting edge of design
(B) is similar to other designers
(C) is unpopular among designers
(D) is commercially successful
Answer B & A

Passage 11. Tip Selects Chadwick and Sons
Tip of New York, the five-star restaurant owned by the Atlantic Gold Corporation, announced yesterday that Chadwick and Sons of New York, a division of the GlobeCom Group, is taking over the creative side of its branding initiatives.
The Tip account had been handled by Reveres in Los Angeles, part of the Capades Group.
Tip’s costs in this deal are thought to be close to US$500,000.
Tip considered four firms during a lengthy review that became quite competitive, according to Matthew St. Michael, Public Relations Director at Tip. Potential agencies included Reveres; Bell, Bond & Bar of New York; and Gold, Choi & Partners of London, part of the Gold Choi Creative Outlet division of TNT Partners.
“Our primary goal is to work toward reestablishing consistency in Tip’s local and national branding,” said Galina Felton, Vice President of Public Relations and Branding at Chadwick and Sons. “Tip is an icon of purity in the preparation
and presentation of fine foods. We will capitalize on that to reinforce their image of quality, excellent service, and luxury.”
Ms. Chadwick said that clientele should remember eating at Tip as a “healthful and seductive experience. The new branding campaign will accomplish that goal,” she said.
Chadwick and Sons holds accounts with more than 20 major restaurants in the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions.
Tip opened in 1967 and was owned privately by Chef Remi St. Jean until 1987, when it was sold to the Atlantic Gold Corporation for US$2.7 million. Rumors have circulated for years that Atlantic Gold intended to open new Tip restaurants in several major U.S. cities. The move to Chadwick and Sons is seen by some restaurant industry insiders as an obvious first step in that direction.
Questions
According to the article, Chadwick and Sons will __________.
(A) make the most of Tip’s wealthy customers
(B) seduce Tip customers with creative pricing
(C) try to create the same image of Tip everywhere
(D) help Tip improve its food presentation practices
In the article, that refers to __________.
(A) Tip’s local and national branding
(B) an impression of a lifestyle of luxury
(C) reestablishing local branding consistency
(D) being a symbol of purity in food service
Answer C & D

Passage 12.
Ms. Lily Kwan
Animation Plus Studios
10 Downtown Plaza
M6B 2B3 Toronto
Canada
Dear Ms. Kwan,
Thank you very much for sending us your sketches. Our design team felt that your two main cartoon characters would be compatible with our marketing approach. In particular, the character of the witty skunk as the intelligent partner of the teenage superhero was immensely appealing. We think we can use the concept of their partnership in the advertising campaign for our new line of athletic shoes.
We would like to meet with you as soon as possible to see if we can set something in motion for the coming fiscal year. We think we could incorporate the skunk as a symbol of independence. His personality is very charismatic and we could pitch him as the visual image associated with the product line. In our assessment, the friendship between the skunk and the teenager is an incredibly powerful image that will appeal to the adolescent and pre-teen markets. The skunk’s humorous attitude is a great complement to the teenage hero’s seriousness.
I would appreciate it if you could come to London this month and stay for two or three days. Would that be feasible? Our design team can meet with you either Thursday and Friday, the fourteenth and fifteenth, or Monday and Tuesday, the eighteenth and nineteenth. We would, of course, cover all your expenses and pay your stated consulting fee. Your accommodations would be at Hotel Excelsior, which is a pleasant jaunt from our headquarters.
Please let me know whether you will be able to join us on the dates I have proposed. We are very enthusiastic about our innovative line and are delighted to be working with you.
Sincerely yours,
J.P. Petrakis
Product Development Unit

Questions
1. Mr. Petrakis wants Ms. Kwan to ______.
A. Create two new cartoon characters for marketing.
B. Fly to London in order to work at the Excelsior Hotel.
C. Fly to London to meet Olympic Attire’s design team.
D. Move to London in order to work for Olympic Attire.
2. In this letter, the word partnership means a _________.
A. legal marriage pact.
B. financial agreement
C. legal arrangement
D. stable relationship
Answer: C & D

Passage 13.When Do You Need a Consultant?
Many companies hire consultants for short-term projects. But when is it advantageous and cost-effective to do so? There are four situations when you should consider using a consultant.
First, if specific expertise is lacking in your own staff, hiring a consultant can help. Bringing someone in for a short time may be better than hiring new employees. It depends on the type of knowledge or skills you need, as well as the nature and length of the project.
Second, if your company’s market or industry has changed, someone with a broad perspective can help you adjust to altered circumstances. In this case, it is good to bring in a consultant with wide knowledge of your industry.
Third, if there is disagreement within your team, an experienced consultant can sometimes help untangle problems. Staff members who seem stubborn or unreasonable with their colleagues may be open to new ideas from an outside expert.
Fourth, if your firm is facing a temporarily increased workload, consider using a consultant to manage that work. A consultant can keep you from having to pull key managers away from their own jobs to handle the new projects.
If you do choose to pursue the option of hiring a consultant, however, keep in mind that you’ll get a better result if you clearly define your objectives ahead of time. What is it you want this person to do? If you are not clear about this at the outset, you run the risk of wasting time and money. You may also offend your own employees if they feel they could have done the job better than the consultant.

