Professional Documents
Culture Documents
BULATS
BULATS
Version: EN000A
Standard Test
Question Paper
UCLES 2010
BLANK PAGE
Candidate Information
Candidate Name:
Family name:
First name:
Candidate Number:
Examination Centre:
Date:
Test
About 110 minutes
Listening
About 50 minutes.
As you listen, write your answers in this Question Paper.
When the listening test finishes, you have 5 minutes to copy your
answers onto your Answer Sheet.
Reading and
Language Knowledge
60 minutes.
Write your answers on your Answer Sheet.
LISTENING
PART ONE
Questions 1 10
B
11
12
11
2
10
9
4
7
10
3
12
4
7
C
11
12
1
2
10
9
4
7
60
95
120
2
000
000
0
1
4
Sales per quarter
2
000
1
0
1
C
X
You are here
10
February
April
July
10
the size
the colour
the material
PART TWO
Questions 11 22
Conversation One
Questions 11 14
Conversation Two
Questions 15 18
Workshops on (15) .
Meeting scheduled for Friday at (16) .
Decide if (17) . staff also need to attend the workshops.
Jane needs the (18) . of all participants by Friday.
Conversation Three
Questions 19 22
To do:
PART THREE
Section One
Questions 23 27
You will hear five speakers talking about the findings of surveys into shopping patterns.
As you listen, decide which survey-finding each speaker refers to.
Choose your answer from the list A I, and write the correct letter in the space provided.
You will hear the five pieces once only.
Example: I
A
B
C
23
Person 1
24
Person 2
25
Person 3
26
Person 4
27
Person 5
D
E
H
I
Section Two
Questions 28 32
You will hear five business owners talking about developing a new product and bringing it
to market.
As you listen, decide what advice each business owner gives about developing a new
product and bringing it to market.
Choose your answer from the list A I, and write the correct letter in the space provided.
You will hear the five pieces once only.
Example: I
28
Person 1
29
Person 2
30
Person 3
31
Person 4
32
Person 5
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
10
PART FOUR
Section One
Questions 33 38
33
You will hear a conversation between a university student, Sally, and a company
representative, Dan, at a recruitment seminar. Sally is interested in working for Dans
company, Mansons plc.
For questions 33 38, circle one letter A, B or C for the correct answer.
You will hear the conversation twice.
Sally finishes her studies
A
B
C
34
35
management.
sales techniques.
market development.
38
academically clever.
dynamic personalities.
keen to learn.
37
marketing.
retailing.
finance.
36
in two weeks.
in a month.
in six weeks.
3 months.
6 months.
12 months.
filled in now.
sent to Head Office.
taken by Dan to Head Office.
11
Section Two
Questions 39 44
39
You will hear Ed Mason, a business consultant, giving a talk about succession planning,
which is planning to appoint a successor for the retiring leader of a company.
For questions 39 44, circle one letter A, B or C for the correct answer.
You will hear the talk twice.
According to Ed Mason, why may succession planning be a problem for business
owners?
A
B
C
40
41
44
Staff might leave the company if they do not know what is happening.
There is danger of a take-over bid if appointing a successor is delayed.
The company might be run inefficiently if a leader is appointed too
quickly.
What does Ed Mason say about getting support for succession planning?
A
B
C
43
42
12
Section Three
Questions 45 50
45
You will hear an interview with Ian Cole, a business consultant, about customer surveys.
For questions 45 50, circle one letter A, B or C for the correct answer.
You will hear the interview twice.
Ian Cole says the problem in trying to measure customer satisfaction is that
A
B
C
46
47
50
According to Cole, customers should take into account whether the company
A
B
C
49
48
They are too ready to accept what they are told about survey results.
They are not prepared to handle negative feedback themselves.
They do not understand the importance of surveys as sources of
information.
What does Cole say about the internet and customer research?
A
B
C
That is the end of the Listening Section. You now have 5 minutes to copy
your answers onto your Answer Sheet.
13
Example:
STORE CONTENTS IN A COOL PLACE OUT OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT
A
B
C
51
FairAir.com
Customers holding an e-ticket without any restrictions are able to check in over the
internet. The service is available from 24 hours up to 30 minutes before the standard
check-in time at the terminal, and includes connecting flights and return day trips.
A
B
C
If you have a connecting flight, allow at least 24 hours before trying to check in.
There are certain restrictions on tickets which have been booked over the
internet.
The deadline for checking in over the internet is earlier than in person at the
airport.
14
52
From: businesshotels.com
To:
[email protected]
Dear customer
In order to provide you with the highest level of service, it is important for us
to understand your recent experience of staying with us. We would like to
collect your feedback in a short survey which you can access by clicking
here. We appreciate your business and strive constantly to improve.
