University of Economics, HCMC Module 1 - SAMPLE TEST

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. Select and fill in each blank in the passage below with ONE suitable word.
Thank you for sending me a copy (1) …………… your latest ceramics catalog. You have been (2) ……………
us your catalog here at the museum for several years now, (3) …………… I always look forward to reading it. I
(4) …………… was yet again at the variety and creativity (5) …………… you have displayed in your work!
(6) …………… ladybug bowls are quite exquisite. They look so (7) …………… ! They really (8) ……………
resemble the plants and animals they are modeled (9) …………… . I would like to order 50 of the ladybug
bowls. If they are popular, I will consider (10) …………… more.

1. A. with B. of C. in D. to
2. A. dispatching B. delivering C. shipping D. sending
3. A. and B. so C. but D. yet
4. A. interested B. pleased C. amazed D. keen
5. A. whose B. which C. when D. whom
6. A. Their B. Its C. His D. Your
7. A. realistic B. realist C. realistically D. realism
8. A. did B. do C. have D. ought
9. A. after B. for C. in D. with
10. A. producing B. exporting C. ordering D. selling

II. Choose the best answer.

11. Those who will sign any contract are advised to review the terms of the …………… .
A. production B. agreement C. consideration D. newsletter
12. Great interpersonal skills and untiring perseverance are the key …………… of an excellent sales executive.
A. acquisitions B. boundaries C. characteristics D. enterprises
13. There are …………… a small number of job openings in the sales positions.
A. quickly B. highly C. currently D. originally
14. If we are not able to …………… this contract, we will face serious financial problems.
A decline B. consider C. renew D. remodel
15. It will be very helpful if you thoroughly …………… the background of the applicants.
A. refer B. check C. exchange D. advertise
16. If you do not file a tax return before October 23rd, you will have to pay a fine of $ 200. This …………… will
be automatically deducted from your future earnings by the Inland Revenue Service.
A. service B. product C. receipt D. charge
17. We offer a free delivery service, and we can give buyers discounts for …………… purchases.
A. bulk B. infrequent C. urgent D. nearby
18. Nowadays, in order to stay competitive in the market, many retailers are trying …………… their online and
offline operations.
A. to deal B. to bargain C. to integrate D. to check
19. We …………… about safety procedures when the fire alarm went off.
A. talked B. are talking C. were talking D. have talked
20. Ms Luxton and her team of specialists …………… a new marketing strategy since the beginning of the year.
A. are developing B. were being developed C. have been developing D. would develop
21. The factory manager reports that currently all the machinery …………… at full capacity.

M1 – Sample Test 1
 A. will have been operated B. was operating C. had operated D. is operating
22. The report …… by pointing out the need for further investment if the group is to continue its expansion
policy.
A. conclude B. concluded C. concludes D. will conclude
23. Ford …………… to corner 10% of car sales in the Asia- Pacific region within the next 10 years.
A. is aiming B. aimed C. has aimed D. will have aimed
24. We carefully checked all the figures; …………… , our supervisor found a number of mistakes.
A. while B. although C. however D. therefore
25. Meetings were postponed …………… unexpected power cut.
A. despite B. as a result of C. while D. nevertheless
26. …………… the Marsdsen Literary Society was founded last year, it already has over 200 registered
members.
A. Although B. Because C. In spite of D. Besides
27. The personnel manager has decided to hire the candidate with the degree in engineering …………… he
interviewed last week.
A. what B. which C. whom D. whose
28. Applicants can express their interest in the role simply …………… filling out the attached form and returning
it to Ms. Claire Jones.
A. by B. as C. for D. with
29. The Port Wells Teater asks the audience to remain seated at all times …………… the performers are on stage.
A. during B. throughout C. while D. except
30. You need to pay the parking ticket in full …………… the next 20 days, or you will face further penalties.
A. within B. on C. through D. for
31. The vice president has the …………… office on this floor.
A. most spacious B. more spacious C. space D. as spacious
32. The rate of salary increases was …………… higher, compared to just 3% last year.
A. so B. very C. most D. far
33. The manager said that there would be special year-end bonuses for … who surpass their annual sales targets.
A. that B. them C. those D. these
34. The hotel provides travelers with …………… convenient options in order to attract tourists.
A. several B. each C. another D. much
35. He wants to quit his present job because he cannot stand working …………… hours anymore.
A. insociable B. social C. socialistic D. anti-social
36. That IT shop has been acquiring more and more customers since it offered …………… credit last month.
A. free-interest B. interest-free C. interest rate D. interested
37. Any charity or non-governmental organization within the area can …………… for funding from the Sanstead
Community Trust.
A. apply B. applied C. applying D. application
38. …………… more customer service specialists is the top priority for Personnel at the moment.
A. Recruitment B. Recruiting C. Recruit D. Recruited
39. The new management board has come up with a much more …………… way to increase staff productivity.
A. effected B. effectively C. effective D. effect
40. The company’s sales have …………… improved since last month thanks to the staff’s efforts.
A. signification B. significantly C. signify D. significant

Section 2: Language use (60 marks)

Read this article from the Financial Times by Samantha Pearson and answer the questions.

