LINGUA INGLESE LIVELLO INTERMEDIO

DISPENSA PER LA PREPARAZIONE

DELL'ESAME SCRITTO

INTERMEDIATE COURSE PROGRAMME FOR 'ESERCITAZIONI'

Dispensa
English Grammar in Use Intermediate (with answers) R. Murphy Cambridge University Press

UNIT ONE: CITIES

Text 1

Sydney

It's the biggest, liveliest, and most cosmopolitan city in Australia. It has one of the world's loveliest harbours, and its Opera House is as famous as the Statue of Liberty. Sydney is also famous for its many beaches, where you can swim, surf, sail and sunbathe. The nearest, Bondi Beach, is less than fifteen minutes drive away. It's not surprising that one in five Australians chooses to live in Sydney. Few cities in the world offer a better climate, or a healthier and more enjoyable lifestyle.

The Opera House Today, it's difficult to imagine the view of Sydney Harbour without the Opera House. Its adventurous design by a Danish architect won an international competition in 1957. Many people consider it the most spectacular building of the 20^th century. It took nineteen years to complete and the final cost was fifteen times more than the original estimate. Inside, there are five theatres, the largest with seats for 2,700 people.

The Harbour Bridge Sydney's other famous landmark is a lot older than the Opera House. The Harbour Bridge opened in 1932. One of the best views of the harbour and the city is from the top of its south-east tower. There's an even more impressive view from the 305 metre high Sydney Tower.

The Rocks This is Sydney's most historical part, where the British landed in 1788, to build the colony of New South Wales.

It has the city's oldest buildings, and its shops, museums and pubs make it one of the most popular tourist attractions. At night, sitting in one of its waterfront cafés with the lights of Sydney Harbour all around you, it's easy to feel you're in one of the most exciting cities in the world.

a) Complete the table with adjectives from the article.

grammar book: Comparative and Superlative Adjectives 104-107

Text 2

Interviewer: Hello and welcome to Worldwide Report. Our programme today begins with a report from our economics correspondent, John Summers, who has been looking at the latest World Cities Survey. John, the survey covers a lot of topics. What are you going to focus on?

J.Summers: I'm going to look at three areas: first, the cost of living, second, salaries, and third, working hours.

Interviewer: Right. So which city is the most expensive city in the world?

J.Summers: Well, I expect there are a lot of listeners who already know the answer - Tokyo. Tokyo is the most expensive, followed by Zurich and then Hong Kong, which are both very expensive but a lot less expensive than Tokyo. If we take 100 as the index for comparison, Tokyo's score is 142.7, a lot higher than Zurich's.

Interviewer: That's almost 50% higher than Zurich?

J.Summers: That's right. The cost of living in Hong Kong is slightly lower than in Zurich. Hong Kong's index is 97.5. London is quite a lot cheaper than Hong Kong, at 74.1.

Interviewer: So London is almost 50% cheaper than Tokyo?

J.Summers: Yes, quite a big difference. Compared with other cities in Europe, London is a little pricier than Milan, but much cheaper than Paris. Paris, which has an index of 87, is twice as expensive as Budapest, at 43.4. Prague, with an index of 38.8 has the lowest cost of living of all the cities in the survey.

Interviewer: So less than half the cost of living in London. But if you live in a city where the cost of living is high, salaries are also high, aren't they?

J.Summers: Yes, that's generally true, although salaries in Tokyo are not as high as in Zurich, where people earn the best salaries in the world. Tokyo's index is 89, compared to Zurich's 100. The figure for London is 41.7, slightly lower than Madrid and Milan, and the figure for Paris is a little higher - 49.6.

Interviewer: So, like the cost of living, salaries in Paris are also higher than in London.

J.Summers: That's right.

Interviewer: How do working hours in these cities compare?

J.Summers: Well, as you would expect, working hours in the Far East are much longer than in Europe, with the exception of Tokyo, where people work only a few hours more than in London, 1,893 hours a year, compared to London's 1,880. The city that has the longest working hours is Seoul, whose people work an average 2,302 hours a year.

Interviewer: So quite a lot longer.

J.Summers: Compared to the average for Europe, certainly. Paris and Milan are about the average for Europe, and Madrid is a little lower at 1,721. Working hours in Dusseldorf and Copenhagen are much lower than the European average. The figure for Dusselfdorf is 1,682, and for Copenhagen 1,669.

Interviewer: So Copenhagen's 1,669 hours is the lowest figure of all the cities in the survey?

J.Summers: Sure is.

Interviewer: Thank you John.

World Cities Survey

Milan Paris Working hours in Milan are almost as long as in Paris.

Tokyo London The cost of living in Tokyo is twice as high as in London.

b) Using the information in the table and the adjectives in the box, complete the sentences below.

1. Tokyo is ...    ...... ..... city in the world.
2. London is a lot ...... ....... ........ Tokyo.
3. The cost of living in Hong Kong is slightly ....... ...... in Paris.
4. The cost of living in Paris is ...... ...... in London.
5. Paris is twice ..... ....... ...... Budapest.
6. Budapest is a lot ...... ....... the other cities, except Prague, which has ..... ...... cost of living of all the cities in the survey.
7. Salaries in Madrid are not ....... ....... ...... in Paris.
8. In Zurich people earn ...... ...... salaries in the world.
9. Salaries in London are ...... ....... In Milan.
10. Working hours in Seoul are ...... ....... in the world.
11. In London, people have ...... working hours ...... in Milan.
12. Working hours in Dusseldorf and Copenhagen are much ...... ...... The European average.

c) Look at text 2 and underline the words we use before a comparative adjective to show a big difference or a small difference, eg. 'much bigger'.

d) Compare Australia, Canada and the USA using the information in the table.

Big high low many small

e) Look in Text 1 and text 2 to find the adjectives connected to these verbs.

Now write the noun form of the word next to the adjective. Look in a dictionary if necessary.

f) Write statements about the cities in your country. Use the superlative form of the adjectives in the box (or choose your own adjectives).

Eg: I think the most industrial city is ........

g) The adjectives in the box have opposites which are made by adding a prefix. Decide which take un- and which take in- eg. unpleasant inexpensive

h) Compare the advantages and disadvantages of the following. Say which you prefer and why.

1. living in a city centre, the suburbs, and the country
2. using public and private transport
3. living in a modern flat/house and an old flat/house

EXAM PRACTICE

Look at the second version of text 2 and write the correct adjective forms, using the adjectives provided. When you finish, check your answers by looking at the original text.

Interviewer: Hello and welcome to Worldwide Report. Our programme today begins with a report from our economics correspondent, John Summers, who has been looking at the latest World Cities Survey. John, the survey covers a lot of topics. What are you going to focus on?

J.Summers: I'm going to look at three areas: first, the cost of living, second, salaries, and third, working hours.

Interviewer: Right. So which city is the ________________(expensive) city in the world?

J.Summers: Well, I expect there are a lot of listeners who already know the answer - Tokyo. Tokyo is the most expensive, followed by Zurich and then Hong Kong, which are both very expensive but a lot ________________(expensive) than Tokyo. If we take 100 as the index for comparison, Tokyo's score is 142.7, a lot _______________(high) than Zurich's.

Interviewer: That's almost 50% higher than Zurich?

J.Summers: That's right. The cost of living in Hong Kong is slightly ________________(low) than in Zurich. Hong Kong's index is 97.5. London is quite a lot __________________(cheap) than Hong Kong, at 74.1.

Interviewer: So London is almost 50% cheaper than Tokyo?

J.Summers: Yes, quite a big difference. Compared with other cities in Europe, London is a little _______________(pricy) than Milan, but much cheaper than Paris. Paris, which has an index of 87, is twice ___________________(expensive) Budapest, at 43.4. Prague, with an index of 38.8 has the lowest cost of living of all the cities in the survey.

Interviewer: So less than half the cost of living in London. But if you live in a city where the cost of living is high, salaries are also high, aren't they?

J.Summers: Yes, that's generally true, although salaries in Tokyo are not __________________(high) in Zurich, where people earn the _________________(good) salaries in the world. Tokyo's index is 89, compared to Zurich's 100. The figure for London is 41.7, slightly _________________(low) than Madrid and Milan, and the figure for Paris is a little higher - 49.6.

Interviewer: So, like the cost of living, salaries in Paris are also higher than in London.

J.Summers: That's right.

Interviewer: How do working hours in these cities compare?

