EXERCISE

04 READING COMPREHENSION

TEXT

1 Unfortunately, the significant increase we saw in sales in the last quarter was offset by the expenses
stemming from charges for the fire at our Turkey plant. Although the plant was insured, so far the
insurance company has only paid 20% of our claim. They are disputing the remaining 80%, though we
are confident that in the long run they’ll fully reimburse us for the cost of repairing the damage, though
the final settlement (pago de deudas) may take a few years. So far, we’ve had to pay some 10 million
dollars in repairs. As a result of this fiasco, our bottom-line profit rose only by only 5% despite record
sales in the last year. We are confident sales will continue to grow this year despite the widespread
stagnation in the industry that has seen the profits of our competitors tumble. That we can boast such
good results while the rest of the industry is in such dire straits is a testament to the hard work of each
and every one of you. You all deserve to be congratulated.

EXCERCISE

2 1. Sales in the last quarter 1. a) set a new record,

2. The cost of the fire
3. The company
4. The financial situation is
5. The expression “dire straits” in the
next-to-last sentence probably means
6. This message was probably
b) were less than the amount lost in the fire,
c) were probably higher than sales in the
previous quarter,
d) increased thanks to the company’s
performance in Turkey.
2. a) was paid mostly by the company,
b) was paid about equally by the company and
the insurance,
c) was greater than the amount made in sales,
d) totaled 10 million dollars.
3. a) does not expect the insurance company to
pay the rest of the claim,
b) expects a quick settlement from the
insurance company,
c) has already rebuilt the plant in Turkey,
d) still managed to make a profit in the last year.
4. a) forcing the company to cut prices,
b) is proving to be difficult for the competition,
c) forcing the company to lay off (despedir)
workers,
d) not having an effect on the industry.
5. a) in equal circumstances,
b) in good conditions,
c) in difficult conditions,
d) out of business.
6. a) from an employee at the company to his wife,
b) from the manager of the plant in Turkey to his staff,
c) read at the company’s annual shareholder
meeting,
d) from the company’s president to the
employees.

4 · COMPRENSIÓN ESCRITA · NIVEL AVANZADO