giving them a strong market position, and they now sell everything from make-up to computers. But today Simpson's announced that they are to consolidate their three home improvement chains into one, under the Fresca name.
Woman: Now for the figures... [Pause]
Now listen to the recording again. [Pause]
That is the end of Fart Three. You now have ten minutes to transfer your answers to your Answer Sheet. [Pause]
Note: Teacher, stop the recording here and time ten minutes. Remind students when there is one minute remaining.
That is the end of the test
TEST 3
Part One. Questions 1 to 12.
You will hear three telephone conversations or messages.
Write one or two words or a number in the numbered spaces on the notes or forms below. After you have listened once, replay each recording.
Conversation One. Questions 1 to 4. Look at the form below.
You will hear a conversation between two salespeople at B-A-S, a software company. You have IS seconds to read through the form. [Pause]
Now listen, and fill in the spaces. [Pause]
Man: Hi, Janet. This is Alan. I've just had an interesting conversation with a man from
Electrolin. It should really be followed up with a visit or something - but I'm on holiday from tomorrow, so could you do it for me?
Woman: Sure. Is he interested in the accountancy package? Man: I wish he were! For the time being, he's only asking about a customer database.
Something to keep a record of contacts and action taken.
Woman: OK. Who's the contact person? Is it the sales manager? Man: Not this time. It's the new communications director, Steve McCormack.
Woman: OK. The first thing they'll want to do is look at it, so I'll give him a ring and suggest
he comes here for a product demonstration.
Man: That's a good idea. Can you arrange it before I get back?
Woman: I should think so. How urgent is it? Should I contact him immediately? Man: wouldn't say it's top priority. More like medium, I'd say. Get in touch with him when
you've got time. Anyway, uh, thanks. Bye for now. I'll talk to you again soon.
[Pause]
Now listen to the recording again. [Pause]
Conversation Two. Questions 5 to 8. Look at the notes below.
You will hear a sales representative phoning a colleague at Head Office. You have 15 seconds to read through the notes. [Pause]
Now listen, and fill in the spaces.
Man: Whiteway Cycles. Phil Moore, Sales. Woman: Hello, Phil. It's me - Sandra. Man: Hi, Sandra. What can I do for you?
Woman: We've just got the sales literature for the Paris trade show next week, and there's some
problems. Can you get it sorted out for me?
Man: Go ahead.
Woman: First of all, we need some more catalogues for racing wear. There's a lot of interest in
it, especially the shorts and shoes.
Man OK. Er, thirty enough?
Woman: That should do it. And you know the little pull-out leaflet for the new children's cycles?
Well, there's a mistake on the third page. The specifications for the wheels are wrong.
Man: Oh, that's bad. We'll change that and get you new copies by the weekend. Anything
else?
Woman: Erm... Yes, the touring cycles - the lightweight ones - I can't find any price lists for
them. Please ask if they've been sent out.
Man: OK. And are you all right for order forms?
Woman: No! Thanks for reminding me. We're short of forms for spare parts. Could you send
us some more?
Man: Right, got that.
Woman: Ah, that's it then. Thanks, Phil. [Pause]
Now listen to the recording again. [Pause]
Conversation Three. Questions 9 to 12. Look at the form below.
You will hear a customer telephoning a company about a delivery. You have 15 seconds to read through the form. [Pause]
Now listen, and fill in the spaces.
Woman: Hello, A-P-T Office Equipment. Man: Hello. This is John Raymond, from Planet Design Shops. I'm calling about our order
for a security camera. It's being dispatched tomorrow and the driver will need delivery instructions.
Woman: OK... Man: Address first - the order confirmation gave the retail park as the delivery address, but
your invoice has our central branch.
Woman: Oh... Man: That's not where we want it to be delivered. The confirmation was right.
Woman: OK. Man: Now, parking... the spaces opposite the shop are for disabled drivers only,
so your driver should use the loading area while he sets up the equipment.
Woman: I've got that. Man: We'll have payment ready for you.
Woman: That's fine. Thanks. I'll make out a receipt for the driver to give you when he makes
the delivery. Will you be paying by cheque?
Man: Yes.
Woman: And you have something for the driver to collect, I understand. Man: Yes. We've come to the end of the rental period on our photocopier - we've bought a new model, so the old one's to be returned.
Woman: Right, the driver will call you tomorrow with a definite time... [Pause]
Now listen to the recording again. [Pause]
That is the end of Fart One. You now have 20 seconds to check your answers. [Pause]
Part Two. Questions 13 to 22.
Section One.
Questions 13 to 17.
You will hear five short recordings.
For each recording, decide what action the speaker is proposing. Write one letter (A—H) next to the number of the recording. Do not use any letter more than once.
After you have listened once, replay the recordings. You have 15 seconds to read the list A-H. [Pause]
Now listen, and decide what action each speaker is proposing. [Pause]
Thirteen Man: We've looked at various measures and we'll be making recommendations to senior
management next week. We think the company should consider introducing an evening shift to maintain seventy per cent capacity on all the machines. We're also aware of the hold-ups on the packaging line, and we'd like to bring in an additional machine and split the line in two. That'll speed things up. We did consider bonus schemes for certain categories of employee, but decided that this wouldn't have sufficient impact.
[Pause]
Fourteen
Woman: When we first acquired the factory premises, the rent was well within our means. But
because that area of the city has developed more quickly than others, it's now a prime site and the cost of retaining it has risen accordingly. In fact, we would make considerable savings by relocating to the industrial estate on the other side of town, which would improve product distribution, anyway. A second suggestion is to vacate the top floor of the building - we do have fewer staff now.
[Pause]
Fifteen Man: As you know, we adopted various measures three years ago with the aim of boosting
sales. We managed to increase output and cut costs by introducing new machines. We also cut our profit margins still further. But even though we were able to lower prices as a result, I'm afraid we still didn't meet targets. The demand for this particular commodity just isn't there any more, so we should stop production as soon as current contracts expire.
[Pause]
Sixteen
Woman: I think your analysis of the situation is correct. The product is already doing very well,
but demand hasn't peaked yet, by any means. And if we want to take full advantage of a boom, we've got to step up our promotion and have mechanisms in place to increase manufacturing capacity if necessary. And that means we'll need additional funding before long So, let's start approaching people who've expressed an interest in us in the past.
[Pause]
Seventeen Man: Two or three years ago there were ten, or even twenty, applicants for every job we
advertised, but things have changed. Unemployment in general is right down and everyone's competing for workers now, especially skilled labour. If we want to get good people, and retain them, we'll have to offer a better package. I'm not suggesting we put wages up yet; I think we ought to try other things first, like one-off welcome payments, relocation allowances, and, possibly, loyalty bonuses.
[Pause]
Now listen to the recordings again. [Pause]
Section Two.
Questions 18 to 22.
You will hear another five recordings.
For each recording, decide what the speaker's reason was for accepting their present job. Write one letter (A—H) next to the number of the recording. Do not use any letter more than once.
After you have listened once, replay the recordings. You have 15 seconds to read the list A-H. [Pause]
Now listen, and decide what each speaker's reason was for accepting their present job. [Pause]
Eighteen Man: I was actually quite happy where I was, but when the opportunity came along to work
for TindalPs, I thought, I can't say no, can I? Of course, the extra I'm earning now goes on travel to work, but I still reckon it was a good move, because if I decide to change jobs in the future, I'll only have to say I work for them, and any other company in this field will be glad to take me on.
[pause]
Nineteen
Woman: I was looking to move into a managerial role, and applied for jobs all over the country,
as I was prepared to live anywhere. To my surprise I got two offers, both from pretty well-known companies. There was very little to choose between them, but my