Questions
The author of this article believes that hiring a consultant is __________.
(A) almost always quite cost-effective
(B) rarely advantageous for companies
(C) worthwhile under some circumstances
(D) often not very cost-effective
In the article, what does the word this refer to?
(A) hiring a consultant
(B) a much better result
(C) wasting time and money
(D) what your objectives are
Answer C & D

Passage 14. Percentages For Success In Staff Training and Development
The following summarizes a variety of studies about the probability of success for different types of staff training and development activities. The chart is based on what elements are included in the training session. Success means that, after the training session, the staff person actually uses the training as part of his/her job, with a high degree of skill.
Element Of Training and Development Percent of Group Likely To Be Successful
Excellent presentation (speech, lecture, film, etc.) 0-10%
Five or more demonstrations by presenters 10%
Participants try out what was taught– hands-on involvement during the session 10-20%
Simulations–participants act out make-believe work situations with immediate feedback 50%
Participants try out new skills on the job; cooperate in feedback sessions, support groups, “peer coaching” 90-100%

Questions
What is the purpose of this chart?
(A) to give percentages of staff attending training sessions
(B) to list information about the different types of training and development
(C) to train and develop new employees
(D) to show which elements of training and development are the most effective
What should employees do in order to ensure the most success?
(A) test new skills at work
(B) test new skills during the training session
(C) test new skills five times or more
(D) test new skills when required by management
Answer D & A

Passage 15. Annual Sales Report
We had an excellent year at Dymo Industries. Total sales were US$550 million. This is an impressive growth of 10% compared to last year.
There are a few important reasons for the large increase in sales. All the international divisions performed very well. The new sales training helped many of us promote our new line of toys. In addition, the creation of new products opened more markets for us.
We continued last year to provide our customers with improved products. We all know that product enhancement can lead to larger market shares. Therefore, we hope to continue increasing our sales by creating better products in the coming year.
I am pleased to end this report with further good news. Because of our dramatic rise in sales, employees will be receiving a yearly bonus of twice the amount given last year.
Congratulations on your great teamwork! We look forward to reporting on another successful year this time next year.

Questions
Which of the following is NOT a reason for Dymo Industries’ increased sales?
(A) sales training
(B) a new international division
(C) new markets
(D) good performance
Look at the word enhancement in the sales report. Which phrase or words mean the same thing as enhancement?
(A) increased numbers
(B) promotion
(C) customer satisfaction
(D) improvement
Answer B & D
Passage 17.
The city of Baltimore is famous for its seafood–and shrimp is a favorite. Here is an easy recipe to prepare, and it isn’t very expensive. This style of shrimp is on the menu in almost every restaurant in Baltimore, and many people serve it in their homes.
Ingredients (for two people)
2 lbs. shrimp
1 cup of Baltimore seasoning
1 lemon
Serve with hot sauce, bread, and butter
Directions
Fill a pot with water. Boil the water. Put the shrimp in the special part of the pot for steaming. Put one cup of Baltimore seasoning on the shrimp. Cover the pot and boil. After 4 minutes, move the shrimp around with a spoon. After another 5 minutes, they are ready. Serve with lemon, hot sauce, and lots of bread and butter.
rite your question here..

Questions
1.This recipe is ________.
(A) popular in Baltimore
(B) for three people
(C) very expensive
(D) difficult to prepare
2.The shrimp are finished cooking in ________.
(A) 4 minutes
(B) 9 minutes
(C) 5 minutes
(D) 10 minutes
Answer A & B

Passage 18.
How much time do you spend on business activities after work or on the weekend? Do you take time to relax and have fun? A recent survey of 200 American managers revealed how most of them spend their free time. The survey results are based on the number of managers that listed each activity.
The managers were asked to list the kinds of business and leisure activities that they did at least once a week after work or on the weekend. The most common business activity (50%) was working on a computer at home. This was followed by going to dinner with business contacts (24%), telephoning business contacts (15%), and working on a job report (14%). A full 5 percent of managers didn’t work at home in their free time.
On the other hand, a large percentage of these managers also took time for some . The survey revealed that over half (59%) listed spending time with friends and family as their leisure activity. Other leisure activities included reading books for fun (41%), listening to music (41%), and playing sports (30%).
The good news is that a large percentage of the managers spend their time doing leisure activities. While managers have traditionally taken their work home with them, the results of the survey indicate that this trend may be changing. Life for the average manager is no longer all work and no play.

