Grammar exercises

■ Ex. 1. Study the tense patterns below. Answer the questions based on the information of Units I—III.

1. — How long has Ben Rosselli had lung cancer?

— He has had lung cancer for two years.

since 1966.

1. How long has Ben Rosselli been President of FMA?

2. How long have Roscoe Heyward and Alex Vandervoort been rivals?

3. How long has Juanita Nunez been in trouble?

4. How long has Edwina D'Orsey been head of the main downtown branch?

5. How long has Alex Vandervoort had an overall responsibility for the credit card division?

6. How long have the Rossellis run FMA?

2. — Has Nolan Wainwright always been head of Security at FMA?

• No, he hasn't. He's been head of Security for the last five years. Before that he was police chief of a small upstate town.

1. Has Miles Eastin always been a thief?

2. Has FMA always operated the Keycharge System?

3. Has Harold Austin always been on the board of FMA?

4. Has Roscoe Hevward always disapproved of Edwina D'Orsey?

5. Have the odds always been against Alex Vandervoort?

6. Have counterfeit credit cards always been made from authentic sheets?

3. — Who is FMA's President?

• Ben Rosselli is.

• How long has he been President of FMA?

• Ben Rosselli has been President for thirty years.

• Who was the last President of FMA?

• Ben Rossell's father was.

• How long was he President?

• He was President for thirty five years.

Ask similar questions about Alex Vandervoort, Edwina D'Orsey, Nolan Wainwright, Roscoe Heyward, Burnside.

ACTIVITY

After the surprise audit at the main downtown branch the two FBI agents present in Edwina D'Orsey's office interviewed

1. Edwina d'Orsey about Miles Eastin's work record.

2. Mr. Burnside about the particulars of the audit procedure.

Enact the imaginary interviews making use of all the Present Perfect Tense patterns.

■ Ex. 2. Complete this newspaper article by putting each verb in brackets into the correct tense.

ERA'S END?

Whispers around downtown predict problems for FMA. Ben Rosselli, FMA President, whom thousands of fellow citizens (entrust) money for safekeeping for several decades is rumoured to be seriously ill. Ben Rosselli (run) FMA, a bank among the nation’s top twenty, since 1930. FMA (be) the last major American bank to be identified with a single entrepreneur. The first Rosselli — Giovanni — (found) the bank in the basement of a grocery store a century ago. FMA (reproduce) his patrician head on pass-books and travellers cheques as a symbol of probity. The rumour (affect) the price of FMA shares listed on the NYSE. It (fall) five and a half points since the news (become) known. Will the bank associated with the name which for generations (be) synonymous with stability go?

ACTIVITY

Write a short paragraph about a financial institution summarizing its history so far.

Section с

Telephoning

Incoming calls (when you receive the call)

Identifying yourself when you pick up the phone

Tom Brown.

Tom Brown speaking.

Could 1 speak to Tom Brown? Yes, speaking.

Helping the caller

Can 1 help you?

Who would you like to speak to?

Asking for the caller's identification

Who is speaking, please?

Who is calling, please?

Who would you like to speak to ..., please? And your name is?

Asking for further information

What's it in connection with, please?

Explaining that someone is not available

I am afraid that ... is not available this morning (at the moment).

I am afraid that ... is out (in a meeting, with a client at the moment).

I am sorry, but ... is on holiday (not in the office this week).

I am sorry, but ... is on the other line at present.

I am afraid his/her line is engaged. Do you want to hold?

Alternative actions

Could you ring (call, phone) back later?

Would you like to leave a message?

Can I take a message?

Confirming information

Yes, that's right, correct. Let me just repeat that...

Confirming arrangements

Yes, that suits me fine.

Yes, that would be fine.

Yes, that's fine

Declining arrangements and suggesting alternatives

I am afraid I won't be in the office on ...

I am sorry, but (day or time) doesn't suit me at all.

