University of Economics, HCMC End of Unit Test.M1.

Unit 5
School of Foreign Languages
Division of English for General Purposes

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. Choose the words that best fit the gaps in the following passage.
Minutes
Lighting
Staff are complaining about the poor lighting in the main office. The secretary of the committee recently obtained
quotes (1) ……………… new lighting, (2) ……………… we passed to the management board. The committee is
(3) ……………… waiting for (4) ……………… decision. We are hoping the board will let us (5) ………………
within the next few weeks.
New Drinks Machine
Of the three types of machine we looked at, Maxcup appeared to be the best option. The committee now has to find
a new (6) ………………, as our current machine causes problems near the fire exit (7) ……………… several
people use the machine at the same time. It was decided to put off taking the decision, and we expect to have
enough information (8) ……………… the end of the month.
Conference Attendance
John (9) ……………… to be away at the conference from 1 st to 8th of next month. Rebecca has agreed to assist us
in his (10) ……………… . John has a useful list of contacts in order to help her research safety equipment.
Next committee meeting: 16th March.
1. A. from B. of C. for D. with
2. A. what B. when C. which D. that
3. A. still B. yet C. already D. never
4. A. your B. our C. their D. his
5. A. know B. known C. knowing D. know
6. A. location B. size C. pattern D. design
7. A. whether B. if C. unless D. although
8. A. while B. until C. on D. by
9. A. expects B. believes C. approves D. thinks
10. A. leave B. absence C. departure D. time

II. Choose the best answer

11. A key way to protect your mental health against the potential detrimental effects of work related stress is to
ensure you have a …………… work-life balance.
A. healthy B. unhealthy C. bad D. neglected
12. The problem is that what one person finds really …………… and it excites them to be able to do their job well,
somebody else might find really stressful.
A. demotivating B. motivating C. boring D. tiring
13. A …………… is someone who constantly thinks about work, and without work feels anxious and depressed.
A. social worker B. office worker C. employee D. workaholic
14. If you’re using alcohol or substances to cope with the ………… of work, seek out a drug and alcohol specialist.
A. pressures B. flexitime C. quality D. lifestyle
15. He also told them about the new incentive plan that he had ………… with Alpha for achieving the current plan.
A. consulted B. dealt C. negotiated D. taken part
16. An employee may …………… more importance on personal elements such as their work-life balance.
A. put B. install C. place D. play
17. Our taxi was …………… in traffic and I thought I would never get to the airport on time.
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 A. stuck B. hidden C. travelled D. had
18. All employees and students should have the right to a clean and safe working …………… .
A. hour B. class C. day D. environment
19. Recently, profits …………… sharply because of strong competition.
A. fall B. have fallen C. were falling D. will fall
20. I knew Bill when I …………… at college.
A. will be B. am C. have been D. was
21. Our company …………… just …………… flexitime and everyone’s delighted.
A. has / introduced B. had / introduced C. was / introducing D. is / introducing
22. He …………… in film industry for many years before joining the government.
A. work B. worked C. is working D. will be working
23. I have been in computers for five years now. I …………… a degree in computing at MIT and then I joined
Microsoft as a programmer.
A. do B. did C. has done D. will have done
24. They treat their employees …………… well …………… nobody ever wants to leave.
A. such / that B. so / and C. so / that D. such / then
25. …………… we are facing a poor economic climate, our sales have held up.
A. Although B. As a result of C. While D. Nevertheless
26. They should go the sports center …………… they want to be fit and in good health.
A. although B. because C. in spite of D. besides
27. The Mental Health Foundation is concerned that a sizeable group of people are neglecting the factors in their
lives …………… make them resistant or resilient to mental health problems.
A. what B. that C. whom D. whose
28. Sometimes I wonder …………… they want me to leave and bring in someone younger.
A. while B. unless C. if D. although
29. She’s never been …………… pressure in her work since she joined the agency.
A. during B. throughout C. at D. under
30. Women have many more sources of pressure in their life and therefore are more likely to feel stressed
…………… that.
A. within B. because of C. on D. at
31. He is stressed because he is often interrupted …………… work by visits from other members of staff.
A. on B. for C. at D. to
32. I’ve got a Master’s …………… advertising, but it doesn’t seem to impress her.
A. from B. by C. in D. on
33. Agencies compete to win new contracts or take clients …………… their rivals.
A. from B. in C. at D. on
34. In today's busy world, prioritizing …………… your work and your personal life can be a huge challenge.
A. by B. as C. between D. with
35. Advertising staff are well …………… , but they work long hours.
A. paid B. pay C. payment D. payable
36. Most of the …………… ideas in the agency come from me.
A. creativity B. creatively C. create D. creative
37. Studies show that a poor work-life balance can result in unhealthy levels of stress, unhappiness, and even
reduced …………… .
A. produce B. product C. productivity D. productive
38. Both employers and employees must take responsibility for making the program work …………… .
A. effect B. affect C. effective D. effectively
39. The human cost of …………… work related to stress extends far beyond this.
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 A. unmanaged B. manage C. management D. manager
40. It is estimated that nearly three in every ten ………… will experience a mental health problem in any one year.
A. employment B. unemployed C. employees D. employ