Questions
Look at the word in the article. Which phrases mean the same thing as ?
(A) a sports activity that you do only on the weekend
(B) an activity that you do for fun or relaxation
(C) an activity that involves the creation of art
(D) a leisure activity that you do many times
What do most managers spend their free time doing?
(A) working on the computer at their office
(B) staying at home with their family
(C) telephoning and having dinner with business contacts
(D) relaxing with their friends and family
Answer B & D

Passage 19.
James,
Mr. Lee will be arriving tomorrow at 7:45 a.m. on Asia Airlines. We have arranged for him to be picked up and driven to our office. He should get here around 8:30 a.m. or a little later. I will greet him when he arrives at the office.
We want him to have a tour of our production . Would you mind being the one to show him around? It should only take thirty minutes for this introductory tour.
After a short meeting with Mr. Turner, the Vice President of Production, we would like to take Mr. Lee out for a very nice lunch. I was thinking of the Italian restaurant, Primo. Would you mind making a lunch reservation for five people at 1 p.m. tomorrow at this restaurant?
Call me if there is any problem with the reservation.
Thanks for your help,
Susan

Question
Look at the word in the email. Which words or phrases mean the same thing as ?
(A) the production management workers
(B) the production machines
(C) all the work places and services in the production area
(D) the areas outside the production department
How many people are going to lunch at Primo?
(A) four, including Mr. Lee
(B) three
(C) two, just Mr. Lee and Mr.Turner
(D) five
Answer C & D

Passage 20.
Failure Can Make You Stronger: A Look Into the Life of Peter Hill
By Joyce Robinson
Peter Hill is one of the most talked about men in Silicon Valley. However, he was not always so successful. Hill lost so much money in 1975 on his first business that he had to sell it. It was the only way to stop the bank from taking away his home.
Today he is the vice president of Micronex, one of the world’s semiconductor superpowers. In fact, Micronex just exceeded revenue estimates for the third quarter by 12 percent when all the other semiconductor businesses in the Valley saw a decrease in revenues.
“Although I lost my first business, I learned a great deal about management, cash flow, and how to talk to bankers,” he recalls, with a smile. “But what I really learned was how to do things better.”
Hill admits that in the beginning, his management style was difficult for some members of his team at Micronex. “I believe in confrontation–getting in each other’s faces, disagreeing a little. It’s a powerful tool if it doesn’t get too personal and if it has a goal.”
However, more than anything else, Hill believes in innovation. He encourages his employees to dream up new ways to do things every day. But he warns that innovation can’t be scheduled like a meeting. “Sometimes I just don’t have any idea how to approach a particular issue. Then suddenly, at 3:00 in the morning, I wake up shouting, ‘I’ve got it! I know what to do.'”

Question
Which example does the writer use to indicate how successful Peter Hill’s company is?
(A) Mr. Hill didn’t have to borrow money from the bank
(B) Micronex increased revenues in the third quarter, but other companies didn’t.
(C) Mr. Hill sold his business for a 12 percent profit.
(D) Micronex had higher revenues during the first three quarters of the year.
Look at the word in the newspaper article. What or who does refer to?
(A) innovations that are created by employees
(B) employees at Micronex
(C) new ways to do things that Mr. Hill dreams up
(D) scheduled meetings
Answer B & B



Passage 21.
Dear Ms. Limman:
Thank you for your credit application. Credit Corporation International will be happy to establish a credit account for your company, L.M. Consolidated. We look forward to the beginning of a long relationship between our two companies.
We trust that you are now familiar with the basic introductory information you have received. Please see the additional enclosed information, which discusses the many services we offer. We believe you will find the 24-hour telephone and online assistance very beneficial. These are helpful services for someone like you who frequently travels internationally and needs to get information . You will be able to look at your credit information any time, day or night.
On the fifteenth of each month, we will send you a list of everything you bought through the last day of the month before. Any of these purchases will be discounted an additional 10 percent if you pay for them within 30 days from the date you receive the list.
Again, let me welcome you as a new customer. If you have any further questions, please contact me at any time. If I am not in the office for some reason, my assistant, Mr. Kautner, will be happy to help you.
Sincerely,
Account Representative

Question
Why did Ms. Jaimez write this letter?
(A) to encourage Ms. Limman to apply for a credit account
(B) to get basic information about the credit company
(C) to offer Ms. Limman a new computer and a new telephone discount
(D) to inform Ms. Limman that L.M. Consolidated has been accepted for a credit account
Look at the phrase in the letter. Which phrase means the same thing as ?
(A) during international office hours
(B) only during the day
(C) any time during the day or night
(D) from 12 midnight to 12 noon
Answer D & C

