23 Ricky Bland criticises uk employers for

A the total amount of money spent on training.

B the way they allocate budgets.

C the quality of the training provided.

24 According to Ricky Bland, why is it necessary to improve training in the UK?

A to equal the quality of training in other countries

B to satisfy the demand from workers

C to raise productivity levels

25 What point does Ricky Bland make about the fast-food industry?

A Its attitude to staff development is often misunderstood.

B It has difficulty recruiting suitable staff.

C It invests more in technology than in staff.

26 Burger House offers its staff

A training in a range of skills.

B financial incentives to take training courses.

C a specified time allowance for training.

27 Ricky Bland claims that fast-food restaurants differ from expensive ones with regard to

A the degree of job satisfaction.

B the quality of the staff.

C the opportunities for promotion.

28 Ricky Bland expects that pressure for improved training in fast-food restaurants will come from

A job applicants. B managers. C customers.

29 Ricky Bland believes that the government should

A give companies additional financial benefits for providing training.

B set up bodies to organise sector-wide training schemes.

C introduce new qualifications for low-skilled staff.

30 Ricky Bland expects that the government will soon

A give every worker a fixed amount of training.

B look at the qualifications that currently exist.

C provide grants for certain types of training.

Test 4 LISTENING 40 minutes (including 10 minutes’ transfer time)

PART ONE

Questions 1—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—4)

• Look at the notes below.

• You will hear a woman discussing production problems with her boss.

MEETING NOTES

Costs of (1) ______________________________ have increased.

Some of our (2) _________________________________________have signed exclusive contracts with suppliers.

No time to discuss problems at (3)_____________________________________________________meeting.

Product quality problems due to lack of suitably trained (4)_____________________________________________________.

Conversation Two (Questions 5—8)

• Look at the note below.

• You will hear a woman phoning her company’s legal department about employment contracts.

Phone Message for Simon Smith

Emma Payton has a query about contracts for new (5)_____________________________________________________.

She needs to know the maximum length allowed for a (6)_____________________________________________.

Also, if (7) ____________________________________is required, can she include it in the hourly rate?

Could you check a contract from a new (8)_________________________________?

Conversation Three (Questions 9—12)

• Look at the notes below.

• You will hear two colleagues discussing what to include in their company’s newsletter.

NEXT MONTH’S NEWSLETTER

What to include:

• Decision to introduce (9) _____________________________for all staff.

• Positive feedback on the new models shown at (10)___________________________________________last month.

• Board are coming to final decision on the (11)___________________________________________of G and Q.

N.B. Need to reassure staff that no (12)_____________________________________will be necessary.

PART TWO Questions 13-22

Section One

(Questions 13—17)

• You will hear five short recordings.

• For each recording, decide what opinion the speaker has about the company they work for.

• 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.

13 ________________ 14 ________________ 15 ________________ 16 ________________ 17 ________________

A The after-sales service is poor. B The company brochure should be updated. C More money should be invested in research and development. D Employment contracts should be standardised. E A member of staff should be dismissed. F Some new trainees should be recruited. G The company insurance provision is not sufficient. H Product delivery agreements need to be clearer.

Section Two

(Questions 18—22)

• You will hear another five recordings.

• For each recording, decide what the speaker is trying to do.

• 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.

18 _______________________ 19 _______________________ 20 _______________________ 21 _______________________ 22 _______________________

A to place a repeat order B to query an invoice C to accept a quotation D to confirm an appointment E to enquire about a change F to ask for a refund G to book a conference venue H to arrange a demonstration

PART THREE Questions 23—30

• You will hear an insurance salesman, Dan, talking to a friend, Helen, about the appraisal interview he has just had.

• For each question (23—30), mark one letter (A, B or C) for the correct answer.

• After you have listened once, replay the recording.