4 | Progress test
Working with words
Complete the text with words from the list.
cheap compact designed did friendly idea launched stylish trials well
An electronics company wanted to develop a new product for the British market. They had an 1 idea for a calculator with big keys, so that older people could use it easily, but which was 2 compact so that it could fit into a pocket or bag. They 3 well some market research and found that people would buy it if it was 4 stylish -designed and quite 5 cheap – no more than £10. They 6 trials the product and asked a research company called TBT to do some product 7 did. These found that the new calculator was very popular with younger people too, as they thought the bright colours and big keys were very 8 designed. The company 9 launched the product two years ago, and it has been a great success: older people find it user- 10 friendly while teenagers love its ‘look’.
Language at work
Write a positive sentence (+), a negative sentence (-), or a question (?) from the prompts. Use the past simple.
11 Felipe / go / to Paris yesterday (-)
Felipe didn't go to Paris yesterday.
12 you / see / the new consultants / last week (?)
Did you see the new consultants last week? 13 I / receive / your letter (-)
I didn't receive your letter.
14 The sales team / meet / the new director this morning (+)
The sales team met the new director this morning.
15 the product / have / any success at the conference (?)
Did have the product any success at the conference?
Correct the mistakes in the sentences.
16 We didn’t found the presentation very interesting.
We didn't find the presentation very interesting.
17 The company buyed a lot of new furniture.
The company bought a lot of new furniture. 18 Francesca not enjoyed the meal with the sales manager.
Francesca didn't enjoy the meal with the sales manager.
19 They arrive at the airport at 6 p.m. yesterday.
They arrived at the airport at 6 p.m yesterday.
20 The report didn’t be very informative.
The report wasn't very informative.
Business communication
A supermarket wants to change its supplier of fresh fruit and vegetables. The purchasing department has prepared a report. Order the report. Write a-j after the sentences.
21 First, we did some research to find the cheapest suppliers in the market. ___5___
22 Why did we need to change supplier? __2____
23 We found that it was excellent. __7___
24 The purpose of our research was to find a new supplier of fresh fruit and vegetables to all our stores. ___1___
25 We spoke to about twenty different companies, and found that Greenpark were 5-10% cheaper than anyone else. __6____
26 We asked them to send us some information, and invited them to a meeting. ___10___
27 Finally, we contacted Greenpark, who seemed friendly and well-organized. __9____
28 Because our previous one was expensive, and sometimes didn’t deliver the goods on time. __3___
29 Then we asked some of our sister companies how good the reliability of Greenpark was. __8____
30 We wanted to find a supplier that was cheap and reliable. __4____
Result ______________ / 30 marks
Speaking test
Role cards
Copy this page and cut out the role cards for the students. Then use the Speaking test results forms to evaluate each student’s performance. You can then cut out the results and give them to the students.
Student A
1 Give a report to Student B about a new product using this information. Student B will then ask you some questions about the report. Invent sensible answers to B’s questions.
new product: new drink, mixture of yoghurt and fruit
reason for new product: gap in the market
timing of market research and product trials: last year
2 Student B will give you a similar report. You should respond to the information with appropriate phrases showing interest.
After he / she finishes, ask questions to find out this information:
when they did the market research and product trials
what the final result of the research was.
Student B
1 Student A will give you a report about a new product. You should respond to the information with appropriate phrases showing interest. After he / she finishes, ask questions to find out this information:
when they launched the new product
what the final result was.
2 Give a similar report to Student A using this information. Student A will then ask you some questions about the report. Invent sensible answers to A’s questions.
new product: wireless headset for Internet phones
reason for new product: people want a cheap and functional headset
timing of launch: last month
Speaking test results
Use these forms to evaluate the students.
Student A Student B
| Can the student … | Didn’t do this (0 points) | Yes, but with some mistakes (1 point) | Yes, did this very well (2 points) | Can the student … | Didn’t do this (0 points) | Yes, but with some mistakes (1 point) | Yes, did this very well (2 points) |
| give a simple but coherent report? |
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| give a simple but coherent report? |
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| use some or all of the report phrases from the unit? |
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| use some or all of the report phrases from the unit? |
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| talk about the development of a product? |
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| talk about the development of a product? |
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| ask and answer questions in the past simple? |
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| ask and answer questions in the past simple? |
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| show interest in the other person’s report? |
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| show interest in the other person’s report? |
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Result_________ / 10 marks |
Result _________ / 10 marks |
Business Result Pre-intermediate Progress Test 4 Photocopiable © Oxford University Press