A
B
C
53
Would staff please note that all applications for holidays must be made at
least 30 days in advance. No more than 12 staff may be away in the same
period, and no holiday may exceed 10 working days.
A
B
C
54
Super Express Service letters and parcels are guaranteed for delivery by 9am
the following day, if posted no later than 3.30pm, and are automatically
insured up to 100 per item.
A
B
C
15
55
Group Revenue
domestic roofing
industrial roofing
car-parks
Industrial roofing accounts for about a third of revenue while domestic roofing
and car-parks are the main source of revenue.
Car-parks is the smallest source of revenue, slightly less than industrial
roofing and half of domestic roofing.
Domestic roofing generates half the groups revenue, with industrial roofing
and car-parks equally contributing the remainder.
56
! MESSAGE
To: Pete
Jody Kars rang from Betterwicks. Theyve just appointed a
new marketing manager, and want to involve him in the
project but this would mean delaying our advertised launch
date. Please call to fix a meeting to discuss the implications.
What does Jody Kars want to do?
A
B
C
57
WLW, one of the countrys biggest house-builders, has appointed
Summermans Bank to advise on a potential $1bn flotation of its recovering
North American business.
A
B
C
PART ONE
Section Two
Questions 58 63
58
59
60
origin
root
foundation
basis
63
short
low
small
little
The survey will be used as the .. for deciding whether or not to re-brand.
A
B
C
D
62
includes
consists
involves
contains
61
across
over
per
via
during
after
since
already
Investors remain .. about the new company formed by the recent merger.
A
B
C
D
decisively
deciding
undecided
decision
17
PART ONE
Section Three
Questions 64 69
Read the article below about starting an internet business and answer questions 64 69
on the opposite page.
For questions 64 69, mark one letter A, B or C on your Answer Sheet.
If you've ever had an idea for a product or service that you think could net you a
fortune, you may well have considered setting up an internet business with the aim of
sitting back and watching the money roll in. The internet has certainly revolutionised
the way we live our lives, and offers a place where individuals can compete with global
organisations. But just how easy is it to get started?
The starting point for any new business is to create a business plan. Jeffrey Macklin
from FDU, a company that provides part-time finance directors to start-up
businesses, says that the objective of the business plan is to tell a simple yet
compelling story that leaves the reader wanting to meet the management team and
find out more about the proposition. 'It should be as succinct and accessible as
possible, and around 20 pages at most,' he says.
There are many different financing options available to aspiring entrepreneurs. For
sensible businesses, raising funds will involve several sources. Bank finance in the
form of a loan or overdraft is usually cheaper than selling shares or equity in your
business, but equity investment is ideal for those businesses that do not want to
increase their level of borrowing, or are unable to provide the necessary security.
If you're considering equity investment, two options are so-called 'business angels'
and venture capitalists. Business angels are wealthy individuals who look to invest in
growing companies wanting to raise between 10,000 and 250,000. They will also
offer contacts and advice. Venture capitalists will only invest usually a minimum of
2m if they can see a significant return in three years, say.
Iine 25
One important area where internet businesses often fail is marketing, according to
Lisa Richards, a partner at accountants Smith Cooper. 'Too many people fall into the
trap of developing their product or service and then expecting orders to come
racing in,' she says. 'But with no shop window through which to promote yourself,
how are potential customers going to find you?' However, if properly worked out,
while starting up an internet business can be one of the toughest things you ever do,
it can also be the most rewarding.
18
64
65
66
67
68
69
19
PART ONE
Section Four
Questions 70 74
For questions 70 74, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each
space.
Write only one word for each space on your Answer Sheet.
Example:
He is very interested (0) .. computers.
Answer:
in
20
21
PART TWO
Section One
Questions 75 81
Read the sentences below and the extracts from internal reports on the next page.
Which report does each sentence 75 81 refer to?
For each sentence, mark one letter A, B, C or D on your Answer Sheet.
Example:
0
Answer:
0
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
22
A
We have to take some tough decisions. The budget for advertising must be
considerably reduced, at least until we see a significant increase in sales. I expect
the same is true for IT support, but we should examine that closely before deciding.
Meanwhile, we are going to need more staff and an exact number needs to be
proposed.
B
A two-handed approach is required to develop successfully. Firstly, some
rationalising: we are buying in goods and services from too many sources, making
it hard to track value for money and taking up too much admin staff time.
Secondly, our computers are old and slow, and we need to prepare a detailed
budget proposal for buying new ones.
C
There is a great deal to be done if we are to maintain our market position. We
simply do not have the right strategies in place at present. This means we do not
know what budgets to set at what levels. The first step is to start the process of
recruiting someone with strong IT skills to replace our development manager, and
then we must look into new suppliers.