J.Summers: Well, as you would expect, working hours in the Far East are much _______________(long) than in Europe, with the exception of Tokyo, where people work only a few hours more than in London, 1,893 hours a year, compared to London's 1,880. The city that has the ________________(long) working hours is Seoul, whose people work an average 2,302 hours a year.

Interviewer: So quite a lot longer.

J.Summers: Compared to the average for Europe, certainly. Paris and Milan are about the average for Europe, and Madrid is a little lower at 1,721. Working hours in Dusseldorf and Copenhagen are much lower than the European average. The figure for Dusselfdorf is 1,682, and for Copenhagen 1,669.

Interviewer: So Copenhagen's 1,669 hours is the ________________(low) figure of all the cities in the survey?

J.Summers: Sure is.

Interviewer: Thank you John.

Answers

Text 2

b

1. Tokyo is the most expensive city in the world.
2. London is a lot less expensive than Tokyo.
3. The cost of living in Hong Kong is slightly higher than in Paris.
4. The cost of living in Paris is higher than in London.
5. Paris is twice as expensive as Budapest.
6. Budapest is a lot cheaper than the other cities, except Prague, which has the lowest cost of living of all the cities in the survey.
7. Salaries in Madrid are not as high as in Paris.
8. In Zurich people earn the best salaries in the world.
9. Salaries in London are lower than in Milan.
10. Working hours in Seoul are the longest in the world.
11. In London, people have longer working hours than in Milan.
12. Working hours in Dusseldorf and Copenhagen are much lower than the European average.

Materials adapted from 'International Express' pre-intermediate and intermediate, Oxford University Press.

UNIT TWO: EUROPEAN TRENDS

The following article is about trends in European countries. The paragraphs are in the wrong order. Decide on the correct order and underline the words which helped you to decide.

A That is the message from Europanel, an association of research companies across 23 countries, which monitors the buying patterns of consumers. Social and demographic factors and the marketing strategies of multinational food and drink companies are combining to make the lifestyles of different European countries more alike.

'The result of falling birth rates and easier divorce is smaller households, which rely more on microwaves and convenience foods', explains Europanel's Richard Piper. Even the French, who are proud of their cuisine, are turning to the microwave. Latest Europanel figures show that 38% of French kitchens have a microwave, compared to 40% in western Germany and 57% in Britain.

The French are also drinking less wine. Wine consumption in France fell by an average of 6% a year between 1986 and 1992. In contrast, in Britain, there was an increase of 5% a year in the same period, and wine drinking went up by 23% in 1993, the first year Britons could import unlimited wine from Europe for personal use.

B Another factor is the rise of the one-person household, which includes single-parent households. 40% of Swedish homes are now one-person households. The figure for western Germany is 35% and for the Netherlands 29%. In Spain, the number has risen to 10% in just a decade. The result is a growth in the demand for convenience foods. In Spain, pizza sales increased by 34% a year between 1986 and 1992 and another 16% in 1993.

C The French are rejecting their croissant in favour of breakfast cereal, the English are turning from tea to mineral water, and the Spanish are eating pizzas at an alarming rate. In short, we are beginning to see the evolution of the Euroconsumer.

D Aggressive marketing by multinationals is also helping to make European lifestyles more similar. When a manufacturer has a dominant share of the home market, it looks for markets abroad. When home sales declined, British breakfast cereal manufacturers crossed the Channel. As a result, between 1986 and 1992, cereal sales rose by 18% a year in France and 7% in Germany. Similarly tomato ketchup sales went up by 28% in Spain and 18% in France.

How fare this process will go is anybody's guess, but the prospect of every European kitchen serving up cereal in the morning and micro-waved pizza in the evening is surely a depressing one.

E A key demographic factor is average household size. Western Germany has the lowest figure at 2.2 adults, and Spain the highest at 3.2, followed by Italy at 2.8. This difference will be get smaller because the birth rates in these countries are falling.

b) According to the article are these statements true(T) or false(F)? Underline the place in the text where you find the answer.

1. People in Europe are eating more of their counties' traditional food. ( )

2. Europanel does research into current trends. ( )

3. People in smaller households are more likely to cook meals. ( )

4. A new law about bringing wine into Britain caused an increase in wine consumption. ( )

5. Italy has the lowest average household size. ( )

6. Over a third of Swedish homes are now one-person households. ( )

7. Convenience foods are increasingly popular. ( )

c) Which is the best title for the article?

i.         Average Household Size

ii.       Croissant and Breakfast Cereal

iii.     Different Tastes

iv ............

The article talks about a 'Euroconsumer'. What do you understand by this term?

The article says that the prospect of a Euroconsumer is depressing. Do you agree?

d) Complete the sentences about present trends.

1. A lot of people are choosing to live ................

2 ........ companies are doing very well.

3 Interest rates are ...........

4. People are eating more ...................

5. At the moment people are wearing.................

Can you think of any more trends?

DESCRIBING A GRAPH

b) Match the verbs with the graphs.

1 2 3

4 5 6

c) Complete the table.

e) Add prepositions to complete the text.

The graph shows the number of marriages in the twelve countries of the European Union ________ 1960 ________1989. In 1960, the total number of marriages stood ______ 2.2 million. This figure increased gradually, reaching 2.3 million in 1964. In the next two years it fluctuated __________ 2.3 million, then it rose sharply and reached a peak of 2.38 million in 1972. _________ 1972 and 1985 the number decreased steadily. It went down to 2.1 million in 1977, then dropped further to 2 million in 1980. The downward trend continued and the number fell to its lowest figure of 1.85 million _______ 1985. Then the trend changed. In the following year it rose slightly, then increased _______ 1.9 million in 1987. The upward trend continued, reaching 1.95 million _______ 1989.

f) Now use the description to draw the graph below.

Answers

a) alarming b

alike e

dominant share g

single parent f

convenience food d

proud of c

rely on a

order of paragraphs: C A E B D

b) 1 F 2 T 3 F 4 T 5 F 6 T 7 T

e) The graph shows the number of marriages in the twelve countries of the European Union between/from 1960 and/to1989. In 1960, the total number of marriages stood at 2.2 million. This figure increased gradually, reaching 2.3 million in 1964. In the next two years it fluctuated around 2.3 million, then it rose sharply and reached a peak of 2.38 million in 1972. Between 1972 and 1985 the number decreased steadily. It went down to 2.1 million in 1977, then dropped further to 2 million in 1980. The downward trend continued and the number fell to its lowest figure of 1.85 million in 1985. Then the trend changed. In the following year it rose slightly, then increased to 1.9 million in 1987. The upward trend continued, reaching 1.95 million in 1989.

Describing a graph: 1 to rise, to go up, to increase       2 to fall, to go down, to decrease

3.to remain stable 4 to reach a peak 5 to level off 6 to improve

Material adapted from 'International Express Intermediate'.

UNIT THREE

grammar book: Present Perfect + Simple Past 7,8,11-14

THE FASHION INDUSTRY

a) If you are studying in class, you can do this exercise in pairs. Each student (A and B) makes questions to find the missing information, then asks his/her questions and answers those of the other student.

If you are studying alone, you can make questions for student A then read student B's text for the answers.

STUDENT A

The Italian Fashion Industry

Example: 1. When did Italy's fashion boom begin?

Italy's fashion boom began in (1)______________. Since then, fashion - clothing, textiles, and footwear - has become Italy's biggest export industry, worth $30 billion a year. Milan is Italy's fashion capital. It has been the most important centre for ready-to-wear designer fashion since the 1970s. (2)_____ _______ ______ ___________ - all have their fashion houses there. Every year their new collections attract wide attention. The city of Florence also has several major international fashion events, and Rome is the capital of l'alta moda or haute couture.

Italy is the biggest exporter of clothing and footwear in the European Union. The (3)_______________ sector has a bigger export surplus than clothing, with a revenue six times higher than the value of imports. Exports reached a peak in 1978 when they represented 20% of the total world footwear trade. In 1992, Italy made 419 million pairs of shoes, and exported (4)________________ pairs. Top of the market are Ferragamo and Gucci. Germany imported 94.5 million pairs of shoes from Italy in 1992, and is Italy's biggest customer for shoes and clothing, followed by France, and then the USA.