I am afraid I can't manage (make) ... (day, time)

Can you manage ... (day) at ... (time)?

I could make it on ... (day) at ... (time)

How about ... (day or time)?

Asking for repetition

Could I have your name again, please?

Could you repeat that?

I'm sorry I didn't catch that.

Asking for spelling

Could you spell that, please?

Showing understanding

I see.

I've got that.

Right.

Correcting

No, not Seanew Seaview.

That's not right, it's...

Acknowledging

That's right.

Responding to thanks

Not at all.

Don't mention it.

You are welcome.

Ending the call

I look forward to seeing (hearing from you, meeting you).

See you soon. (Speak to you soon.) (inform.)

Thanks for calling.

Good-bye.

■ Ex. 1. Below are three jumbled telephone conversations. Try to arrange the sentences in the right order.

1. — Nixon. I've got that.

• Could I speak to Mr. Peterson, please?

• I am afraid he is not available at the moment. Could you ring back later?

• Hello, this is Richard Nixon from Boston.

• Who's speaking, please?

• Could I have your name again, please?

2. — Good morning, Mr. Wilson. I am Tom Alster of Union Bank in Philadelphia. I'd like to arrange a 15-minute appointment at your convenience.

• Yes, speaking.

• Yes, that would be fine.

• Can I help you?

• Can you manage Monday at two o'clock?

• Could I speak to Mr. Wilson, please?

3. — Well, I'd like some information about prices.

• Hello, United Electronics.

• No, thank you. I'll call back later.

• What is it in connection with?

• It's Mr. Ford of M&A. Can I speak to Mr. Ross, please?

• I am sorry, he is on the other line at the moment. Can I take a message?

■ Ex. 2. Choose the most appropriate response:

1. I am afraid his line is engaged. Do you want to hold?

1. Yes, that would be fine.

2. I'll phone back later.

3. Not at all.

2. Can you manage Friday at eleven o'clock?

1. That's right.

2. 1 see.

3. Yes, that's fine.

3. So that's fixed — Tuesday at 4 o'clock.

1. Thank's for calling.

2. Right, I look forward to meeting you.

3. 1 am sorry but the day doesn't suit me at all.

4. Let me just repeat that. 123-425-631.

1. Yes, that's right.

2. Yes, that's fine.

3. Not at all.

5. Who is calling, please?

1. Mr. Black speaking.

2. This is Mr. Black.

3. Mr. Black here.

■ Ex. 3. Complete these short dialogues:

1. A: My name is Thatcher.

B: ...

A: Yes, its T,H,A,T,C,H,E,R. The address is 14 Green Lane.

B: ... . I am afraid the line is rather bad.

A: Yes, of course. 14 Green Lane. My phone number is 8789-8156. B: 8789-8166.

A: ... . 8789-8156.

B: ... . 8789-8156.

2. A: I'd like an appointment with Mr. Smith.

B: ...?

A: I'd like to talk about extending my credit.

B: Just a minute. I'll get his diary ...?

A: Monday at 2 o'clock. ... .

B: ... then.

A: Thursday at 11 o'clock. ... . Well, thank you very much for your help.

B: You are welcome.

■ Ex. 4. Work in pairs and build up short conversations following the instructions.

First call

Speaker 1	Give office/department greeting
Speaker 2	Identify yourself
	Ask to speak to someone
Speaker 1	Person on the other line
	Take message/return call
Speaker 2	Ask to return call

Return call

Speaker 1	Give office/department greeting
Speaker 2	Identify yourself
	Request the reason for the call
Speaker 1	Explain the reason for the call
	Make an appointment
Speaker 2	Confirm the appointment/suggest alternatives
Speaker 1	End the call
Speaker 2	End the call

Prompts

Nolan Wainwright phones Alex Vandervoort to discuss fraudulent credit cards

Roscoe Heyward phones Harold Austin to discuss his chances Alex Vandervoort phones Harold Austin to discuss advertizing proofs