Passage 22.
Know What You’re Worth
Brent Snodgrass
Money. When you’re looking for a job, that’s what you want. Nevertheless, these days–I’m sorry to say–money doesn’t grow on corporate trees. You can’t clamber up the corporate ladder with the attitude that each new employer is going to tack on 10% to your existing salary.
This means that, unless you can capitalize on your number-one product–yourself–you’re out of luck.
Wake up and smell the coffee! You’re going to have to do some serious negotiating, and that takes some know-how.
“Salaries have been on a roller-coaster ride,” acknowledged Abu Baquir, CEO at Martinson and Shrift Management Consultants. “It’s very difficult to predict what a complete compensation package will include these days.”
Job candidates can find out what they’re worth by investigating, Baquir added. “The strategy is to find the salaries of your high-profile peers right on the Internet.” There are several easily accessible Web sites that have sophisticated search engines. You type in your job title or description and your region. The Web site will give you a range of possible salaries. If you know people in your industry, you can also talk with them. They may be able to set up informational interviews with people who can tell you what to expect if you change jobs. The key is to do your research before you begin looking.
Once you’ve discovered what you’re worth, it’s time to start looking at job postings. Remember, though you want to be properly compensated, an enormous salary may not be the only alternative. Stop to think about the different compensation packages you might accept and what a company might be willing to offer.
One angle to consider is supplementing your expected salary with cash, stocks, or bonuses, according to Sara Greenwald, a career architect at JobBuild Magazine.
“Go into the salary negotiation expecting to adjust the equation and present alternate scenarios,” Greenwald suggested. “For example, ask for 40% in salary and 60% in stocks and bonuses that will be based on your performance. Make the pitch that you’ll show them what you’re made of before they have to pay you.”

Question
According to the article, employees who are considering moving to a new company should __________.
(A) compare companies and choose the one that offers the highest salary
(B) research compensation ranges for their job in a variety of companies
(C) think about compensation that is based solely on their job performance
(D) expect to make 10% more money when they start a new position
At the beginning of the article, the word this refers to __________.
(A) less money available for salaries in corporations
(B) what compensation you want as a job candidate
(C) trying to find a new and better job these days
(D) taking advantage of your number-one product
Answer B & B

Passage 23.
Career Talk: Three Questions at Brooks Airport
Fedor “Fred” Michailov works at Brooks Airport. He takes care of airplanes. Sometimes, he fixes them. Here are his answers to our questions:
Career Talk: Hi!
Fedor “Fred” Michailov: Hello! How are you?
Career Talk: I have three questions for you. First, what do you do at Brooks Airport?
Fedor “Fred” Michailov: I am a mechanic. I work with pilots to get the airplane ready to fly. I also fix problems. I want the airplanes to be safe. Often, my work is hard. But I like it a lot.
I meet and work with pilots from all over the world–pilots from Spain, France, even Greece.
Career Talk: Where are you from?
Fedor “Fred” Michailov: I come from the city of St. Petersburg. It’s in Russia.
Career Talk: How do you feel about flying?
Fedor “Fred” Michailov: (He laughs.) I feel very good about flying. I love it. But people need to be safe. That’s always the most important thing about flying.

Question
The man from Brooks Airport is ________.
(A) an actor
(B) a mechanic
(C) a pilot
(D) a doctor
The man from Brooks Airport is _________.
(A) Greek
(B) French
(C) a romantic comedy
(D) Russian
Answer B & D

Passage 24. My company tour
From: Worthington Enterpriises
Attention: Francis Mortimer, General Manager
From: Natasha Gold, Vice President of Production
Date: May 8
Re: My company tour
Pages including this one: 1
Thank you for your fax of April 29.
Here is my new flight arrival information: AL #603 at SFO Airport on May 15 at 9 a.m. I wanted to arrive an hour earlier, but there were no direct flights from Boston to San Francisco at that time. The only reservations I could get at an earlier time required a 2-hour layover in Chicago. I didn’t want to waste time waiting at the Chicago airport. Could you please arrange for me to pick up a rental car at the airport in San Francisco?
Also, please change the 10 a.m. tour time to 11 a.m. because of my later flight time. Thank you for making these changes to the schedule.
Joseph Kolb, our Production Manager, will be coming with me. I would like him to take a company tour with us. The tour should not last more than an hour because we have a 12:00 noon lunch meeting.
See you on the 15th.
Kind regards,
Ms. Natasha Gold

Question
Look at the word layover in the fax. Which words or phrases mean the same thing as layover?
(A) a period of rest after a trip
(B) a short stay between the parts of a trip
(C) interruption of plane arrival and departure times
(D) a cancellation for mechanical problems
How long will the tour be?
(A) more than an hour
(B) at 10 a.m.
(C) from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
(D) one hour or less
Answer B & D

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