The Italian fashion industry is very flexible, and it has remained competitive because (5)__________ ______ ____ _________________. However, in recent years, production costs in Italy have risen, and imports have grown faster than exports. Mid-priced clothing in particular has faced growing competition from (6)__________ ______ ____ ______________, where labour costs are lower. The export market has remained strong, however. In 1992, the value of exported clothing was $6 billion, more than twice the value of imported clothing.

STUDENT B

The Italian Fashion Industry

Example: How much is Italy's fashion industry worth?

Italy's fashion boom began in the 1950s. Since then, fashion - clothing, textiles, and footwear - has become Italy's biggest export industry, worth (1)$______________ a year. Milan is Italy's fashion capital. It has been the most important centre for ready-to-wear designer fashion since the 1970s. The top Italian designers - Armani, Versace, Valentino, Ferrè - all have their fashion houses there. Every year their new collections attract wide attention. The city of (2)______________ also has several major international fashion events, and Rome is the capital of l'alta moda or haute couture.

Italy is the biggest exporter of clothing and footwear in the European Union. The footwear sector has a bigger export surplus than clothing, with a revenue six times higher than the value of imports. Exports reached a peak in (3)______________ when they represented 20% of the total world footwear trade. In 1992, Italy made 419 million pairs of shoes, and exported 338 million pairs. Top of the market are Ferragamo and Gucci. Germany imported (4)_______________ pairs of shoes from Italy in 1992, and is Italy's biggest customer for shoes and clothing, followed by France, and then the USA.

The Italian fashion industry is very flexible, and it has remained competitive because it has been able to react quickly to changes in the market. However, in recent years, production costs in Italy have risen, and imports have (5)__________ ______ ____ _____ _______ ______ ______. Mid-priced clothing in particular has faced growing competition from countries in the Far East, South America and Eastern Europe, where labour costs are lower. The export market has remained strong, however. In 1992, the value of exported clothing was (6)__________________, more than twice the value of imported clothing.

Questions student A

1. When did Italy's fashion boom begin?
2. Who has their fashion houses in Milan?
3. Which sector has a bigger export surplus than clothing?
4. How many pairs of shoes did Italy export in 1992?
5. Why has the Italian fashion industry remained competitive?
6. Which countries / Who has Italy / Italian mid-price clothing faced competition from?

Questions student B

1. How much is Italy's fashion industry worth?
2. Which city has several major fashion events?
3. When did exports reach a peak?
4. How many pairs of shoes did Germany import from Italy in 1992?
5. What has happened to imports in recent years?
6. What was the value of exported clothing in 1992?

a) Now decide if these statements are true (T) or false (F)

( ) Italy exports more clothing and footwear than any other country in the EU.

2. ) Footwear has a big export deficit.
3. ) Imports reached a peak in 1978.
4. ) Armani and Versace are top of the shoe market.
5. ) Recently exports have not grown as fast as imports.
6. ) In 1992 there was a trade surplus in the clothing sector.

EXAM PRACTICE                 When you finish check your answers against the original text.

Answers

a) 1 T 2 F 3 T 4 F 5 T 6 T

b) to decrease           decreased a decrease

to fall fell a fall

to increase increased an increase

to rise rose a rise

to improve improved an improvement

Material adapted from 'International Express Pre-intermediate'.

UNIT FOUR: DEMOCRACY AT WORK

Match the verbs with the nouns below.

Who does the above tasks in a traditional company?

Read the text to find who does the tasks at 'Semco'. Underline the parts of the text where you find the answers.

For years now, a small company based in Sao Paolo, Brazil, has welcomed visitors from many of the world's biggest and best-known companies. They come, not to buy its products, but to see if this 'truly democratic company' has anything to teach them about running their own companies, and if, as some experts believe, it really is a model for a better way of working in the future.

The company is called Semco, and visitors notice immediately that it is different. At Semco there are no receptionists, secretaries, or personal assistants. Everyone, including top managers, welcomes guests, types letters, sends faxes and does their own photocopying. There are no separate offices for managers, and the executive dining-room and reserved parking spaces have gone. Workers, as well as their bosses, choose the time they begin and finish work, and there is a minimum of meetings and memos.

Semco didn't use to be a democratic company. In the past it was very traditional, with a rule for everything. The change began in 1980 when Riccardo Semler inherited the company from his father. He felt that all the 'rules and regulations, the suits and ties, and the endless meetings and paperwork' of the business world didn't make sense. People found the system de-motivating and they weren't happy with their jobs. So he decided to revolutionise the system and prove that a better way of working was possible.

Today workers make the decisions their bosses used to make. They decide their own production targets and schedules. Each employee gets a share of the profits and has the right to know the company's financial situation at any time. Semco has developed a special course to teach everyone how to understand a company's finances. Twice a tear employees vote on the performances of their bosses, and when there's a big decision to make, such as locating a new factory or buying another company, everyone votes on that too.

Semco's success shows that its democratic revolution has not been just a crazy experiment. In a decade when nearly a third of manufacturing companies in Brazil has gone bankrupt and inflation has increased sharply, Semco has grown ten times, and it has a waiting list of thousands of applicants- 'The way Richard Semler runs his company is impossible,' says one management expert, 'except that it works, and it works splendidly for everyone.'

Semler wants his company to be not a model but an invitation to other companies to think again about themselves and their employees, 'to forget socialism, capitalism, salary surveys. and concentrate on building organisations that accomplish that most difficult of all challenges: to make people look forward to coming to work in the morning.'

a) Make questions for the given answers.

1. Where...............................?

It's based in Sao Paolo.

2. When...............................?

It began in 1980.

3. Who..............................?

Riccardo Semler did, in 1980.

4. What..............................?

To revolutionise the system.

5. What .............................?

Each employee gets a share of the profits.

6. Why.............................?

To teach people how to understand a company's finances?

7. How often...........................?

Twice a year.

8. How many..........................?

Nearly a third have.

9. What has...........................?

It has increased sharply.

10. How much........................

It's grown ten times.

b) Look in the text to complete the table.

EXAM PRACTICE When you finish check your answers against the original text.

Answers a)

1. Where is Semco based?
2. When did the change begin?
3. Who inherited/changed the company?
4. What did he decide to do?
5. What does each employee get?
6. Why has Semco developed a special course?
7. How often do employees vote on the performance of their bosses?
8. How many manufacturing companies in Brazil have gone bankrupt in a decade?
9. What has happened to inflation?
10. How much has Semco grown?

Material adapted from 'International Express Intermediate', Oxford.

Put the verbs in the correct form.

The Changing World of Work

In the 1950s and 1960s, working life for Western Europeans .......(be) much better than it had been before the Second World War. With economies growing fast, almost everybody ......(have) a job. New laws and greater union powers also .......(give) workers better protection at work.

However, working life in Europe ........(change) greatly since the 1960s. Many heavy industries such as coal-mining, textiles, steel-production and ship-building ........(decline). Others such as car-building ........(improve) their technology to help survive severe competition from the Far East. Remaining workers .......(learn) many new skills, while long-term unemployment among unskilled and semi-skilled workers .......(become) common.

The role of women in the workplace ......(increase) a lot since the 1960s. Various new laws in the 1970s ........(give) women equal rights with men at work, and today the number of women in work .......(reach) nearly half the total in a number of countries - although many female jobs are in fact part-time ones.

An even more recent revolution - one that is still continuing ........(be) the 'flattening' of management structures. In the early 1990s many companies .......(begin) to reduce the numbers of middle management staff, while at the same time they .......(start) to push much of the responsibility for decisions down to shop-floor level. Of course, this process .......(create) further unemployment in the years since then - this time among managerial 'white-collar' workers rather than factory floor 'blue-collar' workers.

Adapted from 'International Express' Intermediate Workbook.

UNIT FIVE: JAPAN'S KANSAI AIRPORT

The text is about the construction of Japan's Kansai Airport, built on an artificial island. What problems do you think there were in constructing the island airport?

Before you read match the words from the article with their definitions.

Before You read, try to answer these questions.

1. Why do you think the Japanese decided to build the airport in the sea?

2. Why were three mountains demolished?

3. Why was the chairman of the airport company forced to resign?

4. Why was construction work often stopped?

5. Why did half a million visitors come to the airport when it first opened?

Now read and check your answers. Underline the answer in the text.

There are, experts say, only two man-made structures clearly visible from space. One is the Great Wall of China; the other is Japan's Kansai International Airport, built on an artificial island five kilometres out to sea and the biggest public construction project of the 20^th century.