Unit VI

Topic: Competition

Grammar: Structure “there is / are”

Communication Skills: Meetings (Part I)

SECTION A

VOCABULARY LIST

		competition — конкуренция Syn. rivalry, contest
		remote — отдаленный
		to interfere with — вмешиваться
		incentive — стимул
		to lower — понижать Syn. to drive down
		pure competition — чистая конкуренция
		monopoly — монополия
		oligopoly — олигополия
		wasted effort — напрасно потраченные усилия
		to make investments in — вкладывать средства
		to result in smth — иметь результатом что-либо
		direct competition — прямая конкуренция
		indirect competition — косвенная конкуренция
		to substitute — заменять
		available — имеющийся в наличии
		internal — внутренний
		to encourage — поощрять
		to gain benefits — зд. получать премии
		to be restricted — быть ограниченным Syn. to be limited
		to prevent — предотвратить
		to outdo — перегнать
		to reduce — сокращать
		economic supremacy — экономическое господство
		viable — жизнеспособный
		to be sanctioned by the state — быть разрешенным государством

NOTES:

1. Competition occurs naturally between living organisms —конкуренция естественно существует между живыми организмами...

2. recognition — зд. признание

3. the pillar of capitalism — зд. основы капиталистической системы

4. ...only a fraction become successful — зд. лишь малая часть достигает успеха

5. internal "brand versus brand" rivalry — внутренняя конкуренция между брэндами

■ Ex.  1. Choose a suitable title for the passage from the list below. Support your point of view.

1. Major theories of competition.

2. How to survive in the modern world.

3. Competition in the market economy.

Competition is the rivalry of two or more parties over something. Competition occurs naturally between living organisms which coexist in an environment with limited resources. For example, animals compete over water supplies, food, and mates. In addition, humans compete for recognition, wealth and entertainment.

Competition can be remote, as in a free throw contest, or antagonistic, as in a standard basketball game. These contests are similar, but in the first one players are isolated from each other, while in the second one they are able to interfere with the performance of their competitors.

Competition gives incentives for self improvement. If two watchmakers are competing for business, they will lower their prices and improve their products to increase their sales. If birds compete for a limited water supply during a drought, the more suited birds will survive to reproduce and improve the population.

Competition is another important force of the market. On the one hand, it protects the customers — they have the right of choice and they benefit from the fact that competition keeps prices close to costs; on the other hand, it makes producers and suppliers of scarce resources utilize them economically, using most sophisticated technologies.

All businesses produce goods and services and seek profits. They all complete with other for inputs of labour, capital and natural resources, including foreign partners.

Seen as the pillar of capitalism in that it may stimulate innovation, encourage efficiency, or drive down prices, competition is touted as the foundation upon which capitalism is justified. According to microeconomic theory, no system of resource allocation is more efficient than pure competition. Competition, according to the theory, causes commercial firms to develop new products, services, and technologies. This gives consumers greater selection and better products. The greater selection typically causes lower prices for the products compared to what the price would be if there was no competition (monopoly) or little competition (oligopoly).

However, competition may also lead to wasted (duplicated) effort and to increased costs (and prices) in some circumstances. For example, the intense competition for the small number of top jobs in music and movie acting leads many aspiring musicians and actors to make substantial investments in training that are not recouped, because only a fraction become successful. Similarly, the psychological effects of competition may result in harm to those involved.

Three levels of economic competition have been classified:

1. The most narrow form is direct competition (also called category competition or brand competition), where products that perform the same function compete against each other. For example, a brand of pick-up trucks competes with several different brands of pick-up trucks. Sometimes two companies are rivals and one adds new products to their line so that each company distributes the same thing and they compete.

2. The next form is substitute or indirect competition, where products that are close substitutes for one another compete. For example, butter competes with margarine, mayonnaise, and other various sauces and spreads.

