Read for More Information

Ex. 25. a) Read aloud Ihe text given below.

I,) Look up tbe words you do not know in the dictionary-

_c) Read and translate the words: theoretical, structure, potential, patent, copyright, talent, strategic, investment, harriers, instrument, substitute, plastics, technologies, to exploit, to minimise.

d) Compare jour translation with a partner.

_e) Explain how monopolies begin anil how they affect the market.

Monopolies

Pure monopoly is a theoretical market structure where there is only one seller of a commodity or service, where entry into the industry is closed to potential competitors, and where the seller has complete control over Ihe quan-tiiy of goods offered for sale and the price at which goods are sold,

Monopolies may begin by the granting of a patent or a copyright, by the possession of a superior skill or talent, or by the ownership of strategic capital. The huge capital investment necessary to organise a firm in some countries is _a barrier to entry in these monopolistic fields and, thus, provides established corporations in these industries with potential monopoly power.

At the same time, in recent years, many large U.S. corporations, viewed by many as the chief instrument of monopoly, have become vulnerable to new forms of competition. U.S. consumers can buy goods from foreign producers. In the case of automobile, they can purchase products made by Honda, Toy­ota, or Volvo, to name a few. The U.S. Government has tried to minimise the danger of monopolies through legislation.

112

Unit3

I. Business and Government

113

Ex. 26. a) Read aloud the lc\l given below.

2. Look up the words you do not know in the dictionary.

3. Find and translate the sentences containing gerunds.

4. How can monopolies be broken up? Competition

All businesses produce goods and services and seek profits. And they all compete with other businesses in doing so. Competition is universal in the world of business.

Businesses do not compete only in selling things. They compete for la­bour, capital, and natural resources.

If a business is going to survive in the face of competition, it needs a con­stant flow of new ideas. It needs managers who are good at developing new products, finding new ways to reduce costs, and thinking of new ways to make products attractive to consumers.

In the 1960s Xerox had a virtual monopoly on producing copying ma­chines because the company had major patents. Rivals like Kodak, Canon, and 3M spent huge amounts of money on getting new patents. They succeed­ed in obtaining new patents, and now Xerox is jusl one among many compet­itors in the copier market.

Grammar Revision Времена (Tenses)

Ex. 27. a) Open the brackets, putting the verbs into the correct form, b) Have you ever arranged to hire a car?

Renting a Car

Clerk: Car rental company. Good morning. Can I help you? Secretary: Hello, this is secretary of Gas International from Moscow. I'd like to arrange to hire a car for an executive of our company going to Lon­don on a business trip.

Cl.: I'm at your service, madam. What's his name and age, please? Sec.: Gleb Petrov. He is 47.

CL: Has he got an international driving licence? How long he... (to drive a car)? Sec.: He ... (to drive) for more than 15 years. He ... never (to have) any major

accidents. CL: Good. May I have his driving licence number, please?

Sec.: Yes, it's 279315. It... (to issue) in 2002 and is valid until 2007, May 25^th. CL: And what about insurance? Sec.: He has an insurance policy for himself and his car. but he doesn't want

to transfer it to the hired car!

CL: I see. then we can help him to arrange insurance in London. Sec.: That's good. What cars can you offer? Our executive needs a lurge car. CL: No problem. We have Chryslers, Peugeots, and Toyotas. When ... Mr.

Petrov (to arrive)¹? Sec.: On the 8'ⁿ of September, at Heathrow Airport, at 15.20 hours, flight RQ

918. How shall he contact you? CL: He can pick up the keys at our car rental's reception desk at the airport.

By the way... Mr. Petrov (to hire) a car in England before? Sec.: No, it's his first visit to England. CL: Then, he'll have to fill in a reservation form at our reception desk and

provide identification. Will he pay himself? Sec.: No, send the bill to the company's address. CL: In that case he'll have to make a booking deposit of 50 pounds. Sec.: All right. Thank you. I'll tax a confirmation of our order with all infor­mation you need in a minute.

Words and word combinations you may need

transfer the insurance — переводить

страхов icy

pick up the keys - забрать ключи fill in a reservation form — заполнить

блин к заказа (машины) provide identification — подтвердить

свою личность make a booking deposit — внести u mi

за заюи машины confirmation /; — подтверждение

rent a car — брать машину в аренду arrange to hire а саг — договориться о

прокате машины

executive n—ответственный сотрудник I'm at your service. — Я к вашим услугам. driving licence — водительские права accident я — несчастный случай issue a driving licence - выдать поди-

тельские права

be valid — быть действительным insurance policy - страховой полис