Building an airport in the sea was an attractive idea for three reasons: it solved the problem of land shortage, it could operate 24 hours a day, and there would be no public opposition. The authorities wanted to avoid protests like those in the 1970s, which had delayed the building of Tokyo's Narita Airport for nearly a decade.

Construction of the island airport began in January 1987. To provide the landfill for the island, two mountains were demolished. Special barges transported millions of cubic metres of landfill to the site and dumped it on the sea bed. As is normal during the construction of an artificial airport, tests showed that the sea bed was sinking. However experts became worried when they discovered the rate of sinking was much faster than they had predicted. A lot more landfill was needed, so a third mountain was demolished. The project was delayed by 15 months and another £50 million was added to the cost. By 1992 the 'sinking airport' had become a national scandal and the chairman of the airport company was forced to resign.

Sinking was not the only problem. Work was often stopped by bad weather, which made it impossible to transport thousands of workers to the site. It seemed that critics of the project, who had warned that typhoons would close the airport for weeks at a time, had been right.

In April 1991, construction of the passenger building began. The design, which had won an international competition, was by the Italian architect, Renzo Piano. Shaped like an immense glider and almost a mile long, it was built to resist earthquakes and typhoons and its design emphasises technology and nature in harmony. Building the terminal was a huge challenge because during construction, tests showed the island was sinking more under the heavy central part of the terminal than under the lighter wing sections.

Engineers solved the problem by installing a system which made it possible to keep the foundations of the terminal building level.

When Kansai International Airport was opened on 4^th September 1994 it attracted half a million visitors in two days. For them the airport was the not the embarkation point for a far-away destination but a destination in itself. They came to see Japan's £10 billion symbol of success, and to walk through this futuristic 'gateway to the 21^st century'.

a) Make these active sentences passive.

1. The Ministry of Transport studied the possibility of a new airport in 1968.
2. The Council proposed the location at sea in 1974.
3. In 1984 the Japanese government approved the initial plan.
4. In 1986 the Ministry of Transport gave permission for the construction of the airport.
5. In 1987 they began construction work on the airport.

Make these passive sentences active. (You need to invent a subject.)

6. In 1989 construction of the bridge to the mainland was begun.
7. In 1991 the design of the passenger terminal was finalised.
8. In 1993 the control tower was constructed.
9. The airport was opened in 1994.

b) Now make questions for the answers. Use passive or active.

1. When __________ ______ ____ __________ ______ ____ ______?

It began in January 1987

2. Why __________ ______ ____ __________ ______ ____ _____?

Because a lot more landfill was needed.

3. How much __________ ______ ____ __________ ______ ____ __?

Another £50 million.

4. Why __________ ______ ____ __________ ______ ____ ________?

Because the 'sinking airport' had become a national scandal.

5. When __________ ______ ____ __________ ______ ____ _______?

On September 4^th 1994.

EXAM PRACTICE Put the verbs into the correct form, present or past, active or passive. When you finish, check your answers against the original text.

There are, experts say, only two man-made structures clearly visible from space. One .....1.(to be) the Great Wall of China; the other is Japan's Kansai International Airport, built on an artificial island five kilometres out to sea and the biggest public construction project of the 20^th century.

Building an airport in the sea was an attractive idea for three reasons: it ....2.(to solve) the problem of land shortage, it ....3.(can) operate 24 hours a day, and there .....4.(to be) no public opposition. The authorities wanted to avoid protests like those in the 1970s, which had .....5. (to delay) the building of Tokyo's Narita Airport for nearly a decade.

Construction of the island airport ......6.(to begin) in January 1987. To provide the landfill for the island, two mountains .....7.(to demolish). Special barges transported millions of cubic metres of landfill to the site and dumped it on the sea bed. As is normal during the construction of an artificial airport, tests .....8.(to show) that the sea bed .....9..(to sink). However experts became worried when they discovered the rate of sinking was much faster than they ......10..(to predict). A lot more landfill ......11.(to need), so a third mountain was demolished. The project was delayed by 15 months and another £50 million .......12.(to add) to the cost. By 1992 the 'sinking airport' ......13..(to become) a national scandal and the chairman of the airport company ......14.(to force) to resign.

Sinking .....15.(to be) not the only problem. Work was often stopped by bad weather, which made it impossible to transport thousands of workers to the site. It seemed that critics of the project, who ......16.(to warn) that typhoons would close the airport for weeks at a time, had been right.

In April 1991, construction of the passenger building .....17.(to begin). The design, which .......18.(to win) an international competition, was by the Italian architect, Renzo Piano. Shaped like an immense glider and almost a mile long, it ......19.(to build) to resist earthquakes and typhoons and its design emphasises technology and nature in harmony. Building the terminal was a huge challenge because during construction, tests showed the island ......20.(to sink) more under the heavy central part of the terminal than under the lighter wing sections.

Engineers ......21.(to solve) the problem by installing a system which made it possible to keep the foundations of the terminal building level.

When Kansai International Airport ......22.(to open) on 4^th September 1994 it attracted half a million visitors in two days. For them the airport was the not the embarkation point for a far-away destination but a destination in itself. They .....23.(to come) to see Japan's £10 billion symbol of success, and to walk through this futuristic 'gateway to the 21^st century'.

VOCABULARY - THE ENVIRONMENT

i) Make the verbs in the box into nouns by adding the appropriate suffix. Check your answers in a dictionary.

-tion                                         -ance -ment -ing

eg: conservation                         ...... ....... ......

..... ......

..... ......

.......

...... .......

......

ii) Make the nouns in the box into adjectives by adding an appropriate suffix. Check your answers in a dictionary.

-al -ous -y -ful

....... ...... ........ ........

...... ...... .......

..... ....... ......

..... ......

iii) Match words in column A with words in B, eg. unleaded petrol.

A                                                                              B

iv) Use the vocabulary from the last exercise to help you answer these questions.

1. What facilities are there for recycling waste in your area? How many people use them?
2. Is there a Green Party? Is it influential?
3. How does Italy compare with neighbouring countries in its interest in environmental issues?
4. What measures would you like to see introduced on global, national and local levels?

Answers

challenge p

land shortage m

demolish j

barge o

typhoon k

immense l

glider q

earthquake n

sinking r

a)

1. The possibility of a new airport was studied (by the Ministry of Transport) in 1968.
2. The location at sea was proposed in 1974.
3. The initial plan was approved in 1984.
4. In 1986 permission for the construction of the airport was given.
5. In 1987 construction work was begun..
6. In 1989 they began construction of the bridge to the mainland.
7. In 1991 architects finalised the design of the passenger terminal.
8. In 1993 they constructed the control tower.
9. They opened the airport in 1994.

b)

1. When did construction of the airport begin? When was the construction of the airport begun?

2. Why was a third mountain destroyed?
3. How much was added to the cost?
4. Why was the chairman forced to resign? Why did the chairman resign?

5. When was the airport opened? When did the airport open?

unleaded petrol

global warming

environmentally friendly

environmental disaster

acid rain

recycling bin

carbon-dioxide emissions

hydroelectric power

solar power

tropical rainforest

gree party

toxic waste

biodegradable waste

Material adapted from 'International Express Intermediate'.

UNIT SIX: TRAVEL

Do you travel by train? Have you travelled by train in other countries?

Which of these countries has the fastest trains? Japan France Italy Germany

In which country can you use faxes, photocopiers and a PC terminal on the trains?

Read below to check your answers.

Grammar book: future time -'will' 23

a) The following article is about a future high-speed network of trains across Europe. Before you read

organise these words to make questions.

1. How the extend far will network?
2. How journeys will take long?
3. How be types of line will there many different?
4. by by journeys be faster Will plane or train?

Now read the text and answer your questions.

THE NEW AGE OF THE TRAIN

In January 1989, the Community of European Railways (CER) presented their proposal for a high-speed, pan-European train network, extending from Sweden to Sicily, and from Portugal to Poland, by the year 2020. If their proposal becomes a reality, it will revolutionise train travel in Europe. Journeys between major cities will take half the time they take today. Brussels will be only one and a half hours from Paris. The quickest way to get from Paris to Frankfurt, from Milan to Marseilles, and from Barcelona to Madrid, will be by train, not plane.

When the network is complete, it will integrate three types of railway line: totally new high-speed lines with trains operating at speeds of 300kph; upgraded lines, which allow for speeds up to 200-225kph; and existing lines, for local connections and distribution of freight.

