II. Conversation practice

2.1. DESCRIBE the situation that appears to be common in business these days.

Use the following pictures. Refer to 4.1 if you need additional information.

2. THINK of short illustrative stories for some of the most memorable phrases from Exercise 1.2.

2. MAKE DIALOGUES based on the contents of Exercise 1.4.

2. STUDY the following English sayings. Do you think that they have something in connection with the unit 9-11 texts? PROVE that they really do.

• Success is a ladder that cannot be climbed with your hands in your pockets.

• Nothing succeeds like success.

• Charity begins at home.

5. TELL a story with a clear-cut conclusion. One of the above saying should serve these aims.

5. REVISE the information you've got about variuos concepts of business while working at Units 1-11. Study the terms below and be prepared to explain their meaning to someone else.

• company incorporation • production costs

• quality control • sales figures

• benefit • advertising strategy

• publicity • cost-efficiency

• production base • competition

• net efficiency • patent office

• management • financial management

• quality management • know-how

• business plan • human relations

• resume • cover letter

• productivity • distributor

• face value • marketing

• market research • market share

• non-profit organisation • mass media

• credit card • target audience

• income • expertise

• advertising spot • brand

2.7. Deliver a lecture on the topic "What a young business person should know" to an audience of aspiring young people. Use some of the terms from Exercise 2.6 freely.

III. Writing skills development.

3.1. WRITE your lecture (2.7) down in no more than 500 words.

IV. Additional reading

4.1. READ AND ANSWER THE QUESTION:

Why is it necessary to conduct background activity checks?

Соореrатion: diligence is vital

In the current economic confusion, fraud appears to be common, so there is growing need for CIS companies to conduct commercial background checks. Checks should be conducted not just on local companies but on potential foreign partners as well. Foreign firms have long heard that there is no more important task than the choice of a credible business partner when exploring business opportunities in the former Soviet Union. Because of hucksters in the ex-USSR, many firms are being established in the area to conduct business commercial investigate tions for both Western and Russian clients. The Maryland-based InterPro opened its branch here with the aim of checking the activities of foreign and domestic firms. The personnel consists of former FBI agents. Paul Lamberth, InterPro president, says that the commercial background check may include several levels. The first level of inquiry involves a simple review of public records and electronic data bases. That gives a client a certain measure of comfort that the company exists. The first level is necessary if, in the course of negotiations, there is lack of trust. If there is more hard evidence that your potential partner may lack credibilitythe full background inquiry is recommended. When serious questions arise about a partner, like a failure to meet payment shedules, or when a deal involves a big amount of money, InterPro conducts a so-called "special inquiry". It maintains a specific plan of action. But the company is always staying within the boundary of legality and ethics. It is here that the skills of professional investigators come into play. The company maintains agreements with several Russian-based commercial investigation firms. If anyone needs a simpler inquiry, Dun & Bradstreet, the famous US company, may be of considerable help. It publishes profiles of companies that include such things as where the firm is located, type of business, employees, revenue, the firm's officers, and their record of paying the bills. The company has data on 30 million businesses worldwide, by far the world's largest data base of general information on commercial enterprises.

4.2. READING COMPREHENSION TEST 12A.

Choose the correct variant on the basis of what is stated or implied in the text.

1. The CIS companies should conduct checks because

1. it is common practice in Eastern Europe

2. there is a growing need to do so

3. in this way they respond to the changing times

4. there is no alternative to that

2. There appear various firms

(A) choosing a credible business partner

2. exploring commercial opportunities

3. investigating business backgrounds

(D) establishing their branches and offices

3. The commercial background check may include

1. several levels of inquiry

2. former intelligence agents

3. hucksters in the ex-USSR

4. both domestic and foreign partners

3. A "special inquiry" is effected when

1. there is lack of trust in the course of negotiations

2. there is more hard evidence that fraud is involved

3. other inquiries give no result

4. serious questions arise about a future partner

3. In Line 28, the word "maintains" is closest in meaning to

1. supports

2. provides

3. follows

4. agrees

3. According to the text, it is NOT true that Dun & Bradstreet Co.

1. provides profiles of companies from all over the world

2. has the largest data base of general information

3. is based in the US serving a wide range of clients

4. has a fairly limited data base on commercial enterprises

MINI-TEST N3

I. CHOOSE THE CORRECT VARIANT.