GOOD DIFFICULT UNNECESSARY IRRELEVANT

1.

Dealing with Questions

A financial analyst
has just given a
presentation to a
group of
international
bankers on the
prospects for ten
key industrial
sectors. Here is the
question and
answer session that followed her presentation. Put the following exchanges in the right order and
highlight useful expressions. The first expression is always the first.

EXCHANGE 1: Inviting Questions

1. Are there any questions you’d like to ask?
2. Well, obviously the airlines would be one; telecommunications probably another.
3. Could I ask you which industries this is most likely to effect?
4. That’s right, we see that as a general trend over the next five years.
5. Yes, I have a question. You spoke about increased deregulation and privatization.

The correct order is: _____________________

EXCHANGE 2: Querying a Point

2. When you were looking at the agricultural sector, you mentioned Japan.
3. Quite. Did you say there might be some relaxation of the restrictions on imports?
4. Well, considering the way the GATT talks went, that’s good news.
5. Yes, it’s difficult not to mention Japan in the context of agriculture.
6. I did. Japanese farmers are not the political force they were. Restrictions could go.

The correct order is: _____________________

EXCHANGE 3: Asking for Additional Information

1. While we’re on the subject of Japan, who would you say are the com’panies to
watch?
2. Which is, no doubt, why so many Japanese car makers have set up factories there.
3. Good question. Certainly not the computer companies and the car manufacturers.
4. Well, the fact is, their capacity’s being severely cut as pressure mounts from Europe.
5. Computer companies, I can understand, but why not the car companies?

The correct order is: _____________________

EXCHANGE 4: Making a Criticism

1. I want to take you up on what you said about Asia being a high growth area.
2. No, not really. Surely this Asian boom is just the result of low pay and long
hours?
3. Even so, I still think you’ve exaggerated its short-term potentiaL
4. You’re not convinced?
5. Not at all, it’s actually a result of great improvements in education and infrastructure.

The correct order is: _____________________

Practice:
You will be given 5 minutes to plan your 3-minute presentation regarding your proposal. Your partner
will listen to your presentation and ask you a question related to it. The question can be challenging,
irrelevant, or unnecessary. You are to answer your partner’s question there and then without delay. Once
you are done, you partner will also ask another follow-up question related to your previous answer. The
objective is to learn how to be spontaneous.