'If business people can choose between a three-hour train journey from city centre to city centre, and a one-hour flight, they'll choose the train,' says an executive travel consultant. 'They won't go by plane any more. If you calculate flight time, check-in, and travel to and from the airport, you'll find almost no difference. And if your plane arrives late, due to bad weather or air traffic congestion or strikes, then the train passengers will arrive at their destination first!'

Since France introduced the first 260kph TGV service between Paris and Lyon in 1981, the trains have achieved higher and higher speeds. On many routes, airlines have lost up to 90% of their passengers to high-speed trains.

b) Complete these sentences with your own ideas.

1. If the present government wins the next election, __________ ______ ____ ___.
2. If taxes are reduced, __________ ______ ____ _____ _______ ______ ___________.
3. Unemployment will decrease if __________ ______ ____ _________________.
4. Exports will increase if __________ ______ ____ _____ _______ ______ ________.

5. I will pass the English exam if __________ ______ ____ _________________.
6. I will graduate when __________ ______ ____ _____ _______ ______ __________.

c) Imagine you have an important business trip to Moscow next week. What will you do if things go wrong? Make sentences from the information below.

Example If I am ill, I'll cancel the trip.

What will you do if

1. your car breaks down on the way to the airport?
2. you lose your plane ticket?
3. the airline loses your suitcase?
4. someone steals your wallet?
5. you miss the plane home?

d) Complete these sentences.

1. The success of the European high-speed train network depends on__________ ______ ____ __________ ______ ____ _________
   __________ ______ ____ __________ ______ ____ ___________.
2. Trains can help Europe solve its traffic problem, although _____ _______ ______ ____________

3. Other changes in travel in the future will be __________ ______ ____ _____

You have written three answers. Now write three questions for your answers.

Answers

a)

1. How far will the network extend?
2. How long will journeys take?
3. How many different types of line will there be?
4. Will journeys be faster by plane or by train?

d)

1. What does the success of the European high-speed train network depend on?
2. Will Europe solve its traffic problems through a network of high-speed trains?
3. What other changes in travel will there be in future?

Material adapted from 'International Express Pre-intermediate

UNIT SEVEN: TRAFFIC

a) Match the words in the box with the words below to make a collocation.

Example:                                                     

1. traffic congestion

2. traffic ______________

3. traffic _____________

4. underground_________________

5. parking ________________

6. parking _____________

7. double- _____________

8. public ________________

9. air _______________

10. ban ________________

11. charge _____________

12. city _____________

What traffic problems do cities in Italy have and how do they solve them?

What do you think is the most effective solution?

Read the extract from a radio programme where listeners phone in to express their opinions. Underline the solutions they suggest.

Interviewer: Good morning, and welcome to Viewpoint. Today's programme is about the problem of traffic congestion in our cities and on our roads. In the next twenty years the number of cars will double. Already traffic jams cost industry billions of dollars a year and there are 50,000 road deaths a year in Europe. What can governments do about this problem? We're waiting for your calls. Yes, we have our first caller on the line ...

Speaker 1: Hello. Well, I'd like governments to spend money on improving public transport in cities. If we had a really good public transport system, we wouldn't need to use our cars so much. We could park outside the city centre, and then use public transport inside the city. If we did that, we could all move around a lot more quickly.

Interviewer: Right, so you think the answer is a better public transport system. Thank you, and let's hear from our second caller.

Speaker 2: Yes, well I agree with the last caller, but good public transport costs a lot of money. I think we could make some of that money if we charged motorists for driving in cities. If motorists had to pay to drive in city centres, they would use their cars a lot less. And that would also mean fewer traffic jams.

Interviewer: A good point, yes. And now we have our third caller on the line .

Speaker 3: Well, I'm against building more and more motorways. More motorways mean more cars. If I were Transport Minister, I would stop building motorways and spend the money on railways.

Interviewer: What does our fourth caller think? Hello?

Speaker 4: Good morning. Well I would ban cars completely from city centres. If we didn't have all those cars, we wouldn't have all that pollution and noise. We need to think more about the people who live and work in cities, and their health.

b) Are these sentences true(T) or false (F)?

1. The first caller thinks people would drive less in cities if public transport were better. ( )

2. The second caller thinks if motorists paid to drive in cities, they would use their cars less. ( )

3. The third caller believes if there were more motorways, there would be less congestion. ( )

4. The fourth speaker believes people would be healthier if there were no cars in cities. ( )

c) Complete the following sentences.

1. If public transport were more efficient, __________ ______ ____ ______

2. People wouldn't use their cars so much in city centres if_____ _______ ______ _____________.

3. The air in cities would be cleaner if __________ ______ ____ _____________.

4. People would be healthier if __________ ______ ____ ___________________.

EXAM PRACTICE

Complete the spaces and then check your answers against the original text.

Answers

a) 1. traffic congestion

2. traffic jam

3. traffic warden

4. underground car-parks

5. parking meter

6. parking space

7. double-parking

8. public transport system

9. air pollution

10. ban motorists

11. charge motorists

12. city centre

b) 1 T 2 T 3 F 4 T

Material adapted from 'International Express Pre-intermediate'.

UNIT EIGHT: COMMUNICATING ACROSS CULTURES

The text is written by a British manager who is comparing customs in Britain with three different countries. Read the three description and try to guess the countries.

1. Is it the USA, Germany or France?

"It's important to know about the differences in culture between your country and the country you're visiting or working in. If you don't know the social customs, you may make mistakes and offend people. Handshaking is one example. In this country they shake hands much more than we do in the UK - every day, in fact, so you mustn't forget to do that. Another difference is that at work they use first names much less than we do in Britain, so call people by their family names. Food and wine are very important in this country, and at a business lunch you shouldn't start discussing business immediately. This might seem bad manners. If you receive an invitation to a person's home, take good chocolates, flowers or a good bottle of cognac. You shouldn't take wine because they drink that every day - it's too ordinary."

2. Is it Germany, Spain or Italy?

"In Britain we often arrive five or ten minutes late for a meeting but in this country you should arrive on time, because people are usually very punctual in work situations. Family names, not first names are more common at work and people use titles - Doctor and Professor, and so on. So you must remember to do the same. Your colleague will tell you if he or she wants you to use their first name.

Another difference is that you shouldn't try to be humorous or make jokes with people you don't know very well, because it might make them feel uncomfortable. Business meetings are usually serious. It's normal to exchange business cards at a first meeting, but you needn't do this until the end of the meeting. For social invitations, flowers or chocolates are suitable gifts. And you should give an odd number of flowers, say eleven or thirteen, not twelve."

3. Is it India, Japan or China?

" When you go to this country, you should take a lot of business cards with you. They usually exchange cards at the beginning of a meeting, and they always read your card very carefully. You should do the same with theirs. They might think it rude if you don't.

In general it takes longer to make decisions in this country than it does in Britain, so if you want to succeed you must learn to be patient. And remember that when they say 'Yes', they may mean 'I understand' and not 'I agree'. That often causes misunderstandings.

And a final piece of advice - it's not common, but if you receive an invitation to a person's home, you mustn't forget to take off your shoes before going inside. Make sure you're wearing clean socks!"

The advice given has been underlined in extract 1. Do the same for 2 and 3..

grammar book: Modal Verbs 26-30, 32-34

a)     Match the modal verbs A with their meaning B.

A                         B

must it's a bad idea

mustn't it's about 50% possible

needn't it's 100% necessary

should it's less than 50% necessary

shouldn't it's not necessary

may it's 100% necessary not to do it

might it's a good idea

How is the advice in the texts different from the advice you would give a visitor to Italy?

b) You are giving advice to a new colleague. Read the list below and decide what the new person must/mustn't/needn't/should/shouldn't do.

Example: You shouldn't chew chewing gum when meeting clients.

• Arrive punctually every day
• Take long breaks
• Smoke in the office
• Have daily meetings with your boss
• Make long distance private phone-calls
• Try to learn people's names
• Park in your boss's parking space
• Find out about fire regulations
• Wear a suit and tie
• Wear sunglasses in the office
• Take envelopes and paper to use at home
• Bring your own computer to work

c) Rewrite these sentences so that they are true for your country.