D
At this point in our development, we need to become a lot more ambitious. The IT
business is fast-moving, and we need to reflect that with much higher targets for
the sales team. If we introduce better incentives, then I think this will help us to
attract the sort of job applicants we want. We will also need to have a more
focused interview procedure.
23
PART TWO
Section Two
Questions 82 86
Example:
He wants you to (0) .. him the reason.
0
A speak
B tell
Answer:
0
C say
A
D talk
82 A overturn
B overtake
C overgrow
D overcome
83 A swap
B tide
C shift
D exchange
84 A aim
B focus
C target
D point
85 A occurring
B emerging
C happening
D becoming
86 A expect
B rely
C suppose
D presume
24
PART TWO
Section Three
Questions 87 91
For questions 87 91, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each
space.
Write only one word for each space on your Answer Sheet.
Example:
He is very interested (0) .. computers.
Answer:
in
25
PART TWO
Section Four
Questions 92 97
92
Troubled Covar plc is .. off hostile bids from more than one direction.
A
B
C
D
93
94
struggling
attacking
fighting
resisting
benefited
helped
supported
aided
opposite
contrast
difference
conflict
26
95
We were surprised to see that our main competitor has .. their whole
production site up for sale this week.
A
B
C
D
96
97
done
made
put
had
margin
saving
refund
gap
The best way to motivate staff is .. them that their hard work is noticed and
appreciated.
A
B
C
D
seeing
displaying
showing
demonstrating
27
PART TWO
Section Five
Questions 98 103
Read the article about responding to crises and answer questions 98 103 on the
opposite page.
For questions 98 103, mark one letter A, B, C or D on your Answer Sheet.
Companies are never prepared for crises when they strike. Their onset cannot be predicted: and the means of
dealing with them, in terms of time and magnitude, can be decided only by those in a position of responsibility.
These persons must be prepared to identify and implement the appropriate countermeasures rapidly and
rigorously. At present we know as much, more or less, about the inception and consequences of economic crises
as we do about the origins and effects of earthquakes. Generally, even though there is ample early-warning
including reports and prognoses from various institutes, preliminary indicators of recession, or even depression,
are almost never taken seriously.
Furthermore, there is an all too widespread tendency to gloat over the damage suffered by others rather than
considering that, sooner or later, the problems will have an impact closer to home. At this juncture, market
slumps may be referred to as dips that will even out in a few weeks or months, at the latest.
At any rate, suddenly it's there on the doorstep: the crisis. The accompanying systems include disquiet within
the company, far more attention than usual from the news media, a deluge of indiscretions, rumours bandied
about in every direction, and a loss of confidence on the part of shareholders and bankers. The company's
executives are compelled, with increasing frequency, to explain their actions while, at the same time, steadily
losing their grip on the situation. At this point the first resignations come in from staff anxious to abandon ship
before even more violent storms blow up. Polarization between management and works council becomes
evident, and culminates in the stereotype question as to how the company can be got out of the exigency.
If management has not already come up with a package of countermeasures, the crisis swiftly becomes sharply
critical throughout the firm at the expense of staff motivation and productivity on the one hand, and public
regard on the other. This is more or less the way recession develops as an emergency case, in a company and in
the economy as a whole. Differences in how events unfold come only with the diagnosis and treatment of a
crisis once it has arisen, and in preventative measures for the future. The nature of the reaction has very much to
do with the personalities involved.
Proven means like those extolled in textbooks at just such times are, in my view, few and far between. They
are usually confined to the sort of approaches that should be part of any competent executive's repertoire
anyway. Whether a company communicates effectively with its personnel and public in the midst of a recession
is more or less a matter of coincidence. In other words: are the right people in the right place at the right time?
The person responsible for a company's communications sits at the same table where policy is determined. He
or she answers directly to the chief executive officer because communications are, or should be, an essential
component of overall corporate policy. He or she advises senior management and is, on the basis of his or her
experience, the key figure in deciding matters of internal or external communications. If this is actually the case,
then the preconditions of communicating through a crisis have been established. Communications can then
contribute to smoothing the way out of the emergency, while helping to make the company's restructuring
measures intelligible both internally and externally.
28
line 10
98
99
100
B
C
D
103
102
101
29
PART TWO
Section Six
Questions 104 110
A colleague has given you this announcement for the companys intranet to check.
In some lines there is one wrong word.
If there is a wrong word, write the correct word on your Answer Sheet.
If there is no mistake, put a tick (") on your Answer Sheet.
Example:
Please note that there has been a increase in
an
00
"
105
in the acquisition of the Northern Cross building on Main Street, means that
106
107
108
109
this offices are more conveniently situated for the majority of our clients.
110
We will provide more detailed information about the move in due course.
In the meantime, please contact your line manager with any queries.
Trse Horton, Chief Executive
30
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