Answer key practice tests grammar SPECIMEN TEST HP3

University of Economics, HCMC English Language Division Paper Code: HP3 - SPECIMEN TEST 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 Select and fill in each blank in the passage below with ONE suitable word Thank you for sending me a copy (1) _ your latest ceramics catalog You have been (2) _ us your catalog here at the museum for several years now, (3) I always look forward to reading it I (4) _ was yet again at the variety and creativity (5) _ you have displayed in your work! (6) _ ladybug bowls are quite exquisite They look so (7) _ ! They really (8) _ resemble the plants and animals they are modeled (9) I would like to order 50 of the ladybug bowls If they are popular, I will consider (10) _ more 10 (A) (A) (A) (A) (A) (A) (A) (A) (A) (A) with dispatching and interested whose Their realistic did after producing (B) (B) (B) (B) (B) (B) (B) (B) (B) (B) of delivering so pleased which Its realist for exporting II Choose the best answer 11 Those who will sign any contract are advised to review the terms of the A production C consideration B agreement D newsletter 12 Great interpersonal skills and untiring perseverance are the key _ of an excellent sales executive A acquisitions C characteristics B boundaries D enterprises 13 There are _ a small number of job openings in the sales positions A quickly C currently B highly D originally 14 If we are not able to this contract, we will face serious financial problems A decline C renew B consider D remodel 15 It will be very helpful if you thoroughly _ the background of the applicants A refer C exchange B check D advertise 16 If you not file a tax return before October 23rd, you will have to pay a fine of $ 200 This will be automatically deducted from your future earnings by the Inland Revenue Service A service C receipt B product D charge (C) (C) (C) (C) (C) (C) (C) (C) (C) (C) in shipping but amazed when His realistically have in ordering (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) to sending yet keen whom Your realism ought with selling 17 We offer a free delivery service, and we can give buyers discounts for purchases A bulk C urgent B infrequent D nearby 18 Nowadays, in order to stay competitive in the market, many retailers are trying _ their online and offline operations A to deal C to integrate B to bargain D to check 19 We _ about safety procedures when the fire alarm went off A talked C were talking B are talking D have talked 20 Ms Luxton and her team of specialists _ a new marketing strategy since the beginning of the year A are developing B were being developed C have been developing D would develop 21 The factory manager reports that currently all the machinery at full capacity A will have been operated C had operated B was operating D is operating 22 The report _ by pointing out the need for further investment if the group is to continue its expansion policy A conclude C concludes B concluded D will conclude 23 Ford to corner 10% of car sales in the 32 The rate of salary increases was Asia- Pacific region within the next 10 years higher, compared to just 3% last year A is aiming C has aimed A so C most B aimed D will have aimed B very D far 24 We carefully checked all the figures; , 33 The manager said that there would be special yearour supervisor found a number of mistakes end bonuses for who surpass their A while C however annual sales targets B although D therefore A that C those 25 Meetings were postponed unexpected B them D these power cut 34 The hotel provides travelers with A despite C while convenient options in order to attract tourists B as a result of D nevertheless A several C another 26 _ the Marsdsen Literary Society was B each D much founded last year, it already has over 200 registered 35 He wants to quit his present job because he cannot members stand working _ hours anymore A Although C In spite of A insociable C socialistic B Because D Besides B social D anti-social 27 The personnel manager has decided to hire the 36 That IT shop has been acquiring more and more candidate with the degree in engineering customers since it offered _ credit last he interviewed last week month A what C whom A free-interest C interest rate B which D whose B interest-free D interested 28 Applicants can express their interest in the role 37 Any charity or non-governmental organization simply _ filling out the attached form within the area can _ for funding from the and returning it to Ms Claire Jones Sanstead Community Trust A by C for A apply C applying B as D with B applied D application 29 The Port Wells Teater asks the audience to remain 38 more customer service specialists seated at all times _ the performers are on is the top priority for Personnel at the moment stage A Recruitment C Recruit A during C while B Recruiting D Recruited B throughout D except 39 The new management board has come up with a 30 You need to pay the parking ticket in full much more _ way to increase staff the next 20 days, or you will face further productivity penalties A effected C effective A within C through B effectively D effect B on D for 40 The company’s sales have 31 The vice president has the _ office improved since last month thanks to the staff’s efforts on this floor A signification C signify A most spacious C space B significantly D significant B more spacious D as spacious Section 2: Language use (60 marks) I Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow Not so long ago almost any student who successfully completed a university degree or diploma course could find a good career quite easily Companies toured the academic institutions, competing with each other to recruit graduates However, those days are gone, even in Hong Kong, and nowadays graduates often face strong competition in the search for jobs Most careers organizations highlight three stages for graduates to follow in the process of securing a suitable career: recognizing abilities, matching these to available vacancies and presenting them well to prospective employers Job seekers have to make a careful