1. You can get married when you are 15.
2. Men must do twelve months' military service.
3. You cannot drive until you are 18.
4. You needn't carry an identity card.
5. You are not allowed to leave school until you are 16.
6. Men and women must retire at 62.
7. Supermarkets mustn't open on Sundays.
8. Passengers in cars can wear seat belts.
9. Smoking on trains is forbidden.

d) Where would you find the following notices?

1. "Books may be borrowed for one month."
2. "Dry cleaning is recommended."
3. "You can be fined up to £100 for dropping litter."
4. "Visits to patients are not permitted outside visiting hours."
5. "Tickets must be shown."

e) Test your knowledge of international social customs.

1. CHINA You are invited to someone's house. Which of these may cause offence?

a)     Keeping your shoes on

b)     Refusing an offer of food

2. MOROCCO You'd like to visit a mosque, but are you allowed to go inside?

a)     Yes, but you must take your shoes off

b)     You mustn't enter unless you are a Muslim

3. USA While drinking a can of beer in Central Park, you are approached by the police. Why?

a)     It's forbidden to drink alcohol in Central Park

b)     You must cover the can with a paper bag

4. SINGAPORE You are offered a piece of chewing gum. Should you accept?

a)     No because chewing gum is considered impolite

b)     No because you can be fined for chewing gum

5. BRITAIN You are invited for dinner at a colleague's home. What should you take?

a)     a bottle of wine

b)     some ice-cream

EXAM PRACTICE When you finish check your answers against the original text.

"It's important to know about the differences in culture between your country and the country you're visiting or working in. If you don't know the social customs, you (1.must, may, should, needn't) make mistakes and offend people. Handshaking is one example. In this country they shake hands much more than we do in the UK - every day, in fact, so you (2.must, mustn't, may, might) forget to do that. Another difference is that at work they use first names much less than we do in Britain, so call people by their family names. Food and wine are very important in this country, and at a business lunch you shouldn't (3.to start, start, starts, starting) discussing business immediately. This might seem bad manners. If you receive an invitation to a person's home, take good chocolates, flowers or a good bottle of cognac. You (4.should, shouldn't, may, might) take wine because they drink that every day - it's too ordinary."

"In Britain we often arrive five or ten minutes late for a meeting but in this country you should (5.to arrive, arrive, arrives, arriving) on time, because people are usually very punctual in work situations. Family names, not first names are more common at work and people use titles - Doctor and Professor, and so on. So you (6.must, mustn't, can, can't) remember to do the same. Your colleague will tell you if he or she wants you to use their first name.

Another difference is that you (7.should, shouldn't, needn't, might) try to be humorous or make jokes with people you don't know very well, because it might make them feel uncomfortable. Business meetings are usually serious. It's normal to exchange business cards at a first meeting, but you (8.must, should, can, needn't) do this until the end of the meeting. For social invitations, flowers or chocolates are suitable gifts. And you should give an odd number of flowers, say eleven or thirteen, not twelve."

" When you go to this country, you should (9.to take, take, takes, taking) a lot of business cards with you. They usually exchange cards at the beginning of a meeting, and they always read your card very carefully. You should do the same with theirs. They (10.must, should, needn't, might) think it rude if you don't.

In general it takes longer to make decisions in this country than it does in Britain, so if you want to succeed you (11.must, mustn't, can, can't) learn to be patient. And remember that when they say 'Yes', they may mean 'I understand' and not 'I agree'. That often causes misunderstandings.

And a final piece of advice - it's not common, but if you receive an invitation to a person's home, you mustn't forget (12.to take, take, takes, taking) off your shoes before going inside. Make sure you're wearing clean socks!"

Answers 1. France 2. Germany 3. Japan

a) must it's 100% necessary

mustn't it's 100% necessary not to do it

needn't it's not necessary

should it's a good idea

shouldn't it's a bad idea

may it's about 50% possible

might it's less than 50% necessary

b)You must/should arrive punctually every day

You mustn't/shouldn't take long breaks

You mustn't smoke in the office

You needn't have daily meetings with your boss

You mustn't make long distance private phone-calls

You should try to learn people's names

You mustn't park in your boss's parking space

You must find out about fire regulations

You must/needn't wear a suit and tie (depends on office)

You needn't wear sunglasses in the office

You mustn't take envelopes and paper to use at home

You needn't bring your own computer to work

c) 1. library 2. label in clothes 3. in a park or somewhere in a city 4. hospital

cinema or station

d) 1. CHINA b 2. MOROCCO b 3. USA a 4. SINGAPORE b 5. BRITAIN a

Material adapted from 'International Express' Pre-intermediate and Intermediate, Oxford.

UNIT NINE: INTERNET

Now read the text to check the answers.

What exactly is the Internet?

The best way to think of the Internet, or Net as it is often called, is as a vast global network connecting computers across the world. These networks range from government departments and industrial and educational communication systems down to the personal online service providers such as CompuServe, Delphi etc.

At present, more than 33 million people use the Internet and over three million computers worldwide are linked in. They use the Net for transferring data, playing games, socialising with other computer users, and sending email (electronic mail).

What is cyberspace?

Cyberspace is the term we give to this entire electronic domain. Whenever you are using one of the online services such as email or the World Wide Web, you are in cyberspace.

Despite the confusing techno-jargon that surrounds it, the Internet is simple: computers talk to one another through a network that uses phone lines, cable, and fibre-optic lines.

How did it begin?

The Net was dreamt up in the late 1960s by the US Defense Department's Advanced Projects Agency, which decided that, in the event of a nuclear attack, it needed a means by which messages could be sent and received even if phone lines were inoperative. In 1969 there was a network of just four mainframe computers. By 1972, the number had risen to 40. About this time the idea of the electronic mailbox was born, as users looked for a way of talking to each other electronically. By 1984, when the resources of the network were made available to academics, the Internet began to develop into the form we know it today.

The Internet can be divided into five broad areas

1 Electronic mail

Email is much faster than traditional or snail mail because once the message is typed out, it arrives in the electronic mailbox of the recipient within seconds. Anything that can be digitised - pictures, sound, video - can be sent, retrieved, and printed at the other end. This is efficient, convenient, and saves trees!

2 Information sites

This is perhaps the fastest growing area of the Internet as more and more people put their own information pages online. One thing that computers do very well is process vast amounts of information very fast, so, by specifying a key word or phrase, the computer can then search around the Net until it finds some matches. These information sites are usually stored on big computers that exist all over the world. The beauty of the Net is that you can access all of them from your home, using your own PC.

3 The World Wide Web

The World Wide Web, usually referred to as WW or 3W, is a vast network of information databases that feature text, visuals, sound, and even video clips. On the WWW you can do such things as go on a tour of a museum or art exhibition, see the latest images from outer space, go shopping, and get travel information on hotels and holidays. You can even view a hotel's facilities before deciding to book!

4 Usenet

Usenet is a collection of newsgroups covering any topic. Newsgroups allow users to participate in dialogues and conversations by subscribing, free of charge. Each newsgroup consists of messages and information posted by other users. There are more than 10,000 newsgroups and they are popular with universities and businesses.

5 Telnet

Telnet programmes allow you to use your personal computer to access a powerful mainframe computer. If you are an academic, or just have a lot of numbers to deal with, it can be very useful and cost-effective.

a)     Match the verbs from the text with the phrases.

1. to link in                                a. information from one computer file to another

2. to transfer                              b. to a global computer network

3. to retrieve                              c. to a magazine or a special interest group

4. to access                                d. information from a database

5. to subscribe                           e. information in a database

b) Look at the words in the box. Would you associate them with computers generally, email or the Internet?

EXAM PRACTICE

Write a suitable word in the spaces. Check your answers against the original text.

What exactly is the Internet?

The best way to think of ______ Internet, or Net as it is often called, is as a vast global network connecting computers _______ the world. These networks range from government departments and industrial and educational communication systems down to the personal online service providers such ______ CompuServe, Delphi etc.

At present, more _______ 33 million people use the Internet and over three million computers worldwide are linked ______. They use the Net for transferring data, playing games, socialising with _______ computer users, and sending email (electronic mail).

What is cyberspace?

Cyberspace is the term we give to ______ entire electronic domain. Whenever you are using one of the online services ______ as email or the World Wide Web, you are in cyberspace.

_________ the confusing techno-jargon that surrounds it, the Internet is simple: computers talk to one another through a network that uses phone lines, cable, and fibre-optic lines.

How did it begin?

