english test,
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Executive MBA Î Sample test of reading and writing
I READING COMPREHENSION
I
A Read the following article and fill the gaps with a suitable word below.
Every organization has its share of employees from hell. They are ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ,
hypochondriac underperformers. They are difficult to manage and miserable to work
with. Their ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ is low and their ability to poison staff morale high. Their
existence in the organization is nearly always due to a long time of weak
management who have declined to tackle the problem.
Traditionally, there are three classic ineffective ways of ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ with the
incompetent.
The first is to ignore the problem, hoping that it will go away. Rather than confront
laziness or serious ÈÈÈÈÈÈ., the manager gives the employee less work to do.
This inevitably leads to frustration on the part of the hardworking ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ who
see the problem employee getting away with it.
The second ÈÈÈÈÈÈ. which has traditionally been the most favoured is to pass
them on. There is usually a part of any business when people believe the poor
performance can do no damage. Alternatively, poor performance can be moved to
another ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ, or to another town or even to another country.
There is a third approach which is to ÈÈÈ..ÈÈÈ the incompetent. All three of those
strategies are the result of not dealing with the problem early on.
Many managers find dealing with incompetence very difficult. The scenario that all
managers hate is as follows: show a subordinate a low mark on the ÈÈÈÈÈÈ form.
The employee first wants the behaviour defined, then wants an example of when the
behaviour occurred, then argues about how this incident occurred and how typical it
was. The result is a ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ about the past and frustration on the part of both.
absenteeism - appraisal - approach Î branch Î dealing Î lazy Î productivity
Î promote - row - staff
Executive MBA Î Sample test of reading and writing
I
B These are the articleÓs main conclusions. Decide whether the following
statements are True or False:
ÈÈÈÈ
The writer criticizes the managers for bad decisions when choosing
the staff.
ÈÈÈÈ
The first method suggested for dealing with incompetent staff sends
a negative message to those who do their job well.
ÈÈÈÈ
In both the 2nd and 3rd methods of dealing with incompetent employees
the managerÓs aim is to improve their attitude by promoting them.
ÈÈÈÈ
The employees who are given a low mark demand a detail explanation
of what they have done wrong.
II
A Match the terms below with their appropriate definitions:
1
commission
A
movement of money into and out of a business
2
franchise
B
a plan for achieving or improving something
3
insider trading
C
sth. you receive as well as your wages for doing your job
4
profit margin
D
money paid to sb. for selling goods, a % of the sales made
5
hoarding
E
licence to trade using a brand name and paying a fee for it
6
stake
F
business that sells goods to customers, rather than to shops
7
retailer
G
In GB a large board used for putting advertisements on
8
bid
H
using secret information by staff of a co. about its plans
9
blueprint
I
difference between the price a product and the cost of producing it
10
cash flow
J
money risked or invested in a business
11
perk
K
an offer to buy something, or the price offered
1
Ŝ
2
Ŝ
3
Ŝ
4
Ŝ
5
Ŝ
6
Ŝ
7
Ŝ
8
Ŝ
9
Ŝ
10
Ŝ
11
Ŝ
Executive MBA Î Sample test of reading and writing
II
B SENTENCE TRANSFORMATION
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. Example:
It was so late that nothing could be done.
too It was too late to do anything, or too late for anything to be done.
Most students can work very hard when they feel like it.
capable Most students ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ. working very hard when they feel like it.
IÓd love to go on holiday in August, but thatÓs my busiest month.
can/able I wish I ÈÈÈÈÈ go on holiday in August, but thatÓs my busiest month.
I advise you to take out travel insurance before you go away.
better YouÈÈ.ÈÈÈÈÈÈ. out travel insurance before you go away.
I have a mobile phone because my mother may need to contact me.
case I have a mobile phone ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ to contact my mother.
We couldnÓt drive because of the fog.
prevented The fog ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ..ÈÈÈÈdriving.
Driving on the left is strange to me.
used I am ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ..È.ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ.ÈÈdriving on the left.
III
Correct the mistakes in the sentences below, where necessary. If a sentence
is correct put OK next to it!
LetÓs get started. ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ.
She was made come to the meeting. ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ.
SheÓd rather die than give a speech. ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ.
ÐWhere is she now?Ñ ÐI only wish I know!Ñ ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ.