3. The broadest form of competition is typically called budget competition. Included in this category is anything that the consumer might want to spend their available money on. For example, a family that has $20,000 available may choose to spend it on many different items, which can all be seen as competing with each other for the family's available money.

Competition does not necessarily have to be between companies. For example, business writers sometimes refer to "internal competition". This is competition within companies. The idea was first introduced by Alfred Sloan at General Motors in the 1920s. Sloan deliberately created areas of overlap between divisions of the company so that each division would be competing with the other divisions. For example, the Chevy division would compete with the Pontiac division for some market segments. Also, in 1931, Procter & Gamble initiated a deliberate system of internal brand versus brand rivalry. The company was organized around different brands, with each brand allocated resources, including a dedicated group of employees willing to champion the brand. Each brand manager was given responsibility for the success or failure of the brand and was compensated accordingly. This form of competition thus pitted a brand against another brand. Finally, most businesses also encourage competition between individual employees. An example of this is a contest between sales representatives. The sales representative with the highest sales (or the best improvement in sales) over a period of time would gain benefits from the employer.

It should also be noted that business and economical competition in most countries is often limited or restricted. Competition often is subject to legal restrictions. For example, competition may be legally prohibited as in the case with a government monopoly or a government-granted monopoly. Tariffs, subsidies or other protectionist measures may also be instituted by government in order to prevent or reduce competition. Depending on the respective economic policy, the pure competition is to a greater or lesser extent regulated by competition policy and competition law.

Competition between countries is quite subtle to detect, but is quite evident in the World economy, where countries like the US, Japan, the European Union and the East Asian Tigers each try to outdo the other in the quest for economic supremacy in the global market.

A monopoly (from Greek mono, alone or single + polo, to sell) is a persistent situation where there is only one provider of a product or service in a particular market. Monopolies are characterized by a lack of economic competition for the good or service that they provide and a lack of viable substitute goods. A government-granted monopoly or legal monopoly is sanctioned by the state, often to provide an incentive to invest in a risky venture. The government may also reserve the venture for itself, thus forming a government monopoly.

■ Ex.  2. Answer the following comprehension questions, based on the text.

1. What is implied on the notion “competition “ generally?

2. What role does competition play in the market?

3. Expand on advantages of competition for firms and consumers.

4. Are there any disadvantages of competition for those involved?

5. How has economic competition been classified? Characterize each form.

6. Give examples of internal competition.

7. What are the cases when competition may be legally restricted or prohibited? How is the pure competition repulated?

8. What does the notion “monopoly” imply?

■ Ex. 3. Say whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE according to the text.

1. Competition naturally occurs only between humans competing for recognition, wealth and entertainment.

2. One of the undoubted advantages of competition is that it gives incentives for self improvement.

3. Competition is always favourable both for producers and consumers.

4. Pure competition is the most efficient system of resource allocation, according to microeconomic theory.

5. However, competition may have some negative effects on those involved in some circumstances.

6. Indirect competition implies rivalry between the products that are close substitutes for one another.

7. In the market economy competition has to be only between companies.

8. The first idea of “internal competition” was introduced in the USA in the 1920s.

9. Competition between individual employees is not characteristic for modern companies.

10. Governments have various instruments to prevent or reduce competition if necessary.

11. Competition policy and competition law were designed to ensure the success of this process in the market economy.

■ Ex. 4. Put the following sentences in the right order.

A They are also subject to a business cycle.

B The managers created the conditions for the competition between the divisions of the company.

C Each brand manager was responsible for the success or failure of the brand.

D Competition doesn’t necessarily have to be between companies.

E The idea was first introduces at General Motors in the 1920s.

F Later, another company initiated a deliberate system of internal brand versus brand rivalry.

G For example, business writers describe “internal competition”.

H This form of competition thus pitted a brand against another brand.

■ Ex. 5. Be ready to render the passage in the form of a presentation. Structure your presentation according to the classical model.