Bankers Turn to Corporate Butchery

by Samantha Pearson

M1 – Sample Test 2
Nine men dressed in expensive suits and white coats covered with blood gather round a table. Among the group
are bankers, a property developer and some of England’s richest men. This is corporate entertainment in the
post-banking crisis era and they are learning the art of butchery at an evening class in central London.

The class at the Ginger Pig butcher’s shop in Marylebone has become a popular way for City institutions to
entertain their clients in the recession, as many cut back on expensive parties. Tim Wilson, the Yorkshire farmer
who owns the shop and four others in the capital, says that one of his butchers started offering one-off classes
three years ago after requests from customers. Now there are three sessions a week and half of the places are
taken up by corporate bookings.

Borut, a Slovenian butcher who jointly runs the class, starts off by teaching the group how to tell rump from
ribeye steak. After completing a three-year degree in butchery in Ljubljana, Borut came to London to follow the
profession that has been in his family for generations. During the past six months, he says, the class has become
particularly popular with companies wanting to entertain clients. “You could take them to an expensive
restaurant, but they want to do something different. We’ve even had some vegetarians come”.

Later on in the evening, the men are challenged to hold up a 45kg side of beef in the air for 20 seconds as their
colleagues and friends count down, cheer and take pictures with their BlackBerrys. The prize is a ribeye steak to
take home. Equipped with saws and knives, they then go about trying to prepare the final cut of beef.

Choose the best answer.

1. Why are they attending butchery classes?

A. To learn the art of butchery.
B. For corporate entertainment
C. To cut back on expensive parties
D. All are correct

2. According to paragraph 3, what is NOT true?

A. Rum and ribeye are types of steak.
B. Butchery classes have become popular because companies want to offer a different kind of
corporate entertainment.
C. Borut is the only teacher in the class.
D. Borut has a three-year degree in butchery in Ljubljana.

3. What is the best summary of the whole article?

A. Butchery classes are a new form of corporate entertainment, following the banking crisis.
B. Butchery classes are an ideal form of corporate entertainment for rich meat-eaters.
C. Butchery classes are only popular as corporate entertainment because this is not a good time for
expensive parties.
D. Butchery classes are a new form of corporate entertainment.

What does each of the following underlined words/ phrases refer to?
4. “…for City institutions to entertain their clients in the recession” (Paragraph 2)
5. “Borut, a Slovenian butcher who jointly runs the class, …” (Paragraph 3)

Which words/ phrases in the passage mean the following?

6. Cutting up meat: ……………………………
7. Reduce the number of:…………………………..
8. Company reservations:………………………….
Fill in the blank with one suitable word from the passage. Put it in the correct form if necessary.
9. If you are asked to do something difficult, you are ……………. to do it.
10. If you say, “five, four, three, two, one”, you ……………. from five to one.

M1 – Sample Test 3
 II. Writing:
Read the following job advertisement on www.glassdoor.com and the candidate’s profile.

Sales and Marketing Manager

Cathay Pacific - HCMC
Key Responsibilities
+ Develop strategic plans and direction of the team
+ Identify brand building opportunities through the sponsorship of events and organizations
+ Evaluate and develop sales and tactical promotions
Requirements
 Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business or equivalent major
 At least 05 years of experiences in Sales and Marketing (with 03 years in a managerial position)

Candidate’s profile
+ Khang Tran, 28-years-old
+ Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, University of Finance and Marketing
+ Marketing Intern (02 years) and Marketing Manager for StudyLink (04 years)

Write an email of job application for the position advertised. Make up information where necessary.

Subject: Sales and Marketing Manager, Khang Tran

Dear Mr. Bach Nguyen,

I am ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
As you can see …………………………………………………………………………………………………..
With a B.A degree ………………………………………………………………………………………………
Thank you ……………………………………………………………………………… .

Yours ……………… ,

Khang Tran

III. Listening
PART ONE: Listen to the conversations twice and choose the appropriate answer to each question
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 twice and complete the notes.

Good advice:
+ the thing that stands out is not to (6)  ______________________
+ in finance world, people can get bogged down in details " important to try and (7)
_________________  & see above all numbers and data " what is the key point and key
(8) __________________ to  _______________
+ applying for positions in the companies: key difference is doing lots of research on companies
applied to: not just read (9) _____________________ but research what company is moving into &
ask interesting (10) _____  at ______________

The End

M1 – Sample Test 4
M1 – Sample Test 5