The Net was dreamt _______ in the late 1960s by the US Defence Department's Advanced Projects Agency, which decided that, in the event of a nuclear attack, it needed a means by _______ messages could be sent and received even ______ phone lines were inoperative. In 1969 there was a network of just four mainframe computers. By 1972, the number had risen to 40. About this time the idea of the electronic mailbox was born, as users looked _______ a way of talking to each other electronically. By 1984, when the resources of the network were made available to academics, the Internet began to develop _______ the form we know it today.

The Internet can be divided into five broad areas

1 Electronic mail

Email is much faster than traditional or snail mail because once the message is typed out, it arrives in the electronic mailbox of the recipient _______ seconds. Anything that can be digitised - pictures, sound, video - can be sent, retrieved, and printed at the other end. This is efficient, convenient, and _______ trees!

2 Information sites

This is perhaps the fastest growing area of the Internet as more and more people put their _______ information pages online. One thing that computers do very well is process vast amounts of information very fast, so, by specifying a _______ word or phrase, the computer can then search around the Net until it finds some matches. These information sites are usually stored on big computers that exist all _______ the world. The beauty of the Net is that you can access all of them from your home, using your own PC.

3 The World Wide Web

The World Wide Web, usually referred to as WW or 3W, is a vast network of information databases that feature text, visuals, sound, and _______ video clips. On the WWW you can do such things as go on a tour of a museum or art exhibition, see the latest images from outer space, go shopping, and get travel information on hotels and holidays. You can even view a hotel's facilities before deciding to book!

Material adapted from 'International Express' Intermediate.

UNIT TEN: BUYING AND SELLING ON THE INTERNET

Have you ever bought or sold anything on the internet?

Have you ever used ebay, the internet auction website?

Now skim the text to find the answers

Online auctions are a great success

EBay is one of the world's fastest-growing businesses. Profitable right from its creation in 1995, the company, based in San Jose, California, now dominates online auctions. What eBay will become in another decade is impossible to predict, not least because some of the things now traded on it have surprised even its own management. Used cars, for one thing, were thought to be unsuitable: who would want to buy a second-hand car from a stranger in an internet auction? Yet this year eBay Motors is expected to sell more than $8 billion of vehicles and parts, making it the company's most valuable category of business.

Early entry and rapid growth gave eBay a network advantage. Networks are like a snowball rolling down a hill, taking more and more snow as it gets bigger. The more sellers eBay attracts, the more buyers turn to it; the more buyers it gets, the more useful it becomes to sellers. No one has been able to catch eBay, not even Microsoft when it tried to enter the internet-auction business. In the past five years, eBay's net revenue has grown at a rate of around 80%. Last year's net profits were $442m.

The company's strategy is to build a global trading platform that operates at the beginning and the end of the typical bell-curve of a product's life. The bump in the middle, where market pricing works efficiently, is left to conventional retail channels. Ebay is at either side of the bump. For instance, when a new product is launched, demand for it may be so high that it becomes scarce, so it can be auctioned for more than the recommended price. The pricing then stabilises and high-street (or online) retailing takes over. But as the produce ages excess stock must be discounted, creating another auction opportunity. Also, when the original owner of a product has finished with it, a used market value emerges.

With locally based sites in 28 countries, the eBay service can be based on local needs. In France, for instance, eBay conducts wine sales, whereas in South Korea it sells a lot of kimchi (fermented cabbage)!

Buying Anything from a jet to a lollipop can be found on eBay. A buyer who wants a particular item enters the maximum amount he is prepared to pay. This remains a secret to other bidders, while eBay's computers monitor the bidding, which usually lasts for seven days.

Selling The details of an item to be sold are completed online and a digital photo is added if required. The seller sets his opening price and perhaps a reserve price and the length of the auction.

Ebay has achieved huge commercial success and provided a lot of entertainment for its customers, but when it comes to offering fun on the web, it has a lot of competitors.

a) The graph represents a product's typical lifecycle. Indicate with 'x' where you could find the product for sale on ebay.

b) Are these sentences true (T) or false (F)?

1. Ebay began in 1994. (    )
2. Last year ebay Motors sold more than $8 billion of vehicles and parts.  ( )
3. Ebay was the first online auction. ( )
4. Microsoft auctions are more successful than ebay auctions. (    )
5. Last year ebay's profits were over $440 million. ( )
6. Ebay changes its site according to geographical area. ( )

c) In the text which verb comes before or after these nouns?

Par 2 __________________ the internet-auction business

Par 3 a new product is __________________

The pricing _________________

Stock must be ________________

_______________ an opportunity

a market value _______________

par 4 _______________ wine sales

par 5 _______________ the opening price

par 6 _______________ commercial success

d) To visit the ebay website go to www.ebay.com, click on 'Services', then 'ebay Education'

Click on 'How does ebay work?' and listen to a description. Answer or complete the following:

1. Give at least 5 examples of things you can buy (according to the speaker).

2. Can you purchase items without bidding?

3. "Buying on ebay is __________, ___________ and ___________."

4. How many items are there on ebay listings?

5. There are two ways to locate an item. What are they?

6. What is each seller's feedback profile based on?

7. "Paypal provides a ___________ and ____________ way to pay online."

8. How many registered users are there?

9. What is the suggestion for first-time bidders?

10. "Buying is so ___________ and ___________."

EXAM PRACTICE - Complete the spaces and check your answers with the original text.

16. 'stranger' means a) foreigner b) strange person c) unknown person

17. 'channels' means a) outlets b) rivers c) representatives

18. 'scarce' means a) poor b) empty c) rare

19. 'bidders' means a) internet users b) people who make offers c) people who receive offers

20. 'huge' means a) considerable b) high c) enormous

Answers

b) 1 F 2 F 3 T 4 F 5 T 6 T

c) enter the internet-auction business

a product is launched

pricing stabilises

stock must be discounted

creating an opportunity

a market value emerges

conduct wine sales

set the opening price

achieve commercial success

Answers to internet listening exercise

1. antiques, electronics, (designer) clothing, concert tickets, bottles, books, posters, pins, furniture, baby gear, jewellery, fragrances.
2. Yes
3. "Buying on ebay is easy, safe and fun."
4. 10 million
5. you can browse or type a word in the search box
6. past transactions
7. "Paypal provides a safe and convenient way to pay online."
8. 90 million
9. start with a small purchase, such as a music CD

"Buying is so easy and exciting."

EXAM PRACTICE: 16 C 17 A 18 C 19 B 20 C

Text adapted from The Economist, May 13^th 2004.

UNIT ELEVEN: COMPANY STRUCTURES

a) Write the words next to the correct definition.

_________________= tax paid on income

_________________= accountability, responsibility

_________________= property and possessions with value

_________________= money put aside, often over a long time

_________________= riches

________________ = money resources

________________ = owner of shares (portions of capital) in a company

________________ = money or assets which a company uses to start a business

_________________ = house or building

b) What do you know about company structure? Decide if these sentences are true (T) or false (F).

A sole trader i. cannot have employees. ( )

ii. doesn't have to pay income tax. ( )

iii. may be liable if the business fails. ( )

A partnership i. may have more than 2 partners. ( )

ii. does not need to register the business or become incorporated. ( )

iii. can have partners who invest money but don't take decisions. ( )

A company i. must be private. ( )

ii. may be private. ( )

iii. has to issue shares. ( )

Now read the text to check your answers.

Company Structures

If you are self-employed, or you have plans to grow a bigger business, you will need to decide on its appropriate structure.

Sole Trader

This business is run by just one owner, regardless of the number of employees.

Advantages

It's simple. You can trade in your own name and manage your own affairs. You may have no employees and no need for premises. All income is treated as personal income and expenses are deducted to calculate a 'profit'. This profit is then subject to income tax.

Disadvantages

You have unlimited liability: if the business fails, your assets, i.e. savings, house and anything else you own, can be taken from you to pay your debts. As your suppliers know that your credit is reliable just to the limit of your wealth it will take time to build up good credit terms.

Partnership

Advantages

This business structure may be suitable when there are two or more people who agree to share the responsibility and decision-making of the business. The maximum number of partners a business can have is 20, unless it is a professional organisation such as an accountancy practice. It is advisable to set out the terms and conditions of a partnership with a written agreement.

Like sole traders partnerships have no need to register or become incorporated so have no separate legal identity.