Despite applying for dozens of jobs, she is still out of work. ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ.
SheÓll arrive to Lodz at noon. ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ.
SheÓs enough old to decide for herself. ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ.
She asked me how is the business doing? ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ.
Executive MBA Î Sample test of reading and writing
IV SOCIAL ENGLISH
Match the following questions/statements and answers to make natural
dialogues. Use each response once only. Example:
1
HavenÓt we met somewhere before?
A
Not at all. Go ahead.
2
IÓm afraid IÓve forgotten the phone no.
B
ReceptionÓs as good a place as any.
3
Did you manage to get the tickets?
C
Just a fruit juice, please.
4
Would you mind if I opened the
window?
D
YouÓre welcome.
5
Where shall we meet?
E
ItÓs difficult to say at this stage.
6
IÓll pick you up at 6.30.
F
I donÓt think so.
7
What can I get you?
G
Could you make it a bit earlier?
8
Do you think weÓll get the contract?
H
IÓm afraid not. It was fully booked.
9
Thanks for your help.
I
Oh it doesnÓt matter.
1
Ŝ
, 2
Ŝ
, 3
Ŝ
, 4
Ŝ
, 5
Ŝ
, 6
Ŝ
, 7
Ŝ
, 8
Ŝ
, 9
Ŝ
.
V EXPRESS YOUR VIEW ON THE FOLLOWING:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing?
What is the current economic situation in Poland? In what ways is the government
trying to influence it?
Is honesty the best policy?
What is the purpose of a business, in your opinion? Is it just to make money?
What are some of the rewards and challenges of studying abroad?
What would be your dream job?
Executive MBA Î Sample test of reading and writing
ANSWER KEY:
IA: lazy Î productivity - dealing Î absenteeism Î staff Î approach Î branch Î promote -
appraisal Î row
IB: False Î True Î False Î True
IIA: 1D Î 2E Î 3H Î 4I Î 5G Î 6J Î 7F Î 8K Î 9B Î 10A Î 11C
IIB: are capable of Î could / were (was) able to Î had/Ód better take Î in case my mother
needs Î prevented us from Î not used to
III: OK Î made to come Î OK Î wish I knew Î OK Î arrive in Lodz Î old enough Î how the
business was
IV: 1F Î 2I Î 3H Î 4A Î 5B Î 6G Î 7C Î 8E Î 9D
V: Some sample statements. There are clearly no definite Òright answersÓ here.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing?
Outsourcing in general can be defined as passing of service provision or production to
another party. The chief reason of outsourcing is to reduce capital expenditure over a
business process.
There are several marked advantages of outsourcing:
Management gets more time to concentrate on their core competencies. This also reduces
the dependency upon internal resources and increases the flexibility to meet the changing
business conditions.
Outsourcing gives a company the ability to get access to skilled and trained man power at
lower rates. This in turn leads to an increase in productivity as well as cost savings. By
outsourcing a company saves on recruitment, training and other human resource costs it
would otherwise have to maintain internally.
Even though several other reasons can be listed up in favor of outsourcing, one must not
overlook the disadvantages of it, such as: the tendency to lose the managerial control; the
potential hidden costs of outsourcing, e.g. legal costs; a threat to the security and
confidentiality of issues of a company such as salary.
What is the purpose of a business, in your opinion? Is it just to make money?
Some people argue that the objective of business, and consequently the role of managers, is
to make as much money as possible for companiesÓ owners, and the stockholders. Other
people argue that companies have to be careful never to cheat customer, but for purely
business reasons, rather than ethical ones: disappointed customers will not buy any more of
your products in future. Still other people insist that companies have social and ethical
responsibilities to their stakeholders: customers, their staff, their business partners, their
local community, society in general, and the natural environment, that are as important as,
or more important than, their responsibility to provide a financial return to their
shareholder.
Is honesty the best policy?
I think that not always. It depends on the situation. For example, to save an innocent life,
you may need to lie or do something dishonest. The motto: The end justifies the means.
The phrase endorses a virtue not for itself but for practical reasons. Honesty is for the most
part less profitable than dishonesty .For example, is honesty the best policy when it comes
to sales?
I think that honesty is in fact the best policy when it comes to selling something, no matter
what that something might be.
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