PART-A

Identifyingthe Major Event in a Conversation

W: Here weare, Mr. Wang. This is a newly-built building.

M: What afine building! How many floors are there?

W: Forty.Our company has offices on four floors in the building.

M: Yoursis really a big company.

W: Yes, itis. The sales office is on the first floor. The marketing and accountingoffices are on the second floor. And we have many other departments: personnel.research, etc. They are all on the 8th floor.

M: Where'sthe manager's office?

W: It's onthe 9th floor.

Passage:

Ladies andgentlemen, welcome to our company. Our company was established in 1999. It is ajoint-venture company specializing in sportswear. Most of our products are foryoung students; some are for adults. All our products sell well both at homeand abroad. In recent years, we have expanded our markets from China toSoutheast Asia, East Africa, North America, and South America.

PART-B

Who Is toBe Promoted?

(ThePersonnel Department is having a meeting. Joan Black is the chairperson of themeeting. )

Joan: Ithink John Jeffrey's already been with the company for 20 years. Surely he'snot still expecting promotion. Do you agree, Peter?

Peter:Well. in my opinion, John's always shown great loyalty to the company. It'stime this was rewarded. What do you think, Clive?

Clive:It's not just a question of loyalty. Would he be any good at the job? He wouldneed to manage a small team -- he's got no experience of that yet.

Peter: Henever will have any experience unless we give him a chance!

Joan: Wecan't afford to be sentimental. I don't think he's the man for the job. He'salways been a follower, not a leader. Let's move on to the other candidates.Rita Hayden has already shown great personnel management skill, I feel, even ifshe's ...

Peter: Oh,come on, Joan! Rita's still learning her trade! We can't afford to take a riskwith someone so inexperienced.

Clive: Iagree with Peter. I favor Susan Palmer. She's got a lot of experience. She'salready worked in the department on other occasions so she knows the ropes andshe's ...

Joan: ButSusan's always struck me as a bit cautious. We need someone dynamic for thisjob.

Peter: I'dagree with Clive. I think Susan Palmer would do a good job. Maybe she's a bitcautious but she's solid, reliable... We need those qualities too.

Joan:Well, if you're both so sure, I suppose I'll have to agree. Still, we'll wait aweek before confirming it just in case any other applicants put their namesforward.

PART-C

A GoodSalesman

MrStevenson was the owner of a general appliance store. He had seen manynewly-weds coming into his store to shop for their first refrigerator, washerand dryer, and air-conditioner. Pen and pencil in hand, they would ask him alot of questions about price, features and after-sale services, but they wouldusually walk away at the end of their inquiry.

The otherday a young couple came into his store. They asked him all the usual questionsand he answered all of them patiently. But when he suggested an order at theend, they replied firmly, "We'll have to look around places first."

Althoughfeeling a bit disappointed, Mr Stevenson did not show it. Instead, he smiled,moved closer and said, "I know you will go to Discount Dan to look at theprice tags. That's perfectly understandable. I do the same. In fact, they sellthe same stuff as we do. But if you buy things there, there is something youwill not get. And that is me. I come with everything I sell. I've been in thebusiness for thirty years and in a few years' time I'm going to give my storeto my daughter and son-in-law. I hope they will carry on the family business. Istand behind everything I sell and I will make sure that you will never regretbuying things from me."

After thisshort speech Mr Stevenson offered the young couple some ice cream to thank themfor their interest.

Impressedby his honesty and sincerity, the young couple decided to place an order.