assessment of their own abilities One area of assessment should be of their academic qualifications, which would include special skills within their subject area Graduates should also consider their own personal values and attitudes, or the relative importance to themselves of such matters as money, security, leadership and caring for others An honest assessment of personal interests and abilities such as creative or scientific skills, or skills acquired from work experience, should also be given careful thought The second stage is to study the opportunities available for employment and to think about how the general employment situation is likely to develop in the future To this, graduates can study job vacancies and information in newspapers or they can visit a careers office, write to possible employers for information or contact friends or relatives who may already be involved in a particular profession After studying all the various options, they should be in a position to make informed comparisons between various careers Good personal presentation is essential in the search for a good career Job application forms and letters should, of course, be filled in carefully and correctly, without grammar or spelling errors Where additional information is asked for, job seekers should describe their abilities and work experience in more depth, with examples if possible They should try to balance their own abilities with the employer's needs, explain why they are interested in a career with the particular company and try to show that they already know something about the company and its activities When graduates are asked to attend for interview, they should prepare properly by finding out all they can about the prospective employer Dressing suitably and arriving for the interview on time are also obviously important Interviewees should try to give positive and helpful answers and should not be afraid to ask questions about anything they are unsure about This is much better than pretending to understand a question and giving an unsuitable answer There will always be good career opportunities for people with ability, skills and determination; the secret to securing a good job is to be one of them Choose the best answer In paragraph 1, 'those days are gone, even in Hong Kong', suggests that: A in the past, finding a good career was easier in Hong Kong than elsewhere B nowadays, everyone in Hong Kong has an equal chance of finding a good career C it used to be harder to find a good job in Hong Kong than in other countries D even in Hong Kong companies tour the universities trying to recruit graduates According to paragraph 4, graduates should: A find a good position and then compare it with other careers B ask friends or relatives to secure them a good job C get information about a number of careers before making comparisons D find out as much as possible and inform employers of the comparisons they want According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true? A until recently it was quite easy for graduates to get good jobs in Hong Kong B job seekers should consider as many as possible of the factors involved C businesses used to visit the universities in Hong Kong to recruit graduates D graduates sometimes have to take part in competitions to secure a good career What does each of the following underlined words/ phrases refer to? To this, graduates can study job vacancies and information in newspapers or they can visit a careers office ………….(paragraph 4) This is much better than pretending to understand a question and giving an unsuitable answer (paragraph 6) Which words / phrases in the passage mean the following? possible, potential to obtain, to get available position Fill in the blank with ONE suitable word from the passage Put it in its correct form or tense if necessary He ……… to have no knowledge of her whereabouts 10 Continuous………….is made of all students’ work II Complete the email from a recruitment officer of the HR department to job applicants Write about three main job responsibilities and outline three essential qualifications a job applicant must have Use the suggestions provided in the box below and the prompts in the bracket in the email Add a transition to connect the sentences if necessary Position: Phone designer Job duties: Act on one’s own initiative as part of the dynamic team; come up with design solutions for advanced range of mobile phones; solve problems Essential abilities and Artistic skills; ability to work independently and in a team environment; BA requirements: degree in Engineering Design and years of working in related fields Dear prospective applicants, Scirocco, a world leader in mobile phone technology, (Name the vacant position) _ _ _ (Describe three main responsibilities) _ _ (Add three essential abilities and requirements) _ _ _ We hope you will be interested in the vacancy, and look forward to hearing from you Yours sincerely, Cheryl Segal Head Assistant, HR III Listen and the tasks as directed PART ONE: Listen to the conversations twice and choose the appropriate answer to each question Conversation1: Questions – When will the meeting be held? A Today C Tomorrow morning Where does the woman want to have the meeting? A In the cafeteria C In the assistant’s office Conversation2: Questions – When is the man leaving for his vacation? A On Monday C In two weeks Where will he spend his vacation? A In the mountains C At the beach How often does he take a vacation? A Once a month C Twice a year B Tonight D Tomorrow afternoon B In the reading room D In the conference room B On the weekend D In a month B On a boat D By a lake B Once a year D Three times a year PART TWO: Listen to an advertisement twice and complete the notes    Andre’s Warehouse is offering a (6) _ holiday sale, ending Friday, midnight; Buy desks, chairs and computer tables to get (7) _ off; Purchases (8) _ are delivered without charge; charges applied for delivery outside the region;   Free delivery only applies for (9) _; Any questions about delivery, just ask the on-site (10) _ THE END