Section 2: Language use

I. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
THE EFFECTS OF STRESS
There are numerous physical effects of stress. Stress can affect the heart. It can increase the pulse rate, make the
heart miss beats, and can cause high blood pressure. Stress can affect the respiratory system. It can lead to asthma.
It can cause a person to breathe too fast, resulting in a loss of important carbon dioxide. Stress can affect the
stomach. It can cause stomach aches and problems digesting food. These are only a few examples of the wide range
of illnesses and symptoms resulting from stress.

Emotions are also easily affected by stress. People suffering from stress often feel anxious. They may have panic
attacks. They may feel tired all the time. When people are under stress, they often overreact to little problems. For
example, a normally gentle parent under a lot of stress at work may yell at a child for dropping a glass of juice.
Stress can make people angry, moody, or nervous.

Long-term stress can lead to a variety of serious mental illnesses. Depression, an extreme feeling of sadness and
hopelessness, can be the result of continued and increasing stress. Alcoholism and other addictions often develop as
a result of overuse of alcohol or drugs to try to relieve stress. Eating disorders, such as anorexia, are sometimes
caused by stress and are often made worse by stress. If stress is allowed to continue, then one's mental health is put
at risk.

Choose the best answer.

1. Which of the following is not a common problem caused by stress?

A. physical problems C. mental problems

B. anecdotal problems D. emotional problems
2. According to the essay, which of the following parts of the body does not have physical problems caused by
stress?
A. the arms B. the stomach C. the lungs D. the heart
3. Choose the best answer to explain how alcoholism is caused by stress.
A. Alcohol is used to relieve stress. C. Alcohol is a chemical.
B. Alcohol is popular. D. Alcohol is similar to medicine.
Answer the question.
4. What is anorexia?
What does each of the following underlined words/ phrases refer to?
5. “It can increase the pulse rate…” (Paragraph 1)
6. “…one’s mental health is put at risk.” (Paragraph 3)
Which words/ phrases in the passage mean the following?
7. changes in your body or mind that show that you are not healthy: ………………
8. respond to something more strongly than is necessary: ………………
Fill in each blank with one suitable word from the passage. Put it in its correct form or tense if necessary.
9. An …………… of graphics in reports can be an unwelcome distraction.
10. The way she was treated at work caused her …………… emotional distress.

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II. Writing

From the following notes, write a letter to accept the invitation to speak at a conference.
+ conference: inaugural Researchers’ Conference, 04.11.20XX
+ topic: “Innovations in Agricultural Research Strategies”
+ event: 10:00 a.m., but required to arrive by 09:00 a.m.
+ send detailed information on the venue of the conference

Dear Hillary,

I am indeed honored ………………………………………………………………………………………………..

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. .

I have checked ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. .

Thank you once more ……………………………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………… .

Yours sincerely,

Lena Bohm

III. Listening
Part 1 Listen to the question and choose the best response. The recording will be played twice.
1. A B C
2. A B C
3. A B C
4. A B C
5. A B C

Part 2: Listen to the recording and complete the notes. The recording will be played twice.

Health experts recommend 45 minutes of (6) …………………… …………………… a day for healthy
adults: No need to spend three quarters of an hour everyday at the gym + much easier to (7)
…………………… small …………………… of exercise into work day. Examples:
+ If driving to work, park a few blocks from the office, then walk.
+ Don’t take the (8) …………………… . Use the …………………… instead.
+ While working, take a break every so often. Get up from your desk and walk around the room or down
the hall for 5 or 10 minutes.
If you (9) …………………… …………………… like these, you may well have done more than the (10)
…………………… …………………… of exercise recommended.

The End
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