University of Economics, HCMC Paper Code:

SPECIMEN TEST HP4 English Language Division

Exam in English for Business Communication (75 minutes) Read the

instruction carefully. RECORD your answers on your answer sheets.

Section 1: Language knowledge (40 marks)
I. Select and fill in each blank in the passage below with ONE suitable word.
Many of the products (1) people in the Northern hemisphere depend on –
(2) as coffee, tea,
and chocolate – are (3) in the warmer climates of the South. The prices consumers
pay (4)
these commodities have not risen in real terms over the last 40 years, (5) the
value of fertilizers, pesticide, machinery, and equipment (6) from richer countries
has increased (7) . On top of this, the market price of commodities frequently drops
below the cost of producing them. (8) a result of
this imbalance, (9) of the people who grow these crops now have to work harder and
longer for less money. They are often isolated, and not in a position to negotiate when
selling their (10) .

1 (A) in which (B)that (C)where (D)when

2 (A) as far (B)as long (C)such (D)as well
3 (A) produced (B)proved (C)probated (D)proceeded
4 (A) in (B)for (C)with (D)to
5 (A) however (B)so (C)consequently (D)but
6 (A) exported (B)dispatched (C)imported (D)sold
7 (A) substantially (B)perfectly (C)completely (D)approximately
8 (A) from (B)in (C)with (D)as
9 (A) much (B)many (C)amount (D)almost
10 (A) produce (B)production (C)producing (D)productive

II. Choose the best answer

 11. If the division head had not resigned last month, our 18. The decision of the city planners th
company probably its sales record. opinion of the citizens.
A. would break C. would have broken A. refers C. reflexes
B. had been breaking D. will have broken B. reflects D. reacts
12. The director he was in a hurry. 19. The National Executive
He me to ask his deputy. is expected to these recommendations.
A. told/said C. tell/say A. strive C. dominate
B. said/told D. say/talk B. endorse D. renovate
13.If we our order, they would give us a bigger 20. They a large drop in unemployment ove
discount. the next two years.
A. will increase C. could increase A. campaign C. forecast
B. increased D. increases B. motivate D. create
14. Managers should 21. City Insurance the market into three by
be prepared to responsibilities to their employees issuing three types of policy.
whenever possible. A. ranks C. ranges
A. delegate C. hand B. modernizes D. segments
B. send D. listen 22. The hospital has already _ on its drugs budget.
15. I would be very A. overspent C. overspending
surprised why you any ofB. been overspent D. to overspend
those complaints yourself. 23. Introducing technology to use in our stereos is
A. hear C. heard than developing our own technology.
B. hadn’t heard D. don’t hear A. cheap C. cheaper
16. Although the solution was obvious, it had never been B. cheapest D. cheaply
. 24. The majority of the town’s agreed to
A. proposed C. suggesting expand the business district to include Western Avenue.
B. proposing D. imposed A. populate C. population
17. It has been that last month’s storm B. popularity D. populous
damage will cost insurance companies $500 million.
A. sponsored C. invested
B. estimated D. boosted

III. LISTENING: (20 marks)

PART ONE: Listen to the conversations and choose the best answer to each question
Conversation1: Questions 1 – 3
1. When will John arrive?
A. Noon C. 2:00
B. 2:15 D. 2:50
2. How long has he been gone?
A. Four days C. Two weeks
B. Three weeks D. One month
3. Where will the woman take him?
A. The train station C. The airport
B. The office D. Home
Conversation2: Questions 4 – 5
4. Who are the speakers waiting for?
A. A taxi cab driver C. A pilot
B. A train conductor D. A newspaper delivery person
5. What did the man just do?
A. He played a ball game. C. He arrived at the airport.
B. He wrote an editorial. D. He made a phone call.
PART TWO: Listen to a weather report and complete the notes
 THE END

KEY TO SPECIMEN TEST HP4 SECTION I

I. CLOZE
1. (B) that 2. (C) such 3. (A) produced |4. (B) for 5. (D) but
6. (D) imported 7. (A) substantially 8. (D) As 9. (B) many 10. (A) produce

II.GRAMMAR & VOC. 4.1

11 C would have broken 21 D segments 31 A superficially
12 B said / told 22 A overspent 32 C radically
13 B increased 23 C cheaper 33 A consistently
14 A delegate 24 C population 34 A to
15 B hadn’t heard 25 A exact 35 B of
16 A proposed 26 C creative 36 D while
17 B estimated 27 D extremely 37 D capital
18 B reflects 28 D from 38 C negotiations
19 B endorse 29 C budgetary 39 C enthusiasm
20 C forecast 30 D efficient 40 B conflicts

SECTION 2
I. READING
1 A 2 A 3 C
4. to increase marketing and infrastructure investment (to attract customers to the pay-TV market)
5. BskyB
6 subscriber 7 infrastructure 8 penetration 9 proposal 10 advertising

II. WRITING
Suggested Answers
To increase sales, we have agreed on the following three points.

Firstly, our company should distribute (2.5m) free samples to customers. This will help
increase (2.5m) words of mouth for our products.
Secondly / Next (2.5m), we should listen (2.5m) to customers in order to understand (2.5m) and
meet their needs and wants.
Thirdly/ Finally (2.5m), we should reward (2.5m) our top salespersons with vacation days or
monetary awards. In this way, we can give (2.5m) our sales staff a greater incentive to perform
their tasks at a higher level than ever.
 III
.
1 B 2 C 3 B 4 A 5 D

Part two:
6 snowstorm 7 30/thirty 8 sunny 9 halfway 10 milder