Managerial responsibilities and profits are usually shared among the partners but the structure can contain 'sleeping' partners, individuals who have invested funds in the business to claim a share of the profits. Partners are taxed in a similar way to sole traders.

Disadvantages

Some of the largest legal bills come from partnership disputes where the personalities just don't mix. Like sole traders partnerships have unlimited liability.

Trading as a Company

At this stage the company and individuals who work for it become separate entities. Small companies are generally private and have 'limited' in their name.

The liability falls on the shareholders and is limited to the value of shares they own. This prospect of limited liability can be deceiving; directors will almost certainly have to provide personal guarantees to banks during the early years of trading.

Shareholders can vote out the directors by majority.

Advantages

You can issue shares or debentures to bring more money into the company; you have limited liability and there are greater tax savings. Also the management structure is more convenient

Having more capital and assets means more credibility in the marketplace.

Disadvantages

One problem is the administrative bureaucracy involved in managing a company. Unlike the sole trader and partnership, liability is transferred to the shareholders. The motives of shareholders and company directors may be different.

Complete the spaces with adjectives from the text.

Add a third column and write the verb, example: 'to employ'. Look in a dictionary if necessary.

EXAM PRACTICE

Complete the spaces with an appropriate word, then check your answers against the original text.

Answers

a) income tax = tax paid on income

liability = accountability, responsibility

assets = property and possessions with value

savings = money put aside, often over a long time

wealth = riches

funds = money resources

shareholders = owner of shares (portions of capital) in a company

capital = money or assets which a company uses to start a business

premises = house or building

b) i. T ii. F iii T

i T ii T iii T

i F ii T iii F

Text adapted from www.exemplas.com.

UNIT TWELVE: RETAIL - the sale of goods to the public

Which foreign retail companies operate in Italy?

Which Italian retail companies operate abroad?

Now read the text to check your answers.

Invasion of the retail giants

In the developed economies of western Europe, the retail industry is facing a period of expansion. As retailers find that their domestic markets have no more room for expansion, the time of the pan-European or even global retailer has arrived. The French supermarket Carrefour is looking beyond Europe and targeting the emerging markets of Latin America and the Far East. In other sectors such as fashion and furnishings, the internationalisation of businesses is well advanced, with brands such as Benetton and IKEA already global names.

One consulting company, Braxton, has identified six factors which it believes are critical to any retailer who is planning to expand abroad:

1. A strong corporate philosophy

2. Something genuinely new to offer the consumer

3. An appropriate format

4. The right target market

5. Commitment from the highest level of the company

6. Long-term horizons

There are several formats which are most effective for export, according to Braxton. The first is the high-end luxury retailers, such as Gucci and Chanel. Wherever these brands appear their success is almost assured. The second exportable format is the 'category killer' - those stores which dominate a single field. Blockbuster is a classic example. High-quality speciality retailers are also eminently exportable, and in this sector we find the fashion and cosmetics brands of Benetton, the Body Shop and Gap.The final format which Braxton recommends for export is discount retailing. Grocery stores in Europe which fit this description include the German supermarkets Aldi and Metro-Gruppe.

Francising is a popular method of expanding abroad. Brands such as Benetton and the Body Shop have benefited from the lower costs and the local knowledge of franchising. Joint ventures offer a similar combination of both risk and return, and such partnerships have proved popular in the continental supermarket sector. Simple acquisitions are not a common feature of international retailing in Europe.

The future shape of global retailing is still not clear. Because of the necessary long-term view, the single European shopping mall will not happen straight away. But even those companies who have no ambition to expand abroad cannot ignore the issue. One retailer's domestic market is another retailer's overseas opportunity.

a)Complete the table with examples from the text.

b) Braxton has identified six critical factors for expanding abroad. Match the explanation of these factors with the number in the text.

c) Answer the questions.

1. Which three formats does Braxton recommend for successful export?
2. Why are costs lower if the retailer expands through franchising?
3. Why are joint ventures less risky than acquisitions?
4. What is "the issue" line 30?

Complete the spaces .... with words from the text. Then complete the rest of the table, looking in a dictionary if necessary.

EXAM PRACTICE

When you have completed the spaces, check your answers against the original text.

True (T) or False (F)

16. ( ) Retailers are planning to expand their domestic markets.

17. ( ) According to Braxton, it is important to look for short term results.

18. ( ) Luxury goods will sell almost anywhere.

19. ( ) Acquisitions are a common method of expansion overseas.

20. ( ) All companies must expand abroad.

Answers

b) 2

3

4

1

6

5

c) 1. He recommends: luxury products, brands which dominate their fields, high quality speciality retailers.

2. the retailer pays to use an established brand

3. There are 2 or more partners to share the risk.

5. The issue is retailers expanding through Europe.

Exam practice

16 F 17 F 18 T 19 F 20 F

Text adapted from The European, 5 November 1997.

UNIT THIRTEEN: MCDONALD'S

Now read the text to find the answers.

"Francisees are crucial to McDonald's success; they deliver our brand values directly to the customer. Worldwide, over 70% of our restaurants are run by independent entrepreneurs"

Thinking about a Franchise?

McDonald's is one of only a handful of brands that command instant recognition in virtually every country in the world. McDonald's began with one restaurant in the US in 1955 and today there are more than 26,500 restaurants in over 119 countries, serving around 39 million people every day - making McDonald's by far the largest food service company in the world.

Franchisees are crucial to McDonald's success; they deliver our brand values directly to the customer. Worldwide, over 70% of our restaurants are run by independent entrepreneurs - making us also the world's largest and most successful franchising company.

Franchising is not for everyone though - to operate a McDonald's franchise you need the managerial and personal skills necessary to run a business employing 50 or more people and serving half-a-million customers a year.

You also must make a personal commitment to run the business, day in, day out, for at least 20 years.

It should come as no surprise, then, that our selection process is rigorous. We look for individuals with a demonstrated ability to lead and manage people, good common business sense, and a track record of success in whatever they are doing. A restaurant background is not necessary, nor is a large amount of capital - although you will be asked to make a personal investment in the business. We franchise only to individuals, not to partnerships, absentee investors or families. Becoming a McDonald's franchisee is not a license to print money, but the rewards are undoubtably there to be earned.

For more information contact McDonald's Franchising Department at:

E-MAIL: francise@uk.mcd.com

PH:02087007153/4

Was the text written for customers, potential customers, franchisees or potential franchisees?

a) Decide if these statements are true (T) or false (F).

1. ( ) Over two thirds of McDonald's restaurants are managed by franchisees.

2. ( ) McDonald's is the biggest company of its kind.

3. ( ) To be a franchisee you need to be good at dealing with people.

4. ( ) To be a franchisee you have to have experience in the restaurant industry.

5. ( ) You and your parents could open a McDonald's franchise together.

b) Complete the spaces with verbs from the text.

....... a restaurant / a business

....... customers

...... a commitment

....../......people

....... an investment

'Franchisee' contains the suffix 'ee'. What is the other noun in the text which finishes with 'ee'?

Can you think of any other words with this suffix?

EXAM PRACTICE

Complete the spaces, then check your answers against the text.

Answers

The text was written for potential franchisees.

a) 1 T 2 T 3 T 4 F 5 F

b) run a restaurant/business

serve customers

make a commitment

lead and manage people

make an investment

Text adapted from the McDonald's website.

UNIT FOURTEEN: EXTRA GRAMMAR EXERCISES

Look at the 8 graphs below. They show expenditure on advertising compared to the increase in sales income of eight companies over a 3-year period.

a) If you are in class, choose one graph and write two sentences about it. Your partner reads the sentences and says which graph you described.

b) Now read the five descriptions below and match them with five of the graphs.

1. The company benefited from a steady rise in income across the period in spite of an annual decrease in expenditure on advertising.

2. The annual increases in spending on advertising had no positive effect on income which continued to fall over the period.

3. Although advertising spending remained unchanged during the 3 years, increase in income fluctuated, reaching a peak in the middle of the period.

4. Both advertising costs and income from sales rose over the whole period, with sales at about double the level of advertising spending in 2000.

5. Even though the amount of money spent on advertising went up year on year, the increase in income levelled off in 2000.

'In spite of' is a conjunction - it joins two clauses together. Each sentence contains a conjunction. Underline the conjunctions.

grammar book: Conjunctions 112-119

Exercise adapted from BEC Preliminary Practice Tests, Cambridge University Press.

Answers: 1=E 2=H 3=F 4=G 5=C